Now，lookatitasIwould，therewasnoexcuseleftforme，afterthepromisegiven。DearAnniehadnotonlycheatedtheDoones，butalsohadgottenthebestofme，byapledgetoathingimpossible。AndI
bitterlysaid，’IamnotlikeLorna：apledgeoncegiven，Ikeepit。’
’IwillnothaveawordagainstLorna，’criedAnnie；’I
willanswerforhertruthassurelyasIwouldformyownoryours，John。’Andwiththatshevanquishedme。
ButwhenmypoormotherheardthatIwascommitted，bywordofhonour，toawild-goosechase，amongtherebels，afterthatrunagateTomFaggus，shesimplystared，andwouldnotbelieveit。ForlatelyIhadjokedwithher，inalittlestyleofjerks，aspeopledowhenoutofsorts；andshe，notunderstandingthis，andknowingjokestobeoutofmypower，wouldonlylook，andsigh，andtoss，andhopethatImeantnothing。Atlast，however，weconvincedherthatIwasinearnest，andmustbeoffintheearlymorning，andleaveJohnFrywiththehaycrop。
ThenmotherwasreadytofalluponAnnie，asnotcontentwithdisgracingus，byweddingamanofnewhonestyifindeedofany，butlayingtrapstocatchherbrother，andentanglehimperhapstohisdeath，forthesakeofaworthlessfellow；and’felon’——shewasgoingtosay，asbytheshapeofherlipsIknew。ButIlaidmyhandupondearmother’slips；becausewhatmustbe，mustbe；andifmotheranddaughterstayedathome，betterinlovethaninquarrelling。
Rightearlyinthemorning，Iwasoff，withoutwordtoanyone；knowingthatmotherandsisterminehadcriedeachhergoodselftosleep；relentingwhenthelightwasout，andsorryforhardwordsandthoughts；andyettoomuchalikeinnaturetounderstandeachother。
ThereforeItookgoodKickums，whoalthoughwithoneeyespoiledwasworthtensweet-temperedhorses，toamanwhoknewhowtomanagehim；andbeingwellchargedbothwithbaconandpowder，forthIsetonmywild-goosechase。
ForthisIclaimnobravery。Icaredbutlittlewhatcameofit；saveformother’ssake，andAnnie’s，andthekeepingofthefarm，anddiscomfitureoftheSnowes，andlamentingofLornaatmydeath，ifdieI
mustinalonesomemanner，notfoundouttillafterwards，andbleachingboneslefttoweepover。
However，Ihadalittlekettle，andapoundandahalfoftobacco，andtwodirtypipesandacleanone；alsoabitofclothesforchange，alsoabrisketofhungvenison，andfourloavesoffarmhousebread，andoftheuppersideofbaconastoneandahalfitmightbe——nottomentiondiverssmallthingsforcampaigning，whichmaycomeinhandily，whennooneelsehasgottenthem。
Wewentawayinmerrystyle；myhorsebeingreadyforanything，andIonlygladofabitofchange，aftermonthsofworkingandbrooding；withnocontenttocrownthework；nohopetohatchthebrooding；orwithouthatchingtoreckonit。WhocouldtellbutwhatLornamightbediscovered，oratanyrateheardof，beforetheendofthiscampaign；ifcampaignitcouldbecalledofamanwhowenttofightnobody，onlytoredeemarunagate？AndvexedasIwasaboutthehay，andthehunch-backedricksJohnwassuretomakewhichspoilthelookofafarm-yard，stilleventhiswasbetterthantohavethemowsandhousesfired，asIhadnightlyexpected，andbeenwornoutwiththeworryofit。
Yettherewasonethingratherunfavourabletomypresententerprise，namely，thatIknewnothingofthecountryIwasboundto，noreveninwhatpartofitmybusinessmightbesupposedtolie。Forbesidetheuncertaintycausedbytheconflictofreports，itwaslikelythatKingMonmouth’sarmywouldbemovingfromplacetoplace，accordingtotheprospectofsuppliesandofreinforcements。However，therewouldarisemorechanceofgettingnewsasIwenton：andmyroadbeingtowardstheeastandsouth，Dulvertonwouldnotliesoveryfarasideofit，butwhatitmightbeworthavisit，bothtocollectthelatesttidings，andtoconsultthemapsandplansinUncleReuben’sparlour。
