knowthatman!Heisourancientenemy；“andBenitaforeseeingthatalltheirboxeswouldbeturnedinsideout，orcarriedaway，snatchedthemostvaluableofthejewels，amagnificentnecklaceofdiamonds，andcastitoverthelittlegirl’shead，andburieditunderhertravelling-cloak，hopingtosaveit。Thenagreatwave，crestedwithfoam，rolledin，andthecoachwasthrownonitsside，andthesearushedinatthetopandthewindows，uponshrieking，andclashing，andfaintingaway。
’WhatfollowedBenitaknewnot，asonemightwellsuppose，herselfbeingstunnedbyablowonthehead，besidebeingpalsiedwithterror。“See，Ihavethemarknow，“shesaid，“wherethejambofthedoorcamedownonme!“Butwhensherecoveredhersenses，shefoundherselflyinguponthesand，therobberswereoutofsight，andoneoftheserving-menwasbathingherforeheadwithseawater。Forthissheratedhimwell，havingtakenalreadytoomuchofthatarticle；andthenshearoseandrantohermistress，whowassittinguprightonalittlerock，withherdeadboy’sfacetoherbosom，sometimesgazinguponhim，andsometimesquestingroundfortheotherone。
’Althoughthereweretorchesandlinksaround，andshelookedatherchildbythelightofthem，noonedaredtoapproachthelady，orspeak，ortrytohelpher。
Eachmanwhisperedhisfellowtogo，buteachhungbackhimself，andmutteredthatitwastooawfultomeddlewith。Andthereshewouldhavesatallnight，withthefinelittlefellowstonedeadinherarms，andhertearlesseyesdwellinguponhim，andherheartbutnothermindthinking，onlythattheItalianwomenstoleupsoftlytoherside，andwhispered，“ItisthewillofGod。“
’“Soitalwaysseemstobe，“wereallthewordsthemother’answered；andthenshefellonBenita’sneck；
andthemenwereashamedtobenearherweeping；andasailorlaydownandbellowed。Surelythesemenarethebest。
’BeforethelightofthemorningcamealongthetidetoWatchettmyLadyhadmetherhusband。Theytookherintothetownthatnight，butnottoherowncastle；
andsothepowerofwomanhoodwhichisitselfmaternitycameoverswiftlyuponher。Thelady，whomallpeoplelovedthoughatcertaintimesparticular，liesinWatchettlittlechurchyard，withsonandheiratherrighthand，andalittlebabe，ofsexunknown，sleepingonherbosom。
’Thisisamiserabletale，’saidJeremySticklesbrightly；’handmeovertheschnapps，myboy。Whatfoolswearetospoiloureyesforotherpeople’stroubles!Enoughofourowntokeepthemclean，althoughweallwerechimney-sweeps。Thereisnothinglikegoodhollands，whenamanbecomestoosensitive。
Restoretheactionoftheglands；thatismyrule，afterweeping。Letmemakeyouanother，John。Youarequitelow-spirited。’
ButalthoughMasterJeremycarriedonsoasbecamehismanhood，andlaughedatthesailor’sbellowing；blesshisheart，Iknewaswellthattearswereinhisbravekeeneyes，asifIhaddaredtolookforthem，ortoshowmineown。
’Andwhatwasthelady’sname？’Iasked；’andwhatbecameofthelittlegirl？Andwhydidthewomanstaythere？’
’Well!’criedJeremyStickles，onlytoogladtobecheerfulagain：’talkofawomanafterthat!Asweusedtosayatschool——“Whodraggedwhom，howmanytimes，inwhatmanner，roundthewallofwhat？“Buttobegin，lastfirst，myJohnasbecomesawoman：Benitastayedinthatblessedplace，becauseshecouldnotgetawayfromit。TheDoones——ifDoonesindeedtheywere，aboutwhichyouofcourseknowbest——tookeverystiveroutofthecarriage：wetordrytheytookit。AndBenitacouldnevergetherwages：forthewholeaffairisinChancery，andtheyhaveappointedareceiver。’
’Whew!’saidI，knowingsomethingofLondon，andsorryforBenita’schance。
’SothepoorthingwascompelledtodropallthoughtofApulia，andsettledownonthebrinkofExmoor，whereyougetallitsevils，withoutthegoodtobalancethem。ShemarriedamanwhoturnedawheelformakingtheblueWatchettware，partlybecausehecouldgiveherahouse，andpartlybecauseheprovedhimselfagoodsoultowardsmyLady。Theretheyare，andhavethreechildren；andthereyoumaygoandvisitthem。’
