ThatstoryofJohnFry’s，insteadofcausinganyamusement，gaveusgreatdisquietude；notonlybecauseitshowedthatTomFagguscouldnotresistsuddentemptationandthedelightofwildness，butalsothatwegreatlyfearedlesttheKing’spardonmightbeannulled，andallhiskindnesscancelled，byarecklessdeedofthatsort。ItwastrueasAnnieinsistedcontinually，evenwithtears，towearinherarguments
thatTomhadnotbroughtawayanything，exceptthewarrants，whichwereofnouseatall，afterreceiptofthepardon；neitherhadheusedanyviolence，exceptjusttofrightenpeople；butcoulditbeestablished，eventowardsChristmas-time，thatTomhadarighttogivealms，rightandleft，outofotherpeople’smoney？
DearAnnieappearedtobelievethatitcould；sayingthatiftherichcontinuallychosetoforgetthepoor，amanwhoforcedthemtoremember，andsotodogoodtothemselvesandtoothers，wasapublicbenefactor，andentitledtoeveryblessing。ButIknew，andsoLizzieknew——JohnFrybeingnowoutofhearing——thatthiswasnotsoundargument。For，ifitcametothat，anymanmighttaketheKingbythethroat，andmakehimcastawayamongthepoorthemoneywhichhewantedsadlyforHerGracetheDuchess，andthebeautifulCountess，ofthis，andofthat。Lizzie，ofcourse，knewnothingaboutHisMajesty’sdiversions，whichwerenotfitforayoungmaid’sthoughts；butInowputtheformoftheargumentasitoccurredtome。
ThereforeIsaid，onceforallandbothmysistersalwayslistenedwhenIusedthedeepvoicefrommychest：
’TomFaggushathdonewrongherein；wrongtohimself，andtoourAnnie。Allheneedhavedonewastoshowhispardon，andthemagistrateswouldhaverejoicedwithhim。Hemighthaveledamostgodlylife，andhavebeenrespectedbyeverybody；andknowinghowbraveTomis，Ithoughtthathewouldhavedoneasmuch。NowifIwereinlovewithamaid’——IputitthusforthesakeofpoorLizzie——’neverwouldIsoimperilmylife，andherfortuneinlifealongwithme，forthesakeofapoordiversion。Aman’sfirstdutyistothewomen，whoareforcedtohanguponhim’——
’Oh，John，notthathorribleword，’criedAnnie，tomygreatsurprise，andseriousinterruption；’oh，John，anywordbutthat!’Andsheburstforthcryingterribly。
’Whatword，Lizzie？Whatdoesthewenchmean？’I
asked，inthesaddestvexation；seeingnogoodtoaskAnnieatall，forshecarriedonmostdreadfully。
’Don’tyouknow，youstupidlout？’saidLizzie，completingmywonderment，bythescornofherquickerintelligence；’ifyoudon’tknow，axeabout？’
Andwiththat，Iwasforcedtobecontent；forLizzietookAnnieinsuchamanneronpurposetovexme，asI
couldseewithherheaddroopingdown，andherhaircomingover，andtearsandsobsrisingandfalling，toboot，withouteitherorderorreason，thatseeingnogoodforamantodosinceneitherofthemwasLorna，Ievenwentoutintothecourtyard，andsmokedapipe，andwonderedwhatonearthisthemeaningofwomen。
NowinthisIwaswrongandunreasonableasallwomenwillacknowledge；butsometimesamanissoputout，bythewaytheytakeonaboutnothing，thathereallycannothelpthinking，foratleastaminute，thatwomenareamistakeforever，andhenceareforevermistaken。NeverthelessIcouldnotseethatanyofthesegreatthoughtsandideasappliedatalltomyLorna；butthatshewasadifferentbeing；notwomanenoughtodoanythingbad，yetenoughofawomanformantoadore。
Andnowathingcametopasswhichtestedmyadorationprettysharply，inasmuchasIwouldfarlieferfacedCarverDooneandhisfather，nay，eventheroaringlionhimselfwithhishoofsandflamingnostrils，thanhavemet，incoldblood，SirEnsorDoone，thefounderofallthecolony，andthefearoftheveryfiercest。
ButthatIwasforcedtodoatthistime，andinthemannerfollowing。WhenIwentuponemorningtolookformysevenrooks’nests，beholdtherewerebutsixtobeseen；forthetopmostofthemallwasgone，andthemostconspicuous。Ilooked，andlooked，andrubbedmyeyes，andturnedtotrythembyothersights；andthenIlookedagain；yes，therecouldbenodoubtaboutit；
