’Oh，John，hereisthemostwonderfulthing!Motherhasnevershownitbefore；andIcan’tthinkhowshecouldmakeuphermind。Shehadgottenitinagreatwellofacupboard，withcamphor，andspirits，andlavender。
Lizziesaysitisamostmagnificentsealskincloak，worthfiftypounds，orafarthing。’
’Atanyrateitissoftandwarm，’saidI，verycalmlyflingingitintothebottomofthesledd。’TellmotherIwillputitoverLorna’sfeet。’
’Lorna’sfeet!Oh，yougreatfool，’criedAnnie，forthefirsttimerevilingme；’overhershoulders；andbeproud，youverystupidJohn。’
’Itisnotgoodenoughforherfeet，’Ianswered，withstrongemphasis；’butdon’ttellmotherIsaidso，Annie。Onlythankherverykindly。’
WiththatIdrewmytraceshard，andsetmyashenstaffintothesnow，andstruckoutwithmybestfootforemostthebestoneatsnow-shoes，Imean，andthesleddcameaftermeaslightlyasadogmightfollow；
andAnnie，withthelanthorn，seemedtobeleftbehindandwaitinglikeaprettylamp-post。
Thefullmoonroseasbrightbehindmeasapatenofpuresilver，castingonthesnowlongshadowsofthefewthingsleftabove，burdenedrock，andshaggyforeland，andthelabouringtrees。Inthegreatwhitedesolation，distancewasamockingvision；hillslookednigh，andvalleysfar；whenhillswerefarandvalleysnigh。Andthemistybreathoffrost，piercingthroughtheribsofrock，strikingtothepithoftrees，creepingtotheheartofman，layalongthehollowplaces，likeaserpentsloughing。EvenasmyowngauntshadowtravestiedasifIwerethemoonlight’sdaddy-
longlegs，wentbeforemedowntheslope；evenI，theshadow’smaster，whohadtriedinvaintocough，whencoughingbroughtgoodliquorice，feltapressureonmybosom，andahuskinginmythroat。
However，Iwentonquietly，andataverytidyspeed；
beingonlytoothankfulthatthesnowhadceased，andnowindasyetarisen。Andfromtheringoflowwhitevapourgirdingallthevergeofsky，andfromtherosyblueabove，andtheshaftsofstarlightsetuponaquiveringbow，aswellasfromthemoonitselfandthelightbehindit，havinglearnedthesignsoffrostfromitsbittertwinges，IknewthatweshouldhaveanightaskeenaseverEnglandfelt。Nevertheless，IhadworkenoughtokeepmewarmifImanagedit。Thequestionwas，couldIcontrivetosavemydarlingfromit？
Daringnottoriskmysleddbyanyfallfromthevalley-cliffs，Idraggeditverycarefullyupthesteepinclineofice，throughthenarrowchasm，andsototheverybrinkandvergewherefirstIhadseenmyLorna，inthefishingdaysofboyhood。AsIthenhadatridentfork，forstickingoftheloaches，soInowhadastrongashstake，tolayacrossfromrocktorock，andbreakthespeedofdescending。WiththisImooredthesleddquitesafe，attheverylipofthechasm，whereallwasnowsubstantialice，greenandblackinthemoonlight；andthenIsetoffupthevalley，skirtingalongonesideofit。
Thestack-firestillwasburningstrongly，butwithmoreofheatthanblaze；andmanyoftheyoungerDooneswereplayingonthevergeofit，thechildrenmakingringsoffire，andtheirmotherswatchingthem。Allthegraveandreverendwarriorshavingheardofrheumatism，wereinsideoflogandstone，inthetwolowesthouses，withenoughofcandlesburningtomakeourlistofsheepcomeshort。
AlltheseIpassed，withoutthesmallestriskordifficulty，walkingupthechannelofdriftwhichI
spokeofoncebefore。AndthenIcrossed，withmoreofcare，andtothedoorofLorna’shouse，andmadethesign，andlistened，aftertakingmysnow-shoesoff。
Butnoonecame，asIexpected，neithercouldIespyalight。AndIseemedtohearafaintlowsound，likethemoaningofthesnow-wind。ThenIknockedagainmoreloudly，withaknockingatmyheart：andreceivingnoanswer，setallmypoweratonceagainstthedoor。
Inamomentitflewinwards，andIglidedalongthepassagewithmyfeetstillslippery。ThereinLorna’sroomIsaw，bythemoonlightflowingin，asightwhichdrovemebeyondsense。
