Bysomestrangechanceshesawme。Orwasitthroughourdestiny？Whilewitheyeskeptsedulouslyonthemarblefloor，toshuntheweightofadmirationthrusttooboldlyonthem，whilewithshyquickstepsshepassed，someoneperhapswithpurposetrodontheskirtofherclearwhitedress，——withthequicknesstaughtherbymanyasceneofdanger，shelookedup，andhereyesmetmine。
AsIgazeduponher，steadfastly，yearningly，yetwithsomereproach，andmoreofpridethanhumility，shemademeoneofthecourtlybowswhichIdosomuchdetest；yeteventhatwassweetandgraceful，whenmyLornadidit。Butthecolourofherpureclearcheekswasnearlyasdeepasthatofmyown，whenshewentonforthereligiouswork。Andtheshiningofhereyeswasowingtoanunpaiddebtoftears。
UponthewholeIwassatisfied。Lornahadseenme，andhadnotaccordingtothephraseofthehighworldtheneventriedto’cut’me。Whetherthislowphraseisbornoftheirownstupidmeanness，orwhetheritcomesofnecessityexercisedonamanwithoutmoney，I
knownot，andIcarenot。ButonethingIknowrightwell；anymanwho’cuts’amanexceptforviceormeannessshouldbequarteredwithoutquarter。
AlltheseproudthoughtsrosewithinmeasthelovelyformofLornawentinside，andwasnomoreseen。AndthenIfelthowcoarseIwas；howapttothinkstrongthoughts，andsoon；withoutbrainstobearmeout：
evenasahen’segg，laidwithoutenoughoflime，andlookingonlyapoorjelly。
Nevertheless，Iwaitedon；asmyusualmanneris。Fortobebeaten，whilerunningaway，istentimesworsethantofaceitout，andtakeit，andhavedonewithit。SoatleastIhavealwaysfound，becauseofreproachofconscience：andallthethingsthosecleverpeoplecarriedoninside，atlarge，mademelongforourParsonBowdenthathemightknowhowtoact。
WhileIstoredup，inmymemory，enoughtokeepourparsongoingthroughsixpipesonaSaturdaynight——tohaveitasrightascouldbenextday——aleanmanwithayellowbeard，toothinforagoodCatholicwhichreligionalwaysfattens，cameuptome，workingsideways，inthemannerofafemalecrab。
’Thisisnottomyliking，’Isaid：’ifaughtthouhast，speakplainly；whiletheymakethathorriblenoiseinside。’
Nothinghadthismantosay；butwithmanysighs，becauseIwasnotoftheproperfaith，hetookmyreprobatehandtosaveme：andwithseveralreligioustears，lookedupatme，andwinkedwithoneeye。
Althoughtheskinofmypalmswasthick，Ifeltalittlesuggestionthere，asofagentleleafinspring，fearingtoseemtooforward。Ipaidtheman，andhewenthappy；forthestandardofhereticalsilverispurerthanthatoftheCatholics。
ThenIliftedupmylittlebillet；andinthatdarkcornerreadit，withastrongrainbowofcolourscomingfromtheangledlight。Andinmineeyestherewasenoughtomakerainbowofstrongestsun，asmyangercloudedoff。
Notthatitbegansowell；butthatinmyheartIknewerethreelineswerethroughmethatIwaswithallheartloved——andbeyondthat，whomayneed？Thedarlingofmylifewenton，asifIwereofherownrank，orevenbetterthanshewas；andshedottedher’i’s，’andcrossedher’t’s，’asifIwereatleastaschoolmaster。Allofitwasdoneinpencil；butasplainasplaincouldbe。Inmycoffinitshalllie，withmyringandsomethingelse。ThereforewillInotexposeittoeverymanwhobuysthisbook，andhaplythinksthathehasboughtmetothebottomofmyheart。
Enoughformenofgentlebirthwhoneverareinquisitivethatmylovetoldme，inherletter，justtocomeandseeher。
Iranaway，andcouldnotstop。Tobeholdevenher，atthemoment，wouldhavedashedmyfancy’sjoy。Yetmybrainwassoamiss，thatImustdosomething。
ThereforetotheriverThames，withallspeed，I
