FiftyfarmslikeourscannevermakeitgoodtoLorna。’
Hereuponensuedgrimsilence。MotherlookedatLizzie’sface，forshecouldnotlookatme；andLizzielookedatme，toknow：andasforme，Icouldhavestampedalmostontheheartofanyone。Itwasnotthevalueofthenecklace——Iamnotsolowahoundasthat——norwasiteventhedamnedfollyshownbyeveryoneofus——itwasthethoughtofLorna’ssorrowforherancientplaything；andevenmore，myfuryatthebreachofhospitality。
ButLornacameuptomesoftly，asawomanshouldalwayscome；andshelaidonehanduponmyshoulder；
andsheonlylookedatme。Sheevenseemedtofeartolook，anddroppedhereyes，andsighedatme。Withoutaword，Iknewbythat，howImusthavelookedlikeSatan；andtheevilspiritleftmyheart；whenshehadmademethinkofit。
’DarlingJohn，didyouwantmetothinkthatyoucaredformymoney，morethanforme？’
Iledherawayfromtherestofthem，beingdesirousofexplainingthings，whenIsawthedepthofhernatureopened，likeaneverlastingwell，tome。Butshewouldnotletmesayaword，ordoanythingbyourselves，asitwere：shesaid，’Yourdutyistoyourmother：thisblowisonher，andnotonme。’
Isawthatshewasright；thoughhowsheknewitisbeyondme；andIaskedherjusttogoinfront，andbringmymotherroundalittle。ForImustletmypassionpass：itmaydropitsweaponsquickly；butitcannotcomeandgo，beforeamanhastimetothink。
ThenLornawentuptomymother，whowasstillinthechairofelegance；andshetookherbybothhands，andsaid，——
’Dearestmother，Ishallfretso，ifIseeyoufretting。Andtofretwillkillme，mother。Theyhavealwaystoldmeso。’
PoormotherbentonLorna’sshoulder，withoutthoughtofattitude，andlaidhercheekonLorna’sbreast，andsobbedtillLizziewasjealous，andcamewithtwopocket-handkerchiefs。Asforme，myheartwaslighteriftheywouldonlydrytheireyes，andcomeroundbydinnertimethanithadbeensincethedayonwhichTomFaggusdiscoveredthevalueofthatblessedandcursednecklace。NonecouldsaythatIwantedLornaforhermoneynow。AndperhapstheDooneswouldletmehaveher；nowthatherpropertywasgone。
ButwhoshalltellofAnnie’sgrief？Thepoorlittlethingwouldhavestakedherlifeuponfindingthetrinket，inallitsbeauty，lyingunderthepannikin。
Sheproudlychallengedmetoliftit——whichIhaddone，longerethat，ofcourse——ifonlyIwouldtaketheriskofthespellformyincredulity。Itoldhernottotalkofspells，untilshecouldspellawordbackwards；andthentolookintothepanwherethecharmedcreamshouldbe。Shewouldnotacknowledgethatthecreamwasthesameasalltherestwas：andindeeditwasnotquitethesame，forthepointsofpoorLorna’sdiamondshadmadeafewstar-raysacrosstherichfirmcrustofyellow。
Butwhenweraisedthepannikin，andtherewasnothingunderit，poorAnniefellagainstthewall，whichhadbeenwhitenedlately；andherfaceputallthewhitetoscorn。Mylove，whowasasfondofher，asifshehadknownherforfiftyyears，hereuponranupandcaughther，andabusedalldiamonds。IwilldwellnomoreuponAnnie’sgrief，becausewefeltitallsomuch。
ButIcouldnothelptellingher，ifshewantedawitch，toseekgoodMotherMelldrum，alegitimateperformer。
ThatsamenightMasterJeremySticklesofwhoseabsencetheCounsellormusthaveknowncameback，withallequipmentreadyforthegrandattack。NowtheDoonesknew，quiteaswellaswedid，thatthisattackwasthreatening；andthatbutforthewonderfulweatheritwouldhavebeenmadelongago。Thereforewe，oratleastourpeopleforIwasdoubtfulaboutgoing，weresuretomeetwithagoodresistance，andduepreparation。
