Thecorn，ohthecorn，andtheblessingofthecorn!
Comeuntothedoor，mylads，andlookbeneaththemoon，Wecansee，onhillandvalley，howitisyelloon，Withabreadthofglory，aswhenourLordwasborn。
Chorus
Thecorn，ohthecorn，andtheyellow，mellowcorn!
Thanksforthecorn，withourbreadupontheboard!
Soshallweacknowledgeit，beforewereapthemorn，Withourhandstoheaven，andourkneesuntotheLord。
Nowwesangthissongverywellthefirsttime，havingtheparishchoirtoleadus，andtheclarionet，andtheparsontogiveusthetimewithhiscup；andwesangitagainthesecondtime，notsobutwhatyoumightpraiseitifyouhadbeenwithusalltheevening，althoughtheparsonwasgonethen，andtheclerknotfittocomparewithhiminthematterofkeepingtime。Butwhenthatsongwasinitsthirdsinging，Idefyanymanhoweversobertohavemadeoutoneversefromtheother，oreventheburdenfromtheverses，inasmuchaseverymanpresent，ay，andwomantoo，sangasbecameconvenienttothem，inutterancebothofwordsandtune。
Andintruth，therewasmuchexcuseforthem；becauseitwasanobleharvest，fittothanktheLordfor，withoutHisthinkingushypocrites。Forwehadmorelandinwheat，thatyear，thaneverwehadbefore，andtwicethecroptotheacre；andIcouldnothelpnowandthenremembering，inthemidstofthemerriment，howmyfatherinthechurchyardyonderwouldhavegloriedtobeholdit。Andmymother，whohadleftusnow，happeningtoreturnjustthen，beingcalledtohaveherhealthdrunkforthetwentiethtimeatleast，IknewbythesadnessinhereyesthatshewasthinkingjustasIwas。Presently，therefore，I
slippedawayfromthenoise，andmirth，andsmokingalthoughofthatlasttherewasnotmuch，exceptfromFarmerNicholas，andcrossingthecourtyardinthemoonlight，Iwent，justtocoolmyself，asfarasmyfather’stombstone。
Ihadlongoutgrownunwholesomefeelingastomyfather’sdeath，andsohadAnnie；thoughLizziewhomusthavelovedhimleaststillentertainedsomeevilwill，andlongingforapunishment。ThereforeIwassurprisedandindeed，startledwouldnotbetoomuchtosay，themoonbeingsomewhatfleecy，toseeourAnniesittingthereasmotionlessasthetombstone，andwithallherbestfallalsuponher，afterstowingawaythedishes。
Mynerves，however，aregoodandstrong，exceptatleastinlovematters，whereintheyalwaysfailme，andwhenImeetwithwitches；andthereforeIwentuptoAnnie，althoughshelookedsowhiteandpure；forIhadseenherbeforewiththosethingson，anditstruckmewhoshewas。
“Whatareyoudoinghere，Annie？“Iinquiredrathersternly，beingvexedwithherforhavinggonesoveryneartofrightenme。
“Nothingatall，“saidourAnnieshortly。Andindeeditwastruthenoughforawoman。NotthatIdaretobelievethatwomenaresuchliarsasmensay；onlythatImeantheyoftenseethingsroundthecorner，andknownotwhichiswhichofit。AndindeedIneverhaveknownawomanthoughrightenoughintheirmeaning
purelyandperfectlytrueandtransparent，exceptonlymyLorna；andevenso，Imightnothavelovedher，ifshehadbeenugly。
’Why，howso？’saidI；’MissAnnie，whatbusinesshaveyouhere，doingnothingatthistimeofnight？Andleavingmewithallthetroubletoentertainourguests!’
’Youseemnottometobedoingit，John，’Annieansweredsoftly；’whatbusinesshaveyouheredoingnothing，atthistimeofnight？’
Iwastakensoabackwiththis，andtheextremeimpertinenceofit，fromamereyounggirllikeAnnie，thatIturnedroundtomarchawayandhavenothingmoretosaytoher。Butshejumpedup，andcaughtmebythehand，andthrewherselfuponmybosom，withherfaceallwetwithtears。
’Oh，John，Iwilltellyou。Iwilltellyou。Onlydon’tbeangry，John。’
’Angry!noindeed，’saidI；’whatrighthaveItobeangrywithyou，becauseyouhaveyoursecrets？Everychitofagirlthinksnowthatshehasarighttohersecrets。’
’Andyouhavenoneofyourown，John；ofcourseyouhavenoneofyourown？Allyourgoingoutatnight——’
’Wewillnotquarrelhere，poorAnnie，’Ianswered，withsomeloftiness；’therearemanythingsuponmymind，whichgirlscanhavenonotionof。’
’Andsothereareuponmine，John。Oh，John，Iwilltellyoueverything，ifyouwilllookatmekindly，andpromisetoforgiveme。Oh，Iamsomiserable!’
