’Andyoumaytakeme，ifyouplease，beforethegreatLordJeffreys。Ihavedonenomorethanduty，thoughI
diditcrookedly，andtoldaheapoflies，foryoursake。AndprettygratitudeIgets。’
’Muchgratitudeyouhaveshown，’repliedLorna，’toMasterRidd，forallhiskindnessandhisgoodnesstoyou。Whowasitthatwentdown，attheperilofhislife，andbroughtyourfathertoyou，whenyouhadlosthimformonthsandmonths？Whowasit？Answerme，Gwenny？’
’GirtJanRidd，’saidthehandmaid，verysulkily。
’Whatmadeyoutreatmeso，littleGwenny？’Iasked，forLornawouldnotasklestthereplyshouldvexme。
’Because’eebe’estbelowherso。Hershanna’haveapoorfarmeringchap，notevenifherwereaCarnishman。
Allherland，andallherbirth——andwhobeyou，I’dliketoknow？’
’Gwenny，youmaygo，’saidLorna，reddeningwithquietanger；’andrememberthatyoucomenotnearmeforthenextthreedays。Itistheonlywaytopunishher，’
shecontinuedtome，whenthemaidwasgone，inastormofsobbingandweeping。’Now，forthenextthreedays，shewillscarcelytouchamorseloffood，andscarcelydoathingbutcry。Makeupyourmindtoonething，John；ifyoumeantotakeme，forbetterforworse，youwillhavetotakeGwennywithme。
’IwouldtakeyouwithfiftyGwennies，’saidI，’althougheveryoneofthemhatedme，whichIdonotbelievethislittlemaiddoes，inthebottomofherheart。’
’Noonecanpossiblyhateyou，John，’sheansweredverysoftly；andIwasbetterpleasedwiththis，thanifshehadcalledmethemostnobleandgloriousmaninthekingdom。
Afterthis，wespokeofourselvesandthewaypeoplewouldregardus，supposingthatwhenLornacametobeherownfreemistressasshemustdointhecourseoftimesheweretothrowherrankaside，andrefusehertitle，andcaringnotafigforfolkwhocaredlessthanafig-stalkforher，shouldshapehermindtoitsnativebent，andtomyperfecthappiness。Itwasnotmyplacetosaymuch，lestIshouldappeartouseanimproperandselfishinfluence。Andofcoursetoallmenofcommonsense，andtoeverybodyofmiddleagewhomustknowbestwhatisgoodforyouth，thethoughtswhichmyLornaentertainedwouldbeenoughtoprovehermadness。
Notthatwecouldnotkeepherwell，comfortably，andwithniceclothes，andplentyofflowers，andfruit，andlandscape，andtheknowledgeofourneighbours’
affairs，andtheirkindinterestinourown。Stillthiswouldnotbeasifsheweretheownerofacounty，andahaughtytitle；andabletoleadthefirstmenoftheage，byhermind，andface，andmoney。
ThereforewasIquiteresolvednottohaveawordtosay，whilethisyoungqueenofwealthandbeauty，andofnoblemen’sdesire，madeherminduphowtoactforherpuresthappiness。Buttodoherjustice，thiswasnotthefirstthingshewasthinkingof：thetestofherjudgmentwasonlythis，’Howwillmylovebehappiest？’
’Now，John，’shecried；forshewassoquickthatshealwayshadmythoughtsbeforehand；’whywillyoubebackward，asifyoucarednotforme？DoyoudreamthatIamdoubting？Mymindhasbeenmadeup，goodJohn，thatyoumustbemyhusband，for——well，Iwillnotsayhowlong，lestyoushouldlaughatmyfolly。
ButIbelieveitwaseversinceyoucame，withyourstockingsoff，andtheloaches。Rightearlyformetomakeupmymind；butyouknowthatyoumadeupyours，John；and，ofcourse，Iknewit；andthathadagreateffectonme。Now，afterallthisageofloving，shallatrifleseverus？’
Itoldherthatitwasnotrifle，butamostimportantthing，toabandonwealth，andhonour，andthebrillianceofhighlife，andbedespisedbyeveryoneforsuchabundantfolly。Moreover，thatIshouldappearaknavefortakingadvantageofheryouth，andboundlessgenerosity，andruiningasmenwouldsayanoblemaidbymyselfishness。AndItoldheroutright，havingworkedmyselfupbymyownconversation，thatshewasboundtoconsultherguardian，andthatwithouthisknowledge，Iwouldcomenomoretoseeher。Herflashofprideattheselastwordsmadeherlooklikeanempress；andIwasabouttoexplainmyselfbetter，butsheputforthherhandandstoppedme。
