Thesetwoveryworthyfellows——nay，morethanthatbytheirownaccount，beingdownrightmartyrs——werecome，forthepublicbenefit，fromtheCourtofChancery，sittingforeverybody’sgood，andboldlyredressingevil。ThiscourthasapowerofscentunknowntotheCommon-lawpractitioners，andslowlyyetsurelytracksitsgame；evenasthegreatlumberingdogs，nowintroducedfromSpain，andcalledbysomepeople’pointers，’differfromtheswiftgaze-hound，whoseeshispreyandrunshimdowninthemannerofthecommonlawyers。Ifaman’sillfateshoulddrivehimtomakeachoicebetweenthesetwo，lethimratherbechasedbythehoundsoflaw，thantrackedbythedogsofEquity。
Now，asitfellinaveryblackdayforallexceptthelawyersHisMajesty’sCourtofChancery，ifthatbewhatitcalleditself，gainedscentofpoorLorna’slife，andofallthatmightbemadeofit。Whetherthroughthatbraveyounglordwhoranintosuchperil，orthroughanyofhisfriends，orwhetherthroughthatdeepoldCounsellor，whosegamenonemightpenetrate；
orthroughanydisclosuresoftheItalianwoman，orevenofJeremyhimself；nonejustnowcouldtellus；
onlythistruthwastooclear——ChanceryhadheardofLorna，andthenhadseenhowrichshewas；andneverdelayinginonething，hadopenedmouth，andswallowedher。
TheDoones，withashareofthatdryhumourwhichwasinthemhereditary，hadwelcomedthetwoapparitorsifthatbethepropernameforthemandledthemkindlydownthevalley，andtoldthemthentoservetheirwrit。Mislikingthelookofthings，thesepoormenbegantofumbleamongtheirclothes；uponwhichtheDoonescried，’offwiththem!Letusseeifyourmessageheonyourskins。’Andwithnomoremannersthanthat，theystripped，andlashedthemoutofthevalley；onlybiddingthemcometous，iftheywantedLornaDoone；andtoustheycameaccordingly。Neitherweretheysureatfirstbutthatweshouldtreatthemso；fortheyhadnoknowledgeofthewestcountry，andthoughtitquiteagodlessplace，whereinnowritwasholy。
Wehowevercomfortedandcheeredthemsoconsiderably，that，ingratitude，theyshowedtheirwrits，towhichtheyhadstucklikeleeches。Andtheseweretwofold；
oneaddressedtoMistressLornaDoone，socalled，andbiddingherkeepinreadinesstotravelwhenevercalledupon，andcommitherselftonobody，excepttheaccreditedmessengersoftherighthonourableCourt；
whiletheotherwasaddressedtoallsubjectsofHisMajesty，havingcustodyofLornaDoone，oranypoweroverher。Andthislastthreatenedandexhorted，andheldouthopesofrecompense，ifshewererenderedtruly。MymotherandIheldconsultation，overboththesedocuments，withamixtureofsomewrathandfear，andaforkofgreatsorrowtostirthem。AndnowhavingJeremyStickles’sleave，whichhegavewithanodwhenItoldhimall，andatlastmadehimunderstandit，IlaidbaretomymotheraswellwhatI
knew，aswhatImerelysurmised，orguessed，concerningLorna’sparentage。Allthisshereceivedwithgreattears，andwonder，andferventthankstoGod，andstillmoreferventpraiseofherson，whohadnothingwhatevertodowithit。However，nowthequestionwas，howtoactaboutthesewrits。AndhereinitwasmostunluckythatwecouldnothaveMasterStickles，withhisknowledgeoftheworld，andespeciallyofthelaw-courts，toadviseuswhattodo，andtohelpindoingit。AndfirstlyofthefirstIsaid，’Wehaveroguestodealwith；buttrywenottoroguethem。’
Tothis，insomemeasure，dearmotheragreed，thoughshecouldnotseethejusticeofit，yetthoughtthatitmighthewiser，becauseofourwantofpractice。
AndthenIsaid，’NowweareboundtotellLorna，andtoservehercitationuponher，whichthesegoodfellowshavegivenus。’
’Thengo，anddoitthyself，myson，’motherrepliedwithamournfulsmile，misdoubtingwhattheendmightbe。SoItooktheslipofbrownparchment，andwenttoseekmydarling。
Lornawasinherfavouriteplace，thelittlegardenwhichshetendedwithsuchcareanddiligence。Seeinghowthemaidenlovedit，andwashappythere，Ihadlabouredhardtofenceitfromthedangersofthewood。
