HavingobtainedfromBenitaOdamaverycloseandfulldescriptionoftheplacewhereherpoormistresslay，andthemarkswherebytoknowit，IhastenedtoWatchettthefollowingmorning，beforethesunwasup，oranypeoplewereabout。Andso，withoutinterruption，Iwasinthechurchyardatsunrise。
Inthefarthestanddarkestnook，overgrownwithgrass，andoverhungbyaweeping-treealittlebankofearthbetokenedtheroundingoffofahaplesslife。Therewasnothingtotellofrank，orwealth，oflove，orevenpity；namelessasapeasantlaythelastassupposedofamightyrace。Onlysomeunskilfulhand，probablyMasterOdam’sunderhiswife’steaching，hadcarvedarudeL。，andaruderD。，uponalargepebblefromthebeach，andsetitupasaheadstone。
IgatheredalittlegrassforLornaandasprigoftheweeping-tree，andthenreturnedtotheForestCat，asBenita’slonelyinnwascalled。ForthewayislongfromWatchetttoOare；andthoughyoumayrideitrapidly，astheDooneshaddoneonthatfatalnight，totravelonwheels，withonehorseonly，isamatteroftimeandofprudence。Therefore，wesetoutprettyearly，threeofusandababy，whocouldnotwellbeleftbehind。Thewifeofthemanwhoownedthecarthadundertakentomindthebusiness，andtheotherbabies，uponconditionofhavingthekeysofallthetapsleftwithher。
Asthemannerofjourneyingoverthemoorhasbeendescribedoftenoughalready，Iwillsaynomore，exceptthatweallarrivedbeforeduskofthesummer’sday，safeatPlover’sBarrows。MistressBenitawasdelightedwiththechangefromherdullhardlife；andshemademanyexcellentobservations，suchasseemnaturaltoaforeignerlookingatourcountry。
Asluckwouldhaveit，thefirstwhocametomeetusatthegatewasLorna，withnothingwhateveruponherheadtheweatherbeingsummerlybutherbeautifulhairshedroundher；andwearingasweetwhitefrocktuckedin，andshowingherfigureperfectly。Inherjoysheranstraightuptothecart；andthenstoppedandgazedatBenita。Atoneglanceheroldnurseknewher：’Oh，theeyes，theeyes!’shecried，andwasovertherailofthecartinamoment，inspiteofallhersubstance。
Lorna，ontheotherhand，lookedatherwithsomedoubtandwonder，asthoughhavingrighttoknowmuchabouther，andyetunabletodoso。ButwhentheforeignwomansaidsomethinginRomanlanguage，andflungnewhayfromthecartuponher，asifinarompofchildhood，theyoungmaidcried，’Oh，Nita，Nita!’andfelluponherbreast，andwept；andafterthatlookedroundatus。
Thisbeingso，therecouldbenodoubtastothepowerofprovingLadyLorna’sbirth，andrights，bothbyevidenceandtoken。Forthoughwehadnotthenecklacenow——thankstoAnnie’swisdom——wehadtheringofheavygold，averyancientrelic，withwhichmymaidinhersimplewayhadpledgedherselftome。AndBenitaknewthisringaswellassheknewherownfingers，havingheardalonghistoryaboutit；andtheeffigyonitofthewildcatwasthebearingofthehouseofLorne。
ForthoughLorna’sfatherwasanoblemanofhighandgoodlylineage，hermotherwasofyetmoreancientandrenowneddescent，beingthelastinlinedirectfromthegreatandkinglychiefsofLorne。Awildandheadstrongracetheywere，andmusthaveeverythingtheirownway。Hotbloodwaseveramongthem，evenofonehousehold；andtheirsovereigntywhichmorethanoncehaddefiedtheKingofScotlandwanedandfellamongthemselves，bycontinualquarrelling。Anditwasofapiecewiththis，thattheDooneswhowereanoffset，bythemother’sside，holdinginco-
partnershipsomelargeproperty，whichhadcomebythespindle，aswesayshouldfalloutwiththeEarlofLorne，thelastbutoneofthattitle。
ThedaughterofthisnoblemanhadmarriedSirEnsorDoone；butthis，insteadofhealingmatters，ledtofiercerconflict。Inevercouldquiteunderstandalltheinsandoutsofit；whichnonebutalawyermaygothrough，andkeephisheadattheendofit。Themotivesofmankindareplainerthanthemotionstheyproduce。Especiallywhencharitysuchasfoundamongussitstojudgetheformer，andisneverwearyofit；
whilereasondoesnotcaretotracethelattercomplications，exceptforfeeortitle。
Thereforeitisenoughtosay，thatknowingLornatobedirectinheirshiptovastproperty，andbearingespecialspiteagainstthehouseofwhichshewasthelast，theDooneshadbroughtherupwithfullintentionoflawfulmarriage；andhadcarefullysecludedherfromthewildestoftheiryounggallants。Ofcourse，iftheyhadbeennextinsuccession，thechildwouldhavegonedownthewaterfall，tosaveanyfurthertrouble；
buttherewasaninterceptingbranchofsomehonestfamily；andtheybeingoutlaws，wouldhaveapoorchancethoughthelawlovesoutlawsagainstthem。
OnlyLornawasofthestock；andLornatheymustmarry。
Andwhatatriumphagainsttheoldearl，foracursedDoonetosucceedhim!
