neverthelessthatitwasraintherewasnodenying，aswewatcheditacrossblackdoorways，andcouldseenosignofwhite。Mother，whohadmadeuphermindthatthefarmwasnotworthhavingafterallthoseprophesies，andthatallofusmuststarve，andholesbescratchedinthesnowforus，andnousetoputupatombstoneforourchurchhadbeenshutuplongago
motherfelluponmybreast，andsobbedthatIwasthecleverestfelloweverbornofwoman。AndthisbecauseIhadcondemnedtheprophetsforapackoffools；notseeinghowbusinesscouldgoon，ifpeoplestoppedtohearkentothem。
ThenLornacameandglorifiedme，forIhadpredictedachangeofweather，moretokeeptheirspiritsup，thanwithrealhopeofit；andthencameAnnieblushingshyly，asIlookedather，andsaidthatWinniewouldsoonhavefourlegsnow。ThisreferredtosomestupidjokemadebyJohnFryorsomebody，thatinthisweatheramanhadnolegs，andahorsehadonlytwo。
Butastheraincamedownuponusfromthesouthwestwind，andwecouldnothaveenoughofit，evenputtingourtonguestocatchit，aslittlechildrenmightdo，andbeginningtotalkofprimroses；theverynoblestthingofallwastohearandseethegratitudeofthepoorbeastsyetremainingandthefewsurvivingbirds。
Fromthecowhouselowingcame，morethanoffiftymilkingtimes；mooandmoo，andaturn-upnoiseattheendofeverybellow，asiffromtheveryheartofkine。
Thenthehorsesinthestables，packedascloselyastheycouldstick，attheriskofkicking，tokeepthewarmthinoneanother，andtheirspiritsupbydiscoursing；thesebeganwithoneaccordtoliftuptheirvoices，snorting，snaffling，whinnying，andneighing，andtrottingtothedoortoknowwhentheyshouldhaveworkagain。Towhom，asifinanswer，camethefeeblebleatingofthesheep，whatfew，bydintofgreatestcare，hadkepttheirfleecesontheirbacks，andtheirfourlegsunderthem。
Neitherwasitatriflingthing，letwhosowillsaythecontrary，tobeholdtheducksandgeesemarchingforthinhandsomeorderfromtheirbedsoffernandstraw。
Whatagoodlynoisetheykept，whataflappingoftheirwings，andajerkingoftheirtails，astheystoodrightupandtriedwithawhistlingintheirthroatstoimitateacockscrow!Andthenhowdaintilytheytookthewetupontheirdustyplumes，andduckedtheirshoulderstoit，andbegantodressthemselves，andlaidtheirgroovedbillsonthesnow，anddabbledformoreooziness!
Lornahadneverseen，Idaresay，anythinglikethisbefore，anditwasallthatwecoulddotokeepherfromrushingforthwithonlylittlelambswoolshoeson，andkissingeveryoneofthem。’Oh，thedearthings，oh，thedearthings!’shekeptsayingcontinually，’howwonderfullyclevertheyare!Onlylookatthatonewithhisfootup，givingorderstotheothers，John!’
’AndImustgiveorderstoyou，mydarling，’I
answered，gazingonherface，sobrilliantwithexcitement；’andthatis，thatyoucomeinatonce，withthatworrisomecoughofyours；andsitbythefire，andwarmyourself。’
’Oh，no，John!Notforaminute，ifyouplease，goodJohn。Iwanttoseethesnowgoaway，andthegreenmeadowscomingforth。Andherecomesourfavouriterobin，whohaslivedintheovensolong，andsangusasongeverymorning。Imustseewhathethinksofit!’
