Ihaveknownafogforafortnightatthesummersolstice，andfarmerstalkinginchurchaboutitwhentheyoughttobepraying。Butitalwayscontrivestocomerightintheend，asothervisitationsdo，ifwetakethemastruevisits，andreceivethemkindly。
NowthisfarmofSquireFaggusashetrulynowhadarighttobecalledwasoftheveryfinestpasture，whenitgotgoodstoreofrain。AndTom，whohadriddentheDevonshireroadswithmanyareekingjacket，knewrightwellthathemighttrusttheclimateforthatmatter。Theherbagewasoftheverysweetest，andtheshortest，andtheclosest，havingperhapsfromtentoeighteeninchesofwholesomesoilbetweenitandthesolidrock。Tomsawatoncewhatitwasfitfor——thebreedingoffinecattle。
Beingsuchahandashewasatmakingthemostofeverything，bothhisownandotherpeople’salthoughsofreeinscattering，whenthehumourlayuponhimhehadactuallyturnedtohisownadvantagethatextraordinaryweatherwhichhadsoimpoverishedeveryonearoundhim。ForhetaughthisWinniewhoknewhismeaningaswellasanychildcould，andobeyednotonlyhiswordofmouth，buteveryglancebegavehertogoforthinthesnowyeveningswhenhorsesareseekingeverywherebetheywildortameforfodderandforshelter；andtowhinnytotheforestponies，milesawayfromhomeperhaps，andleadthemallwithrareappetitesandpromiseofabundance，tohermaster’shomestead。HeshodgoodWinnieinsuchamannerthatshecouldnotsinkinthesnow；andhecladherovertheloinswithasheep-skindyedtoherowncolour，whichthewildhorseswerenevertiredofcomingupandsniffingat；takingitforanespecialgift，andproofofinspiration。AndWinnienevercamehomeatnightwithoutatleastascoreofponiestrottingshylyafterher，tossingtheirheadsandtheirtailsinturn，andmakingbelievetobeverywild，althoughhardpinchedbyfamine。OfcourseTomwouldgetthemallintohispoundinaboutfiveminutes，forhehimselfcouldneighinamannerwhichwenttotheheartofthewildesthorse。Andthenhefedthemwell，andturnedthemintohisgreatcattlepen，toabidetheirtimeforbreaking，whenthesnowandfrostshouldbeover。
Hehadgottenmorethanthreehundrednow，inthissagaciousmanner；andhesaiditwasthefinestsighttoseetheirmodeofcarryingon，howtheywouldsnort，andstamp，andfume，andpricktheirears，andrushbackwards，andlashthemselveswiththeirlongroughtails，andshaketheirjaggedmanes，andscream，andfallupononeanother，ifastrangemancameanighthem。Butasforfeedingtime，Tomsaiditwasbetterthanfiftyplaystowatchthem，andthetrickstheywereupto，tocheattheirfeeders，andoneanother。I
askedhimhowonearthhehadmanagedtogetfodder，insuchimpassableweather，forsuchaherdofhorses；buthesaidthattheyliveduponstrawandsawdust；andheknewthatIdidnotbelievehim，anymorethanabouthisstar-shavings。Andthiswasjustthethingheloved——tomystifyhonestpeople，andbeagreatdealtooknowing。However，Imayjudgehimharshly，becauseImyselftelleverything。
Iaskedhimwhathemeanttodowithallthatenormouslotofhorses，andwhyhehadnotexertedhiswitstocatchthereddeeraswell。Hesaidthatthelatterwouldhavebeenagainstthelawsofvenery，andmighthavebroughthimintotrouble，butasfordisposingofhisstud，itwouldgivehimlittledifficulty。Hewouldbreakthem，whenthespringweathercameon，anddealwiththemastheyrequired，andkeepthehandsomestforbreeding。TheresthewoulddespatchtoLondon，whereheknewplentyofhorse-dealers；andhedoubtednotthattheywouldfetchhimasmuchastenpoundsapieceallround，beingnowingreatdemand。I
toldhimIwishedthathemightgetit；butasitprovedafterwards，hedid。
Thenhepressedusbothonanotherpoint，thetimeforhismarriagetoAnnie；andmotherlookedatmetosaywhen，andIlookedbackatmother。However，knowingsomethingoftheworld，andunabletomakeanyfurtherobjection，byreasonofhisprosperity，Isaidthatwemustevendoasthefashionablepeopledid，andallowthemaidherselftosettle，whenshewouldleavehomeandall。AndthisIspokewithaverybadgrace，beingperhapsofanancientcast，andoverfondofhonesty——I
mean，ofcourse，amonglowerpeople。
