Neitherwasthistheworstofit；forJeremymadenodoubtbutwhatifhecouldonlygetthemilitiatoturnoutinforcehemightmanage，withthehelpofhisownmen，toforcethestrongholdoftheenemy；butthetruthwasthattheofficers，knowinghowharditwouldbetocollecttheirmenatthattimeoftheyear，andinthatstateoftheweather，beganwithoneaccordtomakeeverypossibleexcuse。Andespeciallytheypressedthispoint，thatBagworthywasnotintheircounty；theDevonshirepeopleaffirmingvehementlythatitlayintheshireofSomerset，andtheSomersetshirefolkaverring，evenwithimprecations，thatitlayinDevonshire。NowIbelievethetruthtobethattheboundaryofthetwocounties，aswellasofOareandBrendonparishes，isdefinedbytheBagworthyriver；sothatthedisputantsonbothsideswerebothrightandwrong。
Uponthis，MasterSticklessuggested，andasIthoughtverysensibly，thatthetwocountiesshouldunite，andequallycontributetotheextirpationofthispest，whichshamedandinjuredthembothalike。Buthencearoseanotherdifficulty；forthemenofDevonsaidtheywouldmarchwhenSomersethadtakenthefield；andthesonsofSomersetrepliedthatindeedtheywerequiteready，butwhatweretheircousinsofDevonshiredoing？AndsoitcametopassthattheKing’sCommissionerreturnedwithoutanyarmywhatever；butwithpromiseoftwohundredmenwhentheroadsshouldbemorepassable。Andmeanwhile，whatwerewetodo，abandonedasweweretothemerciesoftheDoones，withonlyourownhandstohelpus？AndhereinIgrievedatmyownfolly，inhavingletTomFaggusgo，whosewitandcouragewouldhavebeenworthatleasthalfadozenmentous。UponthismatterIheldlongcouncilwithmygoodfriendStickles；tellinghimallaboutLorna’spresence，andwhatIknewofherhistory。Heagreedwithmethatwecouldnothopetoescapeanattackfromtheoutlaws，andthemoreespeciallynowthattheyknewhimselftobereturnedtous。Alsohepraisedmeformyforethoughtinhavingthreshedoutallourcorn，andhiddentheproduceinsuchamannerthattheywerenotlikelytofindit。Furthermore，herecommendedthatalltheentrancestothehouseshouldatoncebestrengthened，andawatchmustbemaintainedatnight；
andhethoughtitwiserthatIshouldgolateasitwastoLynmouth，ifahorsecouldpassthevalley，andfetcheveryoneofhismountedtroopers，whomightnowbequarteredthere。Alsoifanymenofcourage，thoughcapableonlyofhandlingapitchfork，couldbefoundintheneighbourhood，Iwastotrytosummonthem。Butourdistrictissothinlypeopled，thatIhadlittlefaithinthis；howevermyerrandwasgivenme，andI
setforthuponit；forJohnFrywasafraidofthewaters。
Knowinghowfiercelythefloodswereout，Iresolvedtotravelthehigherroad，byCosgateandthroughCountisbury；thereforeIswammyhorsethroughtheLynn，atthefordbelowourhousewheresometimesyoumaystepacross，andthencegallopedupandalongthehills。Icouldseealltheinlandvalleysribbon’dwithbroadwaters；andineverywindingcrook，thebanksofsnowthatfedthem；whileonmyrighttheturbidseawasflakedwithAprilshowers。ButwhenI
descendedthehilltowardsLynmouth，Ifearedthatmyjourneywasallinvain。
FortheEastLynnwhichisourriverwasrampingandroaringfrightfully，lashingwholetrunksoftreesontherocks，andrendingthem，andgrindingthem。Andintoitrushed，fromtheoppositeside，atorrentevenmadder；upsettingwhatitcametoaid；shatteringwavewithboilingbillow，andscatteringwrathwithfury。
