UncleReubendidnotcomehometohisdinner；andhisgranddaughtersaidshehadstrictestordersnevertoexpecthim。Thereforewehadnonetodinewithus，excepttheforemanoftheshop，aworthyman，namedThomasCockram，fiftyyearsofageorso。HeseemedtometohavestrongintentionsofhisownaboutlittleRuth，andonthataccounttoregardmewithawhollyunduemalevolence。Andperhaps，inordertojustifyhim，Imayhavebeenmoreattentivetoherthanotherwiseneedhavebeen；atanyrate，RuthandIwerepleasant；andhetheveryopposite。
’MydearCousinRuth，’Isaid，onpurposetovexMasterCockram，becauseheeyedussoheavily，andsquintedtounluckily，’wehavelongbeenlookingforyouatourPlover’sBarrowsfarm。Yourememberhowyouusedtolovehuntingforeggsinthemorning，andhidingupinthetallatwithLizzie，formetoseekyouamongthehay，whenthesunwasdown。Ah，MasterCockram，thosearethethingsyoungpeoplefindtheirpleasurein，notinsellingayardofserge，andgivingtwopence-halfpennychange，andwriting“settled“atthebottom，withapencilthathasblackedtheirteeth。
Now，MasterCockram，yououghttocomeasfarasourgoodfarm，atonce，andeattwonew-laideggsforbreakfast，andbemadetolookquiteyoungagain。OurgoodAnniewouldcookforyou；andyoushouldhavethehotnewmilkandthepope’seyefromthemutton；andeveryfootofyouwouldbecomeayardinaboutafortnight。’Andhereupon，Ispreadmychest，toshowhimanexample。Ruthcouldnotkeephercountenance：
butIsawthatshethoughtitwrongofme；andwouldscoldme，ifeverIgaveherthechanceoftakingthoselittleliberties。However，hedeserveditall，accordingtomyyoungideas，forhisgreatimpertinenceinaimingatmycousin。
ButwhatIsaidwasfarlessgrievoustoamanofhonestmindthanlittleRuth’sownbehaviour。Icouldhardlyhavebelievedthatsothoroughlytrueagirl，andonesoproudandupright，couldhavegotridofanymansocleverlyasshegotridofMasterThomasCockram。Shegavehimnotevenaglassofwine，butcommendedtohisnotice，withasweetandthoughtfulgravity，someinvoicewhichmustbecorrected，beforeherdeargrandfathershouldreturn；andtoamendwhichthreegreatledgersmustbesearchedfromfirsttolast。ThomasCockramwinkedatme，withtheworstofhistwowrongeyes；asmuchastosay，’Iunderstandit；butIcannothelpmyself。Onlyyoulookout，ifever’——andbeforehehadfinishedwinking，thedoorwasshutbehindhim。ThenRuthsaidtomeinthesimplestmanner，’Youhaveriddenfartoday，CousinRidd；andhavefartoridetogethomeagain。WhatwilldearAuntRiddsay，ifwesendyouawaywithoutnourishment？
Allthekeysareinmykeeping，anddeargrandfatherhasthefinestwine，nottobematchedinthewestofEngland，asIhaveheardgoodjudgessay；thoughIknownotwinefromcider。DoyoulikethewineofOporto，orthewineofXeres？’
’Iknownotonefromtheother，faircousin，exceptbythecolour，’Ianswered：’butthesoundofOportoisnobler，andricher。SupposewetrywineofOporto。’
Thegoodlittlecreaturewentandfetchedablackbottleofanancientcast，coveredwithdustandcobwebs。TheseIwasanxioustoshakeaside；andindeedIthoughtthatthewinewouldbebetterforbeingrousedupalittle。Ruth，however，wouldnothearasinglewordtothatpurport；andseeingthatsheknewmoreaboutit，Ilefthertomanageit。Andtheresultwasveryfineindeed，towit，asparklingrosyliquor，dancingwithlittleflakesoflight，andscentedlikenewviolets。WiththisIwassopleasedandgay，andRuthsogladtoseemegay，thatwequiteforgothowthetimewenton；andthoughmyfaircousinwouldnotbepersuadedtotakeasecondglassherself，shekeptonfillingminesofastthatitwasneverempty，thoughIdidmybesttokeepitso。
’Whatisalittledroplikethistoamanofyoursizeandstrength，CousinRidd？’shesaid，withhercheeksjustbrushedwithrose，whichmadeherlookverybeautiful；’Ihaveheardyousaythatyourheadissothick——orrathersoclear，yououghttosay——thatnoliquorevermovesit。’
’Thatisrightenough，’Ianswered；’whatawitchyoumustbe，dearRuth，tohaverememberedthatnow!’
