Whatcanyouwantwithacouchdownstairs？Ineverheardofsuchnonsense。Andyououghttobeinthedairy。’
’Iwon’tcry，brotherJohn，Iwon’t；becauseyouwanttomakemecry’——andallthetimeshewascrying——’youalwaysweresonasty，John，sometimes。Ah，youhavenonobilityofcharacter，likemyhusband。AndIhavenotseenyoufortwomonths，John；andnowyoucometoscoldme!’
’Youlittledarling，’Isaid，forAnnie’stearsalwaysconqueredme；’ifalltherestill-useme，Iwillnotquarrelwithyou，dear。Youhavealwaysbeentruetome；andIcanforgiveyourvanity。Yourthingsareverypretty，dear；andyoumaycouchtentimesaday，withoutmyinterference。Nodoubtyourhusbandhaspaidforallthis，withtheponieshestolefromExmoor。Nobilityofcharacterisathingbeyondmyunderstanding；butwhenmysisterlovesaman，andhedoeswellandflourishes，whoamItofindfaultwithhim？Motheroughttoseethesethings：theywouldturnherheadalmost：lookatthepimplesonthechairs!’
’Theyarenothing，’Annieanswered，afterkissingmeformykindness：’theyareonlyputinforthetimeindeed；andwearetohavemuchbetter，withgoldallroundthebindings，anddoubleplushatthecorners；sosoonasevertheKingrepaysthedebtheowestomypoorTom。’
IthoughttomyselfthatourpresentKinghadbeenmostunluckyinonething——debtsalloverthekingdom。NotamanwhohadstruckablowfortheKing，orforhispoorfather，orevensaidagoodwordforhim，inthetimeofhisadversity，butexpectedatleastabaronetcy，andagrantofestatestosupportit。ManyhavecalledKingCharlesungrateful：andhemayhavebeenso。Butsomeindulgenceisduetoaman，withentriesfewonthecreditside，andaterriblecolumnofdebits。
’Havenofearforthechair，’Isaid，foritcreakedundermeveryfearfully，havinglegsnotsolargeasmyfinger；’ifthechairbreaks，Annie，yourfearshouldbe，lestthetortoise-shellrunintome。Why，itisstripedlikeaviper’sloins!IsawsomehundredsinLondon；andverycheaptheyare。Theyaremadetobesoldtothecountrypeople，suchasyouandme，dear；
andcarefullykepttheywilllastforalmosthalfayear。Nowwillyoucomebackfromyourfurniture，andlistentomystory？’
Anniewasaheartydear，andsheknewthathalfmytalkwasjoke，tomakelightofmyworrying。Thereforeshetookitingoodpart，asIwellknewthatshewoulddo；
andsheledmetoagoodhonestchair；andshesatinmylapandkissedme。
’Allthisisnotlikeyou，John。Allthisisnotonebitlikeyou：andyourcheeksarenotastheyoughttobe。Ishallhavetocomehomeagain，ifthewomenworrymybrotherso。Wealwaysheldtogether，John；
andwealwayswill，youknow。’
’Youdear，’Icried，’thereisnobodywhounderstandsmeasyoudo。Lornamakestoomuchofme，andtheresttheymaketoolittle。’
’Notmother；oh，notmother，John!’