thesignalwasmadeformetocome，becausemylovewasindanger。Formetoenterthevalleynow，duringthebroaddaylight，couldhavebroughtnocomfort，butonlyharmtothemaiden，andcertaindeathtomyself。YetitwasmorethanIcoulddotokeepaltogetheratdistance；thereforeIrantothenearestplacewhereI
couldremainunseen，andwatchedtheglenfromthewoodedheight，forhoursandhours，impatiently。
However，noimpatienceofminemadeanydifferenceinthesceneuponwhichIwasgazing。InthepartofthevalleywhichIcouldsee，therewasnothingmoving，exceptthewater，andafewstolencows，goingsadlyalong，asifknowingthattheyhadnohonestrightthere。Itsankveryheavilyintomyheart，withallthebedsofdeadleavesaroundit，andtherewasnothingIcaredtodo，exceptblowonmyfingers，andlongformorewit。
Forafrostwasbeginning，whichmadeagreatdifferencetoLornaandtomyself，Itrow；aswellastoallthefivemillionpeoplewhodwellinthisislandofEngland；suchafrostasneverIsawbefore，*
neitherhopeevertoseeagain；atimewhenitwasimpossibletomilkacowforicicles，orforamantoshavesomeofhisbeardasIlikedtodoforLorna’ssake，becauseshewassosmoothwithoutbluntinghisrazoronhardgrayice。Nomancould’keepyatt’aswesay，eventhoughheabandonedhisworkaltogether，andthumpedhimself，allonthechestandthefront，tillhisfrozenhandswouldhavebeenbleedingexceptforthecoldthatkeptstillallhisveins。
*IfJohnRiddliveduntiltheyear1740assostrongamanwasboundtodo，hemusthaveseenalmostaharderfrost；andperhapsitputanendtohim；forthenhewouldbesomefourscoreyearsold。Buttraditionmakeshim’keepyatt，’ashesays，uptofivescoreyears——ED。
However，atpresenttherewasnofrost，althoughforafortnightthreatening；andIwastooyoungtoknowthemeaningofthewaythedeadleaveshung，andtheworm-castspricklinglikewomen’scombs，andtheleadentoneuponeverything，andthedeadweightofthesky。
WillWatcombe，theoldmanatLynmouth，whohadbeenhalfovertheworldalmost，andwhotalkedsomuchoftheGulf-stream，hadasIafterwardscalledtomind
foretoldaverybitterwinterthisyear。Butnoonewouldlistentohimbecausetherewerenotsomanyhipsandhawsasusual；whereaswehavealllearnedfromourgrandfathersthatProvidenceneversendsveryhardwinters，withouthavingfurnishedalargesupplyofberriesforthebirdstofeedupon。
Itwasluckyforme，whileIwaitedhere，thatourverybestsheep-dog，oldWatch，hadchosentoaccompanymethatday。ForotherwiseImusthavehadnodinner，beingunpersuaded，evenbythat，toquitmysurveyofthevalley。However，byaidofpoorWatch，Icontrivedtoobtainasupplyoffood；forIsenthimhomewithanotetoAnniefasteneduponhischest；andinlessthananhourbackhecame，proudenoughtowaghistailoff，withhistonguehangingoutfromthespeedofhisjourney，andalargelumpofbreadandofbaconfastenedinanapkinaroundhisneck。Ihadnottoldmysister，ofcourse，whatwastoward；forwhyshouldI
makeheranxious？
Whenitgrewtowardsdark，Iwasjustbeginningtoprepareformycircuitaroundthehills；butsuddenlyWatchgavealonglowgrowl；Ikeptmyselfcloseaspossible，andorderedthedogtobesilent，andpresentlysawashortfigureapproachingfromathickly-woodedhollowontheleftsideofmyhiding-place。ItwasthesamefigureIhadseenoncebeforeinthemoonlight，atPlover’sBarrows；andproved，tomygreatdelight，tobethelittlemaidGwennyCarfax。Shestartedamoment，atseeingme，butmorewithsurprisethanfear；andthenshelaidbothherhandsuponmine，asifshehadknownmefortwentyyears。
’Youngman，’shesaid，’youmustcomewithme。Iwasgwain’allthewaytofetchthee。Oldmanbedying；
andhercan’tdie，oratleastherwon’t，withoutfirstconsideringthee。’