hurried；andkeepingallmybestclothesoninduedforsakeofLorna，intothequietstreamIleaped，andswamasfarasLondonBridge，andatenoblerdinnerafterwards。
Althoughamanmaybeassimpleastheflowersofthefield；knowingwhen，butscarcelywhy，heclosestothebitterwind；andfeelingwhy，butscarcelywhen，heopenstothegenialsun；yetwithouthisquestingmuchintothecapsuleofhimself——todowhichisamisery——hemayhaveageneralnotionhowhehappenstobegettingon。
Ifeltmyselftobegettingonbetterthanatanytimesincethelastwheat-harvest，asItookthelanetoKensingtonupontheMondayevening。ForalthoughnotimewasgiveninmyLorna’sletter，Iwasnotinclinedtowaitmorethandecencyrequired。AndthoughIwentandwatchedthehouse，decencywouldnotallowmetoknockontheSundayevening，especiallywhenIfoundatthecornerthathislordshipwasathome。
ThelanesandfieldsbetweenCharingCrossandthevillageofKensington，are，orwereatthattime，morethanreasonablyinfestedwithfootpadsandwithhighwaymen。However，mystatureandhollyclubkeptthesefellowsfromdoingmorethancastingsheep’seyesatme。Foritwasstillbroaddaylight，andtheviewofthedistantvillages，Chelsea，Battersea，Tyburn，andothers，aswellasafewlargehouses，amongthehamsandtowardstheriver，madeitseemlesslonely。
ThereforeIsangasonginthebroadestExmoordialect，whichcausednolittleamazementinthemindsofallwhometme。
WhenIcametoEarlBrandir’shouse，mynaturalmodestyforbademetoappearatthedoorforguests；thereforeIwenttotheentranceforservantsandretainers。
Here，tomygreatsurprise，whoshouldcomeandletmeinbutlittleGwennyCarfax，whoseveryexistencehadalmostescapedmyrecollection。Hermistress，nodoubt，hadseenmecoming，andsenthertosavetrouble。ButwhenIofferedtokissGwenny，inmyjoyandcomforttoseeafarm-housefaceagain，shelookedashamed，andturnedaway，andwouldhardlyspeaktome。
Ifollowedhertoalittleroom，furnishedverydaintily；andtheresheorderedmetowait，inamostungraciousmanner。’Well，’thoughtI，’ifthemistressandthemaidarealikeintemper，betterithadbeenformetoabideatMasterRamsack’s。’Butalmosteremythoughtwasdone，IheardthelightquickstepwhichIknewaswellas’Watch，’mydog，knewmine；andmybreastbegantotremble，likethetremblingofanarcherethekeystoneisputin。
AlmostereIhoped——forfearandhopeweresoentangledthattheyhinderedoneanother——thevelvethangingsofthedoorwayparted，withalittledoubt，andthenagoodfaceputonit。Lorna，inherperfectbeauty，stoodbeforethecrimsonfolds，andherdresswasallpurewhite，andhercheekswererosypink，andherlipswerescarlet。
Likeamaiden，withskillandsensecheckingviolentimpulse，shestayedthereforonemomentonly，justtobeadmired；andthenlikeawoman，shecametome，seeinghowalarmedIwas。ThehandsheofferedmeI
took，andraisedittomylipswithfear，asathingtoogoodforme。’Isthatall？’shewhispered；andthenhereyesgleamedupatme；andinanotherinstant，shewasweepingonmybreast。
’DarlingLorna，LadyLorna，’Icried，inastonishment，yetunablebuttokeepherclosertome，andcloser；
’surely，thoughIloveyouso，thisisnotasitshouldbe。’
’Yes，itis，John。Yes，itis。Nothingelseshouldeverbe。Oh，whyhaveyoubehavedso？’
’Iambehaving。’Ireplied，’totheverybestofmyability。Thereisnoothermanintheworldcouldholdyouso，withoutkissingyou。’
’Thenwhydon’tyoudoit，John？’askedLorna，lookingupatme，withaflashofheroldfun。
Nowthismatter，proverbially，isnotfordiscussion，andrepetition。Enoughthatwesaidnothingmorethan，’Oh，John，howgladIam!’and’Lorna，LornaLorna!’