Itwascertaindeathtoattemptthepassage：andthelittlewoodenfootbridgehadbeencarriedawaylongago。AndthemenIwasseekingmustbe，ofcourse，ontheothersideofthisdeluge，foronmysidetherewasnotasinglehouse。
Ifollowedthebankofthefloodtothebeach，sometwoorthreehundredyardsbelow；andtherehadthelucktoseeWillWatcombeontheoppositeside，caulkinganoldboat。ThoughIcouldnotmakehimhearaword，fromthedeafeningroarofthetorrent，IgothimtounderstandatlastthatIwantedtocrossover。Uponthishefetchedanotherman，andthetwoofthemlaunchedaboat；andpaddlingwellouttosea，fetchedroundthemouthofthefranticriver。TheothermanprovedtobeStickles’schiefmate；andsohewentbackandfetchedhiscomrades，bringingtheirweapons，butleavingtheirhorsesbehind。Asithappenedtherewerebutfourofthem；however，tohaveeventhesewasahelp；andIstartedagainatfullspeedformyhome；
forthemenmustfollowafoot，andcrossourriverhighuponthemoorland。
Thistookthemalongwayround，andthetrackwasratherbadtofind，andtheskyalreadydarkening；sothatIarrivedatPlover’sBarrowsmorethantwohoursbeforethem。Buttheyhaddoneasagaciousthing，whichwaswellworththedelay；forbyhoistingtheirflaguponthehill，theyfetchedthetwowatchmenfromtheForeland，andaddedthemtotheirnumber。
ItwasluckythatIcamehomesosoon；forIfoundthehouseinagreatcommotion，andallthewomentrembling。WhenIaskedwhatthematterwas，Lorna，whoseemedthemostself-possessed，answeredthatitwasallherfault，forshealonehadfrightenedthem。
Andthisinthefollowingmanner。Shehadstolenouttothegardentowardsdusk，towatchsomefavouritehyacinthsjustpushingup，likeababy’steeth，andjustattractingthefatalnoticeofagreathouse-snailatnight-time。Lornaatlasthaddiscoveredtheglutton，andwasbearinghimoffintriumphtothetribunaloftheducks，whenshedescriedtwoglitteringeyesglaringathersteadfastly，fromtheelder-bushbeyondthestream。Theelderwassmoothingitswrinkledleaves，beingatleasttwomonthsbehindtime；
andamongthemthiscalmcruelfaceappeared；andsheknewitwasthefaceofCarverDoone。
Themaiden，althoughsousedtoterrorasshetoldmeoncebefore，lostallpresenceofmindhereat，andcouldneithershrieknorfly，butonlygaze，asifbewitched。ThenCarverDoone，withhisdeadlysmile，gloatinguponherhorror，liftedhislonggun，andpointedfullatLorna’sheart。Invainshestrovetoturnaway；frighthadstrickenherstiffasstone。
Withtheinbornloveoflife，shetriedtocoverthevitalpartwhereinthewingeddeathmustlodge——forsheknewCarver’scertainaim——butherhandshungnumbed，andheavy；innothingbuthereyeswaslife。
Withnosignofpityinhisface，noquiverofrelenting，butawell-pleasedgrinatallthecharmingpalsyofhisvictim，CarverDoonelowered，inchbyinch，themuzzleofhisgun。Whenitpointedtotheground，betweenherdelicatearchedinsteps，hepulledthetrigger，andthebulletflungthemouldalloverher。Itwasarefinementofbullying，forwhichI
sworetoGodthatnight，uponmyknees，insecret，thatIwouldsmitedownCarverDooneorelseheshouldsmitemedown。Basebeast!whatlargesthumanity，orwhatdreamsofdivinity，couldmakeamanputupwiththis？
Mydarlingtheloveliest，andmostharmless，intheworldofmaidens，fellawayonabankofgrass，andweptatherowncowardice；andtrembled，andwonderedwhereIwas；andwhatIwouldthinkofthis。GoodGod!
