WhatmotherthoughtIcannottell；andindeedIdoubtifshethoughtatallformorethanhalfanhour，butonlymanagedtoholdmetight，andcry，andthankGodnowandthen，butwithsomefearofHistakingme，ifsheshouldbetoograteful。Moreovershethoughtitwasmyowndoing，andIoughttohavethecreditofit，andsheevencamedownverysharplyuponJohn’swife，Mrs。Fry，forsayingthatwemustnotbetooproud，forallofitwastheLord’sdoing。However，dearmotherwasashamedofthatafterwards，andaskedMrs。Fry’shumblepardon；andperhapsIoughtnottohavementionedit。
OldSmilerhadtoldthemthatIwascoming——alltherest，Imean，exceptAnnie——forhavingescapedfromhishalter-ring，hewascomeouttograzeinthelaneabit；whenwhatshouldheseebutastrangehorsecomingwithyoungmasterandmistressuponhim，forAnniemustneedsgetupbehindme，therebeingonlysheeptolookather。ThenSmilergaveusastareandaneigh，withhistailquitestiffwithamazement，andthenwhetherinjoyorthroughindignationheflunguphishindfeetandgallopedstraighthome，andseteverydogwildwithbarking。
Now，methinks，quiteenoughhasbeensaidconcerningthismightyreturnoftheyoungJohnRiddwhichwasknownupatCosgatethatevening，andfeelingthatI
cannotdescribeit，howcanIhopethatanyoneelsewilllabourtoimagineit，evenofthefewwhoareable？Forveryfewcanhavetravelledsofar，unlessindeedtheywhosetradeitis，orveryunsettledpeople。Andevenofthosewhohavedoneso，notoneinahundredcanhavesuchahomeasIhadtocomehometo。
Motherweptagain，withgriefandsomewrath，andsodidAnniealso，andevenlittleEliza，andallwereunsettledinloyalty，andtalkedaboutarepublic，whenItoldthemhowIhadbeenleftwithoutmoneyfortravellinghomeward，andexpectedtohavetobegmyway，whichFarmerSnowewouldhaveheardof。AndthoughIcouldseetheyweredisappointedatmyfailureofanypromotion，theyalldeclaredhowgladtheywere，andhowmuchbettertheylikedmetobenomorethanwhattheywereaccustomedto。Atleast，mymotherandAnniesaidso，withoutwaitingtohearanymore；butLizziedidnotanswertoit，untilIhadopenedmybagandshownthebeautifulpresentIhadforher。Andthenshekissedme，almostlikeAnnie，andvowedthatshethoughtverylittleofcaptains。
ForLizzie’spresentwasthebestofall，Imean，ofcourse，exceptLorna’swhichIcarriedinmybreastalltheway，hopingthatitmightmakeherloveme，fromhavinglainsolong，closetomyheart。ForI
hadbroughtLizziesomethingdear，andapreciousheavybookitwas，andmuchbeyondmyunderstanding；whereasIknewwellthattoboththeothersmygiftswouldbedear，formineownsake。Andhappierpeoplecouldnotbefoundthanthewholeofuswerethatevening。
MuchasIlongedtoknowmoreaboutLorna，andthoughallmyheartwasyearning，IcouldnotreconcileityetwithmydutytomotherandAnnie，toleavethemonthefollowingday，whichhappenedtobeaSunday。Forlo，beforebreakfastwasoutofourmouths，therecameallthemenofthefarm，andtheirwives，andeventhetwocrow-boys，dressedasifgoingtoBarnstaplefair，toinquirehowMasterJohnwas，andwhetheritwastruethattheKinghadmadehimoneofhisbody-guard；andifso，whatwastobedonewiththebeltforthechampionshipoftheWest-Countieswrestling，whichI
hadheldnowforayearormore，andnonewerereadytochallengeit。Strangetosay，thislastpointseemedthemostimportantofalltothem；andnoneaskedwhowastomanagethefarm，oranswerfortheirwages；butallaskedwhowastowearthebelt。
TothisIreplied，aftershakinghandstwiceoverallroundwithallofthem，thatImeanttowearthebeltmyself，forthehonourofOareparish，solongaseverGodgavemestrengthandhealthtomeetall-comers；forIhadneverbeenaskedtobebody-guard，andifaskedI
wouldneverhavedoneit。SomeofthemcriedthattheKingmustbemazed，nottokeepmeforhisprotection，intheseviolenttimesofPopery。IcouldhavetoldthemthattheKingwasnotintheleastafraidofPapists，butonthecontrary，veryfondofthem；
however，Iheldmytongue，rememberingwhatJudgeJeffreysbademe。
Inchurch，thewholecongregation，man，woman，andchildexcept，indeed，theSnowegirls，whoonlylookedwhenIwasnotwatching，turnedonmewithoneaccord，andstaredsosteadfastly，togetsomereflectionoftheKingfromme，thattheyforgotthetimetokneeldownandtheparsonwasforcedtospeaktothem。IfI