ThereforeIdrewtheoff-handrein，atthecross-roadonthehills，andmadeforthetown；expectingperhapstohavebreakfastwithMasterHuckaback，andRuth，tohelpandencourageus。Thislittlemaidenwasnowbecomeaverygreatfavouritewithme，havinglongoutgrown，nodoubt，herchildishfanciesandfollies，suchasmymotherandAnniehadplantedunderhersoftbrownhair。Ithadbeenmyduty，aswellasmytrueinterestforUncleBenwasmoreandmoretesty，ashewentongold-digging，toridethither，nowandagain，toinquirewhatthedoctorthoughtofher。Notthatherwoundswerelonginhealing，butthatpeoplecanscarcelybetoocarefulandtooinquisitive，afteragreathorse-bite。Andshealwaysletmelookatthearm，asIhadbeenfirstdoctor；andshehelditupinagracefulmanner，curvingattheelbow，andwithasweepofwhiteroundnessgoingtoawristthesizeofmythumborso，andwithoutanythimble-topstandingforth，suchasevenourAnniehad。ButgraduallyallI
couldsee，abovetheelbow，wherethebitehadbeen，wasveryclear，transparentskin，withveryfirmsweetfleshbelow，andthreelittlebluemarksasfarasunderastheprongsofatoasting-fork，andnodeeperthanwhereatwighaschafedthepeelofawaxenapple。AndthenIusedtosayinfun，asthechildrendo，’ShallI
kissit，tomakeitwell，dear？’
NowRuthlookedverygraveindeed，uponhearingofthismyenterprise；andcrying，saidshecouldalmostcry，forthesakeofmydearmother。DidIknowtherisksandchances，notofthebattlefieldalone，butofthehavocafterwards；theswearingawayofinnocentlives，andthehurdle，andthehanging？AndifIwouldpleasenottolaughwhichwassounkindofme，hadIneverheardofimprisonments，andtorturingwiththecruelboot，andsellingintoslavery，wherethesunandthelashoutviedoneanotherincuttingamantopieces？I
repliedthatofallthesethingsIhadheard，andwouldtakeespecialcaretosteermefreeofallofthem。MydutywasallthatIwishedtodo；andnonecouldharmmefordoingthat。AndIbeggedmycousintogivemegood-speed，insteadoftalkingdolefully。Uponthisshechangedhermannerwholly，becomingsolivelyandcheerfulthatIwasconvincedofherindifference，andsurprisedevenmorethangratified。
’Goandearnyourspurs，CousinRidd，’shesaid：’youarestrongenoughforanything。Whichsideistohavethebenefitofyourdoughtyarm？’
’HaveInottoldyou，Ruth，’Ianswered，notbeingfondofthiskindoftalk，moresuitableforLizzie，’thatI
donotmeantojoineitherside，thatistosay，until——’
’Until，asthecommonproverbgoes，youknowwhichwaythecatwilljump。Oh，JohnRidd!Oh，JohnRidd!’
’Nothingofthesort，’saidI：’whatahurryyouarein!IamfortheKingofcourse。’
’Butnotenoughtofightforhim。Onlyenoughtovote，Isuppose，ordrinkhishealth，orshoutforhim。’
’Ican’tmakeyououtto-day，CousinRuth；youarenearlyasbadasLizzie。Youdonotsayanybitterthings，butyouseemtomeanthem。’
’No，cousin，thinknotsoofme。ItisfarmorelikelythatIsaythem，withoutmeaningthem。’
’Anyhow，itisnotlikeyou。AndIknownotwhatIcanhavedoneinanyway，tovexyou。’
’Dearme，nothing，CousinRidd；youneverdoanythingtovexme。’
’ThenIhopeIshalldosomethingnow，Ruth，whenIsaygood-bye。Godknowsifweevershallmeetagain，Ruth：butIhopewemay。’
’Tobesureweshall，’sheansweredinherbrightestmanner。’Trynottolookwretched，John：youareashappyasaMaypole。’
’AndyouasaroseinMay，’Isaid；’andprettynearlyaspretty。GivemylovetoUncleBen；andItrusthimtokeeponthewinningside。’
’Ofthatyouneedhavenomisgivings。Neveryethashefailedofit。Now，CousinRidd，whygoyounot？Youhurriedmesoatbreakfasttime？’
’Myonlyreasonforwaiting，Ruth，isthatyouhavenotkissedme，asyouarealmostboundtodo，forthelasttimeperhapsofseeingme。’
’Oh，ifthatisall，justfetchthestool；andIwilldomybest，cousin。’
’Iprayyoubenotsovexatious；youalwaysusedtodoitnicely，withoutanystool，Ruth。’
’Ah，butyouaregrownsincethen，andbecomeafamousman，JohnRidd，andamemberofthenobility。Goyourway，andwinyourspurs。Iwantnolip-service。’
