markedthepositionofthehousesandthebeautyofthevillage。Forthestream，inlieuofanystreet，passingbetweenthehouses，andaffordingperpetualchange，andtwinkling，andreflectionsmoreoverbyitssleepymurmursoothingallthedwellersthere，thisandthesnugnessoftheposition，walledwithrockandspreadwithherbage，madeitlook，inthequietmoonlight，likealittleparadise。Andtothinkofalltheinmatesthere，sleepingwithgoodconsciences，havingpliedtheirusefultradeofmakingothersworkforthem，enjoyinglifewithoutmuchlabour，yetwithgreatrenown。
MasterCharliewentdownthevillage，andIfollowedhimcarefully，keepingasmuchaspossibleintheshadowyplaces，andwatchingthewindowsofeveryhouse，lestanylightshouldbeburning。AsIpassedSirEnsor’shouse，myheartleapedup，forIspiedawindow，higherthantherestabovetheground，andwithafaintlightmoving。Thiscouldhardlyfailtobetheroomwhereinmydarlinglay；forherethatimpudentyoungfellowhadgazedwhilehewaswhistling。Andheremycouragegrewtenfold，andmyspiritfearednoevil——forlo，ifLornahadbeensurrenderedtothatscoundrel，Carver，shewouldnothavebeenathergrandfather’shouse，butinCarver’saccurseddwelling。
Warmwiththisidea，IhurriedafterCharleworthDoone，beingresolvednottoharmhimnow，unlessmyownliferequiredit。AndwhileIwatchedfrombehindatree，thedoorofthefarthesthousewasopened；andsureenoughitwasCarver’sself，whostoodbareheaded，andhalfundressedinthedoorway。Icouldseehisgreatblackchest，andarms，bythelightofthelamphebore。
’Whowantsmethistimeofnight？’hegrumbled，inadeepgruffvoice；’anyyoungscampprowlingafterthemaidsshallhavesorebonesforhistrouble。’
’Allthefairmaidsareforthee，arethey，MasterCarver？’Charlieanswered，laughing；’weyoungscampsmustbewell-contentwithcoarserstuffthanthouwouldsthave。’
’Wouldhave？Ay，andwillhave，’thegreatbeastmutteredangrily。’Ibidemytime；butnotverylong。
Onlyonewordforthygood，Charlie。Iwillflingtheesenselessintotheriver，ifeverIcatchthygirl-facethereagain。’
’Mayhap，MasterCarver，itismorethanthoucouldstdo。ButIwillnotkeepthee；thouartnotpleasantcompanyto-night。AllIwantisalightformylanthorn，andaglassofschnapps，ifthouhastit。’
’Whatisbecomeofthylight，then？GoodfortheeIamnotonduty。’
’AgreatowlflewbetweenmeandPhelps，aswewatchedbesidetheculvern，andsoscaredwasheatourfiercebrighteyesthathefellandknockedthelightout。’
’Likelytale，orlikelylie，Charles!Wewillhavethetruthto-morrow。Heretakethylight，andbegonewiththee。Allvirtuousmenareinbednow。’
’ThensowillIbe，andwhyartthounot？Ha，haveI
earnedmyschnappsnow？’
’Ifthouhast，thouhastpaidabaddebt；thereistoomuchintheealready。Beoff!mypatienceisdonewith。’
Thenheslammedthedoorintheyoungman’sface，havingkindledhislanthornbythistime：andCharliewentuptothewatchplaceagain，mutteringashepassedme，’Badlook-outforallofus，whenthatsurlyoldbeastisCaptain。Nogentlebloodinhim，nohospitality，notevenpleasantlanguage，noragoodnewoathinhisfrowsypate!I’veamindtocutthewholeofit；andbutforthegirlsIwouldso。’
Myheartwasinmymouth，astheysay，whenIstoodintheshadebyLorna’swindow，andwhisperedhernamegently。Thehousewasofonestoryonly，astheotherswere，withpine-endsstandingforththestone，andonlytworoughwindowsuponthatwesternsideofit，andperhapsbothofthemwereLorna’s。TheDooneshadbeentheirownbuilders，fornooneshouldknowtheirinsandouts；andofcoursetheirworkwasclumsy。Asfortheirwindows，theystolethemmostlyfromthehousesroundabout。Butthoughthewindowwasnotveryclose，Imighthavewhisperedlongenough，beforeshewouldhaveansweredme；frightenedasshewas，nodoubtbymanyarudeoverture。AndIdurstnotspeakaloudbecauseIsawanotherwatchmanpostedonthewesterncliff，andcommandingallthevalley。Andnowthismanhavingnocompanionfordrinkingorforgambling
espiedmeagainstthewallofthehouse，andadvancedtothebrink，andchallengedme。
’Whoareyouthere？Answer!One，two，three；andI
fireatthee。’
Thenozzleofhisgunwaspointedfulluponme，asI
couldsee，withthemoonlightstrikingonthebarrel；
hewasnotmorethanfiftyyardsoff，andnowhebegantoreckon。Beingalmostdesperateaboutit，Ibegantowhistle，wonderinghowfarIshouldgetbeforeIlostmywindpipe：andasluckwouldhaveit，mylipsfellintothatstrangetuneIhadpractisedlast；theoneI
hadheardfromCharlie。Mymouthwouldscarcelyframethenotes，beingparchedwithterror；buttomysurprise，themanfellback，droppedhisgun，andsaluted。Oh，sweetestofallsweetmelodies!