coughed，ormovedmybook，orbowed，orevensaid’Amen，’glanceswereexchangedwhichmeant——’ThathehathlearnedinLondontown，andmostlikelyfromHisMajesty。’
However，allthiswentoffintime，andpeoplebecameevenangrywithmefornotbeingsharperastheysaid，orsmarter，orawhitmorefashionable，forallthegreatcompanyIhadseen，andallthewondrousthingswasteduponme。
ButthoughImayhavebeennonethewiserbyreasonofmystayinLondon，atanyrateIwasmuchthebetterinvirtueofcominghomeagain。FornowIhadlearnedthejoyofquiet，andthegratitudeforgoodthingsroundus，andtheloveweowetootherseventhosewhomustbekind，fortheirindulgencetous。Allthis，beforemyjourney，hadbeentoomuchasamatterofcoursetome；buthavingmisseditnowIknewthatitwasagift，andmightbelost。Moreover，Ihadpinedsomuch，inthedustandheatofthatgreattown，fortrees，andfields，andrunningwaters，andthesoundsofcountrylife，andtheairofcountrywinds，thatnevermorecouldIgrowwearyofthosesoftenjoyments；oratleastIthoughtsothen。
Toawakeasthesummersuncameslantingoverthehill-tops，withhopeoneverybeamadancetothelaughterofthemorning；toseetheleavesacrossthewindowrufflingonthefreshnewair，andthetendrilsofthepowderyvineturningfromtheirbeadedsleep。
Thenthelustrousmeadowsfarbeyondthethatchofthegarden-wall，yetseenbeneaththehangingscollopsofthewalnut-tree，allawaking，dressedinpearl，allamazedattheirownglistening，likeamaidatherownideas。Downthemtroopthelowingkine，walkingeachwithastepofcharacterevenasmenandwomendo，yetallalikewithtossofhorns，andspreadofuddersready。Fromthemwithoutaword，weturntothefarm-yardproper，seenontheright，anddrylystrawedfromthepettyrushofthepitch-pavedrunnel。Rounditstandthesnugout-buildings，barn，corn-chamber，cider-press，stables，withablinker’dhorseineverydoorwaymunching，whilehisdrivertightensbuckles，whistlesandlooksdownthelane，dallyingtobeginhislabourtillthemilkmaidsbegoneby。Herethecockcomesforthatlast；——wherehashebeenlingering？——eggsmaytellto-morrow——heclapshiswingsandshouts’cock-a-doodle’；andnoothercockdarelookathim。Twoorthreegosidlingoff，waitingtilltheirspursbegrown；andthenthecrowdofpartletscomes，chatteringhowtheirlordhasdreamed，andcrowedattwointhemorning，andprayingthattheoldbrownratwouldonlydaretofacehim。Butwhilethecockiscrowingstill，andthepulletworldadmiringhim，whocomesupbuttheoldturkey-cock，withallhisfamilyroundhim。Thenthegeeseatthelowerendbegintothrusttheirbreastsout，andmumtheirdown-bits，andlookattheganderandscreamshrilljoyfortheconflict；whiletheducksinpondshownothingbuttail，inproofoftheirstrictneutrality。
Whileyetwedreadforthecomingevent，andthefightwhichwouldjaronthemorning，beholdthegrandmotherofsows，grufflygruntingrightandleftwithmuzzlewhichnoringmaytamenotbeingmatrimonial，hulksacrossbetweenthetwo，movingalleachsideatonce，andthenalloftheothersideasifshewerechineddownthemiddle，andafraidofspillingthesaltfromher。Asthismightyviewoflardhideseachcombatantfromtheother，gladlyeachretiresandboastshowhewouldhaveslainhisneighbour，butthatoldsowdrovetheotheraway，andnowonderhewasafraidofher，afterallthechicksshehadeaten。
Andsoitgoeson；andsothesuncomes，strongerfromhisdrinkofdew；andthecattleinthebyres，andthehorsesfromthestable，andthemenfromcottage-door，eachhashadhisrestandfood，allsmellalikeofhayandstraw，andeveryonemusthietowork，beitdrag，ordraw，ordelve。
SothoughtIontheMondaymorning；whilemyownworklaybeforeme，andIwasplottinghowtoquitit，voidofharmtoeveryone，andletmylovehaveworkalittle——hardestperhapsofallwork，andyetassureassunrise。Iknewthatmyfirstday’staskonthefarmwouldbestrictlywatchedbyeveryone，evenbymygentlemother，toseewhatIhadlearnedinLondon。
ButcouldIletstillanotherdaypass，forLornatothinkmefaithless？
IfeltmuchinclinedtotelldearmotherallaboutLorna，andhowIlovedher，yethadnohopeofwinningher。Oftenandoften，Ihadlongedtodothis，andhavedonewithit。Butthethoughtofmyfather’sterribledeath，atthehandsoftheDoones，preventedme。Anditseemedtomefoolishandmeantogrievemother，withoutanychanceofmysuiteverspeeding。
