’Now，CarverDoone，takewarning，’Isaidtohim，verysoberly；’youhaveshownyourselfafoolbyyourcontemptofme。Imaynotbeyourmatchincraft；butIaminmanhood。Youareadespicablevillain。Lielowinyournativemuck。’
Andwiththatword，Ilaidhimflatuponhisbackinourstraw-yard，byatrickoftheinnerheel，whichhecouldnothaveresistedthoughhisstrengthhadbeentwiceasgreatasmine，unlesshewereawrestler。
Seeinghimdowntheothersran，thoughoneofthemmadeashotatme，andsomeofthemgottheirhorses，beforeourmencameup；andsomewentawaywithoutthem。AndamongtheselastwasCaptainCarverwhoarose，whileI
wasfeelingmyselfforIhadalittlewound，andstrodeawaywithatrainofcursesenoughtopoisonthelightofthemoon。
Wegainedsixverygoodhorses，bythisattemptedrapine，aswellastwoyoungprisoners，whomIhadsmittenbytheclover-rick。AndtwodeadDooneswereleftbehind，whomasweburiedtheminthechurchyard，withoutanyserviceoverthem，IformypartwasmostthankfulthatIhadnotkilled。Fortohavethelifeofafellow-manlaiduponone’sconscience——deservedhehisdeath，ordeserveditnot——istomysenseofrightandwrongtheheaviestofallburdens；andtheonethatwearsmostdeeplyinwards，withthedwellingofthemindonthisviewandonthatofit。
Iwasinclinedtopursuetheenemyandtrytocapturemoreofthem；butJeremyStickleswouldnotallowit，forhesaidthatalltheadvantagewouldbeupontheirside，ifwewenthurryingafterthem，withonlythemoontoguideus。Andwhocouldtellbutwhattheremightbeanotherbandofthem，readytofalluponthehouse，andburnit，andseizethewomen，ifweleftthemunprotected？Whenheputthecasethus，Iwasgladenoughtoabidebyhisdecision。Andonethingwasquitecertain，thattheDooneshadneverbeforereceivedsorudeashock，andsoviolentablowtotheirsupremacy，sincefirsttheyhadbuiltuptheirpower，andbecometheLordsofExmoor。IknewthatCarverDoonewouldgnashthosemightyteethofhis，andcursethemenaroundhim，fortheblunderwhichwasintruthhisownofover-confidenceandcarelessness。
Andatthesametime，alltherestwouldfeelthatsuchathinghadneverhappened，whileoldSirEnsorwasalive；andthatitwascausedbynothingshortofgrossmismanagement。
Iscarcelyknowwhomadethegreatestfussaboutmylittlewound，mother，orAnnie，orLorna。Iwasheartilyashamedtobesotreatedlikeamilksop；butmostunluckilyithadbeenimpossibletohideit。Fortheballhadcutalongmytemple，justabovetheeyebrow；andbeingfiredsonearathand，thepowdertoohadscarredme。Thereforeitseemedagreatdealworsethanitreallywas；andthesponging，andtheplastering，andthesobbing，andthemoaning，mademequiteashamedtolookMasterSticklesintheface。
However，atlastIpersuadedthemthatIhadnointentionofgivinguptheghostthatnight；andthentheyallfellto，andthankedGodwithanemphasisquiteunknowninchurch。AndhereuponMasterSticklessaid，inhisfreeandeasymannerfornoonecourtedhisobservation，thatIwastheluckiestofallmortalsinhavingamother，andasister，andasweetheart，tomakemuchofme。Forhispart，hesaid，hewasjustaswelloffinnothavinganytocareforhim。Fornowhemightgoandgetshot，orstabbed，orknockedonthehead，athispleasure，withoutanyonebeingoffended。Imadebold，uponthis，toaskhimwhatwasbecomeofhiswife；forIhadheardhimspeakofhavingone。Hesaidthatheneitherknewnorcared；andperhapsIshouldbelikehimsomeday。ThatLornashouldhearsuchsentimentswasverygrievoustome。Butshelookedatmewithasmile，whichprovedhercontemptforallsuchideas；andlestanythingstillmoreunfitmightbesaid，Idismissedthequestion。