ThattunewasCarverDoone’spassportasIheardlongafterwards，whichCharleworthDoonehadimitated，fordecoyofLorna。ThesentineltookmeforthatvileCarver；whowaslikeenoughtobeprowlingthere，forprivatetalkwithLorna；butnotverylikelytoshoutforthhisname，ifitmightbeavoided。Thewatchman，perceivingthedangerperhapsofintrudingonCarver’sprivacy，notonlyretiredalongthecliff，butwithdrewhimselftogooddistance。
Meanwhilehehaddonemethekindestservice；forLornacametothewindowatonce，toseewhatthecauseoftheshoutwas，anddrewbackthecurtaintimidly。Thensheopenedtheroughlattice；andthenshewatchedthecliffandtrees；andthenshesighedverysadly。
’Oh，Lorna，don’tyouknowme？’Iwhisperedfromtheside，beingafraidofstartlingherbyappearingoversuddenly。
Quickthoughshealwayswasofthought，sheknewmenotfrommywhisper，andwasshuttingthewindowhastilywhenIcaughtitback，andshowedmyself。
’John!’shecried，yetwithsenseenoughnottospeakaloud：’oh，youmustbemad，John。’
’AsmadasaMarchhare，’saidI，’withoutanynewsofmydarling。YouknewIwouldcome：ofcourseyoudid。’
’Well，Ithought，perhaps——youknow：now，John，youneednoteatmyhand。Doyouseetheyhaveputironbarsacross？’
’Tobesure。DoyouthinkIshouldbecontented，evenwiththislovelyhand，butforthesevileironbars。I
willhavethemoutbeforeIgo。Now，darling，foronemoment——justtheotherhand，forachange，youknow。’
SoIgottheother，butwasnothonest；forIkeptthemboth，andfelttheirdelicatebeautytrembling，asI
laidthemtomyheart。
’Oh，John，youwillmakemecrydirectly’——shehadbeencryinglongago——’ifyougooninthatway。Youknowwecanneverhaveoneanother；everyoneisagainstit。
WhyshouldImakeyoumiserable？Trynottothinkofmeanymore。’
’Andwillyoutrythesameofme，Lorna？’
’Ohyes，John；ifyouagreetoit。AtleastIwilltrytotryit。’
’Thenyouwon’ttryanythingofthesort，’Icriedwithgreatenthusiasm，forhertonewassoniceandmelancholy：’theonlythingwewilltrytotry，istobelongtooneanother。Andifwedoourbest，Lorna，Godalonecanpreventus。’
Shecrossedherself，withonehanddrawnfreeasI
spokesoboldly；andsomethingswelledinherlittlethroat，andpreventedherfromanswering。
’Nowtellme，’Isaid；’whatmeansallthis？Whyareyousopentuphere？Whyhaveyougivenmenotoken？
Hasyourgrandfatherturnedagainstyou？Areyouinanydanger？’
’Mypoorgrandfatherisveryill：Ifearthathewillnotlivelong。TheCounsellorandhissonarenowthemastersofthevalley；andIdarenotventureforth，forfearofanythingtheymightdotome。WhenIwentforth，tosignalforyou，Carvertriedtoseizeme；butIwastooquickforhim。LittleGwennyisnotallowedtoleavethevalleynow；sothatIcouldsendnomessage。Ihavebeensowretched，dear，lestyoushouldthinkmefalsetoyou。Thetyrantsnowmakesureofme。Youmustwatchthishouse，bothnightandday，ifyouwishtosaveme。Thereisnothingtheywouldshrinkfrom；ifmypoorgrandfather——oh，Icannotbeartothinkofmyself，whenIoughttothinkofhimonly；dyingwithoutasontotendhim，oradaughtertoshedatear。’
’Butsurelyhehassonsenough；andadealtoomany，’I
wasgoingtosay，butstoppedmyselfintime：’whydononeofthemcometohim？’
’Iknownot。Icannottell。Heisaverystrangeoldman；andfewhaveeverlovedhim。HewasblackwithwrathattheCounsellor，thisveryafternoon——butI
mustnotkeepyouhere——youaremuchtoobrave，John；
andIammuchtooselfish：there，whatwasthatshadow？’
’Nothingmorethanabat，darling，cometolookforhissweetheart。Iwillnotstaylong；youtrembleso：andyetforthatveryreason，howcanIleaveyou，Lorna？’
’Youmust——youmust，’sheanswered；’Ishalldieiftheyhurtyou。Iheartheoldnursemoving。
Grandfatherissuretosendforme。Keepbackfromthewindow。’
