Icouldnotstayverylong，because，myhorsebeingquiteunfittotravelfromtheinjurieswhichhisviolenceandvicehadbroughtuponhim，therewasnothingformebuttogoonfoot，asnoneofUncleBen’shorsescouldtakemetoPlover’sBarrows，withoutdownrightcruelty：andthoughtherewouldbeaharvest-moon，RuthagreedwithmethatImustnotkeepmymotherwaiting，withnoideawhereImightbe，untilalatehourofthenight。ItoldRuthallaboutourAnnie，andhernoblefurniture；andthelittlemaidwasverylivelyalthoughherwoundswerepainingherso，thathalfherlaughtercame’onthewrongsideofhermouth，’aswerathercoarselyexpressit；especiallyshelaughedaboutAnnie’snew-fangledclosetforclothes，orstanding-press，asshecalledit。ThishadfrightenedmesothatIwouldnotcomewithoutmysticktolookatit；forthefrontwasinlaidwithtwofierydragons，andaglasswhichdistortedeverything，makingevenAnnielookhideous；andwhenitwasopened，awoman’sskeleton，allinwhite，revealeditself，inthemidstofthreestandingwomen。’Itisonlytokeepmybestfrocksinshape，’Anniehadexplainedtome；
’hangingthemupdoesruinthemso。ButIownthatI
wasafraidofit，John，untilIhadgotallmybestclothesthere，andthenIbecameveryfondofit。Butevennowitfrightensmesometimesinthemoonlight。’
HavingmadepoorRuthalittlecheerful，withafullaccountofallAnnie’sfrocks，material，pattern，andfashionofwhichIhadtakenalistformymother，andforLizzie，lesttheyshouldcryoutatman’sstupidityaboutanythingofrealinterest，Iproceededtotellheraboutmyowntroubles，andthesuddendepartureofLorna；concludingwithalltheshowofindifferencewhichmypridecouldmuster，thatnowInevershouldseeheragain，andmustdomybesttoforgether，asbeingsofaraboveme。Ihadnotintendedtospeakofthis，butRuth’sfacewassokindandearnest，thatI
couldnotstopmyself。
’Youmustnottalklikethat，CousinRidd，’shesaid，inalowandgentletone，andturningawayhereyesfromme；’noladycanbeaboveaman，whoispure，andbrave，andgentle。Andifherheartbeworthhaving，shewillneverletyougiveherup，forhergrandeur，andhernobility。’
Shepronouncedthoselastfewwords，asIthought，withalittlebitterness，unperceivedbyherselfperhaps，foritwasnotinherappearance。ButI，attachinggreatimportancetoamaiden’sopinionaboutamaidenbecauseshemightjudgefromexperience，wouldhaveledherfurtherintothatsubject。Butshedeclinedtofollow，havingnownomoretosayinamattersoremovedfromher。ThenIaskedherfullandstraight，andlookingatherinsuchamannerthatshecouldnotlookaway，withoutappearingvanquishedbyfeelingsofherown——whichthingwasveryvileofme；butallmenaresoselfish，——
’Dearcousin，tellme，onceforall，whatisyouradvicetome？’
’Myadvicetoyou，’sheansweredbravely，withherdarkeyesfullofpride，andinsteadofflinching，foilingme，——’istodowhateverymanmustdo，ifhewouldwinfairmaiden。Sinceshecannotsendyoutoken，neitherisfreetoreturntoyou，followher，payyourcourttoher；showthatyouwillnotbeforgotten；andperhapsshewilllookdown——Imean，shewillrelenttoyou。’
’Shehasnothingtorelentabout。Ihavenevervexednorinjuredher。Mythoughtshaveneverstrayedfromher。
Thereisnoonetocomparewithher。’
’Thenkeepherinthatsamemindaboutyou。Seenow，I
canadvisenomore。Myarmisswellingpainfully，inspiteofallyourgoodness，andbittertaskofsurgeonship。Ishallhaveanotherpoulticeon，andgotobed，Ithink，CousinRidd，ifyouwillnotholdmeungrateful。Iamsosorryforyourlongwalk。Surelyitmightbeavoided。GivemylovetodearLizzie：oh，theroomisgoingroundso。’