’Consideringme!’Icried；’whatcanSirEnsorDoonewantwithconsideringme？HasMistressLornatoldhim？’
’Allconcerningthee，andthydoings；whensheknowedoldmanweresonearhisend。Thatvexedhewasaboutthylowblood，a’thoughtherwouldcometolifeagain，onpurposefortobate’ee。Butafterall，therecan’tbescarcelysuchbadluckasthat。Now，ifherstrookthee，thoumusttakeit；therebenodenayingofun。FireIhaveseenafore，hotandred，andraging；
butIneverseencoldfireafore，anditmakethmeburnandshiver。’
Andintruth，itmademebothburnandshiver，toknowthatImusteithergostraighttothepresenceofSirEnsorDoone，orgiveupLorna，onceforall，andrightlybedespisedbyher。Forthefirsttimeofmylife，Ithoughtthatshehadnotactedfairly。Whynotleavetheoldmaninpeace，withoutvexinghimaboutmyaffair？ButpresentlyIsawagainthatinthismattershewasright；thatshecouldnotreceivetheoldman’sblessingsupposingthathehadonetogive，whichevenaworsemanmightsuppose，whileshedeceivedhimaboutherself，andthelifeshehadundertaken。
Therefore，withgreatmisgivingofmyself，butnoillthoughtofmydarling，IsentWatchhome，andfollowedGwenny；wholedmealongveryrapidly，withhershortbroadformglidingdownthehollow，fromwhichshehadfirstappeared。Hereatthebottom，sheenteredathicketofgrayashstubsandblackholly，withrocksarounditgnarledwithroots，andhungwithmasksofivy。Hereinadarkandlonelycorner，withapixieringbeforeit，shecametoanarrowdoor，verybrownandsolid，lookinglikeatrunkofwoodatalittledistance。Thissheopened，withoutakey，bystoopingdownandpressingit，wherethethresholdmetthejamb；
andthensheraninverynimbly，butIwasforcedtobebentintwo，andevensowithoutcomfort。Thepassagewascloseanddifficult，andasdarkasanyblackpitch；butitwasnotlongbeitasitmight，andinthattherewassomecomfort。Wecameoutsoonattheotherend，andwereatthetopofDoonevalley。Inthechillyduskair，itlookedmostuntempting，especiallyduringthatstateofmindunderwhichIwaslabouring。
AswecrossedtowardstheCaptain’shouse，wemetacoupleofgreatDoonesloungingbythewaterside。
Gwennysaidsomethingtothem，andalthoughtheystaredveryhardatme，theyletmepasswithouthindrance。
ItisnottoomuchtosaythatwhenthelittlemaidopenedSirEnsor’sdoor，myheartthumped，quiteasmuchwithterroraswithhopeofLorna’spresence。
Butinamomentthefearwasgone，forLornawastremblinginmyarms，andmycouragerosetocomforther。Thedarlingfeared，beyondallthingselse，lestIshouldbeoffendedwithherforwhatshehadsaidtohergrandfather，andfordraggingmeintohispresence；
butItoldheralmostafalsehoodthefirst，andthelast，thateverIdidtellher，towit，thatIcarednotthatmuch——andshowedherthetipofmythumbasI
saidit——foroldSirEnsor，andallhiswrath，solongasIhadhisgranddaughter’slove。
NowItriedtothinkthisasIsaidit，soastosaveitfrombeingalie；butsomehoworotheritdidnotanswer，andIwasvexedwithmyselfbothways。ButLornatookmebythehandasbravelyasshecould，andledmeintoalittlepassagewhereIcouldheartherivermoaningandthebranchesrustling。
HereIpassedaslongaminuteasfearevercheatedtimeof，sayingtomyselfcontinuallythattherewasnothingtobefrightenedat，yetgrowingmoreandmoreafraidbyreasonofsoreasoning。AtlastmyLornacamebackverypale，asIsawbythecandleshecarried，andwhispered，’Nowbepatient，dearest。
Nevermindwhathesaystoyou；neitherattempttoanswerhim。Lookathimgentlyandsteadfastly，and，ifyoucan，withsomeshowofreverence；butaboveallthings，nocompassion；itdriveshimalmostmad。Nowcome；walkveryquietly。’
Sheledmeintoacold，darkroom，roughandverygloomy，althoughwithtwocandlesburning。Itooklittleheedofthethingsinit，thoughImarkedthatthewindowwasopen。ThatwhichIheededwasanoldman，verysternandcomely，withdeathuponhiscountenance；yetnotlyinginhisbed，butsetuprightinachair，withalooseredcloakthrownoverhim。