Nowthis，thoughshewasbehavingsobadly，movedmemuchtowardsher；especiallyasIlongedtoknowwhatshehadtotellme。ThereforeIallowedhertocoaxme，andtokissme，andtoleadmeawayalittle，asfarastheoldyew-tree；forshewouldnottellmewhereshewas。
Butevenintheshadowthere，shewasverylongbeforebeginning，andseemedtohavetwomindsaboutit，orratherperhapsadozen；andshelaidhercheekagainstthetree，andsobbedtillitwaspitiful；andIknewwhatmotherwouldsaytoherforspoilingherbestfrockso。
’Nowwillyoustop？’Isaidatlast，harderthanI
meantit，forIknewthatshewouldgoonallnight，ifanyoneencouragedher：andthoughnotwellacquaintedwithwomen，Iunderstoodmysisters；orelseImustbeabornfool——except，ofcourse，thatIneverprofessedtounderstandEliza。
’Yes，Iwillstop，’saidAnnie，panting；’youareveryhardonme，John；butIknowyoumeanitforthebest。
Ifsomebodyelse——IamsureIdon’tknowwho，andhavenorighttoknow，nodoubt，butshemustbeawickedthing——ifsomebodyelsehadbeentakensowithapainallroundtheheart，John，andnopoweroftellingit，perhapsyouwouldhavecoaxed，andkissedher，andcomealittlenearer，andmadeopportunitytobeveryloving。’
NowthiswassoexactlywhatIhadtriedtodotoLorna，thatmybreathwasalmosttakenawayatAnnie’ssodescribingit。ForawhileIcouldnotsayaword，butwonderedifshewereawitch，whichhadneverbeeninourfamily：andthen，allofasudden，Isawthewaytobeather，withthedevilatmyelbow。
’Fromyourknowledgeofthesethings，Annie，youmusthavehadthemdonetoyou。Idemandtoknowthisverymomentwhohastakensuchliberties。’
’Then，John，youshallneverknow，ifyouaskinthatmanner。Besides，itwasnolibertyintheleastatall，Cousinshavearighttodothings——andwhentheyareone’sgodfather——’HereAnniestoppedquitesuddenlyhavingsobetrayedherself；butmetmeinthefullmoonlight，beingresolvedtofaceitout，withagoodfaceputuponit。
’Alas，Ifeareditwouldcometothis，’Iansweredverysadly；’Iknowhehasbeenheremanyatime，withoutshowinghimselftome。Thereisnothingmeanerthanforamantosneak，andstealayoungmaid’sheart，withoutherpeopleknowingit。’
’Youarenotdoinganythingofthatsortyourselfthen，dearJohn，areyou？’
’Onlyacommonhighwayman!’Ianswered，withoutheedingher；’amanwithoutanacreofhisown，andliabletohanguponanycommon，andnootherrightofcommonoverit——’
’John，’saidmysister，’aretheDoonesprivilegednottobehangeduponcommonland？’
AtthisIwassothunderstruck，thatIleapedintheairlikeashotrabbit，andrushedashardasIcouldthroughthegateandacrosstheyard，andbackintothekitchen；andthereIaskedFarmerNicholasSnowetogivemesometobacco，andtolendmeasparepipe。
Thishedidwithagratefulmanner，beingnowsomefive-fourthsgone；andsoIsmokedtheveryfirstpipethateverhadenteredmylipstillthen；andbeyondadoubtitdidmegood，andspreadmyheartatleisure。
Meanwhilethereapersweremostlygone，tobeupbetimesinthemorning；andsomewereledbytheirwives；andsomehadtoleadtheirwivesthemselves，accordingtothecapacityofmanandwiferespectively。
ButBettywasaslivelyasever，bustlingaboutwitheveryone，andlookingoutforthechanceofgroats，whichthebetteroffmightbefreewith。Andoverthekneading-pannextday，shedroppedthreeandsixpenceoutofherpocket；andLizziecouldnottellforherlifehowmuchmoremighthavebeeninit。
NowbythistimeIhadalmostfinishedsmokingthatpipeoftobacco，andwonderingatmyselfforhavingsodespisedithitherto，andmakingupmymindtohaveanothertrialto-morrownight，itbegantooccurtomethatalthoughdearAnniehadbehavedsoverybadlyandrudely，andalmosttakenmybreathawaywiththesuddennessofherallusion，yetitwasnotkindofmetoleaveheroutthereatthattimeofnight，allalone，andinsuchdistress。Anyofthereapersgoinghomemightbegottensofarbeyondfearofghostsastoventureintothechurchyard；andalthoughtheywouldknowagreatdealbetterthantoinsultasisterofminewhensober，therewasnotellingwhattheymightdointheirpresentstateofrejoicing。Moreover，itwasonlyrightthatIshouldlearn，forLorna’ssake，howfarAnnie，oranyoneelse，hadpenetratedoursecret。