ButMasterSticklestoldmeafterwards，whentherewasnoonewithus，tohavenofaithinanywoman，whatevershemightseemtobe。Forheassuredmethatnowhepossessedverylargeexperience，forsosmallamatter；
beingthoroughlyacquaintedwithwomenofeveryclass，fromladiesofthehighestblood，toBonarobas，andpeasants’wives：andthattheyallmightbedividedintothreeheadsandnomore；thatistosayasfollows。First，theveryhotandpassionate，whowereonlycontemptible；second，thecoldandindifferent，whoweresimplyodious；andthird，themixtureoftheothertwo，whohadthebadqualitiesofboth。Asforreason，noneofthemhadit；itwaslikeasealedbooktothem，whichiftheyevertriedtoopen，theybeganatthebackofthecover。
NowIdidnotliketohearsuchthings；andtometheyappearedtobeinsolent，aswellasnarrow-minded。Forifyoucametothat，whymightnotmen，aswellaswomen，bedividedintothesamethreeclasses，andbepronounceduponbywomen，asbeingsevenmoredevoidthantheirgentlejudgesofreason？Moreover，Iknew，bothfrommyownsense，andfromthegreatestofallgreatpoets，thatthereare，andalwayshavebeen，plentyofwomen，good，andgentle，warm-hearted，loving，andlovable；verykeen，moreover，atseeingtheright，beitbyreason，orotherwise。Anduponthewhole，Ipreferthemmuchtothepeopleofmyownsex，asgoodnessofheartismoreimportantthantoshowgoodreasonforhavingit。AndsoIsaidtoJeremy，——
’Youhavebeenill-treated，perhaps，MasterStickles，bysomewomanorother？’
’Ah，thathaveI，’herepliedwithanoath；’andthelastonearthwhoshouldservemeso，thewomanwhowasmywife。AwomanwhomIneverstruck，neverwrongedinanyway，neverevenletherknowthatIlikeanotherbetter。AndyetwhenIwasatBerwicklast，withtheregimentonguardthereagainstthosevilemoss-troopers，whatdoesthatwomandobutflyinthefaceofallauthority，andofmyespecialbusiness，byrunningawayherselfwiththebiggestofallmoss-troopers？NotthatIcaredagroatabouther；andIwishthefoolwellridofher：buttheinsolenceofthethingwassuchthateverybodylaughedatme；andbackIwenttoLondon，losingafarbetterandsaferjobthanthis；andallthroughher。Come，let’shaveanotheronion。’
MasterStickles’sviewofthematterwassoentirelyunromantic，thatIscarcelywonderedatMistressSticklesforhavingrunawayfromhimtoanadventurousmoss-trooper。Forninewomenoutoftenmusthavesomekindofromanceorother，tomaketheirlivesendurable；andwhentheirlovehaslostthisattractiveelement，thissoftdew-fogifsuchitbe，theloveitselfisapttolanguish；unlessitsbloombewellreplacedbythebuddinghopesofchildren。NowMasterSticklesneitherhad，norwishedtohave，anychildren。
Withoutwaitingforanywarrant，onlysayingsomethingabout’captusinflagrantedelicto，’——ifthatbethewaytospellit——Sticklessentourprisonersoff，boundandlookingmiserable，tothejailatTaunton。I
wasdesiroustoletthemgofree，iftheywouldpromiseamendment；butalthoughIhadtakenthem，andsurelythereforehadeveryrighttoletthemgoagain，MasterSticklessaid，’Notso。’Heassuredmethatitwasamatterofpublicpolity；andofcourse，notknowingwhathemeant，Icouldnotcontradicthim；butthoughtthatsurelymyprivaterightsoughttoberespected。
ForifIthrowamaninwrestling，Iexpecttogethisstakes；andifItakeamanprisoner——why，heought，incommonjustice，tobelongtome，andIhaveagoodrighttolethimgo，ifIthinkpropertodoso。
However，MasterSticklessaidthatIwasquitebenighted，andknewnothingoftheConstitution；whichwastheverythingIknew，beyondanymaninourparish!