Lornawasbehindachair，crouchinginthecorner，withherhandsup，andacrucifix，orsomethingthatlookedlikeit。InthemiddleoftheroomlayGwennyCarfax，stupid，yetwithonehandclutchingtheankleofastrugglingman。AnothermanstoodabovemyLorna，tryingtodrawthechairaway。InamomentIhadhimroundthewaist，andhewentoutofthewindowwithamightycrashofglass；luckilyforhimthatwindowhadnobarslikesomeofthem。ThenItooktheothermanbytheneck；andhecouldnotpleadformercy。IborehimoutofthehouseaslightlyasIwouldbearababy，yetsqueezinghisthroatalittlemorethanIfainwoulddotoaninfant。BythebrightmoonlightIsawthatIcarriedMarwooddeWhichehalse。Forhisfather’ssakeIsparedhim，andbecausehehadbeenmyschoolfellow；butwitheverymuscleofmybodystrungwithindignation，Icasthim，likeaskittle，frommeintoasnowdrift，whichclosedoverhim。ThenIlookedfortheotherfellow，tossedthroughLorna’swindow，andfoundhimlyingstunnedandbleeding，neitherabletogroanyet。CharleworthDoone，ifhisgushingblooddidnotmuchmisleadme。
Itwasnotimetolingernow；Ifastenedmyshoesinamoment，andcaughtupmyowndarlingwithherheaduponmyshoulder，whereshewhisperedfaintly；andtellingGwennytofollowme，orelseIwouldcomebackforher，ifshecouldnotwalkthesnow，Iranthewholedistancetomysledd，caringnotwhomightfollowme。
ThenbythetimeIhadsetupLorna，beautifulandsmiling，withtheseal-skincloakalloverher，sturdyGwennycamealong，havingtrudgedinthetrackofmysnow-shoes，althoughwithtwobagsonherback。Isetherinbesidehermistress，tosupporther，andkeepwarm；andthenwithonelookbackattheglen，whichhadbeensolongmyhomeofheart，Ihungbehindthesledd，andlauncheditdownthesteepanddangerousway。
Thoughthecliffswereblackaboveus，andtheroadunseeninfront，andagreatwhitegraveofsnowmightatasinglewordcomedown，Lornawasascalmandhappyasaninfantinitsbed。SheknewthatIwaswithher；
andwhenItoldhernottospeak，shetouchedmyhandinsilence。Gwennywasinamuchgreaterfright，havingneverseensuchathingbefore，neitherknowingwhatitistoyieldtopurelove’sconfidence。Icouldhardlykeepherquiet，withoutmakinganoisemyself。
Withmystafffromrocktorock，andmyweightthrownbackward，Ibrokethesledd’stoorapidway，andbroughtmygrownlovesafelyout，bytheselfsameroadwhichfirsthadledmetohergirlishfancy，andmyboyishslavery。
Unpursued，yetlookingbackasifsomeonemustbeafterus，weskirtedroundtheblackwhirlingpool，andgainedthemeadowsbeyondit。Heretherewashardcollarwork，thetrackbeingalluphillandrough；andGwennywantedtojumpout，tolightenthesleddandtopushbehind。ButIwouldnothearofit；becauseitwasnowsodeadlycold，andIfearedthatLornamightgetfrozen，withouthavingGwennytokeepherwarm。
Andafterall，itwasthesweetestlabourIhadeverknowninallmylife，tobesurethatIwaspullingLorna，andpullinghertoourownfarmhouse。
Gwenny’snosewastouchedwithfrost，beforewehadgonemuchfarther，becauseshewouldnotkeepitquietandsnugbeneaththesealskin。AndhereIhadtostopinthemoonlightwhichwasverydangerousandrubitwithacloveofsnow，asElizahadtaughtme；andGwennyscoldingallthetime，asifmyselfhadfrozenit。Lornawasnowsofaroppressedwithallthetroublesoftheevening，andthejoythatfollowedthem，aswellasbythepiercingcoldanddifficultyofbreathing，thatshelayquitemotionless，likefairestwaxinthemoonlight——whenwestoleaglanceather，beneaththedarkfoldsofthecloak；andIthoughtthatshewasfallingintotheheavysnow-sleep，whencethereisnoawaking。
Therefore，Idrewmytracestight，andsetmywholestrengthtothebusiness；andweslippedalongatamerrypace，althoughwithmanyjoltings，whichmusthavesentmydarlingoutintothecoldsnowdriftsbutfortheshortstrongarmofGwenny。Andsoinaboutanhour’stime，inspiteofmanyhindrances，wecamehometotheoldcourtyard，andallthedogssalutedus。Myheartwasquivering，andmycheeksashotastheDoones’bonfire，withwonderingbothwhatLornawouldthinkofourfarm-yard，andwhatmymotherwouldthinkofher。Upontheformersubjectmyanxietywaswasted，forLornaneithersawathing，norevenopenedherheavyeyes。Andastowhatmotherwouldthinkofher，shewascertainnottothinkatall，untilshehadcriedoverher。