WhatcouldIthinkofit？Sheover-ratedmyslownature，toadmitthequestion。
Whilesheleanedthere，quiteunableyettosaveherself，Carvercametothebrinkoftheflood，whichalonewasbetweenthem；andthenhestrokedhisjet-blackbeard，andwaitedforLornatobegin。Verylikely，bethoughtthatshewouldthankhimforhiskindnesstoher。Butshewasnowrecoveringthepowerofhernimblelimbs；andreadytobeofflikehope，andwonderatherowncowardice。
’Ihavesparedyouthistime，’hesaid，inhisdeepcalmvoice，’onlybecauseitsuitsmyplans；andI
neveryieldtotemper。Butunlessyoucomebackto-morrow，pure，andwithallyoutookaway，andteachmetodestroythatfool，whohasdestroyedhimselfforyou，yourdeathishere，yourdeathishere，whereithaslongbeenwaiting。’
Althoughhisgunwasempty，hestruckthebreechofitwithhisfinger；andthenheturnedaway，notdeigningevenoncetolookbackagain；andLornasawhisgiantfigurestridingacrossthemeadow-land，asiftheRiddswerenobodies，andhetheproperowner。BothmotherandIweregreatlyhurtathearingofthisinsolence：
forwehadownedthatmeadow，fromthetimeofthegreatAlfred；andevenwhenthatgoodkinglayintheIsleofAthelney，hehadaRiddalongwithhim。
NowIspoketoLornagently，seeinghowmuchshehadbeentried；andIpraisedherforhercourage，innothavingrunaway，whenshewassounable；andmydarlingwaspleasedwiththis，andsmileduponmeforsayingit；thoughsheknewrightwellthat，inthismatter，myjudgmentwasnotimpartial。Butyoumaytakethisasageneralrule，thatawomanlikespraisefromthemanwhomsheloves，andcannotstopalwaystobalanceit。
Nowexpectingasharpattackthatnight——whenJeremySticklesthemoreexpected，afterthewordsofCarver，whichseemedtobemeanttomisleadus——wepreparedagreatquantityofknucklesofpork，andahaminfullcut，andafilletofhungmutton。Forwewouldalmostsurrenderratherthankeepourgarrisonhungry。Andallourmenwereexceedinglybrave；andcountedtheirroundsofthehouseinhalf-pints。
Beforethemaidenswenttobed，Lornamadearemarkwhichseemedtomeaverycleverone，andthenI
wonderedhowonearthithadneveroccurredtomebefore。ButfirstshehaddoneathingwhichIcouldnotintheleastapproveof：forshehadgoneuptomymother，andthrownherselfintoherarms，andbeggedtobeallowedtoreturntoGlenDoone。
’Mychild，areyouunhappyhere？’motheraskedher，verygently，forshehadbeguntoregardhernowasadaughterofherown。
’Oh，no!Toohappy，byfartoohappy，Mrs。Ridd。I
neverknewrestorpeacebefore，ormetwithrealkindness。ButIcannotbesoungrateful，Icannotbesowicked，astobringyouallintodeadlyperil，formysakealone。Letmego：youmustnotpaythisgreatpriceformyhappiness。’
’Dearchild，wearepayingnopriceatall，’repliedmymother，embracingher；’wearenotthreatenedforyoursakeonly。AskJohn，hewilltellyou。Heknowseverybitaboutpolitics，andthisisapoliticalmatter。’
Dearmotherwasratherproudinherheart，aswellasterriblyfrightened，attheimportancenowaccruingtoPlover’sBarrowsfarm；andsheoftendeclaredthatitwouldbeasfamousinhistoryastheRyeHouse，ortheMeal-tub，oreventhegreatblackbox，inwhichshewasafirmbeliever：andevenmyknowledgeofpoliticscouldnotmoveheruponthatmatter。’Suchthingshadhappenedbefore，’shewouldsay，shakingherheadwithitswisdom，’andwhymighttheynothappenagain？
Womenwouldbewomen，andmenwouldbemen，totheendofthechapter；andifshehadbeeninLucyWater’splace，shewouldkeepitquiet，asshehaddone’；andthenshewouldlookround，forfear，lesteitherofherdaughtershadheardher；’butnow，canyougivemeanyreason，whyitmaynothavebeenso？Youaresofearfullypositive，John：justasmenalwaysare。’