Beingattheendofmywits，Ididevenassheorderedme。AtleastIhadnospurstowin，becausetherewerebigonesonmyboots，paidforintheEasterbill，andmadebyafamoussaddler，soasnevertoclogwithmarsh-weed，butprickashardasanyhorse，inreason，coulddesire。AndKickumsneverwantedspurs；butalwayswenttail-foremost，ifanybodyofferedthemforhisconsideration。
Werattledawayatamerrypace，outofthetownofDulverton；myhorsebeinggailyfed，andmyselfquitefitagainforgoing。OfcourseIwaspuzzledaboutCousinRuth；forherbehaviourwasnotatallsuchasI
hadexpected；andindeedIhadhopedforafarmorelovingandmovingfarewellthanIgotfromher。ButI
saidtomyself，’Itisuselessevertocountuponwhatawomanwilldo；andIthinkthatImusthavevexedher，almostasmuchasshevexedme。Andnowtoseewhatcomesofit。’SoIputmyhorseacrossthemoorland；andhethrewhischestoutbravely。
NowifItriedtosetdownatlengthallthethingsthathappenedtome，uponthisadventure，everyinandout，andupanddown，andtoandfro，thatoccupiedme，togetherwiththethingsIsaw，andthethingsIheardof，howevermuchthewiserpeoplemightapplaudmynarrative，itislikelyenoughthatidlereadersmightexclaim，’Whatailsthisman？Knowshenotthatmenofpartsandofrealunderstanding，havetoldusallwecaretohearofthatmiserablebusiness。Lethimkeeptohisfarm，andhisbacon，andhiswrestling，andconstantfeeding。’
Fearingtomeetwithsuchrebuffswhichaftermydeathwouldvexme，Iwilltrytosetdownonlywhatisneedfulformystory，andtheclearingofmycharacter，andthegoodnameofourparish。ButthemannerinwhichIwasbandiedabout，byfalseinformation，frompillartopost，oratothertimesdrivenquiteoutofmywaybythepresenceoftheKing’ssoldiers，maybeknownbythenamesofthefollowingtowns，towhichI
wassentinsuccession，Bath，Frome，Wells，Wincanton，Glastonbury，Shepton，Bradford，Axbridge，Somerton，andBridgwater。
ThislastplaceIreachedonaSundaynight，thefourthorfifthofJuly，Ithink——oritmightbethesixth，forthatmatter；inasmuchasIhadbeentoomuchworriedtogetthedayofthemonthatchurch。OnlyI
knowthatmyhorseandmyselfweregladtocometoadecentplace，wheremeatandcorncouldbehadformoney；andbeingquitewearyofwanderingabout，wehopedtoresttherealittle。
Ofthis，however，wefoundnochance，forthetownwasfullofthegoodDuke’ssoldiers；ifmenmaybecalledso，thehalfofwhomhadneverbeendrilled，norhadfiredagun。Anditwasrumouredamongthem，thatthe’popisharmy，’astheycalledit，wastobeattackedthatverynight，andwithGod’sassistancebeaten。
However，bythistimeIhadbeentaughttopaylittleattentiontorumours；andhavingsoughtvainlyforTomFaggusamongthesepoorrusticwarriors，Itooktomyhostel；andwenttobed，beingaswearyaswearycanbe。
Fallingasleepimmediately，Itookheedofnothing；
althoughthetownwasallalive，andlightshadcomeglancing，asIlaydown，andshoutsmakingechoallroundmyroom。ButallIdidwastoboltthedoor；notaninchwouldIbudge，unlessthehouse，andevenmybed，wereonfire。AndsoforseveralhoursIlay，inthedepthofthedeepestslumber，withoutevenadreamonitssurface；untilIwasrousedandawakenedatlastbyapushing，andpulling，andpinching，andapluckingofhairoutbytheroots。Andatlength，beingabletoopenmineeyes，Isawtheoldlandlady，withacandle，heavilywonderingatme。
’Can’tyouletmealone？’Igrumbled。’Ihavepaidformybed，mistress；andIwon’tgetupforanyone。’
’WouldtoGod，youngman，’sheanswered，shakingmeashardasever，’thatthepopishsoldiersmaysleepthisnight，onlyhalfasstrongasthoudost!Fieonthee，fieonthee!Getup，andgofight；wecanhearthebattlealready；andamanofthysizemoughtstopacannon。’
’Iwouldratherstopa-bed，’saidI；’whathaveItodowithfighting？IamforKingJames，ifany。’