withoutsomuchasfallingonce，orgettingmystaffentangled。
Butoh，theachingofmyankles，whenIwenttobedthatnight；Iwasforcedtohelpmyselfupstairswithacoupleofmopsticks!andIrubbedthejointswithneatsfootoil，whichcomfortedthemgreatly。AndlikelyenoughIwouldhaveabandonedanyfurthertrial，butforLizzie’sridicule，andpretendedsympathy；
askingifthestrongJohnRiddwouldhaveoldBettytoleanupon。ThereforeIsettoagain，withafixedresolvenottonoticepainorstiffness，buttowarmthemoutofme。Andsureenough，beforedarkthatday，Icouldgetalongprettyfreely；especiallyimprovingeverytime，afterleavingoffandresting。TheastonishmentofpoorJohnFry，BillDadds，andJemSlocombe，whentheysawmecomingdownthehilluponthem，inthetwilight，wheretheywereclearingthefurzerickandtrussingitforcattle，wasmorethanI
cantellyou；becausetheydidnotletmeseeit，butranawaywithoneaccord，andflounderedintoasnowdrift。Theybelieved，andsodideveryoneelseespeciallywhenIgrewabletoglidealongprettyrapidly，thatIhadstolenMotherMelldrum’ssieves，onwhichshewassaidtoflyovertheforelandatmidnighteverySaturday。
Uponthefollowingday，Iheldsomecouncilwithmymother；notlikingtogowithoutherpermission，yetscarcelydaringtoaskforit。Buthereshedisappointedme，ontherightsideofdisappointment；
sayingthatshehadseenmypiningwhichshenevercouldhavedone；becauseIhadbeentoohardatwork，andratherthanwatchmegrievingso，forsomebodyorother，whonowwasallinalltome，Imightgouponmycourse，andGod’sprotectiongowithme!AtthisIwasamazed，becauseitwasnotatalllikemother；andknowinghowwellIhadbehaved，eversincethetimeofoursnowingup，Iwasalittlemovedtotellherthatshecouldnotunderstandme。Howevermysenseofdutykeptme，andmyknowledgeofthecatechism，fromsayingsuchathingasthat，oreventhinkingtwiceofit。
AndsoItookheratherword，whichshewasnotpreparedfor；andtellingherhowproudIwasofhertrustinProvidence，andhowIcouldruninmynewsnow-shoes，Itookashortpipeinmymouth，andstartedforthaccordingly。
WhenIstartedonmyroadacrossthehillsandvalleyswhichnowwereprettymuchalike，theutmostIcouldhopetodowastogainthecrestofhills，andlookintotheDooneGlen。HenceImightatleastdescrywhetherLornastillwassafe，bythesixnestsstillremaining，andtheviewoftheCaptain’shouse。WhenI
wascometotheopencountry，farbeyondtheshelteredhomestead，andinthefullbruntofthewind，thekeenblastofthecoldbrokeonme，andthemightybreadthofsnow。Moorandhighland，fieldandcommon，cliffandvale，andwatercourse，overalltherollingfoldsofmistywhitewereflung。Therewasnothingsquareorjaggedleft，therewasnothingperpendicular；alltheruggedlineswereeased，andallthebreachessmoothlyfilled。Curves，andmounds，androundedheavings，tooktheplaceofrockandstump；andallthecountrylookedasifawoman’shandhadbeenonit。
Throughthesparklingbreadthofwhite，whichseemedtoglancemyeyesaway，andoutsidethehumpsofladentrees，bowingtheirbackslikeawoodman，Icontrivedtogetalong，half-slidingandhalf-walking，inplaceswhereaplain-shoddenmanmusthavesunk，andwaitedfreezingtillthethawshouldcometohim。Foralthoughtherehadbeensuchviolentfrost，everynight，uponthesnow，thesnowitself，havingneverthawed，evenforanhour，hadnevercoatedover。Henceitwasassoftandlightasifallhadfallenyesterday。Inplaceswherenodrifthadbeen，butratheroffthanontothem，threefeetwastheleastofdepth；butwherethewindhadchaseditround，oranydraughtledlikeafunnel，oranythingopposedit；
thereyoumightverysafelysaythatitranuptotwentyfeet，orthirty，orevenfifty，andIbelievesometimesahundred。
AtlastIgottomyspy-hillasIhadbeguntocallit，althoughInevershouldhaveknownitbutforwhatitlookedon。Andeventoknowthislastagainrequiredalltheeyesoflove，soeversharpandvigilant。ForallthebeautifulGlenDooneshapedfromoutthemountains，asifonpurposefortheDoones，andlookinginthesummer-timelikeasharpcutvaseofgreennowwasbesnowedhalfupthesides，andateitherendso，thatitwasmorelikethewhitebasinswhereinweboilplum-puddings。Notapatchofgrasswasthere，notablackbranchofatree；allwaswhite；andthelittleriverflowedbeneathanarchofsnow；ifitmanagedtoflowatall。