Asfortheiroutlawry，greatrobberies，andgrandmurders，theveriestchild，nowadays，mustknowthatmoneyhealsthewholeofthat。Eveniftheyhadmurderedpeopleofagoodposition，itwouldonlycostabouttwiceasmuchtoprovetheirmotivesloyal。Buttheyhadneverslainanymanabovetherankofyeoman；
andfolkevensaidthatmyfatherwasthehighestoftheirvictims；forthedeathofLorna’smotherandbrotherwasneversettotheiraccount。
Purepleasureitistoanyman，toreflectuponallthesethings。Howtrulywediscernclearjustice，andhowwellwedealit。Ifanypoormanstealsasheep，havingtenchildrenstarving，andregardingitasmountaingameasarichmandoesahare，tothegallowswithhim。Ifamanofrankbeatsdownadoor，smitestheowneruponthehead，andhonoursthewifewithattention，itisathingtobegratefulfor，andtoslouchsmittenheadthelower。
Whilewewerefullofallthesethings，andwonderingwhatwouldhappennext，orwhatweoughtourselvestodo，anotherveryimportantmattercalledforourattention。ThiswasnolessthanAnnie’smarriagetotheSquireFaggus。Wehadtriedtoputitoffagain；
forinspiteofalladvantages，neithermymothernormyselfhadanyrealheartforit。NotthatwedwelleduponTom’sshort-comingsorratherperhapshisgoingtoofar，atthetimewhenheworkedtheroadso。AllthatwascoveredbytheKing’spardon，anduniversalrespectoftheneighbourhood。Butourscruplewasthis——andthemorewetalkedthemoreitgrewuponus——
thatwebothhadgreatmisgivingsastohisfuturesteadiness。
Foritwouldbeathousandpities，wesaid，forafine，well-grown，andprettymaidensuchasourAnniewas，usefultoo，insomanyways，andlively，andwarm-hearted，andmistressof500pounds，tothrowherselfawayonamanwithakindofaturnfordrinking。Ifthatlastwereevenhinted，Anniewouldbemostindignant，andask，withcheeksasredasroses，whohadeverseenMasterFaggusanytheworseforliquorindeed？Herownopinionwas，intruth，thatbetookagreatdealtoolittle，afterallhishardwork，andhardriding，andcomingoverthehillstobeinsulted!Andifeveritlayinherpower，andwithnoonetogrudgehimhistrumperyglass，shewouldseethatpoorTomhadthenourishmentwhichhiscoughandhislungsrequired。
Hislungsbeingquiteassoundasmine，thismatterwasoutofallargument；somotherandIlookedatoneanother，asmuchastosay，’lethergoupstairs，shewillcryandcomedownmorereasonable。’Andwhileshewasgone，weusedtosaythesamethingoverandoveragain；butwithoutperceivingacureforit。Andwealmostalwaysfinishedupwiththefollowingreflection，whichsometimescamefrommother’slips，andsometimesfrommyown：’Well，well，thereisnotelling。Nonecansayhowamanmayalter；whenhetakestomatrimony。ButifwecouldonlymakeAnniepromisetobealittlefirmwithhim!’