However，itwasonlyGwennyCarfax，Lorna’slittlehandmaid：mydarlingbroughthertothewindowandpresentedhertome，almostlaughingthroughhergrief。
’Oh，Iamsoglad，John；Gwenny，Iamsogladyoucame。
Ihavewantedlongtointroduceyoutomy“youngman，“
asyoucallhim。Itisratherdark，butyoucanseehim。Iwishyoutoknowhimagain，Gwenny。’
’Whoy!’criedGwenny，withgreatamazement，standingontiptoetolookout，andstaringasifshewereweighingme：’herbebiggernoranyDoone!HearedasherhavebateourCornishchampionawrastling。’Twadn’tfairplaynohow：no，no；don’ttellme，’twadn’tfairplaynohow。’
’Trueenough，Gwenny，’Iansweredher；fortheplayhadbeenveryunfairindeedonthesideoftheBodminchampion；’itwasnotafairbout，littlemaid；Iamfreetoacknowledgethat。’Bythatanswer，orratherbytheconstructionsheputuponit，theheartoftheCornishgirlwaswon，morethanbygoldandsilver。
’Ishallknootheeagain，youngman；nofearofthat，’
sheanswered，noddingwithanairofpatronage。’Now，missis，gaeoncoortin’，andIwallgaeoutsideandwatchfor’ee。’Thoughexpressednotoverdelicately，thisproposalarose，nodoubt，fromGwenny’ssenseofdelicacy；andIwasverythankfultoherfortakingherdeparture。
’Sheisthebestlittlethingintheworld，’saidLorna，softlylaughing；’andthequeerest，andthetruest。Nothingwillbribeheragainstme。Ifsheseemstobeontheotherside，never，neverdoubther。
Nownomoreofyour“coortin’，“John!Iloveyoufartoowellforthat。Yes，yes，eversomuch!Ifyouwilltakeameanadvantageofme。Andasmuchaseveryouliketoimagine；andthenyoumaydoubleit，afterthat。Onlygo，dogo，goodJohn；kind，dear，darlingJohn；ifyouloveme，go。’
’HowcanIgowithoutsettlinganything？’Iaskedverysensibly。’HowshallIknowofyourdangernow？Hituponsomething；youaresoquick。Anythingyoucanthinkof；andthenIwillgo，andnotfrightenyou。’
’Ihavebeenthinkinglongofsomething，’Lornaansweredrapidly，withthatpeculiarclearnessofvoicewhichmadeeverysyllableringlikemusicofaseveralnote，’youseethattreewiththesevenrooks’nestsbrightagainstthecliffsthere？Canyoucountthem，fromabove，doyouthink？Fromaplacewhereyouwillbesafe，dear’——
’Nodoubt，Ican；orifIcannot，itwillnottakemelongtofindaspot，whenceIcandoit。’
’Gwennycanclimblikeanycat。Shehasbeenupthereinthesummer，watchingtheyoungbirds，daybyday，anddaringtheboystotouchthem。Thereareneitherbirds，noreggstherenow，ofcourse，andnothingdoing。Ifyouseebutsixrooks’nests；Iaminperilandwantyou。Ifyouseebutfive，IamcarriedoffbyCarver。’
’GoodGod!’saidI，atthemereidea；inatonewhichfrightenedLorna。
’Fearnot，John，’shewhisperedsadly，andmybloodgrewcoldatit：’Ihavemeanstostophim；oratleasttosavemyself。Ifyoucancomewithinonedayofthatman’sgettingholdofme，youwillfindmequiteunharmed。Afterthatyouwillfindmedead，oralive，accordingtocircumstances，butinnocasesuchthatyouneedblushtolookatme。’
Herdearsweetfacewasfullofpride，aseveninthegloomIsaw：andIwouldnottrespassonherfeelingsbysuchathing，atsuchamoment，asanattemptatanycaress。Ionlysaid，’Godblessyou，darling!’andshesaidthesametome，inaverylowsadvoice。AndthenIstolebelowCarver’shouse，intheshadowfromtheeasterncliff；andknowingenoughofthevillagenowtosatisfyallnecessity，betookmyselftomywell-knowntrackinreturningfromthevalley；whichwasneitherdownthewaterslideacourseIfearedinthedarkness
norupthecliffsatLorna’sbower；butawayofmyowninventing，whichthereisnoneedtodwellupon。
Aweightofcarewasoffmymind；thoughmuchoftroublehungtherestill。Onethingwasquitecertain——ifLornacouldnothaveJohnRidd，nooneelseshouldhaveher。Andmymother，whosatupforme，andwithmelongtimeafterwards，agreedthatthiswascomfort。