’Willyouapplaudme，kindsir，’Isaid，keepinghimverytight，allthewhile，’ifIplaceitinyourpowertoratifyyourpeacewithGod？Thepledgeisuponyourheart，nodoubt，forthereitliesatthismoment。’
Withthesewords，andsomeapologyforhavingrecoursetostrongmeasures，Ithrustmyhandinsidehiswaistcoat，anddrewforthLorna’snecklace，purelysparklinginthemoonlight，likethedancingofnewstars。Theoldmanmadeastabatme，withaknifewhichIhadnotespied；buttheviciousonsetfailed；
andthenheknelt，andclaspedhishands。
’Oh，forGod’ssake，John，myson，robmenotinthatmanner。Theybelongtome；andIlovethemso；I
wouldgivealmostmylifeforthem。ThereisonejewelIcanlookatforhours，andseeallthelightsofheaveninit；whichInevershallseeelsewhere。Allmywretched，wickedlife——oh，John，Iamasadhypocrite——butgivemebackmyjewels。Orelsekillmehere；Iamababeinyourhands；butImusthavebackmyjewels。’
Ashisbeautifulwhitehairfellawayfromhisnobleforehead，likeasilverwreathofglory，andhispowerfulface，foronce，wasmovedwithrealemotion，I
wassoamazedandovercomebythegrandcontradictionsofnature，thatverilyIwasonthepointofgivinghimbackthenecklace。Buthonesty，whichissaidtobethefirstinstinctofalltheRiddsthoughImyselfneverfounditso，happenedheretooccurtome，andsoIsaid，withoutmorehastethanmightbeexpected，——
’SirCounsellor，Icannotgiveyouwhatdoesnotbelongtome。Butifyouwillshowmethatparticulardiamondwhichisheaventoyou，Iwilltakeuponmyselftheriskandthefollyofcuttingitoutforyou。Andwiththatyoumustgocontented；andIbeseechyounottostarvewiththatjeweluponyourlips。’
Seeingnohopeofbetterterms，heshowedmehispetloveofajewel；andIthoughtofwhatLornawastome，asIcutitoutwiththehingeofmyknifeseveringthesnakesofgoldandplaceditinhiscarefulhand。
Anothermoment，andhewasgone，andawaythroughGwenny’spostern；andGodknowswhatbecameofhim。
NowastoCarver，thethingwasthis——sofarasIcouldascertainfromthevaliantminers，notwoofwhomtoldthesamestory，anymorethanoneofthemtoldittwice。ThebandofDooneswhichsalliedforthfortherobberyofthepretendedconvoywasmetbySimonCarfax，accordingtoarrangement，attheruinedhousecalledTheWarren，inthatpartofBagworthyForestwheretheriverExeasyetaverysmallstreamrunsthroughit。TheWarren，asallourpeopleknow，hadbelongedtoafineoldgentleman，whomeveryonecalled’TheSquire，’whohadretreatedfromactivelifetopasstherestofhisdaysinfishing，andshooting，andhelpinghisneighbours。Forhewasamanofsomesubstance；andnopoormaneverleftTheWarrenwithoutabagofgoodvictuals，andafewshillingsputinhispocket。However，thispoorSquirenevermadeagreatermistake，thaninhopingtoendhislifepeacefullyuponthebanksofatrout-stream，andinthegreenforestofBagworthy。Forashecamehomefromthebrookatdusk，withhisfly-rodoverhisshoulder，theDoonesfelluponhim，andmurderedhim，andthensackedhishouse，andburnedit。
NowthishadmadehonestpeopletimidaboutgoingpastTheWarrenatnight；for，ofcourse，itwassaidthattheoldSquire’walked，’uponcertainnightsofthemoon，inandoutofthetrunksoftrees，onthegreenpathfromtheriver。Onhisshoulderheboreafishing-rod，andhisbookoftrout-flies，inonehand，andonhisbackawicker-creel；andnowandthenhewouldburstoutlaughingtothinkofhiscomingsoneartheDoones。
Andnowthatoneturnstoconsiderit，thisseemsastrangelyrighteousthing，thatthesceneofoneofthegreatestcrimesevenbyDoonescommittedshould，aftertwentyyears，becomethesceneofvengeancefallinglikehailfromheavenuponthem。ForalthoughTheWarrenlieswellawaytothewestwardofthemine；andthegold，underescorttoBristowe，orLondon，wouldhavegoneintheotherdirection；CaptainCarfax，findingthisplacebestsuitedforworkingofhisdesign，hadpersuadedtheDoones，thatforreasonsofGovernment，theoremustgofirsttoBarnstapleforinspection，orsomethingofthatsort。AndaseveryoneknowsthatourGovernmentsendsallthingswestwardwheneastwardbound，thishadwonthemorefaithforSimon，asbeingaccordingtonature。