foraboutfiveminutes。Thenmydarlingdrewbackproudly，withblushingcheeks，andtear-brighteyes，shebegantocross-examineme。
’MasterJohnRidd，youshalltellthetruth，thewholetruth，andnothingbutthetruth。IhavebeeninChancery，sir；andcandetectastory。Nowwhyhaveyounever，formorethanatwelvemonth，takenthesmallestnoticeofyouroldfriend，MistressLornaDoone？’Althoughshespokeinthislightsomemanner，asifitmadenodifference，Isawthatherquickheartwasmoving，andtheflashofhereyescontrolled。
’Simplyforthiscause，Ianswered，’thatmyoldfriendandtruelove，tooknotthesmallestheedofme。NorknewIwheretofindher。’
’What!’criedLorna；andnothingmore；beingovercomewithwondering；andmuchinclinedtofallaway，butformyassistance。Itoldher，overandoveragain，thatnotasinglesyllableofanymessagefromher，ortidingsofherwelfare，hadreachedme，oranyoneofus，sincethelettersheleftbehind；exceptbysoldier’sgossip。
’Oh，youpoordearJohn!’saidLorna，sighingatthoughtofmymisery：’howwonderfullygoodofyou，thinkingofmeasyoumusthavedone，nottomarrythatlittleplainthingorperhapsIshouldsaythatlovelycreature，forIhaveneverseenher，MistressRuth——I
forgethername；butsomethinglikeatowel。’
’RuthHuckabackisaworthymaid，’Iansweredwithsomedignity；’andshealoneofallourworld，exceptindeedpoorAnnie，haskeptherconfidenceinyou，andtoldmenottodreadyourrank，buttrustyourheart，LadyLorna。’
’ThenRuthismybestfriend，’sheanswered，’andisworthyofyou，dearJohn。Andnowrememberonething，dear；ifGodshouldpartus，asmaybebynothingshortofdeath，trytomarrythatlittleRuth，whenyouceasetorememberme。Andnowforthehead-traitor。Ihaveoftensuspectedit：butshelooksmeintheface，andwishes——fearfulthings，whichIcannotrepeat。’
Withthesewords，shemovedanimplementsuchasIhadnotseenbefore，andwhichmadearingingnoiseataseriousdistance。AndbeforeIhadceasedwondering——forifsuchthingsgoon，wemightringthechurchbells，whilesittinginourback-kitchen——littleGwennyCarfaxcame，withagraveandsullenface。
’Gwenny，’beganmyLorna，inatoneofhighrankanddignity，’goandfetchtheletterswhichIgaveyouatvarioustimesfordespatchtoMistressRidd。’
’HowcanIfetchthem，whentheyaregone？Itbenouseforhimtotellnolies——’
’Now，Gwenny，canyoulookatme？’Iasked，verysternly；forthematterwasnojoketome，afterayear’sunhappiness。
’Idon’twanttolookat’ee。WhatshouldIlookatayoungmanfor，althoughhedidoffertokissme？’
Isawthespiteandimpudenceofthislastremark，andsodidLorna，althoughshecouldnotquiterefrainfromsmiling。
’Now，Gwenny，nottospeakofthat，’saidLorna，verydemurely，’ifyouthoughtithonesttokeeptheletters，wasithonesttokeepthemoney？’
AtthistheCornishmaidenbrokeintoarageofhonesty：’Aputtthemoneybyfor’ee。’Eeshallhaveeveryfardenofit。’Andsosheflungoutoftheroom。
’And，Gwenny，’saidLornaverysoftly，followingunderthedoor-hangings；’ifitisnothonesttokeepthemoney，itisnothonesttokeeptheletters，whichwouldhavebeenworthmorethananygoldtothosewhoweresokindtoyou。Yourfathershallknowthewhole，Gwenny，unlessyoutellthetruth。’
’Now，awilltellallthetruth，’thisstrangemaidenanswered，talkingtoherselfatleastasmuchastohermistress，whileshewentoutofsightandhearing。AndthenIwassogladathavingmyownLornaonceagain，clearedofallcontemptforus，andtruetomethroughallofit，thatIwouldhaveforgivenGwennyfortreason，orevenforgery。
’Itrustedhersomuch，’saidLorna，inheroldill-fortunedway；’andlookhowshehasdeceivedme!
ThatiswhyIloveyou，Johnsettingotherthingsaside，becauseyounevertoldmefalsehood；andyounevercould，youknow。’
’Well，Iamnotsosureofthat。IthinkIcouldtellanylie，tohaveyou，darling，allmyown。’
’Yes。Andperhapsitmightberight。Tootherpeoplebesidesustwo。Butyoucouldnotdoittome，John。
Younevercoulddoittome，youknow。’
BeforeIquiteperceivedmywaytothebottomofthedistinction——althoughbeyonddoubtavalidone——Gwennycamebackwithaleathernbag，andtossedituponthetable。Notaworddidshevouchsafetous；butstoodthere，lookinginjured。
’Go，andgetyourletters，John，’saidLornaverygravely；’oratleastyourmother’sletters，madeofmessagestoyou。AsforGwenny，sheshallgobeforeLordJusticeJeffreys。’IknewthatLornameantitnot；
butthoughtthatthegirldeservedafrightening；asindeedshedid。ButwebothmistookthecourageofthischildofCornwall。Shesteppeduponalittleroundthing，inthenatureofastool，suchasIneverhadseenbefore，andthusdeliveredhersentiments。