’Ithinkthatconditionshouldratherhaveproceededfromme。Youaremistaken，MasterRidd，insupposingthatIwouldthinkofreceivingyouinsecret。ItwasadifferentthinginGlenDoone，whereallexceptyourselfwerethieves，andwhenIwasbutasimplechild，andoppressedwithconstantfear。Youarequiterightinthreateningtovisitmethusnomore；butI
thinkyoumighthavewaitedforaninvitation，sir。’
’Andyouarequiteright，LadyLorna，inpointingoutmypresumption。Itisafaultthatmusteverbefoundinanyspeechofminetoyou。’
ThisIsaidsohumbly，andnotwithanybitterness——forIknewthatIhadgonetoofar——andmadehersopoliteabow，thatsheforgavemeinamoment，andwebeggedeachother’spardon。
’Now，willyouallowmejusttoexplainmyownviewofthismatter，John？’saidshe，oncemoremydarling。
’Itmaybeaveryfoolishview，butIshallneverchangeit。Pleasenottointerruptme，dear，untilyouhaveheardmetotheend。Inthefirstplace，itisquitecertainthatneitheryounorIcanbehappywithouttheother。Thenwhatstandsbetweenus？
Worldlyposition，andnothingelse。Ihavenomoreeducationthanyouhave，JohnRidd；nay，andnotsomuch。Mybirthandancestryarenotonewhitmorepurethanyours，althoughtheymaybebetterknown。Yourdescentfromancientfreeholders，forfive-and-twentygenerationsofgood，honestmen，althoughyoubearnocoatofarms，isbetterthanthelineageofnineproudEnglishnoblemenoutofeverytenImeetwith。Inmanners，thoughyourmightystrength，andhatredofanymeanness，sometimesbreakoutinviolence——ofwhichI
musttrytocureyou，dear——inmanners，ifkindness，andgentleness，andmodestyarethetruethingswanted，youareimmeasurablyaboveanyofourCourt-gallants；
whoindeedhaveverylittle。Asfordifferenceofreligion，weallowforoneanother，neitherhavingbeenbroughtupinabitterlypiousmanner。’
Here，thoughthetearswereinmyeyes，atthelovingthingslovesaidofme，IcouldnothelpalittlelaughatthenotionofanybitterpietybeingfoundamongtheDoones，oreveninmother，forthatmatter。Lornasmiled，inherslyestmanner，andwentonagain：——
’Now，yousee，Ihaveprovedmypoint；thereisnothingbetweenusbutworldlyposition——ifyoucandefendmeagainsttheDoones，forwhich，Itrow，Imaytrustyou。
Andworldlypositionmeanswealth，andtitle，andtherighttobeingreathouses，andthepleasureofbeingenvied。Ihavenotbeenhereforayear，John，withoutlearningsomething。Oh，Ihateit；howIhateit!OfallthepeopleIknow，therearebuttwo，besidesmyuncle，whodonoteithercovet，ordetestme。Andwhoarethosetwo，thinkyou？’
’Gwenny，forone，’Ianswered。
’Yes，Gwenny，forone。Andthequeen，fortheother。
TheoneistoofarbelowmeImean，inherownopinion，andtheothertoohighabove。Asforthewomenwhodislikeme，withouthavingevenheardmyvoice，Isimplyhavenothingtodowiththem。Asforthemenwhocovetme，formylandandmoney，Imerelycomparethemwithyou，JohnRidd；andallthoughtofthemisover。Oh，John，youmustneverforsakeme，howevercrossIamtoyou。Ithoughtyouwouldhavegone，justnow；andthoughIwouldnotmovetostopyou，myheartwouldhavebroken。’
’Youdon’tcatchmegoinahurry，’Iansweredverysensibly，’whentheloveliestmaideninalltheworld，andthebest，andthedearest，lovesme。Allmyfearofyouisgone，darlingLorna，allmyfear——’
’Isitpossibleyoucouldfearme，John，afterallwehavebeenthroughtogether？Nowyoupromisednottointerruptme；isthisfairbehaviour？Well，letmeseewhereIleftoff——oh，thatmyheartwouldhavebroken。
Uponthatpoint，Iwillsaynomore，lestyoushouldgrowconceited，John；ifanythingcouldmakeyouso。
ButIdoassureyouthathalfLondon——however，uponthatpointalsoIwillcheckmypowerofspeech，lestyouthinkmeconceited。Andnowtoputasideallnonsense；thoughIhavetalkednoneforayear，John，havingbeensounhappy；andnowitissucharelieftome——’
’Thentalkitforanhour，’saidI；’andletmesitandwatchyou。Tomeitistheverysweetestofallsweetestwisdom。’
