Andhereletmemention——althoughthetwoarequitedistinctanddifferent——thatboththedewandthebreadofExmoormaybesought，whetherhighorlow，butneverfoundelsewhere。Thedewissocrisp，andpure，andpearly，andinsuchabundance；andthebreadissosweet，sokind，andhomely，youcaneataloaf，andthenanother。
NowwhileIwaswalkingdailyinandoutgreatcrowdsofmenfewofwhomhadanyfreedomfromthecaresofmoney，andmanyofwhomwereevenmorbidwithaworsepestcalled’politics’，Icouldnotbequitofthinkinghowwejostleoneanother。Godhasmadetheearthquitelarge，withaspreadoflandlargeenoughforalltoliveon，withoutfighting。Alsoamightyspreadofwater，layinghandsonsandandcliffwithasolemnvoiceinstorm-time；andinthegentleweathermovingmentothoughtsofequity。This，aswell，isfulloffood；beingtwo-thirdsoftheworld，andreservedfordevouringknowledge；bythetimethesonsofmenhavefedawaythedryland。Yetbeforethelanditselfhasacknowledgedtouchofman，upononeinahundredacres；andbeforeonemileintenthousandoftheexhaustlessoceanhaseverfelttheplungeofhook，orcombingofthehaul-nets；lo，wecrawl，inflockstogetheruponthehotgroundthatstingsus，evenastheblackgrubscrowdupontheharriednettle!Surelywearetoomuchgiventofollowthetracksofeachother。
However，foramoralist，Ineversetup，andnevershall，whilecommonsenseabideswithme。Suchamanmustbeverywretchedinthispuredearthofmorality；
likeafishermanwherenofishbe；andmostofushaveenoughtodotoattendtoourownmorals。EnoughthatIresolvedtogo；andasLornacouldnotcomewithme，itwasevenworsethanstopping。NearlyeverybodyvowedthatIwasagreatfoolindeed，toneglectsorudely——whichwastheproperword，theysaid——thepushingofmyfortunes。ButIansweredthattopushwasrude，andIleftittopeoplewhohadnoroom；andthoughtthatmyfortunemustbeheavy，ifitwouldnotmovewithoutpushing。
LornacriedwhenIcameawaywhichgavemegreatsatisfaction，andshesentawholetrunkfulofthingsformotherandAnnie，andevenLizzie。Andsheseemedtothink，thoughshesaiditnot，thatImademyownoccasionforgoing，andmighthavestayedontillthewinter。WhereasIknewwellthatmymotherwouldthinkandeveryoneonthefarmthesamethathereIhadbeeninLondon，lagging，andtakingmypleasure，andlookingatshops，uponpretenceofKing’sbusiness，andleavingtheharvesttoreapitself，nottomentionthespendingofmoney；whileallthetimetherewasnothingwhatever，exceptmyownloveofadventureandsport，tokeepmefromcominghomeagain。ButIknewthatmycoatofarms，andtitle，wouldturneverybitofthisgrumblingintofineadmiration。
Andsoitfellout，toagreaterextentthanevenI
desired；foralltheparishesroundaboutunitedinasumptuousdinner，attheMotherMelldruminn——fornowthatgoodladywasdead，andhernameandfacesetonasign-post——towhichIwasinvited，sothatitwasasgoodasasummons。Andifmyhealthwasnobetternextday，itwasnotfromwantofgoodwishes，anymorethanfromstintoftheliquor。
Itisneedlesstosaythattherealgentryforalongtimetreatedmynewhonourswithcontemptandridicule；
butgraduallyastheyfoundthatIwasnotsuchafoolastoclaimanyequalitywiththem，butwentaboutmyfarm-work，andthrewanothermanatwrestling，andtouchedmyhattothemagistrates，justthesameasever；somegentlemenofthehighestblood——ofwhichwethinkagreatdealmorethanofgold，aroundourneighbourhood——actuallyexpressedadesiretomakemyacquaintance。Andwhen，inamannerquitestraightforward，andwhollyfreefrombitterness，I
thankedthemforthiswhichappearedtomethehighesthonouryetofferedme，butdeclinedtogointotheircompanybecauseitwouldmakemeuncomfortable，andthemselvesaswell，inadifferentway，theydidwhatnearlyallEnglishmendo，whenathingisrightandsensible。Theyshookhandswithme；andsaidthattheycouldnotdenybutthattherewasreasoninmyviewofthematter。Andalthoughtheythemselvesmustbethelosers——whichwasahandsomethingtosay——theywouldwaituntilIwasalittleolderandmoreawareofmyownvalue。
NowthisremindsmehowitisthatanEnglishgentlemanissofarinfrontofforeignnoblemenandprinces。I
haveseenattimes，alittle，bothofoneandoftheother，andmakingmorethandueallowanceforthedifficultiesoflanguage，andthedifferenceoftraining，uponthewhole，thebalanceisinfavourofourpeople。Andthis，becausewehavetwoweights，solidandeveninscaleofmannersoutweighingalllightcomplaisance；towit，theinbornloveofjustice，andthepowerofabiding。
