ThenIspokewithastrangetingleuponbothsidesofmyheart，knowingthatthisundertakingwasaseriousoneforall，andmightburnourfarmdown，——
’IfIwarranttotakeyousafe，andwithoutmuchfrightorhardship，Lorna，willyoucomewithme？’
’TobesureIwill，dear，’saidmybeauty，withasmileandaglancetofollowit；’Ihavesmallalternative，tostarve，orgowithyou，John。’
’Gwenny，haveyoucourageforit？Willyoucomewithyouryoungmistress？’
’WillIstaybehind？’criedGwenny，inavoicethatsettledit。Andsowebegantoarrangeaboutit；andIwasmuchexcited。Itwasuselessnowtoleaveitlonger；ifitcouldbedoneatall，itcouldnotbetooquicklydone。ItwastheCounsellorwhohadordered，afterallotherschemeshadfailed，thathisnieceshouldhavenofooduntilshewouldobeyhim。Hehadstrictlywatchedthehouse，takingturnswithCarver，toensurethatnonecamenighitbearingfoodorcomfort。Butthisevening，theyhadthoughtitneedlesstoremainonguard；anditwouldhavebeenimpossible，becausethemselveswerebusyofferinghighfestivaltoallthevalley，inrightoftheirowncommandership。AndGwennysaidthatnothingmadehersonearlymadwithappetiteastheaccountshereceivedfromawomanofallthedishespreparing。Neverthelessshehadansweredbravely，——
’GoandtelltheCounsellor，andgoandtelltheCarver，whosentyoutospyuponus，thatweshallhaveafinerdishthananysetbeforethem。’Andsointruththeydid，althoughsolittledreamingit；fornoDoonethatwaseverborn，howevermuchofaCarver，mightviewithourAnnieformince-meat。
Nowwhilewesatreflectingmuch，andtalkingagooddealmore，inspiteofallthecold——forIneverwasinahurrytogo，whenIhadLornawithme——shesaid，inhersilveryvoice，whichalwaysledmesoalong，asifIwereaslavetoabeautifulbell，——
’Now，John，wearewastingtime，dear。Youhavepraisedmyhair，tillitcurlswithpride，andmyeyestillyoucannotseethem，eveniftheyarebrowndiamondswhichIhaveheardforthefiftiethtimeatleast；thoughIneversawsuchajewel。Don’tyouthinkitishightimetoputonyoursnow-shoes，John？’
’Certainlynot，’Ianswered，’tillwehavesettledsomethingmore。IwassocoldwhenIcamein；andnowIamaswarmasacricket。Andsoareyou，youlivelysoul；thoughyouarenotuponmyhearthyet。’
’Remember，John，’saidLorna，nestlingforamomenttome；’theseverityoftheweathermakesagreatdifferencebetweenus。Andyoumustnevertakeadvantage。’
’Iquiteunderstandallthat，dear。Andtheharderitfreezesthebetter，whilethatunderstandingcontinues。
Nowdotrytobeserious。’
’Itrytobeserious!AndIhavebeentryingfiftytimes，andcouldnotbringyoutoit，John!AlthoughI
amsurethesituation，astheCounsellorsaysatthebeginningofaspeech，thesituation，tosaytheleast，isseriousenoughforanything。Come，Gwenny，imitatehim。’
GwennywasfamedforherimitationoftheCounsellormakingaspeech；andshebegantoshakeherhair，andmountuponafootstool；butIreallycouldnothavethis，thoughevenLornaorderedit。Thetruthwasthatmydarlingmaidenwasinsuchwildspirits，atseeingmesounexpected，andattheprospectofrelease，andofwhatshehadneverknown，quietlifeandhappiness，thatlikeallwarmandlovingnatures，shecouldscarcecontrolherself。
’Cometothisfrozenwindow，John，andseethemlightthestack-fire。Theywilllittleknowwholooksatthem。Nowbeverygood，John。Youstayinthatcorner，dear，andIwillstandonthisside；andtrytobreatheyourselfapeep-holethroughthelovelyspearsandbanners。Oh，youdon’tknowhowtodoit。Imustdoitforyou。Breathethreetimes，likethat，andthat；andthenyourubitwithyourfingers，beforeithastimetofreezeagain。’
Allthisshedidsobeautifully，withherlipsputuplikecherries，andherfingersbenthalfback，asonlygirlscanbendthem，andherlittlewaistthrownoutagainstthewhiteofthesnowed-upwindow，thatImadeherdoitthreetimesover；andIstoppedhereverytimeandletitfreezeagain，thatsoshemightbethelonger。NowIknewthatallherlovewasmine，everybitasmuchasminewashers；yetImusthavehertoshowit，dwellinguponeveryproof，lengtheningoutallcertainty。Perhapsthejealousheartisloathtoownalifeworthtwiceitsown。Bethatasitmay，Iknowthatwethawedthewindownicely。
AndthenIsaw，fardownthestreamorratherdownthebedofit，fortherewasnostreamvisible，alittleformoffirearising，red，anddark，andflickering。