’No，mothermakestoomuch，nodoubt；butwantsitallforherselfalone；andreckonsitasapartofher。
Shemakesmemorewroththananyone：asifnotonlymylife，butallmyheadandheartmustseekfromhers，andhavenootherthoughtorcare。’
Beingspedofmygrumblingthus，andeasedintobettertemper，ItoldAnnieallthestrangehistoryaboutLornaandherdeparture，andthesmallchancethatnowremainedtomeofeverseeingmyloveagain。TothisAnniewouldnothearkentwice，butjudgingwomenbyherfaithfulself，wasquitevexedwithmeforspeakingso。
Andthen，tomysurpriseandsorrow，shewoulddelivernoopinionastowhatIoughttodountilshehadconsulteddarlingTom。
DearTomknewmuchoftheworld，nodoubt，especiallythedarksideofit。ButtomeitscarcelyseemedbecomingthatmycourseofactionwithregardtotheLadyLornaDugalshouldbereferredtoTomFaggus，anddependuponhisdecision。However，IwouldnotgrieveAnnieagainbymakinglightofherhusband；andsowhenhecameintodinner，thematterwaslaidbeforehim。
Nowthismanneverconfessedhimselfsurprised，underanycircumstances；hisknowledgeoflifebeingsoprofound，andhischarityuniversal。Andinthepresentcasehevowedthathehadsuspecteditallalong，andcouldhavethrownlightuponLorna’shistory，ifwehadseenfittoapplytohim。UponfurtherinquiryIfoundthatthislightwasaverydimone，flowingonlyfromthefactthathehadstoppedhermother’scoach，atthevillageofBolham，ontheBamptonRoad，thedaybeforeIsawthem。Findingonlywomentherein，andtheseinasadcondition，Tomwithhisusualchivalryashehadnoscentofthenecklace
allowedthemtopass；withnothingmorethanapleasantexchangeofcourtesies，andatestimonialforceduponhim，intheshapeofabottleofBurgundywine。Thisthepoorcountesshandedhim；andhetwistedthecorkoutwithhisteeth，anddrankherhealthwithhishatoff。
’Aladyshewas，andatrueone；andIamaprettygoodjudge，’saidTom：’ah，Idolikeahighlady!’
OurAnnielookedratherqueeratthis，havingnopretensionstobeone：butsheconqueredherself，andsaid，’Yes，Tom；andmanyofthemlikedyou。’
Withthis，Tomwentonthebragatonce，beingbutashallowfellow，andnotofsettledprinciples，thoughsteadierthanheusedtobe；untilIfeltmyselfalmostboundtofetchhimbackalittle；forofallthingsI
dohatebragthemost，asanyreaderofthistalemustbythistimeknow。ThereforeIsaidtoSquireFaggus，’Comebackfromyourhighwaydays。Youhavemarriedthedaughterofanhonestman；andsuchtalkisnotfitforher。Ifyouwererightinrobbingpeople，Iamrightinrobbingyou。Icouldbindyoutoyourownmantelpiece，asyouknowthoroughlywell，Tom；anddriveawaywithyourownhorses，andallyourgoodsbehindthem，butforthesenseofhonesty。AndshouldInotdoasfineathingasanyyoudidonthehighway？
Ifeverythingisofpublicright，howdoesthischairbelongtoyou？Cleverasyouare，TomFaggus，youarenothingbutafooltomixyourfelonywithyourfarmership。Droptheone，ordroptheother；youcannotmaintainthemboth。’
AsIfinishedverysternlyaspeechwhichhadexhaustedmemorethantenroundsofwrestling——butIwascarriedawaybythetruth，assometimeshappenstoallofus——Tomhadnotawordtosay；albeithismindwassomuchmorenimbleandrapidthaneverminewas。Heleanedagainstthemantelpieceanewly-inventedaffairinhishouseasifIhadcordedhimtoit，evenasI
spokeofdoing。AndhelaidonehandonhisbreastinawaywhichmadeAnniecreepsoftlytohim，andlookatmenotlikeasister。
’Youhavedonemegood，John，’hesaidatlast，andthehandhegavemewastrembling：’thereisnoothermanonGod’searthwouldhavedaredtospeaktomeasyouhavedone。FromnootherwouldIhavetakenit。
Neverthelesseverywordistrue；andIshalldwellonitwhenyouaregone。Ifyouneverdidgoodinyourlifebefore，John，mybrother，youhavedoneitnow。’
