havingboundmefirstbyoath，nottoimparttoanyone，withouthisownpermission，untilallwasover。
Butatthispresenttimeofwriting，allisoverlongago；ayandforgottentoo，Iween，exceptbythosewhosuffered。ThereforemayItellthewholewithoutanybreachofconfidence。MasterStickleswasgoingforthuponhisusualnightjourney，whenhemetmecominghome，andIsaidsomethinghalfinjest，abouthiszealandsecrecy；uponwhichhelookedallroundtheyard，andledmetoanopenspaceinthecloverfieldadjoining。
’John，’hesaid，’youhavesomerighttoknowthemeaningofallthis，beingtrustedasyouwerebytheLordChiefJustice。Buthefoundyouscarcelysuppleenough，neithergiftedwithduebrains。’
’ThankGodforthatsame，’Ianswered，whilehetappedhishead，tosignifyhisownmuchlargerallowance。
Thenhemademebindmyself，whichinanevilhourI
did，toretainhissecret；andafterthathewentonsolemnly，andwithmuchimportance，——
’Therebesomepeoplefittoplot，andotherstobeplottedagainst，andotherstounravelplots，whichisthehighestgiftofall。Thislasthathfallentomyshare，andaverythanklessgiftitis，althougharareandchoiceone。Muchofperiltooattendsit；daringcourageandgreatcoolnessareasneedfulfortheworkasreadywitandspotlesshonour。
ThereforeHisMajesty’sadvisershavechosenmeforthishightask，andtheycouldnothavechosenabetterman。AlthoughyouhavebeeninLondon，Jack，muchlongerthanyouwishedit，youarewhollyignorant，ofcourse，inmattersofstate，andthepublicweal。’
’Well，’saidI，’nodoubtbutIam，andallthebetterforme。AlthoughIheardadealofthem；foreverybodywastalking，andreadytocometoblows；ifonlyitcouldbedonewithoutdanger。Butonesaidthis，andonesaidthat；andtheytalkedsomuchaboutBirminghams，andTantivies，andWhigsandTories，andProtestantflailsandsuchlike，thatIwasonlytoogladtohavemyglassandclinkmyspoonforanswer。’
’Right，John，thouartrightasusual。LettheKinggohisowngait。HehathtoomanymistressestobeeverEngland’smaster。Nobodyneedfearhim，forheisnotlikehisfather：hewillhavehisownway，’tistrue，butwithoutstoppingotherfolkoftheirs：andwellheknowswhatwomenare，forheneverasksthemquestions。
NowheardyoumuchinLondontownabouttheDukeofMonmouth？’
’Notsoverymuch，’Ianswered；’nothalfsomuchasinDevonshire：onlythathewasaheartyman，andaveryhandsomeone，andnowwasbanishedbytheTories；andmostpeoplewishedhewascomingback，insteadoftheDukeofYork，whowastryingbootsinScotland。’
’Thingsarechangedsinceyouwereintown。TheWhigsaregettingupagain，throughthefollyoftheTorieskillingpoorLordRussell；andnowthisMasterSidneyifmyLordcondemnshimwillmakeitworseagain。
Thereismuchdisaffectioneverywhere，anditmustgrowtoanoutbreak。TheKinghathmanytroopsinLondon，andmeanethtobringmorefromTangier；buthecannotcommandthesecountryplaces；andthetrainedbandscannothelphimmuch，eveniftheywould。Now，doyouunderstandme，John？’
’Intruth，notI。IseenotwhatTangierhathtodowithExmoor；northeDukeofMonmouthwithJeremyStickles。’
’Thougreatclod，putittheotherway。JeremySticklesmayhavemuchtodoabouttheDukeofMonmouth。TheWhigshavingfailedofExclusion，andhavingbeenpunishedbitterlyforthebloodtheyshed，areripeforanyviolence。Andtheturnofthebalanceisnowtothem。See-sawisthefashionofEnglandalways；andtheWhigswillsoonbethetop-sawyers。’
’But，’saidI，stillmoreconfused，’“TheKingisthetop-sawyer，“accordingtoourproverb。HowthencantheWhigsbe？’
’Thouartahopelessass，John。Bettertosewwithachestnutthantoteachtheetheconstitution。Letitbeso，letitbe。Ihaveseenaboyoffiveyearsoldmoreaptatpoliticsthanthou。Nay，looknotoffended，lad。Itismyfaultforbeingover-deeptothee。Ishouldhaveconsideredthyintellect。’