’Nay，thereisnotime，’sheanswered，glancingatajewelledtimepiece，scarcelylargerthananoyster，whichshedrewfromherwaist-band；andthenshepusheditaway，inconfusion，lestitswealthshouldstartleme。’Myunclewillcomehomeinlessthanhalfanhour，dear：andyouarenottheonetotakeaside-
passage，andavoidhim。Ishalltellhimthatyouhavebeenhere；andthatImeanyoutocomeagain。’
AsLornasaidthis，withamannerasconfidentasneedbe，Isawthatshehadlearnedintownthepowerofherbeauty，andknewthatshecoulddowithmostmenaughtshesethermindupon。Andasshestoodthere，flushedwithprideandfaithinherownloveliness，andradiantwiththeloveitself，Ifeltthatshemustdoexactlyasshepleasedwitheveryone。Fornow，inturn，andelegance，andrichness，andvariety，therewasnothingtocomparewithherface，unlessitwereherfigure。
ThereforeIgavein，andsaid，——
’Darling，dojustwhatyouplease。Onlymakenorogueofme。’
Forthatshegavemethesimplest，kindest，andsweetestofallkisses；andIwentdownthegreatstairsgrandly，thinkingofnothingelsebutthat。
ItwouldbehardformetotellthestateofmindinwhichIlivedforalongtimeafterthis。Iputawayfrommealltorment，andthethoughtoffuturecares，andthesightofdifficulty；andtomyselfappeared，whichmeansthatIbecametheluckiestofluckyfellows，sincetheworlditselfbegan。Ithoughtnotoftheharvesteven，norofthemenwhowouldgettheirwageswithouthavingearnedthem，norofmymother’sanxietyandworryaboutJohnFry’sgreatfatnesswhichwasgrowinguponhim，andhowshewouldcryfiftytimesinaday，’Ah，ifourJohnwouldonlycomehome，howdifferenteverythingwouldlook!’
AlthoughtherewerenosoldiersnowquarteredatPlover’sBarrows，allbeingbusiedinharassingthecountry，andhangingthepeoplewheretherebellionhadthrivenmost，mymother，havingreceivedfrommeamessagecontainingmyplaceofabode，contrivedtosendme，bythepack-horses，asfineamaundasneedbeofprovisions，andmoney，andothercomforts。ThereinI
foundaddressedtoColonelJeremiahStickles，inLizzie’sbesthandwriting，halfasideofthedrieddeer’sflesh，inwhichherejoicedsogreatly。Also，forLorna，afinegreengoose，withalittlesalttowardsthetail，andnew-laideggsinsideit，aswellasabottleofbrandiedcherries，andseven，oritmayhavebeeneightpoundsoffreshhomemadebutter。
Moreover，tomyselftherewasaletterfullofgoodadvice，excellentlywellexpressed，andwouldhavebeenofthegreatestvalue，ifIhadcaredtoreadit。ButIreadallaboutthefarmaffairs，andthemanwhehadofferedhimselftoourBettyforthefivepoundsinherstocking；aswellastheanticsofSallySnowe，andhowshehadalmostthrownherselfatParsonBowden’sheadoldenoughtobehergrandfather，becauseontheSundayafterthehangingofaCountisburyman，hehadpreachedabeautifulsermonaboutChristianlove；whichLizzie，withhersharpeyes，foundtobetheworkofgoodBishopKen。AlsoIreadthattheDooneswerequiet；theparishesroundabouthavingunitedtofeedthemwellthroughtheharvesttime，sothataftertheday’shardwork，thefarmersmightgotobedatnight。
Andthisplanhadbeenfoundtoanswerwell，andtosavemuchtroubleonbothsides，sothateverybodywonderedithadnotbeendonebefore。ButLizziethoughtthattheDoonescouldhardlybeexpectedmuchlongertoputupwithit，andprobablywouldnothavedonesonow，butforalittleadversity；towit，thatthefamousColonelKirkehad，inthemostoutrageousmanner，hangednolessthansixofthem，whowerecapturedamongtherebels；forhesaidthatmenoftheirrankandbreeding，andabovealloftheirreligion，shouldhaveknownbetterthantojoinplough-boys，andcarters，andpickaxemen，againstourLordtheKing，andhisHolinessthePope。ThishangingofsomanyDoonescausedsomeindignationamongpeoplewhowereusedtothem；anditseemedforawhiletochecktherestfromanyspiritofenterprise。