AndshefaintedintothearmsofSally，whowascomejustintimetofetchher：nodoubtshehadbeensufferingagonyallthetimeshetalkedtome。LeavingwordthatIwouldcomeagaintoinquireforher，andfetchKickumshome，sosoonastheharvestpermittedme，Igavedirectionsaboutthehorse，andstridingawayfromtheancienttown，wassoonuponthemoorlands。
Now，throughthewholeofthatlongwalk——thelatterpartofwhichwasledbystarlight，tillthemoonarose——Idwelt，inmyyoungandfoolishway，upontheorderingofourstepsbyaPowerbeyondus。ButasI
couldnotbringmymindtoanyclearnessuponthismatter，andthestarsshednolightuponit，butratherconfusedmewithwonderinghowtheirLordcouldattendtothemall，andyettoapunyfoollikeme，itcametopassthatmythoughtsonthesubjectwerenotworthink，ifIknewthem。
Butitisperhapsworthinktorelate，sofarasIcandoso，mother’sdelightatmyreturn，whenshehadalmostabandonedhope，andconcludedthatIwasgonetoLondon，indisgustatherbehaviour。Andnowshewaslookingupthelane，attheriseoftheharvest-moon，indespair，asshesaidafterwards。Butifshehaddespairedintruth，whatusetolookatall？YetaccordingtotheepigrammadebyagoodBlundellite，——
DespairwasneveryetsodeepInsinkingasinseeming；
DespairishopejustdroppedasleepForbetterchanceofdreaming。
Andmother’sdreamwasahappyone，whensheknewmystepatafurlongdistant；forthenightwasofthosethatcarrysoundthriceasfarasdaycan。Sherecoveredherself，whenshewassure，andevenmadeuphermindtoscoldme，andfeltasifshecoulddoit。
Butwhenshewasinmyarms，intowhichshethrewherself，andIbythelightofthemoondescriedthesilvergleamononesideofherheadnowspreadingsinceAnnie’sdeparture，blessmyheartandyourstherewith，noroomwasleftforscolding。Shehuggedme，andsheclungtome；andIlookedather，withdutymadetenfold，anddischargedbylove。Wesaidnothingtooneanother；butallwasrightbetweenus。
EvenLizziebehavedverywell，sofarashernatureadmitted；notevensayinganastythingallthetimeshewasgettingmysupperready，withaweakimitationofAnnie。SheknewthatthegiftofcookingwasnotvouchsafedbyGodtoher；butsometimesshewoulddoherbest，byintellecttowinit。Whereasitisnomoretobewonbyintellectthanisdivinepoetry。Anamountofstrongquickheartisneedful，andtheunderstandingmustsecondit，intheoneartasintheother。Nowmyfarewasverychoiceforthenextthreedaysormore；yetnotturnedoutlikeAnnie’s。Theycoulddoathingwellenoughonthefire；buttheycouldnotputitontableso；norevenhaveplatesallpipinghot。ThiswasAnnie’sspecialgift；borninher，andreadytocoolwithher；likeaplateborneawayfromthefireplace。IsighedsometimesaboutLorna，andtheythoughtitwasabouttheplates。Andmotherwouldstandandlookatme，asmuchastosay，’Nopleasinghim’；andLizziewouldjerkuponeshoulder，andcry，’HehadbetterhaveLornatocookforhim’；whilethewholetruthwasthatIwantednottobeplaguedaboutanycookery；butjusttohavesomethinggoodandquiet，andthensmokeandthinkaboutLorna。
Neverthelessthetimewenton，withonechangeandanother；andwegatheredallourharvestin；andParsonBowdenthankedGodforit，bothinchurchandoutofit；forhistitheswouldbeverygoodly。Theunmatchedcoldofthepreviouswinter，andgeneralfearofscarcity，andourowntalkaboutourruin，hadsentpricesuptoagrandhighpitch；andwedidourbesttokeepthemthere。FornineEnglishmenoutofeverytenbelievethatabitterwintermustbreedasoursummer，andexplainawaytopmostprices。Whileaccordingtomyexperience，moreoftenitwouldbeotherwise，exceptforthepublicthinkingso。However，Ihavesaidtoomuch；andifanyfarmerreadsmybook，hewillvowthatIwroteitfornothingelseexcepttorobhisfamily。