’Nay，MasterJeremy，makenoapologies。ItisIthatshouldexcusemyself；but，Godknows，Ihavenopolitics。’
’Sticktothat，mylad，’heanswered；’soshaltthoudieeasier。Now，intenwordswithoutparties，ortryingthypoorbraintoomuch，Iamheretowatchthegatheringofasecretplot，notsomuchagainsttheKingasagainsttheduesuccession。’
’NowIunderstandatlast。But，MasterStickles，youmighthavesaidallthatanhouragoalmost。’
’Itwouldhavebeenbetter，ifIhad，tothee，’herepliedwithmuchcompassion；’thyhatisnearlyoffthyheadwiththeswellingofbrainIhavegiventhee。
Blows，blows，arethybusiness，Jack。Therethouartinthineelement。And，haply，thisbusinesswillbringtheeplentyevenforthygreatheadtotake。Nowhearkentoonewhowishestheewell，andplainlyseestheendofit——stickthoutothewinningside，andhavenaughttodowiththeotherone。’
’That，’saidI，ingreathasteandhurry，’istheverythingIwanttodo，ifIonlyknewwhichwasthewinningside，forthesakeofLorna——thatistosay，forthesakeofmydearmotherandsisters，andthefarm。’
’Ha!’criedJeremyStickles，laughingattherednessofmyface——’Lorna，saidstthou；nowwhatLorna？Isitthenameofamaiden，oralight-o’-love？’
’Keeptoyourownbusiness，’Ianswered，veryproudly；
’spyasmuchase’erthouwilt，anduseourhousefordoingit，withoutaskingleaveortelling；butifI
everfindtheespyingintomyaffairs，alltheKing’slifeguardsinLondon，andthedragoonsthoubringesthither，shallnotsavetheefrommyhand——oronefingerisenoughforthee。’
BeingcarriedbeyondmyselfbyhisinsolenceaboutLorna，IlookedatMasterSticklesso，andspakeinsuchavoice，thatallhisdaringcourageandhisspotlesshonourquailedwithinhim，andheshrank——asifIwouldstrikesosmallaman。
ThenIlefthim，andwenttoworkatthesacksuponthecorn-floor，totakemyevilspiritfrommebeforeI
shouldseemother。Fortotellthetruthnowmystrengthwasfull，andtroublesweregatheringroundme，andpeopletookadvantagesomuchofmyeasytemper，sometimeswhenIwasover-tried，asuddenheatranoverme，andaglowingofallmymuscles，andatinglingforamightythrow，suchasmyutmostself-command，andfearofhurtinganyone，couldbutillrefrain。Afterwards，Iwasalwaysverysadlyashamedofmyself，knowinghowpoorathingbodilystrengthis，ascomparedwithpowerofmind，andthatitisacoward’sparttomisuseituponweakerfolk。
ForthepresenttherewasalittlebreachbetweenMasterSticklesandme，forwhichIblamedmyselfverysorely。Butthough，infullmemoryofhiskindnessandfaithfulnessinLondon，Iaskedhispardonmanytimesformyfoolishangerwithhim，andofferedtoundergoanypenaltyhewouldlayuponme，heonlysaiditwasnomatter，therewasnothingtoforgive。Whenpeoplesaythat，thetruthoftenisthattheycanforgivenothing。
SoforthepresentabreachwasmadebetweenMasterJeremyandmyself，whichtomeseemednogreatloss，inasmuchasitrelievedmefromanyprivitytohisdealings，forwhichIhadsmallliking。AllIfearedwaslestImight，inanyway，beungratefultohim；butwhenhewouldhavenomoreofme，whatcouldIdotohelpit？However，inafewdays’timeIwasofgoodservicetohim，asyoushallseeinitsproperplace。
ButnowmyownaffairswerethrownintosuchdisorderthatIcouldthinkofnothingelse，andhadthegreatestdifficultyinhidingmyuneasiness。Forsuddenly，withoutanywarning，orawordofmessage，allmyLorna’ssignalsceased，whichIhadbeenaccustomedtowatchfordaily，andasitweretofeeduponthem，withaglowingheart。ThefirsttimeI
stoodonthewoodedcrest，andfoundnochangefromyesterday，Icouldhardlybelievemyeyes，orthoughtatleastthatitmustbesomegreatmistakeonthepartofmylove。However，eventhatoppressedmewithaheavyheart，whichgrewheavier，asIfoundfromdaytodaynotoken。