NowSimon，havingmettheseflowersoftheflockofvillainy，wheretherisingmoonlightflowedthroughtheweir-workofthewood，beggedthemtodismount；andledthemwithanairofmysteryintotheSquire’sruinedhall，blackwithfire，andgreenwithweeds。
’Captain，Ihavefoundathing，’hesaidtoCarverDoone，himself，’whichmayhelptopassthehour，erethelumpofgoldcomesby。Thesmugglersareanoblerace；butaminer’seyesareamatchforthem。Thereliesapuncheonofrarespirit，withtheDutchman’sbranduponit，hiddenbehindthebrokenhearth。Setamantowatchoutside；andletusseewhatthisbelike。’
Withoneaccordtheyagreedtothis，andCarverpledgedMasterCarfax，andalltheDoonesgrewmerry。ButSimonbeingbound，ashesaid，toseetotheirstrictsobriety，drewabucketofwaterfromthewellintowhichtheyhadthrownthedeadowner，andbeggedthemtomingleitwiththeirdrink；whichsomeofthemdid，andsomerefused。
Butthewaterfromthatwellwaspoured，whiletheywerecarousing，intothepriming-panofeverygunoftheirs；evenasSimonhadpromisedtodowiththegunsofthementheywerecometokill。ThenjustasthegiantCarverarose，withaglassofpurehollandsinhishand，andbythelightofthetorchtheyhadstruck，proposedthegoodhealthoftheSquire’sghost——inthebrokendoorwaystoodapressofmen，withpointedmuskets，coveringeverydrunkenDoone。HowitfareduponthatIknownot，havingnonetotellme；foreachmanwrought，neitherthoughtoftelling，norwhetherhemightbealivetotell。TheDoonesrushedtotheirgunsatonce，andpointedthem，andpulledatthem；buttheSquire’swellhaddrownedtheirfire；andthentheyknewthattheywerebetrayed，butresolvedtofightlikemenforit。UponfightingIcanneverdwell；itbreedssuchsavagedelightinme；ofwhichI
wouldfainhaveless。EnoughthatalltheDoonesfoughtbravely；andlikementhoughbadonesdiedinthehallofthemantheyhadmurdered。AndwiththemdiedpooryoungDeWhichehalse，who，inspiteofhisgoodfather’sprayers，hadcastinhislotwiththerobbers。CarverDoonealoneescaped。Partlythroughhisfearfulstrength，andhisyetmorefearfulface；
butmainlyperhapsthroughhisperfectcoolness，andhismodeoftakingthings。
Iamhappytosaythatnomorethaneightofthegallantminerswerekilledinthatcombat，ordiedoftheirwoundsafterwards；andaddingtothesetheeightwehadlostinourassaultonthevalleyandtwoofthemexcellentwarehousemen，itcostnomorethansixteenlivestoberidofnearlyfortyDoones，eachofwhomwouldmostlikelyhavekilledthreemeninthecourseofayearortwo。Therefore，asIsaidatthetime，agreatworkwasdoneveryreasonably；herewerenighuponfortyDoonesdestroyedinthevalley，andupatTheWarrensdespitetheirextraordinarystrengthandhighskillingunnery；whereasofusignorantrusticstherewereonlysixteentobecounteddead——thoughothersmightbelamed，orso，——andofthosesixteenonlytwohadleftwives，andtheirwivesdidnothappentocareforthem。
Yet，forLorna’ssake，IwasvexedattheboldescapeofCarver。NotthatIsoughtforCarver’slife，anymorethanIdidfortheCounsellor’s；butthatforusitwasnolightthing，tohaveamanofsuchpower，andresource，anddesperation，leftatlargeandfurious，likeafamishedwolfroundthesheepfold。YetgreatlyasIblamedtheyeomen，whowerepostedontheirhorses，justoutofshotfromtheDoone-gate，fortheverypurposeofinterceptingthosewhoescapedtheminers，Icouldnotgetthemtoadmitthatanyblameattachedtothem。
Butlo，hehaddashedthroughthewholeofthem，withhishorseatfullgallop；andwasnearlyoutofshotbeforetheybegantothinkofshootinghim。Thenitappearsfromwhataboysaid——forboysmanagetobeeverywhere——thatCaptainCarverrodethroughtheDoone-gate，andsototheheadofthevalley。There，ofcourse，hebeheldallthehouses，andhisownamongthenumber，flamingwithahandsomeblaze，andthrowingafinelightaroundsuchasheoftenhadrevelledin，whenofotherpeople’sproperty。Buthesworethedeadliestofalloaths，andseeinghimselftobevanquishedsofarastheluckofthemomentwent，spurredhisgreatblackhorseaway，andpassedintothedarkness。
Thingsatthistimesobefellme，thatIcannottellonehalf；butamlikeaboywhohaslefthislessontothemaster’sveryfootfallunready，exceptwithfalseexcuses。Andasthismakesnogoodwork，soIlamentuponmylingering，inthetimeswhenImighthavegotthroughagoodpage，butwentastrayaftertrifles。