AllourneighbourhoodwassurprisedthattheDooneshadnoterenowattacked，andprobablymadeanendofus。Forwelayalmostattheirmercynow，havingonlySergeantBloxham，andthreemen，toprotectus，CaptainStickleshavingbeenorderedsouthwardswithallhisforce；exceptsuchasmightbeneedfulforcollectingtoll，andwatchingtheimportsatLynmouth，andthencetoPorlock。TheSergeant，havingnowimbibedatasteforwritingreportsthoughhisfirstgreatefforthaddonehimnogood，andonlyoffendedStickles，reportedweeklyfromPlover’sBarrows，wheneverhecouldfindamessenger。AndthoughwefednotSergeantBloxhamatourowntable，withthebestwehadasinthecaseofStickles，whorepresentedHisMajesty，yetwetreatedhimsowell，thathereportedveryhighlyofus，asloyalandtrue-heartedlieges，andmostdevotedtoourlordtheKing。Andindeedhecouldscarcelyhavedoneless，whenLizziewrotegreatpartofhisreports，andfurbisheduptheresttosuchapitchoflustre，thatLordClarendonhimselfneedscarcehavebeenashamedofthem。Andthoughthiscostagreatdealofale，andevenofstrongwatersforLizziewouldhaveitthedutyofacritictostandtreattotheauthor，andthoughitwasotherwiseaplague，asgivingthemaidsuchairsofpatronage，andsuchpretencetopolitics；
yettherewasnostoppingit，withouttheriskofmortaloffencetobothwriterandreviewer。Ourmotheralso，whiledisapprovingLizzie’slongstayinthesaddle-roomonaFridaynightandaSaturday，andinsistingthatBettyshouldbethere，wasneverthelessasproudasneedbe，thattheKingshouldreadourEliza’swritings——atleastsotheinnocentsoulbelieved——andwealllookedforwardtosomethinggreatasthefruitofallthishistory。Andsomethinggreatdidcomeofit，thoughnotasweexpected；forthesereports，orasmanyofthemaswereeveropened，stoodusingoodsteadthenextyear，whenwewereaccusedofharbouringandcomfortingguiltyrebels。
NowthereasonwhytheDoonesdidnotattackuswasthattheywerepreparingtomeetanotherandmorepowerfulassaultupontheirfortress；beingassuredthattheirrepulseofKing’stroopscouldnotbelookedoverwhenbroughtbeforetheauthorities。Andnodoubttheywereright；foralthoughtheconflictsintheGovernmentduringthatsummerandautumnhaddelayedthematteryetpositiveordershadbeenissuedthattheseoutlawsandmalefactorsshouldatanypricebebroughttojustice；whenthesuddendeathofKingCharlestheSecondthrewallthingsintoconfusion，andallmindsintoapanic。
Weheardofitfirstinchurch，onSunday，theeighthdayofFebruary，1684-5，fromacousinofJohnFry，whohadriddenoveronpurposefromPorlock。Hecameinjustbeforetheanthem，splashedandheatedfromhisride，sothateveryoneturnedandlookedathim。Hewantedtocreateastirknowinghowmuchwouldbemadeofhim，andhetookthebestwaytodoit。Forhelettheanthemgobyveryquietly——orratherIshouldsayverypleasingly，forourchoirwasexceedingproudofitself，andIsangbasstwiceasloudasabull，tobeattheclerkwiththeclarionet——andthenjustasParsonBowden，withalookofprideathisminstrels，waskneelingdowntobegintheprayerfortheKing’sMostExcellentMajestyforheneverreadthelitany，exceptuponEasterSunday，upjumpsyoungSamFry，andshouts，——
’Iforbidthatthereprai-er。’
’What!’criedtheparson，risingslowly，andlookingforsomeonetoshutthedoor：’havewearebelinthecongregation？’Fortheparsonwasgrowingshort-sightednow，andknewnotSamFryatthatdistance。
’No，’repliedSam，notawhitabashedbythestaringofalltheparish；’norebel，parson；butamanwhomislaikethpoperyandmurder。Thatthereprai-erbeaprai-erforthedead。’
’Nay，’criedtheparson，nowrecognisingandknowinghimtobeourJohn’sfirstcousin，’youdonotmeantosay，Sam，thatHisGraciousMajestyisdead!’