ThreetimesIwentandwaitedlongatthebottomofthevalley，wherenowthestreamwasbrownandangrywiththerainsofautumn，andtheweepingtreeshungleafless。ButthoughIwaitedateveryhourofday，andfarintothenight，nolightfootstepcametomeetme，nosweetvoicewasintheair；allwaslonely，drear，anddrenchedwithsoddendesolation。Itseemedasifmylovewasdead，andthewindswereatherfuneral。
OnceIsoughtfarupthevalley，whereIhadneverbeenbefore，evenbeyondthecopsewhereLornahadfoundandlostherbraveyoungcousin。Followinguptheriverchannel，inshelteroftheeveningfog，Igainedacornerwithinstone’sthrowofthelastoutlyingcot。
Thiswasagloomy，low，squarehouse，withoutanylightinthewindows，roughlybuiltofwoodandstone，asI
sawwhenIdrewnearer。ForknowingittobeCarver’sdwellingoratleastsuspectingso，fromsomewordsofLorna’s，Iwasledbycuriosity，andperhapsbyjealousy，tohaveacloserlookatit。Therefore，Icreptupthestream，losinghalfmysenseoffear，byreasonofanxiety。
Andintruththerewasnotmuchtofear，theskybeingnowtoodarkforevenashooterofwildfowltomakegoodaim。
Andnothingelsebutgunscouldhurtme，asintheprideofmystrengthIthought，andinmyskillofsingle-stick。
Nevertheless，Iwentwarily，beingnowalmostamongthisnestofcockatrices。ThebackofCarver’shouseabuttedonthewavesoftherushingstream；andseeingaloop-hole，vacantformuskets，Ilookedin，butallwasquiet。SofarasIcouldjudgebylistening，therewasnoonenowinside，andmyheartforamomentleapedwithjoy，forIhadfearedtofindLornathere。ThenI
tookacarefulsurveyofthedwelling，anditswindows，anditsdoor，andaspect，asifIhadbeenarobbermeaningtomakeprivyentrance。ItwaswellformethatIdidthis，asyouwillfindhereafter。
Havingimpresseduponmymindaslowbut，perhapsretentivemind，allthebearingsoftheplace，andallitsopportunities，andeventhecurveofthestreamalongit，andthebushesnearthedoor，Iwasmuchinclinedtogofartherup，andunderstandallthevillage。Butabarofredlightacrosstheriver，somefortyyardsonaboveme，andcrossingfromtheoppositesidelikeachain，preventedme。Inthatsecondhousetherewasagatheringofloudandmerryoutlaws，makingasmuchnoiseasiftheyhadthelawupontheirside。
Some，indeed，asIapproached，werelayingdownbothrightandwrong，aspurely，andwithashighasense，asiftheyknewthedifference。ColdandtroubledasI
was，Icouldhardlykeepfromlaughing。
BeforeIbetookmyselfhomethatnight，andeaseddearmother’sheartsomuch，andmadeherpalefacespreadwithsmiles，IhadresolvedtopenetrateGlenDoonefromtheupperend，andlearnallaboutmyLorna。NotbutwhatImighthaveenteredfrommyunsuspectedchannel，assooftenIhaddone；butthatIsawfearfulneedforknowingsomethingmorethanthat。Herewaseverysortoftroublegatheringuponme，herewasJeremySticklesstealinguponeveryoneinthedark；
herewasUncleReubenplottingSatanonlycouldtellwhat；herewasawhitenight-cappedmancomingbodilyfromthegrave；herewasmyownsisterAnniecommittedtoahighwayman，andmotherindistraction；mostofall——here，there，andwhere——wasmyLornastolen，dungeoned，perhapsoutraged。Itwasnotimeforshillyshally，forthebalanceofthisandthat，orforamanwithbloodandmuscletopathisnoseandponder。IfI
leftmyLornaso；ifIletthoseblack-soul’dvillainsworktheirpleasureonmylove；iftheheartthatclavetominecouldfindnovigourinit——thenletmaidensceasefrommen，andresttheirfaithintabby-cats。
RudelyrollingtheseideasinmyheavyheadandbrainI
resolvedtoletthemorrowputthemintoformandorder，butnotcontradictthem。Andthen，asmyconstitutionwilledbeinglikethatofEngland，I
slept，andtherewasnostoppingme。