Yetsomepeoplemaybesurprisedthatmenwithanyloveofjustice，whetherinbornorotherwise，couldcontinuetoabidethearrogance，andrapacity，andtyrannyoftheDoones。
Fornowasthewinterpassed，theDooneswerenotkeepingthemselvesathome，asinhonourtheywereboundtodo。Twentysheepaweek，andonefatox，andtwostoutreddeerforwholesomechangeofdiet，aswellasthreescorebushelsofflour，andtwohogsheadsandahalfofcider，andahundredweightofcandles，nottomentionotherthingsofalmosteveryvarietywhichtheygotbyinsistinguponit——surelythesemighthavesufficedtokeepthepeopleintheirplace，withnooutburstofwantonness。Nevertheless，itwasnotso；theyhadmadecomplaintaboutsomething——toomuchewe-mutton，Ithinkitwas——andinspiteofallthepledgesgiven，theyhadriddenforth，andcarriedawaytwomaidensofourneighbourhood。
Nowthesetwomaidenswereknown，becausetheyhadservedthebeeratanale-house；andmanymenwhohadlookedatthem，overapintorquartvesselespeciallyastheywerecomelygirls，thoughtthatitwasveryhardforthemtogointhatway，andperhapsthemselvesunwilling。Andtheirmotheralthoughshehadtakensomemoney，whichtheDooneswerealwaysfullof
declaredthatitwasarobbery；andthoughitincreasedforawhilethecustom，thatmustsoonfalloffagain。
Andwhowouldhavehertwogirlsnow，cleverastheywereandgood？
Beforewehadfinishedmeditatinguponthislooseoutrage——forsoIatleastwouldcallit，thoughpeopleaccustomedtothelawmaytakeadifferentviewofit——wehadnewsofathingfarworse，whichturnedtheheartsofourwomensick。ThisIwilltellinmostcarefullanguage，soastogiveoffencetonone，ifskillofwordsmayhelpit。*
*Thefollowingstoryisstrictlytrue；andtrueitisthatthecountry-peoplerose，toaman，atthisdastardcruelty，anddidwhattheGovernmentfailedtodo——Ed。
MistressMargeryBadcock，ahealthyanduprightyoungwoman，withagoodrichcolour，andoneofthefinesthen-roostsanywhereroundourneighbourhood，wasnursingherchildaboutsixoftheclock，andlookingoutforherhusband。Nowthischildwastoooldtobenursed，aseverybodytoldher；forhecouldrun，saytwoyardsalone，andperhapsfourorfive，byholdingtohandles。Andhehadawayoflookinground，andspreadinghislegs，andlaughing，withhisbravelittlebodywellfetchedup，afteradesperatejourneytotheendofthetable，whichhismothersaidnothingcouldequal。Nevertheless，hewouldcometobenursed，asregularasaclock，almost；and，inasmuchashewasthefirst，bothfatherandmothermademuchofhim；forGodonlyknewwhethertheycouldevercompasssuchanotherone。
ChristopherBadcockwasatenantfarmer，intheparishofMartinhoe，rentingsomefiftyacresofland，witharightofcommonattachedtothem；andatthisparticulartime，beingnowthemonthofFebruary，andfineopenweather，hewashardatworkploughingandpreparingforspringcorn。Thereforehiswifewasnotsurprisedalthoughtheduskwasfalling，thatfarmerChristophershouldbeatworkin’blindman’sholiday，’
aswecallit。
Butshewassurprised，nayastonished，whenbythelightofthekitchenfirebrightenedupforherhusband，shesawsixorsevengreatarmedmenburstintotheroomuponher；andshescreamedsothatthemaidinthebackkitchenheardher，butwasafraidtocometohelp。TwoofthestrongestandfiercestmenatonceseizedpooryoungMargery；andthoughshefoughtforherchildandhome，shewasbutaninfantherselfintheirhands。Inspiteoftears，andshrieks，andstruggles，theytorethebabefromthemother’sarms，andcastitonthelimeashfloor；thentheyboreherawaytotheirhorsesforbythistimeshewassenseless，andtellingtheotherstosackthehouse，rodeoffwiththeirprizetothevalley。Andfromthedescriptionofoneofthosetwo，whocarriedoffthepoorwoman，IknewbeyondalldoubtthatitwasCarverDoonehimself。
TheotherDoonesbeingleftbehind，andgrievedperhapsinsomerespects，settowithawilltoscourthehouse，andtobringawayallthatwasgoodtoeat。AndbeingalittlevexedhereinfortheBadcockswerenotarichcoupleandfindingnomorethanbacon，andeggs，andcheese，andlittleitems，andnothingtodrinkbutwater；inaword，theirtastebeingoffended，theycameback，tothekitchen，andstamped；andtherewasthebabylying。