’Youwilldonothingofthesort，’Iansweredveryshortly，beingonlytoogladofacauseforhavingherinmyarmsagain。SoIcaughtherup，andcarriedherin；andshelookedandsmiledsosweetlyatmeinsteadofpoutingasIhadfearedthatIfoundmyselfunabletogoveryfastalongthepassage。AndIsetherthereinherfavouriteplace，bythesweet-scentedwood-fire；
andshepaidmeporteragewithoutmyevenaskingher；
andforallthebeautyoftherain，Iwasfaintostaywithher；untilourAnniecametosaythatmyadvicewaswanted。
Nowmyadvicewasnevermuch，aseverybodyknewquitewell；butthatwasthewaytheyalwaysputit，whentheywantedmetoworkforthem。Andintruthitwastimeformetowork；notforothers，butmyself，andasIalwaysthoughtforLorna。Fortherainwasnowcomingdowninearnest；andthetopofthesnowbeingfrozenatlast，andglazedashardasachinacup，bymeansofthesunandfrostafterwards，alltherainranrightawayfromthesteepinclines，andalltheoutletsbeingblockedwithicesetupliketables，itthreatenedtofloodeverything。Alreadyitwaspondingup，likeatideadvancingatthethresholdofthedoorfromwhichwehadwatchedtheduck-birds；bothbecausegreatpilesofsnowtrendedinthatdirection，inspiteofallourscraping，andalsothatthegulleyhole，wherethewateroftheshootwentoutImeanwhenitwaswaternowwaschokedwithlumpsofice，asbigasaman’sbody。Forthe’shoot，’aswecalledourlittlerunnelofeverlastingwater，neverknowntofreezebefore，andalwaysreadyforanymaneithertowashhishands，ordrink，whereitspoutedfromatroughofbark，setamongwhiteflint-stones；thisatlasthadgivenin，anditsmusicceasedtolullus，aswelayinbed。
ItwasnotlongbeforeImanagedtodrainoffthisthreateningflood，byopeningtheoldsluice-hole；butIhadmuchharderworktokeepthestables，andthecow-house，andtheothersheds，fromflooding。ForwehaveasapientpracticeandIneversawthecontraryroundaboutourparts，Imean，ofkeepingallroomsunderground，sothatyoustepdowntothem。Wesaythatthuswekeepthemwarmer，bothforcattleandformen，inthetimeofwinter，andcoolerinthesummer-time。ThisIwillnotcontradict，thoughhavingmyownopinion；butitseemstometobearelicofthetimewhenpeopleinthewesterncountrieslivedincavesbeneaththeground，andblockedthemouthswithneat-skins。
Letthatquestionstillabide，formenwhostudyancienttimestoinformme，iftheywill；allIknowis，thatnowwehadnoblessingsforthesystem。Ifafteralltheircoldandstarving，ourweakcattlenowshouldhavetostanduptotheirkneesinwater，itwouldbecertaindeathtothem；andwehadlostenoughalreadytomakeuspoorforalongtime；nottospeakofourkindloveforthem。AndIdoassureyou，I
lovedsomehorses，andevensomecowsforthatmatter，asiftheyhadbeenmyblood-relations；knowingasIdidtheirvirtues。Andsomeofthesewerelosttous；andIcouldnotbeartothinkofthem。ThereforeIworkedhardallnighttotryandsavetherestofthem。
Throughthatseasonofbitterfrostthereddeeroftheforest，havingnothingtofeedupon，andnosheltertorestin，hadgrownaccustomedtoourricksofcorn，andhay，andclover。Therewemightseeahundredofthemalmostanymorning，comeforwarmth，andfood，andcomfort，andscarcewillingtomoveaway。Andmanyofthemweresotame，thattheyquietlypresentedthemselvesatourbackdoor，andstoodtherewiththeircoatsquitestiff，andtheirflanksdrawninandpanting，andiciclessometimesontheirchins，andtheirgreateyesfastenedwistfullyuponanymercifulperson；cravingforabitoffood，andadrinkofwater；Isupposethattheyhadnotsenseenoughtochewthesnowandmeltit；atanyrate，allthespringsbeingfrozen，andrivershiddenoutofsight，thesepoorthingssufferedevenmorefromthirstthantheydidfromhunger。
Butnowtherewasnofearofthirst，andmorechanceindeedofdrowning；foraheavygaleofwindarose，withviolentrainfromthesouth-west，whichlastedalmostwithoutapauseforthreenightsandtwodays。
Atfirsttherainmadenoimpressiononthebulkofsnow，butranfromeveryslopingsurfaceandfrozeoneveryflatone，throughthecoldnessoftheearth；andsoitbecameimpossibleforanymantokeephislegswithoutthehelpofashoddenstaff。Afteragoodwhile，however，theairgrowingverymuchwarmer，thisstateofthingsbegantochange，andaworseonetosucceedit；fornowthesnowcamethunderingdownfromroof，androck，andiviedtree，andfloodsbegantoroarandfoamineverytroughandgulley。Thedriftsthathadbeensowhiteandfair，lookedyellow，andsmirched，andmuddy，andlosttheirgracefulcurves，andmouldedlines，andairiness。Butthestrangestsightofalltomewasinthebedofstreams，andbrooks，andespeciallyoftheLynnriver。Itwasworthgoingmilestobeholdsuchathing，foramanmightneverhavethechanceagain。