ButTompaidlittleheedtothis，knowingtheworldagreatdealbetterthaneverIcouldpretendtodo；andbeingreadytotakeathing，uponwhichhehadsethismind，whetheritcamewithagoodgrace，orwhetheritcamewithabadone。Andseeingthatitwouldbeawkwardtoprovokemyanger，helefttheroom，beforemorewords，tosubmithimselftoAnnie。
UponthisIwentinsearchofLorna，totellherofourcousin’sarrival，andtoaskwhethershewouldthinkfittoseehim，ortodinebyherselfthatday；forsheshoulddoexactlyasitpleasedherineverything，whileremainingstillourguest。ButIratherwishedthatshemightchoosenottositinTom’scompany，thoughshemightbeintroducedtohim。Notbutwhathecouldbehavequiteaswellascould，andmuchbetter，asregardedeleganceandassurance，onlythathishonestyhadnotbeenasonemightdesire。ButLornahadsomecuriositytoknowwhatthisfamousmanwaslike，anddeclaredthatshewouldbyallmeanshavethepleasureofdiningwithhim，ifhedidnotobjecttohercompanyonthegroundoftheDoones’dishonesty；
moreover，shesaidthatitwouldseemamostfoolishaironherpart，andonewhichwouldcausethegreatestpaintoAnnie，whohadbeensogoodtoher，ifsheshouldrefusetositattablewithamanwhoheldtheKing’spardon，andwasnowapatternofhonesty。
AgainstthisIhadnotawordtosay；andcouldnothelpacknowledginginmyheartthatshewasright，aswellaswise，inherdecision。AndafterwardsI
discoveredthatmotherwouldhavebeenmuchdispleased，ifshehaddecidedotherwise。
Accordinglysheturnedaway，withoneofherverysweetestsmileswhosebeautynonecandescribesayingthatshemustnotmeetamanofsuchfashionandrenown，inhercommongardeningfrock；butmusttrytolookasniceasshecould，ifonlyinhonourofdearAnnie。Andtruthtotell，whenshecametodinner，everythingaboutherwastheneatestandprettiestthatcanpossiblybeimagined。Shecontrivedtomatchthecoloursso，tosuitoneanotherandherown，andyetwithacertaindelicateharmonyofcontrast，andtheshapeofeverythingwassonice，sothatwhenshecameintotheroom，withacrownofwinningmodestyupontheconsciousnessofbeauty，IwasquiteasproudasiftheQueenofEnglandentered。
Mymothercouldnothelpremarking，thoughsheknewthatitwasnotmannerly，howlikeaprincessLornalooked，nowshehadherbestthingson；buttwothingscaughtSquireFaggus’seyes，afterhehadmadeamostgallantbow，andreceivedamostgracefulcourtesy；andhekepthisbrightboldgazeuponthem，firstonone，andthenontheother，untilmydarlingwashotwithblushes，andIwasreadytoknockhimdownifhehadnotbeenourvisitor。ButhereagainIshouldhavebeenwrong，asIwasapttobeinthosedays；forTomintendednoharmwhatever，andhisgazewasofpurecuriosity；thoughAnnieherselfwasvexedwithit。Thetwoobjectsofhiscloseregard，werefirst，andmostworthily，Lorna’sface，andsecondly，theancientnecklacerestoredtoherbySirEnsorDoone。
Nowwishingtosavemydarling’scomfort，andtokeepthingsquiet，Ishoutedoutthatdinnerwasready，sothathalftheparishcouldhearme；uponwhichmymotherlaughed，andchidme，anddespatchedherguestsbeforeher。Andaverygooddinnerwemade，I
remember，andaveryhappyone；attendingtothewomenfirst，asnowisthemannerofeating；exceptamongtheworkmen。Withthem，ofcourse，itisneedfulthatthemanwhohashishoursfixedshouldbeservedfirst，andmaketheutmostofhistimeforfeeding，whilethewomenmaygoon，asmuchasevertheyplease，afterwards。Butwithus，whoarenotboundtotime，thereisnosuchreasontobequoted；andthewomenbeingtheweakervessels，shouldbethefirsttobegintofill。Andsowealwaysarrangedit。
Now，thoughourAnniewasagracefulmaid，andLizzieaverylearnedone，youshouldhaveseenhowdifferentlyLornamanagedherdining；shenevertookmorethanaboutaquarterofamouthfulatatime，andsheneverappearedtobechewingthat，althoughshemusthavedoneso。Indeed，sheappearedtodineasifitwereamatterofnoconsequence，andasifshecouldthinkofotherthingsmorethanofherbusiness。Allthis，andherownmannerofeating，IdescribedtoElizaonce，whenIwantedtovexherforsomethingveryspitefulthatshehadsaid；andIneversucceededsowellbefore，forthegirlwasquiteoutrageous，havingherownperceptionofit，whichmademyobservationtentimesasbittertoher。AndIamnotsurebutwhatsheceasedtolikepoorLornafromthatday；andifso，I