Heturnedaway，inbitterpain，thatnonemightseehistrouble；andAnnie，goingalongwithhim，lookedasifIhadkilledourmother。Formypart，Iwassoupset，forfearofhavinggonetoofar，thatwithoutawordtoeitherofthem，butamessageonthetitle-pageofKingJameshisPrayer-book，IsaddledKickums，andwasoff，andgladofthemoorlandairagain。
ItwasforpoorAnnie’ssakethatIhadspokenmymindtoherhusbandsofreely，andevenharshly。Forweallknewshewouldbreakherheart，ifTomtooktoevilwaysagain。Andtherightmodeofpreventingthiswas，nottocoax，andflatter，andmakeaheroofhimwhichhedidforhimself，quitesufficiently，buttosetbeforehimthefollyofthething，andtheruintohisowninterests。Theywouldbothbevexedwithme，ofcourse，forhavingleftthemsohastily，andespeciallyjustbeforedinner-time；butthatwouldsoonwearoff；
andmostlikelytheywouldcometoseemother，andtellherthatIwashardtomanage，andtheycouldfeelforheraboutit。
Nowwithacertainyearning，Iknownotwhat，forsoftness，andforonewhocouldunderstandme——forsimpleasachildthoughbeing，Ifoundfewtodothatlast，atanyrateinmylove-time——IrelieduponKickum’sstrengthtotakemeroundbyDulverton。Itwouldmakethejourneysomeeightmileslonger，butwhatwasthattoabriskyounghorse，evenwithmyweightuponhim？
AndhavingleftSquireFaggusandAnniemuchsoonerthanhadbeenintended，Ihadplentyoftimebeforeme，andtoomuch，ereaprospectofdinner。ThereforeI
strucktotheright，acrossthehills，forDulverton。
PrettyRuthwasinthemainstreetofthetown，withabasketinherhand，goinghomefromthemarket。
’Why，CousinRuth，youaregrown，Iexclaimed；’Idobelieveyouare，Ruth。Andyouwerealmosttootall，already。’
Atthisthelittlethingwassopleased，thatshesmiledthroughherblushesbeautifully，andmustneedscometoshakehandswithme；thoughIsignedtohernottodoit，becauseofmyhorse’stemper。Butscarcelywasherhandinmine，whenKickumsturnedlikeaneeluponher，andcaughtherbytheleftarmwithhisteeth，sothatshescreamedwithagony。Isawthewhiteofhisviciouseye，andstruckhimtherewithallmyforce，withmylefthandoverherrightarm，andheneverusedthateyeagain；nonethelesshekepthisholdonher。ThenIsmotehimagainonthejaw，andcaughtthelittlemaidupbyherrighthand，andlaidheronthesaddleinfrontofme；whilethehorsebeinggiddyandstaggeredwithblows，andfoiledofhisspite，ranbackward。Ruth’switsweregone；andshelaybeforeme，insuchahelplessandsenselesswaythatIcouldhavekilledvileKickums。Istruckthespursintohimpasttherowels，andawayhewentatfullgallop；whileIhadenoughtodotoholdon，withthelittlegirllyinginfrontofme。ButIcalledtothemenwhowereflockingaround，tosendupasurgeon，asquickascouldbe，toMasterReubenHuckaback’s。
ThemomentIbroughtmyrightarmtobear，thevicioushorsehadnochancewithme；andifeverahorsewaswellpaidforspite，Kickumshadhischangethatday。
ThebridlewouldalmosthaveheldawhaleandIdrewonitsothathislowerjawwaswell-nighbrokenfromhim；
whilewithbothspursItorehisflanks，andhelearnedalittlelesson。Therearetimeswhenamanismoreviciousthananyhorsemayviewith。ThereforebythetimewehadreachedUncleReuben’shouseatthetopofthehill，thebadhorsewasonlytoohappytostop；
everystringofhisbodywastrembling，andhisheadhangingdownwithimpotence。Ileapedfromhisbackatonce，andcarriedthemaidenintoherownsweetroom。
NowCousinRuthwasrecoveringsoftlyfromherfrightandfaintness；andthevolleyofthewindfromgallopingsohadmadeherlittleearsquitepink，andshakenherlocksallroundher。Butanyonewhomightwishtoseeacomelysightandamovingone，needonlyhavelookedatRuthHuckaback，whenshelearnedandimaginedyetmorethanitwasthemannerofherlittleridewithme。Herhairwasofahazel-brown，andfullofwavingreadiness；andwithnoconcealmentofthetrick，shespreaditoverhereyesandface。Beingsodelightedwithher，andsogladtoseehersafe，I