Uponthishiswhitehairfell，andhispallidfingerslayinaghastlyfashionwithoutasignoflifeormovementorofthepowerthatkepthimup；allrigid，calm，andrelentless。Onlyinhisgreatblackeyes，fixeduponmesolemnly，allthepowerofhisbodydwelt，allthelifeofhissoulwasburning。
Icouldnotlookathimverynicely，beingafearedofthedeathinhisface，andmostafearedtoshowit。
Andtotellthetruth，mypoorblueeyesfellawayfromtheblacknessofhis，asifithadbeenmycoffin-plate。ThereforeImadealowobeisance，andtriednottoshiver。OnlyIgroanedthatLornathoughtitgoodmannerstoleaveustwotogether。
’Ah，’saidtheoldman，andhisvoiceseemedtocomefromacavernofskeletons；’areyouthatgreatJohnRidd？’
’JohnRiddismyname，yourhonour，’wasallthatI
couldanswer；’andIhopeyourworshipisbetter。’
’Child，haveyousenseenoughtoknowwhatyouhavebeendoing？’
’Yes，Iknewrightwell，’Ianswered，’thatIhavesetmineeyesfarabovemyrank。’
’AreyouignorantthatLornaDooneisbornoftheoldestfamiliesremaininginNorthEurope？’
’Iwasignorantofthat，yourworship；yetIknewofherhighdescentfromtheDoonesofBagworthy。’
Theoldman’seyes，likefire，probedmewhetherIwasjesting；thenperceivinghowgraveIwas，andthinkingthatIcouldnotlaughasmanypeoplesupposeofme，hetookonhimselftomakegoodthedeficiencywithaverybittersmile。
’AndknowyouofyourownlowdescentfromtheRiddsofOare？’
’Sir，’Ianswered，beingasyetunaccustomedtothisstyleofspeech，’theRidds，ofOare，havebeenhonestmentwiceaslongastheDooneshavebeenrogues。’
’Iwouldnotanswerforthat，John，’SirEnsorreplied，veryquietly，whenIexpectedfury。’Ifitbeso，thyfamilyistheveryoldestinEurope。Nowhearkentome，boy，orclown，orhonestfool，orwhateverthouart；hearkentoanoldman’swords，whohasnotmanyhourstolive。Thereisnothinginthisworldtofear，nothingtorevereortrust，nothingeventohopefor；
leastofall，isthereaughttolove。’
’Ihopeyourworshipisnotquiteright，’Ianswered，withgreatmisgivings；’elseitisasadmistakeforanybodytolive，sir。’
’Therefore，’hecontinued，asifIhadneverspoken，’thoughitmayseemhardforaweekortwo，likethelossofanyothertoy，Idepriveyouofnothing，butaddtoyourcomfort，andiftherebesuchathingtoyourhappiness，whenIforbidyouevertoseethatfoolishchildagain。Allmarriageisawretchedfarce，evenwhenmanandwifebelongtothesamerankoflife，havetemperwellassorted，similarlikesanddislikes，andaboutthesamepittanceofmind。Butwhentheyarenotsomatched，thefarcewouldbecomealong，dulltragedy，ifanythingwereworthlamenting。There，I
havereasonedenoughwithyou；Iamnotinthehabitofreasoning。ThoughIhavelittleconfidenceinman’shonour，Ihavesomerelianceinwoman’spride。YouwillpledgeyourwordinLorna’spresencenevertoseeortoseekheragain；nevereventothinkofhermore。
Nowcallher，forIamweary。’
Hekepthisgreateyesfixeduponmewiththeiricyfireasifhescornedbothlifeanddeath，andonhishaughtylipssomeslightamusementatmytrouble；andthenheraisedonehandasifIwereapoordumbcreature，andpointedtothedoor。Althoughmyheartrebelledandkindledathisprouddisdain，Icouldnotdisobeyhimfreely；butmadealowsalute，andwentstraightwayinsearchofLorna。
Ifoundmyloveornotmylove；accordingasnowsheshouldbehave；forIwasverydesperate，beingputuponsosadly；LornaDoonewascryingsoftlyatalittlewindow，andlisteningtotheriver’sgrief。Ilaidmyheavyarmaroundher，notwithanyairofclaimingorofforcingherthoughtstome，butonlyjusttocomforther，andaskwhatshewasthinkingof。Tomyarmshemadenoanswer，neithertomyseekingeyes；buttomyheart，onceforall，shespokewithherownuponit。