Nowthiswasagreatsurprisetome；notonlybecauseI
believedGlenDoonetobeaplaceoutsideallfrost，butalsobecauseIthoughtperhapsthatitwasquiteimpossibletobecoldnearLorna。Andnowitstruckmeallatoncethatperhapsherewerwasfrozenasminehadbeenforthelastthreeweeks，requiringembersaroundit，andperhapsherwindowwouldnotshut，anymorethanminewould；andperhapsshewantedblankets。
Thisideaworkedmeuptosuchachillofsympathy，thatseeingnoDoonesnowabout，anddoubtingifanygunswouldgooff，inthisstateoftheweather，andknowingthatnomancouldcatchmeupexceptwithshoeslikemine，Ievenresolvedtoslidethecliffs，andbravelygotoLorna。
Ithelpedmemuchinthisresolve，thatthesnowcameonagain，thickenoughtoblindamanwhohadnotspenthistimeamongit，asIhaddonenowfordaysanddays。
ThereforeItookmyneatsfootoil，whichnowwascloggedlikehoney，andrubbedithardintomyleg-joints，sofarasIcouldreachthem。AndthenI
setmybackandelbowswellagainstasnowdrift，hangingfaradownthecliff，andsayingsomeoftheLord’sPrayer，threwmyselfonProvidence。Beforetherewastimetothinkordream，Ilandedverybeautifullyuponaridgeofrun-upsnowinaquietcorner。Mygoodshoes，orboots，preservedmefromgoingfarbeneathit；thoughoneofthemwassadlystrained，whereagrubhadgnawedtheash，intheearlysummer-time。Havingsetmyselfaright，andbeingingoodspirits，Imadeboldlyacrossthevalleywherethesnowwasfurrowedhard，beingnowafraidofnobody。
IfLornahadlookedoutofthewindowshewouldnothaveknownme，withthosebootsuponmyfeet，andawell-cleanedsheepskinoverme，bearingmyownJ。R。
inred，justbetweenmyshoulders，butcoverednowinsnow-flakes。Thehousewaspartlydriftedup，thoughnotsomuchasourswas；andIcrossedthelittlestreamalmostwithoutknowingthatitwasunderme。Atfirst，beingprettysafefrominterferencefromtheotherhuts，byvirtueoftheblindingsnowandthedifficultyofwalking，Iexaminedallthewindows；butthesewerecoatedsowithice，likefernsandflowersanddazzlingstars，thatnoonecouldsomuchasguesswhatmightbeinsideofthem。MoreoverIwasafraidofpryingnarrowlyintothem，asitwasnotaproperthingwhereamaidenmightbe；onlyIwantedtoknowjustthis，whethershewerethereornot。
Takingnothingbythismovement，Iwasforced，muchagainstmywill，toventuretothedoorandknock，inahesitatingmanner，notbeingsurebutwhatmyanswermightbethemouthofacarbine。Howeveritwasnotso，forIheardapatteringoffeetandawhisperinggoingon，andthenashrillvoicethroughthekeyhole，asking，’Who’sthere？’
’Onlyme，JohnRidd，’Ianswered；uponwhichIheardalittlelaughter，andalittlesobbing，orsomethingthatwaslikeit；andthenthedoorwasopenedaboutacoupleofinches，withabarbehinditstill；andthenthelittlevoicewenton，——
’Putthyfingerin，youngman，withtheoldringonit。
Butmindthee，ifitbethewrongone，thoushaltneverdrawitbackagain。’
LaughingatGwenny’smightythreat，Ishowedmyfingerintheopening；uponwhichsheletmein，andbarredthedooragainlikelightning。
’Whatisthemeaningofallthis，Gwenny？’Iasked，asIslippedaboutonthefloor，forIcouldnotstandtherefirmlywithmygreatsnow-shoeson。
’Maningenough，andbadmaningtoo，’theCornishgirlmadeanswer。Usbeshutinhere，andstarving，anddurstn’tletanybodyinuponus。Iwishthouwer’tgoodtoate，youngman：Icouldmanagemostofthee。’
Iwassofrightenedbyhereyes，fullofwolfishhunger，thatIcouldonlysay’GoodGod!’havingneverseenthelikebefore。ThendrewIforthalargepieceofbread，whichIhadbroughtincaseofaccidents，andplaceditinherhands。Sheleapedatit，asastarvingdogleapsatsightofhissupper，andshesetherteethinit，andthenwithhelditfromherlips，withsomethingverylikeanoathatherownvilegreediness；andthenawayroundthecornerwithit，nodoubtforheryoungmistress。Imeanwhilewasoccupied，tothebestofmyability，intakingmysnow-shoesoff，yetwonderingmuchwithinmyselfwhyLornadidnotcometome。