’Iunderstandallthat，Jeremy，thoughyoudotellthingstooquickly，andIwouldratherhaveJohnFry’sstyle；forheleavesonetimeforhiswordstomelt。
Nowformysecondquestion。Whatbecameofthelittlemaid？’
’Yougreatoaf!’criedJeremyStickles：’youarerathermorelikelytoknow，Ishouldthink，thananyoneelseinallthekingdoms。’
’IfIknew，Ishouldnotaskyou。JeremyStickles，dotrytobeneitherconceitednorthick-headed。’
’Iwillwhenyouareneither，’answeredMasterJeremy；
’butyouoccupyalltheroom，John。Nooneelsecangetinwithyouthere。’
’Verywellthen，letmeout。Takemedowninbothways。’
’Ifeveryouweretakendown；youmusthaveyourdoublejointsreadynow。AndyetinotherwaysyouwillbeasproudandsetupasLucifer。AscertainsureasI
standhere，thatlittlemaidisLornaDoone。’
ItmustnotbesupposedthatIwasaltogethersothick-headedasJeremywouldhavemademeout。ButitispartofmycharacterthatIlikeotherpeopletothinkmeslow，andtolabourhardtoenlightenme，whileallthetimeIcansaytomyself，’ThismanisshallowerthanIam；itispleasanttoseehisshoalscomeupwhileheissoundingmineso!’NotthatIwouldsobehave，Godforbid，withanybodybeitmanorwomanwhoinsimpleheartapproachedme，withnogaugeofintellect。Butwhentheupperhandistaken，uponthefaithofone’spatience，byamanofevensmallerwitsnotthatJeremywasthat，neithercouldhehavelivedtobethoughtso，why，itnaturallyhappens，thatweknuckleunder，withanounceofindignation。
Jeremy’stalewouldhavemovedmegreatlybothwithsorrowandanger，evenwithoutmyguessatfirst，andnowmyfirmbelief，thatthechildofthoseunluckyparentswasindeedmyLorna。AndasIthoughtofthelady’stroubles，andherfaithinProvidence，andhercruel，childlessdeath，andthenimaginedhowmydarlingwouldbeovercometohearit，youmaywellbelievethatmyquickrepliestoJeremyStickles’sbanterwerebutastheflourishofadrumtocoverthesoundsofpain。
Forwhenhedescribedtheheavycoachandthepersonsinanduponit，andthebreakingdownatDulverton，andtheplaceoftheirdestination，aswellasthetimeandtheweather，andtheseasonoftheyear，myheartbegantoburnwithinme，andmymindreplacedthepictures，firstoftheforeignlady’s-maidbythepumpcaressingme，andthenofthecoachstrugglingupthehill，andthebeautifuldame，andthefinelittleboy，withthewhitecockadeinhishat；butmostofallthelittlegirl，dark-hairedandverylovely，andhavingeveninthosedaystherichsoftlookofLorna。
Butwhenhespokeofthenecklacethrownovertheheadofthelittlemaiden，andofherdisappearance，beforemyeyesaroseatoncetheflashingofthebeacon-fire，thelonelymoorsembrownedwiththelight，thetrampoftheoutlawcavalcade，andthehelplesschildhead-downward，lyingacrosstherobber’ssaddle-bow。
ThenIrememberedmyownmadshoutofboyishindignation，andmarvelledatthestrangelongwaybywhichtheeventsoflifecomeround。AndwhileI
thoughtofmyownreturn，andchildishattempttohidemyselffromsorrowinthesawpit，andtheagonyofmymother’stears，itdidnotfailtostrikemeasathingofomen，thattheselfsamedayshouldbe，bothtomydarlingandmyself，theblackestandmostmiserableofallyouthfuldays。
TheKing’sCommissionerthoughtitwise，forsomegoodreasonofhisown，toconcealfromme，forthepresent，thenameofthepoorladysupposedtobeLorna’smother；andknowingthatIcouldeasilynowdiscoverit，withouthim，Iletthatquestionabideawhile。
IndeedIwashalfafraidtohearit，rememberingthatthenoblerandthewealthiersheprovedtobe，thesmallerwasmychanceofwinningsuchawifeforplainJohnRidd。Notthatshewouldgivemeup：thatIneverdreamedof。Butthatotherswouldinterfere；orindeedImyselfmightfinditonlyhonesttorelinquishher。
Thatlastthoughtwasadreadfulblow，andtookmybreathawayfromme。