’Oh，IremembereverywordIhaveeverheardyousay，CousinRidd；becauseyourvoiceissodeep，youknow，andyoutalksolittle。Nowitisuselesstosay“no“。Thesebottlesholdalmostnothing。Deargrandfatherwillnotcomehome，Ifear，untillongafteryouaregone。WhatwillAuntRiddthinkofme，I
amsure？Youareallsodreadfullyhospitable。Nownotanother“no，“CousinRidd。Wemusthaveanotherbottle。’
’Well，mustismust，’Ianswered，withacertainresignation。’Icannotbearbadmanners，dear；andhowoldareyounextbirthday？’
’Eighteen，dearJohn；’saidRuth，comingoverwiththeemptybottle；andIwaspleasedathercallingme’John，’andhadagreatmindtokissher。However，I
thoughtofmyLornasuddenly，andoftheangerIshouldfeelifamanwentonwithherso；thereforeIlaybackinmychair，towaitfortheotherbottle。
’Doyourememberhowwedancedthatnight？’Iasked，whileshewasopeningit；’andhowyouwereafraidofmefirst，becauseIlookedsotall，dear？’
’Yes，andsoverybroad，CousinRidd。Ithoughtthatyouwouldeatme。ButIhavecometoknow，sincethen，howverykindandgoodyouare。’
’Andwillyoucomeanddanceagain，atmywedding，CousinRuth？’
Shenearlyletthebottlefall，thelastofwhichshewasslopingcarefullyintoavesselofbrightglass；
andthensheraisedherhandagain，andfinisheditjudiciously。Andafterthat，shetookthewindow，toseethatallherworkwasclear；andthenshepouredmeoutaglassandsaid，withverypalecheeks，butelsenosignofmeaningabouther，’Whatdidyouaskme，CousinRidd？’
’Nothingofanyimportance，Ruth；onlywearesofondofyou。ImeantobemarriedassoonasIcan。Willyoucomeandhelpus？’
’TobesureIwill，CousinRidd——unless，unless，deargrandfathercannotsparemefromthebusiness。’Shewentaway；andherbreastwasheaving，likearickofunder-carriedhay。Andshestoodatthewindowlong，tryingtomakeyawnsofsighs。
Formypart，Iknewnotwhattodo。AndyetIcouldthinkaboutit，asInevercouldwithLorna；withwhomIwasalwaysinawhirl，fromthepowerofmylove。SoIthoughtsometimeaboutit；andperceivedthatitwasthemanliestway，justtotellhereverything；exceptthatIfearedshelikedme。Butitseemedtomeunaccountablethatshedidnotevenaskthenameofmyintendedwife。PerhapsshethoughtthatitmustbeSally；orperhapsshefearedtotrusthervoice。
’Comeandsitbyme，dearRuth；andlistentoalong，longstory，howthingshavecomeaboutwithme。’
’No，thankyou，CousinRidd，’sheanswered；’atleastI
meanthatIshallbehappy——thatIshallbereadytohearyou——tolistentoyou，Imeanofcourse。ButI
wouldratherstaywhereIam，andhavetheair——orratherbeabletowatchfordeargrandfathercominghome。Heissokindandgoodtome。WhatshouldIdowithouthim？’
ThenItoldherhow，foryearsandyears，IhadbeenattachedtoLorna，andallthedangersanddifficultieswhichhadsolongbesetus，andhowIhopedthatthesewerepassing，andnoothermightcomebetweenus，exceptonthescoreofreligion；uponwhichpointI
trustedsoontoovercomemymother’sobjections。AndthenItoldherhowpoor，andhelpless，andaloneintheworld，myLornawas；andhowsadallheryouthhadbeen，untilIbroughtherawayatlast。AndmanyotherlittlethingsImentioned，whichthereisnoneedformeagaintodwellupon。Ruthhearditallwithoutaword，andwithoutoncelookingatme；andonlybyherattitudecouldIguessthatshewasweeping。Thenwhenallmytalewastold，sheaskedinalowandgentlevoice，butstillwithoutshowingherfacetome，——
’Anddoessheloveyou，CousinRidd？Doesshesaythatshelovesyouwith——withallherheart？’
’Certainly，shedoes，’Ianswered。’Doyouthinkitimpossibleforonelikehertodoso？’
Shesaidnomore；butcrossedtheroombeforeIhadtimetolookather，andcamebehindmychair，andkissedmegentlyontheforehead。
’Ihopeyoumaybeveryhappy，with——Imeaninyournewlife，’shewhisperedverysoftly；’ashappyasyoudeservetobe，andashappyasyoucanmakeothersbe。
NowhowIhavebeenneglectingyou!Iamquiteashamedofmyselfforthinkingonlyofgrandfather：anditmakesmesolow-spirited。Youhavetoldmeaveryniceromance，andIhaveneverevenhelpedyoutoaglassofwine。Here，pouritforyourself，dearcousin；Ishallbebackagaindirectly。’
Withthatshewasoutofthedoorinamoment；andwhenshecameback，youwouldnothavethoughtthatatearhaddimmedthoselargebrighteyes，orwandereddownthosepaleclearcheeks。Onlyherhandswerecoldandtrembling：andshemademehelpmyself。