Therefore，Iwentforthatonce，bearingmypipeinaskilfulmanner，asIhadseenFarmerNicholasdo；andmarking，withanewkindofpleasure，howtheringsandwreathsofsmokehoveredandflutteredinthemoonlight，likealarkuponhiscarol。PoorAnniewasgonebackagaintoourfather’sgrave，andthereshesatupontheturf，sobbingverygently，andnotwishingtotroubleanyone。SoIraisedhertenderly，andmademuchofher，andconsoledher，forIcouldnotscoldherthere；andperhapsafterallshewasnottobeblamedsomuchasTomFaggushimselfwas。Anniewasverygratefultome，andkissedmemanytimes，andbeggedmypardoneversooftenforherrudenesstome。
Andthenhavinggonesofarwithit，andfindingmesocomplaisant，shemustneedstrytogoalittlefurther，andtoleadmeawayfromherownaffairs，andintomineconcerningLorna。Butalthoughitwascleverenoughofhershewasnotdeepenoughformethere；andIsoondiscoveredthatsheknewnothing，noteventhenameofmydarling；butonlysuspectedfromthingsshehadseen，andputtogetherlikeawoman。UponthisI
broughtherbackagaintoTomFaggusandhisdoings。
’MypoorAnnie，haveyoureallypromisedhimtobehiswife？’
’Thenafterallyouhavenoreason，John，noparticularreason，Imean，forslightingpoorSallySnoweso？’
’Withoutevenaskingmotherorme!Oh，Annie，itwaswrongofyou!’
’But，darling，youknowthatmotherwishesyousomuchtomarrySally；andIamsureyoucouldhaveherto-morrow。Shedotesontheveryground——’
’Idaresayhetellsyouthat，Annie，thathedotesonthegroundyouwalkupon——butdidyoubelievehim，child？’
’Youmaybelieveme，Iassureyou，John，andhalfthefarmtobesettleduponher，aftertheoldman’stime；
andthoughshegivesherselflittleairs，itisonlydonetoenticeyou；shehastheverybesthandinthedairyJohn，andthelightestataturn-overcake——’
’Now，Annie，don’ttalknonsenseso。IwishjusttoknowthetruthaboutyouandTomFaggus。Doyoumeantomarryhim？’
’Itomarrybeforemybrother，andleavehimwithnonetotakecareofhim!Whocandohimareddeercollop，exceptSallyherself，asIcan？Comehome，dear，atonce，andIwilldoyouone；foryouneverateamorselofsupper，withallthepeopleyouhadtoattendupon。’
Thiswastrueenough；andseeingnochanceofanythingmorethancrossquestionsandcrookedpurposes，atwhichagirlwassuretobeatme，Ievenallowedhertoleadmehome，withthethoughtsofthecollopuppermost。ButInevercounteduponbeingbeatensothoroughlyasIwas；forknowingmenowtobeoffmyguard，theyounghussystoppedatthefarmyardgate，asifwithabrierentanglingher，andwhileIwasstoopingtotakeitaway，shelookedmefullinthefacebythemoonlight，andjerkedoutquitesuddenly，——
’Canyourlovedoacollop，John？’
’No，Ishouldhopenot，’Iansweredrashly；’sheisnotamerecook-maidIshouldhope。’
’SheisnothalfsoprettyasSallySnowe；Iwillanswerforthat，’saidAnnie。
’SheistenthousandtimesasprettyastenthousandSallySnowes，’Irepliedwithgreatindignation。
’Oh，butlookatSally’seyes!’criedmysisterrapturously。
’LookatLornaDoone’s，’saidI；’andyouwouldneverlookagainatSally’s。’
’OhLornaDoone。LornaDoone!’exclaimedourAnniehalf-frightened，yetclappingherhandswithtriumph，athavingfoundmeoutso：’LornaDooneisthelovelymaiden，whohasstolenpoorsomebody’sheartso。Ah，I
shallrememberit；becauseitissoqueeraname。Butstop，Ihadbetterwriteitdown。Lendmeyourhat，poorboy，towriteon。’
’Ihaveagreatmindtolendyouaboxontheear，’I
answeredherinmyvexation，’andIwould，ifyouhadnotbeencryingso，youslygood-for-nothingbaggage。