ButpresentlyIknewthecause，forGwennycalledme，andIran，andfoundmydarlingquiteunabletosaysomuchas，’John，howareyou？’Betweenthehungerandthecold，andtheexcitementofmycoming，shehadfaintedaway，andlaybackonachair，aswhiteasthesnowaroundus。Inbetwixtherdelicatelips，Gwennywasthrustingwithallherstrengththehardbrowncrustoftherye-bread，whichshehadsnatchedfrommeso。
’Getwater，orgetsnow，’Isaid；’don’tyouknowwhatfaintingis，youverystupidchild？’
’Neverheerdonit，inCornwall，’sheanswered，trustingstilltothebread；’beunthesameasbleeding？’
’Itwillbedirectly，ifyougoonsqueezingawaywiththatcrustso。Eatapiece：Ihavegotsomemore。
Leavemydarlingnowtome。’
HearingthatIhadsomemore，thestarvinggirlcouldresistnolonger，buttoreitintwo，andhadswallowedhalfbeforeIhadcoaxedmyLornabacktosense，andhope，andjoy，andlove。
’Ineverexpectedtoseeyouagain。Ihadmadeupmymindtodie，John；andtodiewithoutyourknowingit。’
AsIrepelledthisfearfulthoughtinamannerhighlyfortifying，thetenderhueflowedbackagainintoherfamishedcheeksandlips，andasofterbrillianceglistenedfromthedepthofherdarkeyes。Shegavemeonelittleshrunkenhand，andIcouldnothelpatearforit。
’Afterall，MistressLorna，’Isaid，pretendingtobegay，forasmilemightdohergood；’youdonotlovemeasGwennydoes；forsheevenwantedtoeatme。’
’Andshall，aforeIhavedone，youngman，’Gwennyansweredlaughing；’youcomeinherewiththeyredchakes，andmakeusthinko’sirloin。’
’Eatupyourbitofbrownbread，Gwenny。Itisnotgoodenoughforyourmistress。Blessherheart，Ihavesomethingheresuchasshenevertastedthelikeof，beinginsuchappetite。Lookhere，Lorna；smellitfirst。IhavehaditeversinceTwelfthDay，andkeptitallthetimeforyou。Anniemadeit。Thatisenoughtowarrantitgoodcooking。’
AndthenIshowedmygreatmince-pieinabagoftissuepaper，andItoldthemhowthemince-meatwasmadeofgoldenpippinsfinelyshred，withtheundercutofthesirloin，andspiceandfruitaccordinglyandfarbeyondmyknowledge。ButLornawouldnottouchamorseluntilshehadthankedGodforit，andgivenmethekindestkiss，andputapieceinGwenny’smouth。
Ihaveeatenmanythingsmyself，withverygreatenjoyment，andkeenperceptionoftheirmerits，andsomethankstoGodforthem。ButIneverdidenjoyathing，thathadfounditswaybetweenmyownlips，half，orevenaquarterasmuchasInowenjoyedbeholdingLorna，sittingproudlyupwardstoshowthatshewasfaintnomoreenteringintothatmince-pie，andmovingallherpearlsofteethinsideherlittlemouth-placeexactlyasItoldher。ForIwasafraidlestsheshouldbetoofastingoingthroughit，andcauseherselfmoredamageso，thanshegotofnourishment。ButIhadnoneedtofearatall，andLornacouldnothelplaughingatmeforthinkingthatshehadnoself-control。
SomecreaturesrequireadealoffoodImyselfamongthenumber，andsomecandowithaverylittle；
making，nodoubt，thebestofit。AndIhaveoftennoticedthattheplumpestandmostperfectwomennevereatsohardandfastastheskinnyandthree-corneredones。Theselastbeoftenashamedofit，andeatmostwhenthemenbeabsent。HenceitcametopassthatLorna，beingtheloveliestofallmaidens，hadasmuchasshecoulddotofinishherownhalfofpie；whereasGwennyCarfaxthoughgenerousmorethangreedy，ateupherswithoutwinking，afterfinishingthebrownloaf；andthenIbeggedtoknowthemeaningofthisstateofthings。
’Themeaningissadenough，’saidLorna；’andIseenowayoutofit。WearebothtobestarveduntilIletthemdowhattheylikewithme。
’ThatistosayuntilyouchoosetomarryCarverDoone，andbeslowlykilledbyhim？’
’Slowly!No，John，quickly。Ihatehimsointensely，thatlessthanaweekwouldkillme。’
’Notadoubtofthat，’saidGwenny；’oh，shehateshimnicelythen；butnothalfsomuchasIdo。’
Itoldthemthatthisstateofthingscouldbeendurednolonger，onwhichpointtheyagreedwithme，butsawnomeanstohelpit。ForevenifLornacouldmakeuphermindtocomeawaywithmeandliveatPlover’sBarrowsfarm，undermygoodmother’scare，asIhadurgedsooften，beholdthesnowwasallaroundus，heapedashighasmountains，andhowcouldanydelicatemaidenevergetacrossit？