Nevertheless，itwasnotformetocontradictacommissioner；andthereforeIletmyprisonersgo，andwishedthemahappydeliverance。Sticklesreplied，withamerrygrin，thatifevertheygotit，itwouldbeajaildeliverance，andtheblissofdancing；andhelaidhishandtohisthroatinamannerwhichseemedtomemostuncourteous。However，hisforesightprovedtoocorrect；forboththosepoorfellowswereexecuted，soonafterthenextassizes。Lornahaddoneherverybesttoearnanotherchanceforthem；evengoingdownonherkneestothatcommonJeremy，andpleadingwithgreattearsforthem。However，althoughmuchmovedbyher，hevowedthathedurstdonothingelse。Tosetthemfreewasmorethanhisownlifewasworth；forallthecountryknew，bythistime，thattwocaptiveDooneswereropedtothecider-pressatPlover’sBarrows。
AnnieboundthebrokenarmoftheonewhomIhadknockeddownwiththeclub，andImyselfsupportedit；
andthenshewashedandrubbedwithlardthefaceoftheotherpoorfellow，whichthetorchhadinjured；andIfetchedbackhiscollar-bonetothebestofmyability。Forbeforeanysurgeoncouldarrive，theywereoffwithawell-armedescort。Thatdaywewerereinforcedsostronglyfromthestationsalongthecoast，evenasfarasMinehead，thatwenotonlyfearednofurtherattack，buteventalkedofassaultingGlenDoone，withoutwaitingforthetrain-bands。However，I
thoughtthatitwouldbemeantotakeadvantageoftheenemyinthethickofthefloodsandconfusion；andseveraloftheothersthoughtsotoo，anddidnotlikefightinginwater。Thereforeitwasresolvedtowaitandkeepawatchuponthevalley，andletthefloodsgodownagain。
NowthebusinessIhadmostatheartaseveryoneknowsbythistimewastomarryLornaassoonasmightbe，ifshehadnoobjection，andthentoworkthefarmsowell，astonourishallourfamily。AndhereinI
sawnodifficulty；forAnniewouldsoonbeoffourhands，andsomebodymightcomeandtakeafancytolittleLizziewhowasgrowingupverynicelynow，thoughnotsofineasAnnie；moreover，wewerealmostsuretohavegreatstoreofhayandcornaftersomuchsnow，iftherebeanytruthintheoldsaying，——
“AfootdeepofrainWillkillhayandgrain；
ButthreefeetofsnowWillmakethemcomemo’。“
Andalthoughitwastootruethatwehadlostamanycattle，yetevensowehadnotlostmoney；forthefewremainingfetchedsuchpricesaswereneverknownbefore。Andthoughwegrumbledwithallourhearts，andreallybelieved，atonetime，thatstarvationwasuponus，Idoubtwhether，onthewhole，wewerenotthefatter，andthericher，andthewiserforthatwinter。
AndImighthavesaidthehappier，exceptforthesorrowwhichwefeltatthefailuresamongourneighbours。TheSnoweslosteverysheeptheyhad，andnineoutoftenhornedcattle；andpoorJasperKebbywouldhavebeenforcedtothrowuptheleaseofhisfarm，andperhapstogotoprison，butforthehelpwegavehim。
However，mydearmotherwouldhaveitthatLornawastooyoung，asyet，tothinkofbeingmarried：andindeedImyselfwascompelledtoadmitthatherformwasbecomingmoreperfectandlovely；thoughIhadnotthoughtitpossible。Andanotherdifficultywas，thataswehadallbeenProtestantsfromthetimeofQueenElizabeth，themaidenmustbeconvertedfirst，andtaughttohateallPapists。NowLornahadnotthesmallestideaofeverbeingconverted。Shesaidthatshelovedmetruly，butwantednottoconvertme；andifIlovedherequally，whyshouldIwishtoconverther？WiththisIwastolerablycontent，notseeingsoverymuchdifferencebetweenacreedandacredo，andbelievingGodtobeourFather，inLatinaswellasEnglish。Moreover，mydarlingknewbutlittleofthePopishways——whetherexcellentorotherwise——inasmuchastheDoones，thoughtheystoletheirhouses，oratleastthejoiner’swork，hadneverbeentemptedenoughbythedeviltostealeitherchurchorchapel。