Presentlyitcaughtonsomething，andwentupwardboldly；andthenitstruckintomanyforks，andthenitfell，androseagain。
’Doyouknowwhatallthatis，John？’askedLorna，smilingcleverlyatthemannerofmystaring。
’HowonearthshouldIknow？PapistsburnProtestantsintheflesh；andProtestantsburnPapistsineffigy，aswemockthem。Lorna，aretheygoingtoburnanyoneto-night？’
’No，youdear。Imustridyouofthesethings。Iseethatyouarebigoted。TheDoonesarefiringDunkerybeacon，tocelebratetheirnewcaptain。’
’Buthowcouldtheybringitherethroughthesnow？Iftheyhavesledges，Icandonothing。’
’Theybroughtitbeforethesnowbegan。Themomentpoorgrandfatherwasgone，evenbeforehisfuneral，theyoungmen，havingnonetocheckthem，beganatonceuponit。Theyhadalwaysborneagrudgeagainstit；
notthatiteverdidthemharm；butbecauseitseemedsoinsolent。“Can’tagentlemangohome，withoutasmokebehindhim？“Ihaveoftenheardthemsaying。Andthoughtheyhavedoneitnoseriousharm，sincetheythrewthefiremenonthefire，many，manyyearsago，theyhaveoftenpromisedtobringitherefortheircandle；andnowtheyhavedoneit。Ah，nowlook!Thetariskindled。’
ThoughLornatookitsoinjoke，Ilookeduponitverygravely，knowingthatthisheavyoutragetothefeelingsoftheneighbourhoodwouldcausemorestirthanahundredsheepstolen，orascoreofhousessacked。Notofcoursethatthebeaconwasofthesmallestusetoanyone，neitherstoppedanybodyfromstealing，nay，ratheritwasliketheparishknell，whichbeginswhenallisover，anddepressesallthesurvivors；yetIknewthatwevaluedit，andwereproud，andspokeofitasamightyinstitution；andevenmorethanthat，ourvestryhadvoted，withinthelasttwoyears，sevenshillingsandsix-pencetopayforit，inproportionwithotherparishes。Andoneofthemenwhoattendedtoit，oratleastwhowaspaidfordoingso，wasourJemSlocombe’sgrandfather。
However，inspiteofallmyregrets，thefirewentupverymerrily，blazingredandwhiteandyellow，asitleapedondifferentthings。Andthelightdancedonthesnow-driftswithamistylilachue。Iwasastonishedatitsburninginsuchmightydepthsofsnow；butGwennysaidthatthewickedmenhadbeenthreedayshardatwork，clearing，asitwere，acock-pit，fortheirfiretohaveitsway。Andnowtheyhadamightypile，whichmusthavecoveredfiveland-yardssquare，heapeduptoagoodlyheight，andeagertotakefire。
InthisIsawgreatobstacletowhatIwishedtomanage。Forwhenthispyramidshouldbekindledthoroughly，andpouringlightandblazesround，wouldnotallthevalleybelikeawhiteroomfullofcandles？Thinkingthus，Iwashalfinclinedtoabidemytimeforanothernight：andthenmysecondthoughtsconvincedmethatIwouldbeafoolinthis。Forlo，whatanopportunity!AlltheDooneswouldbedrunk，ofcourse，inaboutthreehours’time，andgettingmoreandmoreindrinkasthenightwenton。Asforthefire，itmustsinkinaboutthreehoursormore，andonlycastuncertainshadowsfriendlytomypurpose。
Andthentheoutlawsmustcowerroundit，asthecoldincreasedonthem，helpingtheweightoftheliquor；
andintheirjollityanynoisewouldbecheeredasafalsealarm。Mostofall，andwhichdecidedonceforallmyaction，——whenthesewildandrecklessvillainsshouldbehotwithardentspirits，whatwasdoor，orwall，tostandbetwixtthemandmyLorna？
ThisthoughtquickenedmesomuchthatItouchedmydarlingreverently，andtoldherinafewshortwordshowIhopedtomanageit。
’Sweetest，intwohours’time，Ishallbeagainwithyou。Keepthebarup，andhaveGwennyreadytoansweranyone。Youaresafewhiletheyaredining，dear，anddrinkinghealths，andallthatstuff；andbeforetheyhavedonewiththat，Ishallbeagainwithyou。Haveeverythingyoucaretotakeinaverylittlecompass，andGwennymusthavenobaggage。Ishallknockloud，andthenwaitalittle；andthenknocktwice，verysoftly。’
WiththisIfoldedherinmyarms；andshelookedfrightenedatme；nothavingperceivedherdanger；andthenItoldGwennyoveragainwhatIhadtoldhermistress：butsheonlynoddedherheadandsaid，’Youngman，goandteachthygrandmother。’