JeremyStickleswasquitedecided——andofcoursethediscoverybeinghis，hehadarighttobeso——thatnotawordofallthesethingsmustbeimpartedtoLornaherself，oreventomymother，oranyonewhatever。
’Keepittightaswax，mylad，’hecried，withawinkofgreatexpression；’thisbelongstome，mind；andthecredit，ay，andthepremium，andtherightofdiscount，arealtogethermine。Itwouldhavetakenyoufiftyyearstoputtwoandtwotogetherso，asIdid，likeaclapofthunder。Ah，Godhasgivensomemenbrains；
andothershavegoodfarmsandmoney，andacertainskillinthelowerbeasts。Eachmustusehisspecialtalent。Youworkyourfarm：Iworkmybrains。Intheend，mylad，Ishallbeatyou。’
’Then，Jeremy，whatafoolyoumustbe，ifyoucudgelyourbrainstomakemoneyofthis，toopenthebarn-doortome，andshowmeallyourthreshing。’
’Notawhit，myson。Quitetheopposite。Twomenalwaysthreshbetterthanone。AndhereIhaveyouboundtouseyourflail，onetwo，withmine，andyetinstrictesthonourboundnottobushelup，tillItellyou。’
’But，’saidI，beingmuchamusedbyaLondoner’sbrave，yetuncertain，useofsimplestruralmetaphors，forhehadwhollyforgottenthewinnowing：’surelyifIbushelup，evenwhenyoutellme，Imusttakehalf-measure。’
’Soyoushall，myboy，’heanswered，’ifwecanonlycheatthoseconfoundedknavesofEquity。Youshalltakethebeauty，myson，andtheelegance，andthelove，andallthat——and，myboy，Iwilltakethemoney。’
Thishesaidinawaysodry，andyetsorichlyunctuous，thatbeinggiftedsomehowbyGod，withakindofsenseofqueerness，Ifellbackinmychair，andlaughed，thoughtheundersideofmylaughwastears。
’Now，Jeremy，howifIrefusetokeepthishalfastightaswax。Youboundmetonosuchpartnership，beforeyoutoldthestory；andIamnotsure，byanymeans，ofyourrighttodosoafterwards。’
’Tush!’hereplied：’Iknowyoutoowell，tolookformeannessinyou。Iffrompuregoodwill，JohnRidd，andanxietytorelieveyou，Imadenoconditionprecedent，youarenotthemantotakeadvantage，asalawyermight。Idonotevenwantyourpromise。AssureasI
holdthisglass，anddrinkyourhealthandloveinanotherdropforcedonmebypatheticwords，sosurelywillyoubeboundtome，untilIdoreleaseyou。
Tush!Iknowmenwellbythistime：amerelookoftrustfromoneisworthanother’stenthousandoaths。’
’Jeremy，youareright，’Ianswered；’atleastasregardstheissue。Althoughperhapsyouwerenotrightinleadingmeintoabargainlikethis，withoutmyownconsentorknowledge。ButsupposingthatweshouldbothbeshotinthisgrandattackonthevalleyforI
meantogowithyounow，heartandsoul，isLornatoremainuntoldofthatwhichchangesallherlife？’
’Bothshot!’criedJeremyStickles：’mygoodness，boy，talknotlikethat!AndthoseDoonesarecursedgoodshotstoo。Nay，nay，theyellowsshallgoinfront；weattackontheSomersetside，Ithink。Ifromahillwillreconnoitre，asbehovesageneral，youshallstickbehindatree，ifwecanonlyfindonebigenoughtohideyou。YouandItobeshot，JohnRidd，withallthisinferiorfoodforpowderanxioustobedevoured？’
Ilaughed，forIknewhiscoolhardihood，andnever-flinchingcourage；andsoothtosaynocowardwouldhavedaredtotalklikethat。
’Butwhenonecomestothinkofit，’hecontinued，smilingathimself；’someprovisionshouldbemadeforeventhatunpleasantchance。Iwillleavethewholeinwriting，withorderstobeopened，etc。，etc——Nownomoreofthat，myboy；acigarroafterschnapps，andgotomeetmyyellowboys。’
His’yellowboys，’ashecalledtheSomersetshiretrainedbands，wereevennowcomingdownthevalleyfromtheLondonRoad，aseveryonesinceIwentuptotown，grandlyentitledthelanetothemoors。Therewasonegoodpointaboutthesemen，thathavingnodisciplineatall，theymadepretencetononewhatever。
Nay，rathertheyridiculedthething，asbelowmenofanyspirit。Ontheotherhand，MasterStickles’strooperslookeddownonthesenativefellowsfromaheightwhichIhopetheymaynevertumble，foritwouldbreakthenecksofallofthem。