Andhereshehadcorrectedme，withbettertaste，andsenseofpleasure，andthejoysofmusing。ForImeanttoshutoutthebrook，andbuildmyfenceinsideofit；
butLornasaidno；ifwemusthaveafence，whichcouldnotbutbeinjury，atanyrateleavethestreaminside，andapleasantbankbeyondit。AndsoonIperceivedthatshewasright，thoughnotsomuchasafterwards；
forthefairestofallthingsinagarden，andinsummer-timemostuseful，isabrookofcrystalwater；
whereamanmaycomeandmeditate，andtheflowersmayleanandseethemselves，andtheraysofthesunarepurfied。Nowpartlywithherownwhitehands，andpartlywithGwenny’sredones，Lornahadmadeofthissunnyspotahavenofbeautytodwellin。Itwasnotonlythatcolourslayintheharmonywewouldseekofthem，neitherwasittheheightofplants，slopingtooneanother；noreventhedelicatetoneoffoliagefollowingsuit，andneighbouring。Eventhebreathingofthewind，softandgentleinandout，movingthingsthatneednotmove，andpassinglonger-stalkedones，eventhiswasnotenoughamongtheflushoffragrance，totellamanthereasonofhisquietsatisfaction。
Butsoitshallforeverbe。Astheriverwefloatuponwithwine，andflowers，andmusic，isnothingatthewell-springbutabubblewithoutreason。
Feelingmanythings，butthinkingwithoutmuchtoguideme，overthegrass-platslaidbetween，IwentuptoLorna。Sheinashowerofdamaskroses，raisedhereyesandlookedatme。Andevennow，inthosesweeteyes，sodeepwithloving-kindness，andsoftmaidendreamings，thereseemedtobeaslightunwilling，halfconfessedwithdrawal；overcomebyloveandduty，yetapainfulthingtosee。
’Darling，’Isaid，’areyourspiritsgood？Areyoustrongenoughto-day，tobearataleofcruelsorrow；
butwhichperhaps，whenyourtearsareshed，willleaveyouallthehappier？’
’Whatcanyoumean？’sheansweredtrembling，nothavingbeenveystrongoflate，andnowsurprisedatmymanner；’areyoucometogivemeup，John？’
’Notverylikely，’Ireplied；’neitherdoIhopesuchathingwouldleaveyouallthehappier。Oh，Lorna，ifyoucanthinkthatsoquicklyasyouseemtohavedone，nowyouhaveeveryprospectandstrongtemptationtoit。Youarefar，farabovemeintheworld，andIhavenorighttoclaimyou。Perhaps，whenyouhaveheardthesetidingsyouwillsay，“JohnRidd，begone；yourlifeandmineareparted。“’
’WillI？’criedLorna，withallthebrightnessofherplayfulwaysreturning：’youveryfoolishandjealousJohn，howshallIpunishyouforthis？AmItoforsakeeveryflowerIhave，andnotevenknowthattheworldgoesround，whileIlookupatyou，thewholedaylongandsay，“John，Ilove，love，loveyou？“’
Duringthesewordssheleaneduponme，halfingayimitationofwhatIhadsooftenmadeherdo，andhalfindepthofearnestness，asthethrice-repeatedwordgrewstronger，andgrewwarmer，withandtoherheart。
Andasshelookedupatthefinish，saying，’you，’somusically，Iwasmuchinclinedtoclaspherround；butrememberingwhoshewas，forbore；atwhichsheseemedsurprisedwithme。
’MistressLorna，Ireplied，withIknownotwhattemptation，makinglittleofhercaresses，thoughmorethanallmyhearttome：’MistressLorna，youmustkeepyourrankandproperdignity。Youmustneverlookatmewithanythingbutpitynow。’
’Ishalllookatyouwithpity，John，’saidLorna，tryingtolaughitoff，yetnotknowingwhattomakeofme，’ifyoutalkanymoreofthisnonsense，knowingmeasyououghttodo。Ishallevenbegintothinkthatyou，andyourfriends，arewearyofme，andofsolongsupportingme；andareonlyseekingcausetosendmebacktomyoldmisery。Ifitbeso，Iwillgo。Mylifematterslittletoanyone。’Herethegreatbrighttearsarose；butthemaidenwastooproudtosob。
’Sweetestofallsweetloves，’Icried，forthesignofateardefeatedme；’whatpossibilitycouldmakemeevergiveupLorna？’
’Dearestofalldears，’sheanswered；’ifyoudearlyloveme，whatpossibilitycouldevermakemegiveyouup，dear？’
Uponthattherewasnomoreforbearing，butIkissedandclaspedher，whethershewereCountess，orwhetherQueenofEngland；mineshewas，atleastinheart；andminesheshouldbewholly。Andshebeingofthesameopinion，nothingwassaidbetweenus。