UncleReubendidnotappearatall；andRuth，whohadpromisedtocomeandseeus，andstayforafortnightatourhouseifhergrandfathercouldspareher，nowdiscovered，beforeIleft，thatshemustnotthinkofdoingso。Perhapsshewasrightindecidingthus；atanyrateithadnowbecomeimproperformetopressher。AndyetInowdesiredtenfoldthatsheshouldconsenttocome，thinkingthatLornaherselfwouldworkthespeediestcureofherpassingwhim。
Forsuch，Itriedtopersuademyself，wasthenatureofRuth’sregardforme：anduponlookingbackIcouldnotchargemyselfwithanymisconducttowardsthelittlemaiden。Ihadneversoughthercompany，Ihadnevertrifledwithheratleastuntilthatveryday，andbeingsoengrossedwithmyownlove，Ihadscarcelyeverthoughtofher。Andthemaidenwouldneverhavethoughtofme，exceptasaclumsyyokel，butformymother’sandsister’smeddling，andtheirwilysuggestions。IbelievetheyhadtoldthelittlesoulthatIwasdeeplyinlovewithher；althoughtheybothstoutlydeniedit。Butwhocanplacetrustinawoman’sword，whenitcomestoaquestionofmatch-making？
NowwhileIwasridinghomethatevening，withatenderconscienceaboutRuth，althoughnotawoundedone，Iguessedbutlittlethatallmythoughtswereneededmuchformyownaffairs。Sohoweveritprovedtobe；forasIcamein，soonafterdark，mysisterElizametmeatthecornerofthecheese-room，andshesaid，’Don’tgointhere，John，’pointingtomother’sroom；’untilIhavehadatalkwithyou。’
’InthenameofMoses，’Iinquired，havingpickedupthatphraseatDulverton；’whatareyouataboutmenow？Thereisnopeaceforaquietfellow。’
’Itisnothingweareat，’sheanswered；’neithermayyoumakelightofit。ItissomethingveryimportantaboutMistressLornaDoone。’
’Letushaveitatonce，’Icried；’IcanbearanythingaboutLorna，exceptthatshedoesnotcareforme。’
’Ithasnothingtodowiththat，John。AndIamquitesurethatyouneverneedfearanythingofthatsort。
Sheperfectlyweariesmesometimes，althoughhervoiceissosoftandsweet，aboutyourendlessperfections。’
’Blessherlittleheart!’Isaid；’thesubjectisinexhaustible。’
’Nodoubt’repliedLizzie，inthedriestmanner；
’especiallytoyoursisters。Howeverthisisnotimetojoke。Ifearyouwillgettheworstofit，John。DoyouknowamanofaboutGwenny’sshape，nearlyasbroadasheislong，butaboutsixtimesthesizeofGwenny，andwithalengthofsnow-whitehair，andathicknessalso；asthecopseswerelastwinter。Henevercancombit，thatisquitecertain，withanycombyetinvented。’
’Thenyougoandofferyourservices。Therearefewthingsyoucannotscarify。Iknowthemanfromyourdescription，althoughIhaveneverseenhim。NowwhereismyLorna？’
’YourLornaiswithAnnie，havingagoodcry，I
believe；andAnnietoogladtosecondher。Sheknowsthatthisgreatmanishere，andknowsthathewantstoseeher。Butshebeggedtodefertheinterview，untildearJohn’sreturn。’
’Whatanastywayyouhaveoftellingtheverycommonestpieceofnews!’Isaid，onpurposetopayherout。’Whatmanwilleverfancyyou，youunluckylittlesnapper？Now，nomorenurserytalkforme。Iwillgoandsettlethisbusiness。Youhadbettergoanddressyourdolls；ifyoucangivethemclothesunpoisoned。’
HereuponLizzieburstintoaperfectroaroftears；
feelingthatshehadtheworstofit。AndItookherup，andbeggedherpardon；althoughshescarcelydeservedit；forsheknewthatIwasoutofluck，andshemighthavesparedhersatire。
IwasalmostsurethatthemanwhowascomemustbetheCounsellorhimself；ofwhomIfeltmuchkeenerfearthanofhissonCarver。AndknowingthathisvisitbodedilltomeandLorna，Iwentandsoughtmydear；
andledherwithaheavyheart，fromthemaiden’sroomtomother’s，tomeetourdreadfulvisitor。
Motherwasstandingbythedoor，makingcurtseysnowandthen，andlisteningtoalongharangueupontherightsofstateandland，whichtheCounsellorhavingfoundthatshewastheownerofherproperty，andknewnothingofhertitletoitwasencouragedtodeliverit。Mydearmotherstoodgazingathim，spell-boundbyhiseloquence，andonlyhopingthathewouldstop。Hewasshakinghishairuponhisshoulders，inthepowerofhiswords，andhiswrathatsomelittlething，whichhedeclaredtobequiteillegal。
ThenIventuredtoshowmyself，intheflesh，beforehim；althoughhefeignednottoseeme；butheadvancedwithzealtoLorna；holdingoutbothhandsatonce。