TomygreatdelightIfoundthattheweather，notoftenfriendlytolovers，andlatelyseemingsohostile，hadinthemostimportantmatterdonemeasignalservice。ForwhenIhadpromisedtotakemylovefromthepowerofthosewretches，theonlywayofescapeapparentlaythroughthemainDoone-gate。ForthoughImightclimbthecliffsmyself，especiallywiththesnowtoaidme，IdurstnottrytofetchLornaupthem，evenifshewerenothalf-starved，aswellaspartlyfrozen；andasforGwenny’sdoor，aswecalleditthatistosay，thelittleentrancefromthewoodedhollow，itwassnoweduplongagotothelevelofthehillsaround。ThereforeIwasatmywit’sendhowtogetthemout；thepassagebytheDoone-gatebeinglong，anddark，anddifficult，andleadingtosuchawearycircuitamongthesnowymoorsandhills。
Butnow，beinghomeward-boundbytheshortestpossibletrack，Islippedalongbetweenthebonfireandtheboundarycliffs，whereIfoundacavedwayofsnowbehindasortofavalanche：sothatiftheDooneshadbeenkeepingwatchwhichtheywerenotdoing，butrevelling，theycouldscarcelyhavediscoveredme。
AndwhenIcametomyoldascent，whereIhadoftenscaledthecliffandmadeacrossthemountains，itstruckmethatIwouldjusthavealookatmyfirstandpainfulentrance，towit，thewater-slide。Ineverforamomentimaginedthatthiscouldhelpmenow；forI
neverhaddaredtodescendit，eveninthefinestweather；stillIhadacuriositytoknowwhatmyoldfriendwaslike，withsomuchsnowuponhim。But，tomyverygreatsurprise，therewasscarcelyanysnowthereatall，thoughplentycurlinghighoverheadfromthecliff，likebolstersoverit。Probablythesweepingofthenorth-eastwindupthenarrowchasmhadkepttheshowersfromblockingit，althoughthewaterhadnopowerunderthebittergripoffrost。Allmywater-slidewasnowlessaslidethanpathofice；
furrowedwherethewatersranoverflutedridges；
seamedwherewindhadtossedandcombedthem，evenwhilecongealing；andcrossedwithlittlestepswhereverthefreezingtorrentlingered。Andhereandtheretheicewasfibredwiththetrailofsludge-
weed，slantingfromtheside，andmatted，soastomakeresting-place。
Loitwaseasytrackandchannel，asiffortheverypurposemade，downwhichIcouldguidemysledgewithLornasittinginit。Therewereonlytwothingstobefeared；onelesttherollsofsnowaboveshouldfallinandburyus；theotherlestweshouldrushtoofast，andsobecarriedheadlongintotheblackwhirlpoolatthebottom，themiddleofwhichwasstillunfrozen，andlookingmorehorriblebythecontrast。AgainstthisdangerImadeprovision，byfixingastoutbaracross；
butoftheotherwemusttakeourchance，andtrustourselvestoProvidence。
Ihastenedhomeatmyutmostspeed，andtoldmymotherforGod’ssaketokeepthehouseuptillmyreturn，andtohaveplentyoffireblazing，andplentyofwaterboiling，andfoodenoughhotforadozenpeople，andthebestbedairedwiththewarming-pan。Dearmothersmiledsoftlyatmyexcitement，thoughherownwasnotmuchless，Iamsure，andenhancedbysoreanxiety。
ThenIgaveverystrictdirectionstoAnnie，andpraisedheralittle，andkissedher；andIevenendeavouredtoflatterEliza，lestsheshouldbedisagreeable。
AfterthisItooksomebrandy，bothwithinandaboutme；theformer，becauseIhadsharpworktodo；andthelatterinfearofwhatevermighthappen，insuchgreatcold，tomycomrades。AlsoIcarriedsomeotherprovisions，grievingmuchattheircoldness：andthenI
wenttotheupperlinhay，andtookournewlightpony-
sledd，whichhadbeenmadealmostasmuchforpleasureasforbusiness；thoughGodonlyknowshowourgirlscouldhavefoundanypleasureinbumpingalongso。Onthesnow，however，itranassweetlyasifithadbeenmadeforit；yetIdurstnottaketheponywithit；inthefirstplace，becausehishoofswouldbreakthroughtheever-shiftingsurfaceofthelightandpilingsnow；
andsecondly，becausetheseponies，comingfromtheforest，haveadreadfultrickofneighing，andmostofallinfrostyweather。
ThereforeIgirdedmyownbodywithadozenturnsofhay-rope，twistingboththeendsinunderatthebottomofmybreast，andwindingthehayontheskewalittle，thatthehempenthongmightnotslipbetween，andsocutmeinthedrawing。Iputagoodpieceofspareropeinthesledd，andthecross-seatwiththebacktoit，whichwasstuffedwithourownwool，aswellastwoorthreefurcoats；andthen，justasIwasstarting，outcameAnnie，inspiteofthecold，pantingforfearofmissingme，andwithnothingonherhead，butalanthorninonehand。