Itwasverystrangetohearandsee，andquiteimpossibletoaccountfor，thatnowsomehundredsofcountrypeoplewhofearedtowhispersomuchasawordagainsttheDoonesayearago，andwouldsoonerhavethoughtofattackingachurch，inservicetime，thanGlenDoonenowsharpenedtheiroldcutlasses，andlaidpitch-forksonthegrindstone，andbraggedateveryvillagecross，asifeachwouldkilltenDooneshimself，neithercaretowipehishandsafterwards。
Andthisfiercebravery，andtallcontempt，hadbeengrowingeversincethenewsoftheattackuponourpremiseshadtakengoodpeoplebysurprise；atleastasconcernedtheissue。
JeremyStickleslaughedheartilyaboutAnnie’snewmannerofcharmingthecream；buthelookedverygraveatthelossofthejewels，sosoonasheknewtheirvalue。
’Myson，’heexclaimed，’thisisveryheavy。Itwillgoillwithallofyoutomakegoodthisloss，asI
fearthatyouwillhavetodo。’
’What!’criedI，withmybloodrunningcold。’Wemakegoodtheloss，MasterStickles!Everyfarthingwehaveintheworld，andthelabourofourlivestoboot，willnevermakegoodthetenthofit。’
’Itwouldcutmetotheheart，’heanswered，layinghishandonmine，’tohearofsuchadeadlyblowtoyouandyourgoodmother。Andthisfarm；howlong，John，hasitbeeninyourfamily？’
’Foratleastsixhundredyears，’Isaid，withafoolishpridethatwasonlytooliketoendingroans；
’andsomepeoplesay，byaRoyalgrant，inthetimeofthegreatKingAlfred。Atanyrate，aRiddwaswithhimthroughoutallhishiding-time。WehavealwaysheldbytheKingandcrown：surelynonewillturnusout，unlessweareguiltyoftreason？’
’Myson，’repliedJeremyverygently，sothatIcouldlovehimforit，’notawordtoyourgoodmotherofthisunluckymatter。Keepittoyourself，myboy，andtrytothinkbutlittleofit。Afterall，Imaybewrong：atanyrate，leastsaidbestmended。’
’ButJeremy，dearJeremy，howcanIbeartoleaveitso？DoyousupposethatIcansleep，andeatmyfood，andgoabout，andlookatotherpeople，asifnothingatallhadhappened？Andallthetimehaveitonmymind，thatnotanacreofalltheland，norevenouroldsheep-dog，belongstous，ofrightatall!ItismorethanIcando，Jeremy。Letmetalk，andknowtheworstofit。’
’Verywell，’repliedMasterStickles，seeingthatboththedoorswereclosed；’Ithoughtthatnothingcouldmoveyou，John；orIneverwouldhavetoldyou。LikelyenoughIamquitewrong；andGodsendthatIbeso。
ButwhatIguessedatsometimebackseemsmorethanaguess，nowthatyouhavetoldmeaboutthesewondrousjewels。Nowwillyoukeep，ascloseasdeath，everywordItellyou？’
’Bythehonourofaman，Iwill。Untilyouyourselfreleaseme。’
’Thatisquiteenough，John。FromyouIwantnooath；
which，accordingtomyexperience，temptsamantoliethemore，bymakingitmoreimportant。Iknowyounowtoowelltoswearyou，thoughIhavethepower。Now，mylad，whatIhavetosaywillscareyourmindinoneway，andeaseitinanother。Ithinkthatyouhavebeenhardpressed——Icanreadyoulikeabook，John——bysomethingwhichthatoldvillainsaid，beforehestolethenecklace。Youhavetriednottodwelluponit；youhaveeventriedtomakelightofitforthesakeofthewomen：butonthewholeithasgrievedyoumorethaneventhisdastardrobbery。’
’Itwouldhavedoneso，JeremyStickles，ifIcouldoncehavebelievedit。Andevenwithoutmuchbelief，itissoagainstourmanners，thatitmakesmemiserable。OnlythinkoflovingLorna，onlythinkofkissingher；andthenrememberingthatherfatherhaddestroyedthelifeofmine!’
’Onlythink，’saidMasterStickles，imitatingmyveryvoice，’ofLornalovingyou，John，ofLornakissingyou，John；andallthewhilesayingtoherself，“thisman’sfathermurderedmine。“NowlookatitinLorna’swayaswellasinyourownway。Howone-sidedallmenare!’