Lornacametoourlittlechurch，whenParsonBowdenreappearedafterthesnowwasover；andshesaidthatallwasverynice，andverylikewhatshehadseeninthetimeofherAuntSabina，whentheywentfarawaytothelittlechapel，withashillingintheirgloves。Itmadethetearscomeintohereyes，bytheforceofmemory，whenParsonBowdendidthethings，notsogracefullynorsowell，yetwithpleasantimitationofheroldPriest’ssacredrites。
’Heisaworthyman，’shesaid，beingusedtotalkintheservicetime，andmymotherwasobligedtocough：
’Ilikehimverymuchindeed：butIwishhewouldletmeputhisthingstherightwayonhisshoulders。’
Everybodyinourparish，whocouldwalkatall，orhireaboyandawheelbarrow，ay，andhalfthefolkfromCountisbury，Brendon，andevenLynmouth，wasandweretobefoundthatSunday，inourlittlechurchofOare。
Peoplewhowouldnotcomeanighus，whentheDooneswerethreateningwithcarbineandwithfire-brand，flockedintheirverybestclothes，toseealadyDoonegotochurch。NowallthiscameofthatvileJohnFry；
Iknewitaswellaspossible；histonguewasworsethantheclackerofacharity-schoolbell，ortheladleinthefrying-pan，whenthebeesareswarming。
However，Lornawasnottroubled；partlybecauseofhernaturaldignityandgentleness；partlybecausesheneverdreamedthatthepeoplewerecometolookather。
ButwhenwecametothePsalmsoftheday，withsomevaguesenseofbeingstaredatmorethanoughttobe，shedroppedtheheavyblacklacefringingofthevelvethatshewore，andconcealedfromthecongregationallexceptherbrightredlips，andtheovalsnowdriftofherchin。Itouchedherhand，andshepressedmine；
andwefeltthatwewereclosetogether，andGodsawnoharminit。
AsforParsonBowdenasworthyamanaseverlived，andonewhocouldshootflying，hescarcelyknewwhathewasdoing，withouttheclerktohelphim。Hehadborneitverywellindeed，whenIreturnedfromLondon；
buttoseealiveDooneinhischurch，andaladyDoone，andalovelyDoone，moreoveroneengagedtome，uponwhomhealmostlookedastheSquireofhisparishalthoughnotrightlyanArmiger，andtofeelthatthislovelyDoonewasaPapist，andthereforeofhigherreligion——asallourparsonsthink——andthatsheknewexactlyhowheoughttodoalltheservice，ofwhichhehimselfknewlittle；IwishtoexpressmyfirmbeliefthatallthesethingstogetherturnedParsonBowden’sheadalittle，andmadehimlooktomefororders。
Mymother，theverybestofwomen，wasasIcouldwellperceivealittleannoyedandvexedwiththings。Forthisparticularoccasion，shehadprocuredfromDulverton，byspecialmessagetoRuthHuckabackwhereofmoreanon，ahead-dresswithafeatherneverseenbeforeuponExmoor，tothebestofeveryone’sknowledge。Itcamefromabirdcalledaflamingsomething——aflamingoh，oraflamingah，Iwillnotbepositive——butIcanassureyouthatitdidflame；anddearmotherhadnootherthought，butthatallthecongregationwouldneitherseenorthinkofanyothermortalthing，orimmortaleven，totheveryendofthesermon。
Hereinshewassodisappointed，thatnosoonerdidshegethome，butupstairsshewentatspeed，notevenstoppingatthemirrorinourlittleparlour，andflungthewholethingintoacupboard，asIknewbythebangofthedoor，havingeasedthelockforherlately。
Lornasawtherewassomethingwrong；andshelookedatAnnieandLizzieasmorelikelytounderstanditwithherformertimidglance；whichIknewsowell，andwhichhadfirstenslavedme。
’Iknownotwhatailsmother，’saidAnnie，wholookedverybeautiful，withlilaclute-stringribbons，whichI
sawtheSnowegirlsenvying；’butshehasnotattendedtooneoftheprayers，norsaid“Amen，“allthemorning。Neverfear，darlingLorna，itisnothingaboutyou。ItissomethingaboutourJohn，Iamsure；
forsheneverworriesherselfverymuchaboutanybodybuthim。’AndhereAnniemadealookatme，suchasI
hadhadfivehundredof。