’No，’Iusedtosay；’Icangiveyounoreason，whyitmaynothavebeenso，mother。Butthequestionis，ifitwasso，ornot；ratherthanwhatitmighthavebeen。
And，Ithink，itisprettygoodproofagainstit，thatwhatninemenofeveryteninEnglandwouldonlytoogladlybelieve，iftrue，isneverthelesskeptdarkfromthem。’’Thereyouareagain，John，’motherwouldreply，’allaboutmen，andnotasinglewordaboutwomen。Ifyouhadanyargumentatall，youwouldownthatmarriageisaquestionuponwhichwomenarethebestjudges。’’Oh!’Iwouldgroaninmyspirit，andgo；
leavingmydearestmotherquitesure，thatnowatlastshemusthaveconvincedme。ButifmotherhadknownthatJeremyStickleswasworkingagainsttheblackbox，anditsissue，Idoubtwhetherhewouldhavefaredsowell，eventhoughhewasavisitor。However，sheknewthatsomethingwasdoingandsomethingofimportance；
andshetrustedinGodfortherestofit。Onlysheusedtetellme，veryseriously，ofanevening，’Theveryleasttheycangiveyou，dearJohn，isacoatofarms。Besureyoutakenothingless，dear；andthefarmcanwellsupportit。’
Butlo!IhaveleftLornaeversolong，anxioustoconsultmeuponpoliticalmatters。Shecametome，andhereyesaloneaskedahundredquestions，whichI
ratherhadanswereduponherlipsthantroubledherprettyearswiththem。ThereforeItoldhernothingatall，savethattheattackifanyshouldbewouldnotbemadeonheraccount；andthatifsheshouldhear，byanychance，atrifleofanoiseinthenight，shewastowraptheclothesaroundher，andshutherbeautifuleyesagain。Onnoaccount，whatevershedid，wasshetogotothewindow。Shelikedmyexpressionabouthereyes，andpromisedtodotheverybestshecouldandthenshecreptsoveryclose，thatIneedsmusthavehercloser；andwithherheadonmybreastsheasked，——
’Can’tyoukeepoutofthisfight，John？’
’Myownone，’Ianswered，gazingthroughthelongblacklashes，atthedepthsofradiantlove；’Ibelievetherewillbenothing：butwhatthereisImustseeout。’
’ShallItellyouwhatIthink，John？Itisonlyafancyofmine，andperhapsitisnotworthtelling。’
’Letushaveit，dear，byallmeans。Youknowsomuchabouttheirways。’
’WhatIbelieveisthis，John。Youknowhowhightheriversare，higherthanevertheywerebefore，andtwiceashigh，youhavetoldme。IbelievethatGlenDooneisflooded，andallthehousesunderwater。’
’Youlittlewitch，’Ianswered；’whatafoolImustbenottothinkofit!Ofcourseitis：itmustbe。ThetorrentfromalltheBagworthyforest，andallthevalleysaboveit，andthegreatdriftsintheglenitself，nevercouldhaveoutletdownmyfamouswaterslide。Thevalleymustbeunderwatertwentyfeetatleast。Well，ifevertherewasafool，Iamhe，fornothavingthoughtofit。’
’Irememberoncebefore，’saidLorna，reckoningonherfingers，’whentherewasheavyrain，allthroughtheautumnandwinter，fiveoritmaybesixyearsago，therivercamedownwithsucharushthatthewaterwastwofeetdeepinourrooms，andweallhadtocampbythecliff-edge。Butyouthinkthatthefloodsarehighernow，IbelieveIheardyousay，John。’
’Idon’tthinkaboutit，mytreasure，’Ianswered；’youmaytrustmeforunderstandingfloods，afterourworkatTiverton。AndIknowthatthedelugeinallourvalleysissuchthatnolivingmancanremember，neitherwilleverbeholdagain。Considerthreemonthsofsnow，snow，snow，andafortnightofrainonthetopofit，andalltobedrainedinafewdaysaway!Andgreatbarricadesoficestillintheriversblockingthemup，andpondingthem。Youmaytakemywordforit，MistressLorna，thatyourprettybowerissixfeetdeep。’。