IfonceLornalovedme，mymothershouldknowit；anditwouldbethegreatesthappinesstometohavenoconcealmentfromher，thoughatfirstshewassuretogrieveterribly。ButIsawnomorechanceofLornalovingme，thanofthemaninthemooncomingdown；orratherofthemooncomingdowntotheman，asrelatedinoldmythology。
Nowthemerrimentofthesmallbirds，andtheclearvoiceofthewaters，andthelowingofcattleinmeadows，andtheviewofnohousesexceptjustourownandaneighbour’s，andtheknowledgeofeverybodyaround，theirkindnessofheartandsimplicity，andloveoftheirneighbour’sdoings，——allthesecouldnothelporpleasemeatall，andmanyofthemweremuchagainstme，inmysecretdepthoflonginganddarktumultofthemind。Manypeoplemaythinkmefoolish，especiallyaftercomingfromLondon，wheremanynicemaidslookedatmeonaccountofmybulkandstature，andImighthavebeenfittedupwithasweetheart，inspiteofmywest-countrytwang，andthesmallnessofmypurse；ifonlyIhadsaidtheword。Butnay；Ihavecontemptforamanwhoseheartislikeashirt-studsuchasIsawinLondoncards，fittedintooneto-day，sittingbravelyonthebreast；pluckedoutonthemorrowmorn，andtheplacethatknewit，gone。
Now，whatdidIdobuttakemychance；recklesswhetheranyoneheededmeornot，onlycravingLorna’sheed，andtimefortenwordstoher。ThereforeIleftthemenofthefarmasfarawayasmightbe，aftermakingthemworkwithmewhichnomanroundourpartscoulddo，tohisownsatisfaction，andthenknowingthemtobewellweary，veryunliketofollowme——andstillmoreunliketotellofme，foreachhadhisLondonpresent——Istroderightaway，ingoodtrustofmyspeed，withoutanymoremisgivings；butresolvedtofacetheworstofit，andtotrytobehomeforsupper。
AndfirstIwent，Iknownotwhy，tothecrestofthebrokenhighland，whenceIhadagreedtowatchforanymarkorsignal。AndsureenoughatlastIsawwhenitwastoolatetoseethatthewhitestonehadbeencoveredoverwithaclothormantle，——thesignthatsomethinghadarisentomakeLornawantme。ForamomentIstoodamazedatmyevilfortune；thatIshouldbetoolate，intheverythingofallthingsonwhichmyheartwasset!Thenaftereyeingsorrowfullyeverycrickandcrannytobesurethatnotasingleflutterofmylovewasvisible，offIset，withsmallrespecteitherformykneesorneck，tomaketheroundoftheoutercliffs，andcomeupmyoldaccess。
Nothingcouldstopme；itwasnotlong，althoughtomeitseemedanage，beforeIstoodinthenicheofrockattheheadoftheslipperywatercourse，andgazedintothequietglen，wheremyfoolishheartwasdwelling。
Notwithstandingdoubtsofright，notwithstandingsenseofduty，anddespiteallmanlystriving，andthegreatloveofmyhome，theremyheartwaseverdwelling，knowingwhatafoolitwas，andcontenttoknowit。
ManybirdscametwitteringroundmeinthegoldofAugust；manytreesshowedtwinklingbeauty，asthesunwentlower；andthelinesofwaterfell，fromwrinklesintodimples。Littleheeding，thereIcrouched；thoughwithsenseofeverythingthatafterwardsshouldmoveme，likeapictureoradream；andeverythingwentbymesoftly，whilemyheartwasgazing。
Atlast，alittlefigurecame，notinsignificantI
mean，butlookingverylightandslenderinthemovingshadows，gentlyhereandsoftlythere，asifvagueofpurpose，withaglossoftendermovement，inandoutthewealthoftrees，andlibertyofthemeadow。WhowasItocrouch，ordoubt，orlookatherfromadistance；whatmatteriftheykilledmenow，andonetearcametoburyme？ThereforeIrushedoutatonce，asifshot-gunswereunknownyet；notfromanyrealcourage，butfromprisonedloveburstforth。
IknownotwhethermyownLornawasafraidofwhatI
looked，orwhatImightsaytoher，orofherownthoughtsofme；allIknowisthatshelookedfrightened，whenIhopedforgladness。Perhapsthepowerofmyjoywasmorethanmaidenlikedtoown，orinanywaytoanswerto；andtotellthetruth，itseemedasifImightnowforgetmyself；whileshewouldtakegoodcareofit。Thismakesamangrowthoughtful；unless，assomelowfellowsdo，hebelieveallwomenhypocrites。
ThereforeIwentslowlytowardsher，takenbackinmyimpulse；andsaidallIcouldcometosay，withsomedistressindoingit。
’MistressLorna，Ihadhopethatyouwereinneedofme。’
’Oh，yes；butthatwaslongago；twomonthsago，ormore，sir。’Andsayingthisshelookedaway，asifitallwereover。ButIwasnowsodazedandfrightened，thatittookmybreathaway，andIcouldnotanswer，feelingsurethatIwasrobbedandsomeoneelsehadwonher。AndItriedtoturnaway，withoutanotherword，andgo。