Ifearthatallthistalkonourpartonlyhurriedmattersforward，Anniebeingmoredeterminedeverytimewepitiedher。AndatlastTomFagguscame，andspokeasifhewereontheKing’sroad，withapistolatmyhead，andoneatmother’s。’Nomorefastandloose，’
hecried。’eitheronethingortheother。Ilovethemaid，andshelovesme；andwewillhaveoneanother，eitherwithyourleave，orwithoutit。HowmanymoretimesamItodanceoverthesevilehills，andleavemybusiness，andgetnothingmorethanasighorakiss，and“Tom，Imustwaitformother“？Youarefamousforbeingstraightforward，youRidds。JusttreatmeasI
wouldtreatyounow。’
Ilookedatmymother；foraglancefromherwouldhavesentTomoutofthewindow；butshecheckedmewithherhand，andsaid，’Youhavesomegroundofcomplaint，sir；Iwillnotdenyit。NowIwillbeasstraight-forwardwithyou，asevenaRiddissupposedtobe。MysonandmyselfhaveallalongdislikedyourmarriagewithAnnie。Notforwhatyouhavebeensomuch，asforwhatwefearyouwillbe。Havepatience，onemoment，ifyouplease。Wedonotfearyourtakingtothehighwaylifeagain；forthatyouaretooclever，nodoubt，nowthatyouhaveproperty。Butwefearthatyouwilltaketodrinking，andtosquanderingmoney。
Therearemanyexamplesofthisaroundus；andweknowwhatthefateofthewifeis。Ithasbeenhardtotellyouthis，underourownroof，andwithourown——’Heremotherhesitated。
’Spirits，andcider，andbeer，’Ibrokein；’outwithit，likeaRidd，mother；ashewillhaveallofit。’
’Spirits，andcider，andbeer，’saidmotherveryfirmlyafterme；andthenshegavewayandsaid，’Youknow，Tom，youarewelcometoeverydropandmoreofit。’
NowTommusthavehadafarsweetertemperthaneverI
couldclaim；forIshouldhavethrustmyglassaway，andneverhavetakenanotherdropinthehousewheresuchacheckhadmetme。Butinsteadofthat，MasterFaggusreplied，withapleasantsmile，——
’IknowthatIamwelcome，goodmother；andtoproveit，Iwillhavesomemore。’
Andthereuponbemixedhimselfanotherglassofhollandswithlemonandhotwater，yetpouringitverydelicately。
’Oh，Ihavebeensomiserable——takealittlemore，Tom，’saidmother，handingthebottle。
’Yes，takealittlemore，’Isaid；’youhavemixeditoverweak，Tom。’
’Ifevertherewasasoberman，’criedTom，complyingwithourrequest；’ifevertherewasinChristendomamanofperfectsobriety，thatmanisnowbeforeyou。
Shallwesayto-morrowweek，mother？Itwillsuityourwashingday。’
’Howverythoughtfulyouare，Tom!NowJohnwouldneverhavethoughtofthat，inspiteofallhissteadiness。’
’Certainlynot，’Iansweredproudly；’whenmytimecomesforLorna，IshallnotstudyBettyMuxworthy。’
InthiswaytheSquiregotoverus；andFarmerNicholasSnowewassentfor，tocounselwithmotheraboutthematterandtosethistwodaughterssewing。
Whenthetimefortheweddingcame，therewassuchastirandcommotionashadneverbeenknownintheparishofOaresincemyfather’smarriage。ForAnnie’sbeautyandkindlinesshadmadehertheprideoftheneighbourhood；andthepresentssenther，fromallaround，wereenoughtostockashopwith。MasterStickles，whonowcouldwalk，andwhocertainlyowedhisrecovery，withtheblessingofGod，toAnnie，presentedherwithamightyBible，silver-clasped，andveryhandsome，beatingtheparson’soutandout，andforwhichhehadsenttoTaunton。Eventhecommontroopers，havingtastedhercookerymanytimestohelpouttheirpoorrations，clubbedtogether，andmusthavegivenatleastaweek’spayapiece，tohaveturnedoutwhattheydidforher。Thiswasnolessthanasilverpot，well-designed，butsuitedsurelyrathertothebridegroom’stastethanbride’s。Inaword，everybodygaveherthings。
AndnowmyLornacametome，withaspringoftearsinappealingeyes——forshewasstillsomewhatchildish，orrather，Ishouldsay，morechildishnowthanwhenshelivedinmisery——andsheplacedherlittlehandinmine，andshewashalfafraidtospeak，anddroppedhereyesformetoask。
’Whatisit，littledarling？’Iasked，asIsawherbreathcomefast；forthesmallestemotionmovedherform。
’Youdon’tthink，John，youdon’tthink，dear，thatyoucouldlendmeanymoney？’
’AllIhavegot，’Ianswered；’howmuchdoyouwant，dearheart？’
’Ihavebeencalculating；andIfearthatIcannotdoanygoodwithlessthantenpounds，John。’
Hereshelookedupatme，withhorroratthegrandeurofthesum，andnotknowingwhatIcouldthinkofit。
ButIkeptmyeyesfromher。’Tenpounds!’Isaidinmydeepestvoice，onpurposetohaveitoutincomfort，whensheshouldbefrightened；’whatcanyouwantwithtenpounds，child？’
’Thatismyconcern，saidLorna，pluckingupherspiritatthis：’whenaladyasksforaloan，nogentlemanpriesintothecauseofheraskingit。’
’Thatmaybeasmaybe，’Iansweredinajudicialmanner；’tenpounds，ortwenty，youshallhave。ButI
mustknowthepurport。’
’Thenthatyounevershallknow，John。Iamverysorryforaskingyou。Itisnotofthesmallestconsequence。
Oh，dear，no。’Herewithshewasrunningaway。