Byevilluck，thischildbegantosquealabouthismother，havingbeenpettedhitherto，andwonttogetallhewanted，byraisinghisvoicebutalittle。Nowthemarkofthefloorwasuponhishead，asthemaidwhohadstolentolookathim，whentheroughmenwereswearingupstairsgaveevidence。Andsheputadish-
clothunderhishead，andkissedhim，andranawayagain。HernamewasHonourJose，andshemeantwhatwasrightbyhermasterandmistress；butcouldnothelpbeingfrightened。Andmanywomenhaveblamedher，asIthinkunduly，forhermodeofforsakingbabyso。
Ifithadbeenherownbaby，instinctratherthanreasonmighthavehadthedaywithher；butthechildbeingbornofhermistress，shewishedhimgoodluck，andlefthim，asthefiercemencamedownstairs。Andbeingalarmedbytheirpoweroflanguagebecausetheyhadfoundnosilver，shecreptawayinabreathlesshurry，andafraidhowherbreathmightcomebacktoher。Foroftentimeshehadhiccoughs。
Whilethisgoodmaidwasintheoven，bysideofback-kitchenfireplace，withafaggotofwooddrawnoverher，andlyingsothatherownheartbeatworsethanifshewerebaking；themenasIsaidbefore
camedownstairs，andstampedaroundthebaby。
’Rowland，isthebacongood？’oneofthemaskedwithanoathortwo；’itistoobadofCarvertogooffwiththeonlyprize，andleaveusinastarvingcottage；andnotenoughtoeatfortwoofus。Fetchdownthestavesoftherack，myboy。Whatwasfarmertohaveforsupper？’
’Naughtbutanonionortwo，andaloafandarasherofrustybacon。Thesepoordevilslivesobadly，theyarenotworthrobbing。’
’Nogame!Thenletushaveagameofloriotwiththebaby!Itwillbethebestthingthatcouldbefallalustyinfantheretic。Rideacock-horsetoBanburyCross。Bye，bye，babyBunting；tosshimup，andletmeseeifmywristbesteady。’
Thecrueltyofthismanisathingitmakesmesicktospeakof；enoughthatwhenthepoorbabyfellwithoutattemptatcryorscream，thinkingitpartofhisusualplay，whentheytossedhimup，tocomedownagain，themaidintheovenoftheback-kitchen，notbeinganydoorbetween，heardthemsayasfollows，——
’Ifanymanaskethwhokilledthee，Say’twastheDoonesofBagworthy。’*
*Alwayspronounced’Badgery。’
NowIthinkthatwhenweheardthisstory，andpoorKitBadcockcameallaround，inasortofhalf-crazymanner，notlookingupatanyone，butdroppinghiseyes，andaskingwhetherwethoughthehadbeenwell-treated，andseemingvoidofregardforlife，ifthiswereallthestyleofit；thenhavingknownhimalustyman，andafinesingerinanale-house，andmuchinclinedtolaydownthelaw，asshowahighhandaboutwomen，Ireallythinkthatitmovedusmorethanifhehadgoneaboutranting，andraving，andvowingrevengeuponeveryone。
Therehadbeensometroubleinourownhomeduringthepreviousautumn，whileyetIwasinLondon。ForcertainnotedfugitivesfromthearmyofKingMonmouthwhichhehimselfhaddeserted，inalowandcurrishmanner，havingfailedtoobtainfreeshipmentfromthecoastnearWatersmouth，hadreturnedintothewildsofExmoor，trustingtolurk，andbecomfortedamongthecommonpeople。Neitherweretheydisappointed，foracertainlengthoftime；norintheendwastheirdisappointmentcausedbyfaultonourpart。MajorWadewasoneofthem；anactiveandwell-meaningman；butpronetofailincourage，uponlastingtrial；althoughinamomentready。SquireJohnWhichehalsenotthebaronandParsonPowell*caughthimtwoorthreemonthsbeforemyreturninFarleyfarmhouse，nearBrendon。Hehadbeenupatourhouseseveraltimes；
andLizziethoughtagreatdealofhim。AndwellI
knowthatifatthattimeIhadbeenintheneighbourhood，heshouldnothavebeentakensoeasily。
*NotourparsonBowden，noranymoreafriendofhis。
OurParsonBowdenneverhadnaughtwhatevertodowithit；andneversmokedapipewithParsonPowellafterit——J。R。
JohnBirch，thefarmerwhohadshelteredhim，wassofearfulofpunishment，thathehangedhimself，inafewdays’time，andevenbeforehewasapprehended。ButnothingwasdonetoGraceHowe，ofBridgeball，whohadbeenWade’sgreatestcomforter；neitherwasanythingdonetous；althoughElizahadaddedgreatlytomother’salarmanddangerbyfallinguponRectorPowell，andmostsoundlyratinghimforhismeanness，andhiscruelty，andcowardice，asshecalledit，insettingmenwithfirearmsuponapoorhelplessfugitive，androbbingallourneighbourhoodofitsfameforhospitality。However，bymeansofSergeantBloxham，andhisgoodreportofus，aswellasbyvirtueofWade’sconfessionwhichprovedofusetotheGovernmentmymotherescapedallpenalties。