Vastdriftsofsnowhadfilledthevalley，andpiledabovetheriver-course，fiftyfeethighinmanyplaces，andinsomeasmuchasahundred。Thesehadfrozenoverthetop，andglancedtherainawayfromthem，andbeingsustainedbyrockandtree，spannedthewatermightily。Butmeanwhilethewaxingflood，swollenfromeverymoorlandhollowandfromeveryspoutingcrag，haddashedawayallicyfetters，andwasrollinggloriously。Underwhitefantasticarches，andlongtunnelsfreakedandfretted，andbetweenpellucidpillarsjaggedwithnoddingarchitraves，theredimpetuoustorrentrushed，andthebrownfoamwhirledandflashed。Iwashalfinclinedtojumpinandswimthroughsuchgloriousscenery；fornothingusedtopleasememorethanswimminginafloodedriver。ButI
thoughtoftherocks，andIthoughtofthecramp，andmorethanall，ofLorna；andso，betweenonethingandanother，Iletitrollonwithoutme。
Itwasnowhightimetoworkveryhard；bothtomakeupforthefarm-worklostduringthemonthsoffrostandsnow，andalsotobereadyforagreatandviciousattackfromtheDoones，whowouldburnusinourbedsattheearliestopportunity。Offarm-worktherewaslittleyetforeventhemostzealousmantobegintolayhishandto；becausewhenthegroundappearedthroughthecrustofbubbledsnowasatlastitdid，thoughnotasmyLornahadexpected，atthefirstfewdropsofrainitwasallsosoakedandsodden，andaswecallit，’mucksy，’thattomeddlewithitinanywaywastodomoreharmthangood。Nevertheless，therewasyardwork，andhousework，andtendenceofstock，enoughtosaveanymanfromidleness。
AsforLorna，shewouldcomeout。Therewasnokeepingherinthehouse。Shehadtakenupsomepeculiarnotionthatweweredoingmoreforherthanshehadanyrightto，andthatshemustearnherlivingbythehardworkofherhands。Itwasquiteinvaintotellherthatshewasexpectedtodonothing，andfarworsethanvainforitmadehercrysadlyifanyoneassuredherthatshecoulddonogoodatall。Sheevenbeganuponmother’sgardenbeforethesnowwascleangonefromit，andsowedabeautifulrowofpeas，everyoneofwhichthemiceate。
Butthoughitwasveryprettytowatchherworkingforherverylife，asifthemaintenanceofthehouseholdhunguponherlabours，yetIwasgrievedformanyreasons，andsowasmotheralso。Inthefirstplace，shewastoofairanddaintyforthisrough，rudework；
andthoughitmadehercheekssobright，itsurelymustbebadforhertogetherlittlefeetsowet。
Moreover，wecouldnotbeartheideathatsheshouldlabourforherkeep；andagainwhichwastheworstofallthingsmother’sgardenlayexposedtoadarkdeceitfulcoppice，whereamanmightlurkandwatchallthefairgardener’sdoings。Itwastruethatnonecouldgetatherthence，whilethebrookwhichranbetweenpouredsogreatatorrent。Stillthedistancewasbutlittleforaguntocarry，ifanyonecouldbebrutalenoughtopointagunatLorna。Ithoughtthatnonecouldbefoundtodoit；butmother，havingmoreexperience，wasnotsocertainofmankind。
Nowinspiteofthefloods，andthesloughsbeingout，andthestateoftheroadsmostperilous，SquireFagguscameatlast，ridinghisfamousstrawberrymare。TherewasagreatadobetweenhimandAnnie，asyoumaywellsuppose，aftersomefourmonthsofparting。Andsoweleftthemaloneawhile，tocoddleovertheirraptures。
Butwhentheyweretiredofthat，oratleasthadtimeenoughtodoso，motherandIwentintoknowwhatnewsTomhadbroughtwithhim。Thoughhedidnotseemtowantusyet，hemadehimselfagreeable；andsowesentAnnietocookthedinnerwhilehersweetheartshouldtelluseverything。
TomFaggushadverygoodnewstotell，andhetolditwithsuchforceofexpressionasmadeuslaughveryheartily。HehadtakenuphispurchasefromoldSirRogerBassettofanicebitofland，tothesouthofthemoors，andintheparishofMolland。Whenthelawyersknewthoroughlywhohewas，andhowhehadmadehismoney，theybehaveduncommonlywelltohim，andshowedgreatsympathywithhispursuits。Heputthemuptoathingortwo；andtheypokedhimintheribs，andlaughed，andsaidthathewasquiteaboy；butoftherightsort，nonetheless。AndsotheymadeoldSquireBassettpaythebillforbothsides；andallhegotforthreehundredacreswasahundredandtwentypounds；thoughTomhadpaidfivehundred。Butlawyersknowthatthismustbeso，inspiteofalltheirendeavours；andtheoldgentleman，whonowexpectedtofindabillforhimtopay，almostthoughthimselfarogue，forgettinganythingoutofthem。
Itistruethatthelandwaspoorandwild，andthesoilexceedingshallow；lyingontheslopeofrock，andburnedupinhotsummers。Butwithus，hotsummersarethingsknownbytraditiononlyasthisgreatwintermaybe；wegenerallyhavemoremoisture，especiallyinJuly，thanwewellknowwhattodowith。