’Imaylookatitinfiftyways，andyetnogoodwillcomeofit。Jeremy，Iconfesstoyou，thatItriedtomakethebestofit；partlytobaffletheCounsellor，andpartlybecausemydarlingneededmyhelp，andboreitso，andbehavedtomesonobly。Buttoyouinsecret，Iamnotashamedtosaythatawomanmaylookoverthiseasierthanamanmay。’
’Becausehernatureislarger，myson，whenshetrulyloves；althoughhermindbesmaller。Now，ifIcaneaseyoufromthissecretburden，willyoubear，withstrengthandcourage，theotherwhichIplantonyou？’
’Iwilldomybest，’saidI。
’Nomancandomore，’saidheandsobeganhisstory。
’Youknow，myson，’saidJeremyStickles，withagoodpullathispipe，becausehewasgoingtotalksomuch，andputtinghislegswellalongthesettle；’ithasbeenmyduty，foraweariertimethanIcaretothinkofandwhichwouldhavebeenunbearable，exceptforyourgreatkindness，tosearchthisneighbourhoodnarrowly，andlearneverythingabouteverybody。Nowtheneighbourhooditselfisqueer；andpeoplehavedifferentwaysofthinkingfromwhatweareusedtoinLondon。Forinstancenow，amongyourfolk，whenanypieceofnewsistold，oranyman’sconductspokenof，theveryfirstquestionthatarisesinyourmindisthis——“Wasthisactionkindandgood？“Longafterthat，yousaytoyourselves，“doesthelawenjoinorforbidthisthing？“Nowhereisyourfundamentalerror：foramongalltrulycivilisedpeopletheforemostofallquestionsis，“howstandsthelawherein？“Andifthelawapprove，noneedforanyfurtherquestioning。Thatthisisso，youmaytakemyword：forIknowthelawprettythoroughly。
’Verywell；Ineednotsayanymoreaboutthat，forI
haveshownthatyouareallquitewrong。Ionlyspeakofthissavagetendency，becauseitexplainssomanythingswhichhavepuzzledmeamongyou，andmostofallyourkindnesstomenwhomyouneversawbefore；whichisanutterlyillegalthing。ItalsoexplainsyourtolerationoftheseoutlawDoonessolong。Ifyourviewsoflawhadbeencorrect，andlawanelementofyourlives，theserobberscouldneverhavebeenindulgedforsomanyyearsamongstyou：butyoumusthaveabatedthenuisance。’
’Now，Stickles，’Icried，’thisistoobad!’hewasdeliveringhimselfsograndly。’Whyyouyourselfhavebeenamongstus，asthebalance，andsceptre，andswordoflaw，fornighuponatwelvemonth；andhaveyouabatedthenuisance，orevencaredtodoit，untiltheybegantoshootatyou？’
’Myson，’hereplied，’yourargumentisquitebesidethepurpose，andonlytendstoprovemoreclearlythatwhichIhavesaidofyou。However，ifyouwishtohearmystory，nomoreinterruptions。Imaynothaveachancetotellyou，perhapsforweeks，orIknownotwhen，ifoncethoseyellowsandredsarrive，andbeblessedtothem，thelubbers!Well，itmaybesixmonthsago，oritmaybeseven，atanyrateagoodwhilebeforethatcursedfrostbegan，themerenameofwhichsendsashiverdowneveryboneofmybody，whenI
wasridingoneafternoonfromDulvertontoWatchett’——
’DulvertontoWatchett!’Icried。’Nowwhatdoesthatremindmeof？Iamsure，Iremembersomething——’
’Rememberthis，John，ifanything——thatanotherwordfromthee，andthouhastnomoreofmine。Well，Iwasalittlewearyperhaps，havingbeenplaguedatDulvertonwiththegrossnessofthepeople。Fortheywouldtellmenothingatallabouttheirfellow-townsmen，yourworthyUncleHuckaback，exceptthathewasaGod-fearingman，andtheyonlywishedI
waslikehim。Iblessedmyselfforastupidfool，inthinkingtohavepumpedthem；forbythistimeImighthaveknownthat，throughyourWesternhomeliness，everymaninhisowncountryissomethingmorethanaprophet。AndIfelt，ofcourse，thatIhaddonemoreharmthangoodbyquestioning；inasmuchaseverysoulintheplacewouldrunstraightwayandinformhimthattheKing’smanfromtheothersideoftheforesthadbeensiftingouthiswaysandworks。’
’Ah，’Icried，forIcouldnothelpit；’youbegintounderstandatlast，thatwearenotquitesuchasetofoafs，asyouatfirstbelievedus。’
’IwasridingonfromDulverton，’heresumed，withgreatseverity，yetthreateningmenomore，whichcheckedmemorethanfiftythreats：’anditwaslateintheafternoon，andIwasgrowingweary。Theroadifroaditcouldbecalled’turnedsuddenlydownfromthehigherlandtotheverybrinkofthesea；androundingalittlejutofcliff，Imettheroarofthebreakers。
Myhorsewasscared，andleapedaside；foranortherlywindwaspiping，anddrivinghunksoffoamacross，aschildrenscattersnow-balls。Butheonlysanktohisfetlocksinthedrysand，piledwithpop-weed：andI
triedtomakehimfacethewaves；andthenIlookedaboutme。
’Watchetttownwasnottobeseen，onaccountofalittleforeland，amileormoreuponmycourse，andstandingtotherightofme。Therewasroomenoughbelowthecliffswhicharenothingtheretoyours，John，forhorseandmantogetalong，althoughthetidewasrunninghighwithanortherlygaletobackit。
Butcloseathandandinthecorner，drawnabovetheyellowsandsandlongeye-browsofrackweed，assnugalittlehouseblinkedonmeaseverIsaw，orwishedtosee。