’Deadasasto-un：poisonedbytheyPapishers。’AndSamrubbedhishandswithenjoyment，attheeffecthehadproduced。
’Rememberwhereyouare，Sam，’saidParsonBowdensolemnly；’whendidthismostsadthinghappen？TheKingistheheadoftheChurch，SamFry；whendidheleaveher？’
’Dayaforeyesterday。Twelveo’clock。Warn’tusquicktohearof’un？’
’Can’tbe，’saidtheminister：’thetidingscanneverhavecomesosoon。Anyhow，hewillwantitallthemore。LetusprayforHisGraciousMajesty。’
Andwiththatheproceededasusual；butnobodycried’Amen，’forfearofbeingentangledwithPopery。Butaftergivingforthhistext，ourparsonsaidafewwordsoutofbook，aboutthemanyvirtuesofHisMajesty，andself-denial，anddevotion，comparinghispiousmirthtothedancingofthepatriarchDavidbeforethearkofthecovenant；andheadded，withsomeseverity，thatifhisflockwouldnotjointheirpastorwhowasmuchmorelikelytojudgearightinprayingfortheKing，theleasttheycoulddoonreturninghomewastopraythattheKingmightnotbedead，ashisenemieshadasserted。
Nowwhentheservicewasover，wekilledtheKing，andwebroughthimtolife，atleastfiftytimesinthechurchyard：andSamFrywasmountedonahighgravestone，totelleveryoneallheknewofit。Butheknewnomorethanhehadtoldusinthechurch，asbeforerepeated：uponwhichweweremuchdisappointedwithhim，andinclinedtodisbelievehim；untilhehappilyrememberedthatHisMajestyhaddiedingreatpain，withbluespotsonhisbreastandblackspotsallacrosshisback，andtheseintheformofacross，byreasonofPapistshavingpoisonedhim。WhenSamcalledthistohisremembranceortohisimaginationhewasoverwhelmed，atonce，withsomanyinvitationstodinner，thathescarceknewwhichofthemtoaccept；
butdecidedinourfavour。
GrievingmuchforthelossoftheKing，howevergreatlyitmightbeastheparsonhaddeclareditwas，whiletellingustoprayagainstitfortheroyalbenefit，I
resolvedtoridetoPorlockmyself，directlyafterdinner，andmakesurewhetherheweredead，ornot。
ForitwasnotbyanymeanshardtosupposethatSamFry，beingJohn’sfirstcousin，mighthaveinheritedeitherfromgrandfatherorgrandmothersomeofthosegiftswhichhadmadeourJohnsofamousformendacity。
AtPorlockIfoundthatitwastootrue；andthewomenofthetownwereingreatdistress，fortheKinghadalwaysbeenpopularwiththem：themen，ontheotherhand，wereforecastingwhatwouldbelikelytoensue。
AndImyselfwasofthisnumber，ridingsadlyhomeagain；althoughboundtotheKingaschurchwardennow；
whichdignity，nexttotheparson’sinrank，iswithusasitoughttobeineverygoodparishhereditary。
Forwhocansticktothechurchlikethemanwhosefatherstucktoitbeforehim；andwhoknowsallthelittleins，andgreatouts，whichmustinthesetroubloustimescomeacross？
Butthoughappointedatlast，byvirtueofbeingbestfarmerintheparishaswellasbyviceofmismanagementonthepartofmymother，andNicholasSnowe，whohadthoroughlymuxedupeverything，beingtooquick-headed；yet，whileIdwelledwithprideuponthefactthatIstoodintheKing’sshoes，asthemanagerandpromoteroftheChurchofEngland，andI
knewthatwemustmissHisMajestywhosearmswereabovetheCommandments，astheleaderofourthoughtsinchurch，andhandsomeuponaguinea；neverthelessI
keptonthinkinghowhisdeathwouldactonme。