Andsoindeeditcametopass。Evenatthislengthoftime，Icanhardlytellit，althoughsobrightbeforemymind，becauseitmovesmyheartso。Thesleddwasattheopendoor，withonlyLornainit；forGwennyCarfaxhadjumpedout，andhungbackintheclearing，givinganyreasonratherthantheonlytrueone——thatshewouldnotbeintruding。Atthedoorwereallourpeople；first，ofcourse，BettyMuxworthy，teachingmehowtodrawthesledd，asifshehadbeenborninit，andflourishingwithagreatbroom，whereveraspeckofsnowlay。ThendearAnnie，andoldMollywhowasveryquiet，andcountedalmostfornobody，andbehindthem，mother，lookingasifshewantedtocomefirst，butdoubtedhowthemannerslay。InthedistanceLizziestood，fearfulofencouraging，butunabletokeepoutofit。
Bettywasgoingtopokeherbroomrightinunderthesealskincloak，whereLornalayunconscious，andwhereherpreciousbreathhungfrozen，likeasilvercobweb；
butIcaughtupBetty’sbroom，andflungitcleanawayoverthecornchamber；andthenIputtheothersby，andfetchedmymotherforward。
’Youshallseeherfirst，’Isaid：’isshenotyourdaughter？Holdthelightthere，Annie。’
Dearmother’shandswerequickandtrembling，assheopenedtheshiningfolds；andthereshesawmyLornasleeping，withherblackhairalldishevelled，andshebentandkissedherforehead，andonlysaid，’Godblessher，John!’Andthenshewastakenwithviolentweeping，andIwasforcedtoholdher。
’Usmaytichofhernow，Irackon，’saidBettyinhermostjealousway；’Annie，takherbythehead，andI’lltakherbythetoesen。Notaimetostandherelikegirtgawks。Don’eetakonzo，missus。Therbevainervishinthezea——Lor，but，herbeabooty!’
Withthis，theycarriedherintothehouse，Bettychatteringallthewhile，andgoingonnowaboutLorna’shands，andtheotherscrowdingroundher，sothatIthoughtIwasnotwantedamongsomanywomen，andshouldonlygettheworstofit，andperhapsdoharmtomydarling。ThereforeIwentandbroughtGwennyin，andgaveherapotfulofbaconandpeas，andanironspoontoeatitwith，whichshedidrightheartily。
ThenIaskedherhowshecouldhavebeensuchafoolastoletthosetwovilefellowsenterthehousewhereLornawas；andsheaccountedforitsonaturally，thatIcouldonlyblamemyself。Formyagreementhadbeentogiveoneloudknockifyouhappentorememberandafterthattwolittleknocks。Wellthesetwodrunkenrogueshadcome；andone，beingverydrunkindeed，hadgivenagreatthump；andthennothingmoretodowithit；andtheother，beingthree-quartersdrunk，hadfollowedhisleaderasonemightsaybutfeebly，andmakingtwoofit。WhereuponupjumpedLorna，anddeclaredthatherJohnwasthere。
AllthisGwennytoldmeshortly，betweenthewhilesofeating，andevenwhileshelickedthespoon；andthentherecameamessageformethatmylovewassensible，andwasseekingallaroundforme。ThenItoldGwennytoholdhertonguewhatevershedidamongus，andnottotrusttowomen’swords；andshetoldmetheyallwereliars，asshehadfoundoutlongago；andtheonlythingtobelieveinwasanhonestman，whenfound。
ThereuponIcouldhavekissedherasasortoftribute，likingtobeappreciated；yetthepeasuponherlipsmademethinkaboutit；andthoughtisfataltoaction。
SoIwenttoseemydear。
ThatsightIshallnotforget；tillmydyingheadfallsback，andmybreastcanliftnomore。IknownotwhetherIwerethenmoreblessed，orharrowedbyit。
ForinthesettlewasmyLorna，proppedwithpillowsroundher，andherclearhandsspreadsometimestotheblazingfireplace。Inhereyesnoknowledgewasofanythingaroundher，neitherinherneckthesenseofleaningtowardsanything。Onlybothherlovelyhandswereentreatingsomething，tospareher，ortoloveher；andthelinesofsupplicationquiveredinhersadwhiteface。
’Allgoaway，exceptmymother，’Isaidveryquietly，butsothatIwouldbeobeyed；andeverybodyknewit。
Thenmothercametomealone；andshesaid，’Thefrostisinherbrain；Ihaveheardofthisbefore，John。’