’Now，Lorna，’saidI，asshehungonmyarm，willingtotrustmeanywhere，’cometoyourlittleplant-house，andhearmymovingstory。’
’Nostorycanmovememuch，dear，’sheansweredratherfaintly，foranyexcitementstayedwithher；’sinceI
knowyourstrengthofkindness，scarcelyanytalecanmoveme，unlessitbeofyourself，love；orofmypoormother。’
’Itisofyourpoormother，darling。Canyoubeartohearit？’AndyetIwonderedwhyshedidnotsayasmuchofherfather。
’Yes，Icanbearanything。ButalthoughIcannotseeher，andhavelongforgotten，Icouldnotbeartohearillofher。’
’Thereisnoilltohear，sweetchild，exceptofevildonetoher。Lorna，youareofanill-starredrace。’
’Betterthatthanawickedrace，’sheansweredwithherusualquickness，leapingatconclusion；’tellmeIamnotaDoone，andIwill——butIcannotloveyoumore。’
’YouarenotaDoone，myLorna，forthat，atleast，I
cananswer；thoughIknownotwhatyournameis。’
’Andmyfather——yourfather——whatImeanis——’
’Yourfatherandminenevermetoneanother。YourfatherwaskilledbyanaccidentinthePyreneanmountains，andyourmotherbytheDoones；oratleasttheycausedherdeath，andcarriedyouawayfromher。’
Allthis，comingasinonebreathuponthesensitivemaiden，wasmorethanshecouldbearallatonce；asanybutafoollikememustofcoursehaveknown。Shelaybackonthegardenbench，withherblackhairshedontheoakenbark，whilehercolourwentandcameandonlybythat，andherquiveringbreath，couldanyonesaythatshelivedandthought。Andyetshepressedmyhandwithhers，thatImighttellherallofit。
NoflowerthatIhaveeverseen，eitherinshiftingoflightandshade，orinthepearlymorning，mayviewithafairyoungwoman’sfacewhentenderthoughtandquickemotionvary，enrich，andbeautifyit。ThusmyLornahearkenedsoftly，almostwithoutwordorgesture，yetwithsighsandglancestelling，andthepressureofmyhand，howeachwordwasmovingher。
Whenatlastmytalewasdone，sheturnedaway，andweptbitterlyforthesadfateofherparents。Buttomysurpriseshespokenotevenawordofwrathorrancour。Sheseemedtotakeitallasfate。
’Lorna，darling，’Isaidatlength，formenaremoreimpatientintrialsoftimethanwomenare，’doyounotevenwishtoknowwhatyourpropernameis？’
’Howcanitmattertome，John？’sheanswered，withadepthofgriefwhichmademeseematrifler。’Itcannevermatternow，whentherearenonetoshareit。’
’Poorlittlesoul!’wasallIsaidinatoneofpurestpity；andtomysurprisesheturneduponme，caughtmeinherarms，andlovedmeasshehadneverdonebefore。
’Dearest，Ihaveyou，’shecried；’you，andonlyyou，love。HavingyouIwantnoother。Allmylifeisonewithyours。Oh，John，howcanItreatyouso？’
Blushingthroughthewetofweeping，andthegloomofpondering，yetshewouldnothidehereyes，butfoldedme，anddwelledonme。
’Icannotbelieve，’intheprideofmyjoy，Iwhisperedintoonelittleear，’thatyoucouldeversoloveme，beauty，astogiveuptheworldforme。’
’Wouldyougiveupyourfarmforme，John？’criedLorna，leapingbackandlooking，withherwondrouspoweroflightatme；’wouldyougiveupyourmother，yoursisters，yourhome，andallthatyouhaveintheworldandeveryhopeofyourlife，John？’
’OfcourseIwould。Withouttwothoughts。Youknowit；youknowit，Lorna。’
’ItistruethatIdo，’sheansweredinatoneofdeepestsadness；’anditisthispowerofyourlovewhichhasmademeloveyouso。Nogoodcancomeofit，nogood。God’sfaceissetagainstselfishness。’
AsshespokeinthatlowtoneIgazedattheclearlinesofherfacewhereeverycurvewasperfectnotwithloveandwonderonly，butwithastrangenewsenseofawe。
’Darling，’Isaid，’comenearertome。Givemesuretyagainstthat。ForGod’ssakeneverfrightenmewiththethoughtthatHewouldpartus。’
’Doesitthensofrightenyou？’shewhispered，comingclosetome；’Iknowit，dear；Ihaveknownitlong；
butitneverfrightensme。Itmakesmesad，andverylonely，tillIcanremember。’
’Tillyoucanrememberwhat？’Iasked，withalong，deepshudder；forwearesosuperstitious。