wasquitepaidout，asIwelldeserved，formybitofsatire。
Foritstrikesmethatofallhumandealings，satireistheverylowest，andmostmeanandcommon。Itistheequivalentinwordsofwhatbullyingisindeeds；andnomorebespeaksacleverman，thantheotherdoesabraveone。Thesetwowretchedtricksexaltafoolinhisownlowesteem，butneverinhisneighbour’s；forthedeepcommonsenseofournaturetellsthatnomanofagenialheart，orofanyspreadofmind，cantakeprideineither。Andthoughagoodmanmaycommittheonefaultortheother，nowandthen，bywayofoutlet，heissuretohavecompunctionssoon，andtoscornhimselfmorethanthesufferer。
Nowwhentheyoungmaidensweregone——forwehadquiteahighdinneroffashionthatday，withBettyMuxworthywaiting，andGwennyCarfaxatthegravy——andonlymother，andTom，andIremainedatthewhitedealtable，withbrandy，andschnapps，andhotwaterjugs；
SquireFaggussaidquitesuddenly，andperhapsonpurposetotakeusaback，incaseofourhidinganything，——’Whatdoyouknowofthehistoryofthatbeautifulmaiden，goodmother？’
’Nothalfsomuchasmysondoes，’motheranswered，withasoftsmileatme；’andwhenJohndoesnotchoosetotellathing，wildhorseswillnotpullitoutofhim。’
’Thatisnotatalllikeme，mother，’Irepliedrathersadly；’youknowalmosteverywordaboutLorna，quiteaswellasIdo。’
’Almosteveryword，Ibelieve，John；foryounevertellafalsehood。Butthefewunknownmaybeofallthemostimportanttome。’
TothisImadenoanswer，forfearofgoingbeyondthetruth，orelseofmakingmischief。NotthatIhad，orwishedtohave，anymysterywithmother；neitherwasthereinpuresttruth，anymysteryinthematter；totheutmostofmyknowledge。AndtheonlythingsthatI
hadkeptback，solelyformother’scomfort，werethedeathofpoorLordAlanBrandirifindeedheweredeadandtheconnectionofMarwooddeWhichehalsewiththedealingsoftheDoones，andthethreatsofCarverDooneagainstmyownprosperity；and，maybe，oneortwolittlethingsharrowingmorethanedifying。
’Come，come，’saidMasterFaggus，smilingverypleasantly，’youtwounderstandeachother，ifanytwoonearthdo。Ah，ifIhadonlyhadamother，howdifferentImighthavebeen!’Andwiththathesighed，inthetonewhichalwaysovercamemotheruponthatsubject，andhadsomethingtodowithhisgettingAnnie；andthenheproducedhisprettybox，fullofrolledtobacco，andofferedmeone，asInowhadjoinedthegoodlycompanyofsmokers。SoItookit，andwatchedwhathedidwithhisown，lestImightgowrongaboutmine。
Butwhenourcylinderswerebothlighted，andI
enjoyingminewonderfully，andastonishingmotherbymyskill，TomFaggustoldusthathewassurehehadseenmyLorna’sfacebefore，manyandmanyyearsago，whenshewasquitealittlechild，buthecouldnotrememberwhereitwas，oranythingmoreaboutitatpresent；
thoughhewouldtrytodosoafterwards。Hecouldnotbemistaken，hesaid，forhehadnoticedhereyesespecially；andhadneverseensucheyesbefore，neitheragain，untilthisday。IaskedhimifhehadeverventuredintotheDoone-valley；butheshookhishead，andrepliedthathevaluedhislifeadealtoomuchforthat。Thenweputittohim，whetheranythingmightassisthismemory；buthesaidthatheknewnotofaughttodoso，unlessitwereanotherglassofschnapps。
Thisbeingprovided，hegrewverywise，andtoldusclearlyandcandidlythatwewerebothveryfoolish。
ForhesaidthatwewerekeepingLorna，attherisknotonlyofourstock，andthehouseaboveourheads，butalsoofourpreciouslives；andafterallwassheworthit，althoughsoverybeautiful？UponwhichItoldhim，withindignation，thatherbeautywastheleastpartofhergoodness，andthatIwouldthankhimforhisopinionwhenIhadrequestedit。
’Bravo，ourJohnRidd!’heanswered；’foolswillbefoolstilltheendofthechapter；andImightbeasbigaone，ifIwereinthyshoes，John。Nevertheless，inthenameofGod，don’tletthathelplesschildgoaboutwithathingworthhalfthecountyonher。’