kissedherthroughthethickofit，asacousinhasarighttodo；yea，andoughttodo，withgravity。
’Darling，’Isaid；’hehasbittenyoudreadfully：showmeyourpoorarm，dear。’
Shepulleduphersleeveinthesimplestmanner，rathertolookatitherself，thantoshowmewherethewoundwas。HersleevewasofdarkblueTauntonstaple；andherwhitearmshone，comingoutofit，asroundandplumpandvelvety，asastalkofasparagus，newlyfetchedoutoftheground。Butabovethecurvedsoftelbow，wherenoroomwasforonecrosswordaccordingtoourproverb，*threesadgashes，edgedwithcrimson，spoiledtheflowofthepearlyflesh。Mypresenceofmindwaslostaltogether；andIraisedthepoorsorearmtomylips，bothtostopthebleedingandtotakethevenomout，havingheardhowwiseitwas，andthinkingofmymother。ButRuth，tomygreatamazement，drewawayfrommeinbitterhaste，asifI
hadbeeninsertinginsteadofextractingpoison。Forthebiteofahorseismostvenomous；especiallywhenheshedshisteeth；andfarmoretobefearedthanthebiteofadog，orevenofacat。AndinmyhasteIhadforgottenthatRuthmightnotknowawordaboutthis，andmightdoubtaboutmymeaning，andthewarmthofmyosculation。Butknowingherdanger，Idurstnotheedherchildishness，orherfeelings。
*Amaidwithanelbowsharp，orknee，Hathcrosswordstwo，outofeverythree。
’Don’tbeafool，CousinRuth，’Isaid，catchinghersothatshecouldnotmove；’thepoisonissoakingintoyou。DoyouthinkthatIdoitforpleasure？’
Thespreadofshameonherfacewassuch，whenshesawherownmisunderstanding，thatIwasashamedtolookather；andoccupiedmyselfwithdrawingalltheriskofglandersforthfromthewhitelimb，hanginghelplessnow，andleftentirelytomywill。BeforeIwasquitesureofhavingwhollyexhaustedsuction，andwhenIhadmadetheholesinherarmlooklikethegillsofalamprey，incamethedoctor，partlydrunk，andinhastetogetthroughhisbusiness。
’Ha，ha!Isee，’hecried；’biteofahorse，theytellme。Verypoisonous；mustbeburnedaway。Sally，theironinthefire。Ifyouhaveafire，thisweather。’
’Craveyourpardon，goodsir，’Isaid；forpoorlittleRuthwasfaintingagainathissavageorders：’butmycousin’sarmshallnotbeburned；itisagreatdealtoopretty，andIhavesuckedallthepoisonout。
Look，sir，howcleanandfreshitis。’
’Blessmyheart!Andsoitis!Noneedatallforcauterising。Theepidermiswillcloseover，andthecutisandthepellis。JohnRidd，yououghttohavestudiedmedicine，withyourhealingpowers。Halfmyvirtueliesintouch。Acleanandwholesomebody，sir；
IhavetaughtyoutheLatingrammar。Ileaveyouinexcellenthands，mydear，andtheywaitformeatshovel-board。Breadandwaterpoulticecold，toberenewed，tribushoris。JohnRidd，Iwasatschoolwithyou，andyoubeatmeverylamentably，whenItriedtofightwithyou。Youremembermenot？Itislikelyenough：Iamforcedtotakestrongwaters，John，frominfirmityoftheliver。Attendtomydirections；andI
willcallagaininthemorning。’
Andinthatmelancholyplight，caringnothingforbusiness，wentoneofthecleverestfellowseverknownatTiverton。HecouldwriteLatinversesagreatdealfasterthanIcouldeverwriteEnglishprose，andnothingseemedtoogreatforhim。WethoughtthathewouldgotoOxfordandastonisheveryone，andwriteinthestyleofBuchanan；buthefellallabroadverylamentably；andnow，whenImethimagain，wascomedowntopush-pinandshovel-board，withawagerofspiritspending。
WhenMasterHuckabackcamehome，helookedatmeverysulkily；notonlybecauseofmyrefusaltobecomeaslavetothegold-digging，butalsobecauseheregardedmeasthecauseofasavagebroilbetweenSimonCarfaxandthemenwhohadcheatedhimastohisGwenny。
However，whenUncleBensawRuth，andknewwhathadbefallenher，andshewithtearsinhereyesdeclaredthatsheowedherlifetoCousinRidd，theoldmanbecameverygracioustome；forifhelovedanyoneonearth，itwashislittlegranddaughter。