However，everymanmustdoaccordingtohisintellect；
andlookingattheeasymannerofmyconstitution，I
thinkthatmostmenwillregardmewithpityandgoodwillfortrying，morethanwithcontemptandwrathforhavingtriedunworthily。Evenasinthewrestlingring，whatevermandidhisbest，andmadeanhonestconflict，Ialwayslaidhimdownwithsoftness，easingoffhisdustyfall。
Butthethingwhichnextbetidedmewasnotafallofanysort；butratheramostgloriousrisetothesummitofallfortune。ForingoodtruthitwasnolessthanthereturnofLorna——myLorna，myowndarling；inwonderfulhealthandspirits，andasgladasabirdtogetbackagain。Itwouldhavedoneanyonegoodforatwelve-monthtobeholdherfaceanddoings，andherbeamingeyesandsmilenottomentionblushesalsoatmysalutation，whenthisQueenofeveryheartranaboutourroomsagain。Shedidlovethis，andshemustseethat，andwherewasouroldfriendthecat？Allthehousewasfullofbrightness，asifthesunhadcomeoverthehill，andLornawerehismirror。
Mymothersatinanancientchair，andwipedhercheeks，andlookedather；andevenLizzie’seyesmustdancetothefreshnessandjoyofherbeauty。Asforme，youmightcallmemad；forIranoutandflungmybesthatonthebarn，andkissedmotherFry，tillshemadeatmewiththesugar-nippers。
WhataquantityofthingsLornahadtotellus!Andyethowoftenwestoppedhermouth——atleastmother，I
mean，andLizzie——andshequiteasoftenwouldstopherown，runningupinherjoytosomeoneofus!Andthentherearosetheeatingbusiness——whichpeoplenowcall’refreshment，’inthesedandyfieddaysofourlanguage——forhowwasitpossiblethatourLornacouldhavecomeallthatway，andtoherownExmoor，withoutbeingterriblyhungry？
’Oh，Idoloveitallsomuch，’saidLorna，nowforthefiftiethtime，andnotmeaningonlythevictuals：’thescentofthegorseonthemoorsdrovemewild，andtheprimrosesunderthehedges。IamsureIwasmeantforafarmer’s——Imeanforafarm-houselife，dearLizzie’——forLizziewaslookingsaucily——’justasyouweremeantforasoldier’sbride，andforwritingdespatchesofvictory。Andnow，sinceyouwillnotaskme，dearmother，intheexcellenceofyourmanners，andevenJohnhasnottheimpudence，inspiteofallhiscoatofarms——Imusttellyouathing，whichIvowedtokeepuntiltomorrowmorning；butmyresolutionfailsme。Iammyownmistress——whatthinkyouofthat，mother？Iammyownmistress!’
’Thenyoushallnotbesolong，’criedI；formotherseemednottounderstandher，andsoughtaboutforherglasses：’darling，youshallbemistressofme；andI
willbeyourmaster。’
’Afrankannouncementofyourintent，andbeyonddoubtatrueone；butsurelyunusualatthisstage，andalittlepremature，John。However，whatmustbe，mustbe。’Andwithtearsspringingoutofsmiles，shefellonmybreast，andcriedabit。
WhenIcametosmokeapipeoveritaftertherestweregonetobed，Icouldhardlybelieveinmygoodluck。ForherewasI，withoutanymerit，exceptofbodilypower，andtheabsenceofanyfalsehoodwhichsurelyisnocommendation，soplacedthatthenoblestmaninEnglandmightenvyme，andbevexedwithme。
Forthenoblestladyinalltheland，andthepurest，andthesweetest——hunguponmyheart，asiftherewasnonetoequalit。
Idwelleduponthismatter，longandveryseverely，whileIsmokedanewtobacco，broughtbymyownLornaforme，andnexttoherselfmostdelicious；andasthesmokecurledaway，Ithought，’Surelythisistoofinetolast，foramanwhoneverdeservedit。’
Seeingnowayoutofthis，IresolvedtoplacemyfaithinGod；andsowenttobedanddreamedofit。Andhavingnopresenceofmindtoprayforanything，underthecircumstances，Ithoughtitbesttofallasleep，andtrustmyselftothefuture。YetereIfellasleeptheroofabovemeswarmedwithangels，havingLornaunderit。
InthemorningLornawasreadytotellherstory，andwetohearken；andsheworeadressofmostsimplestuff；andyetperfectlywonderful，bymeansoftheshapeandherfigure。Lizziewaswildwithjealousy，asmightbeexpectedthoughneverwouldAnniehavebeenso，buthavepraisedit，andcravedforthepattern，andmothernotunderstandingit，lookedforth，tobetaughtaboutit。Foritwasstrangetonotethatlatelymydearmotherhadlostherquickness，andwasneverquitebrisk，unlessthequestionwereaboutmyself。Shehadseenagreatdealoftrouble；