Moreover，Ifoundfromthissameletterwhichwaspinnedupontheknuckleofalegofmutton，forfearofbeinglostinstrawthatgoodTomFagguswasathomeagain，andnearlycuredofhisdreadfulwound；butintendedtogotowarnomore，onlytomindhisfamily。
Anditgrievedhimmorethananythingheevercouldhaveimagined，thathisdutytohisfamily，andthestrongpowerofhisconscience，sototallyforbadehimtocomeupandseeafterme。Fornowhisdesignwastoleadanewlife，andbeincharitywithallmen。Manybettermenthanhehadbeenhanged，hesawnocausetodoubt；butbythegraceofGodhehopedhimselftocheatthegallows。
Therewasnofurthernewsofmomentinthisverycleverletter，exceptthatthepriceofhorses’shoeswasgoneupagain，thoughalreadytwopence-farthingeach；andthatBettyhadbrokenherlover’sheadwiththestockingfullofmoney；andtheninthecorneritwaswrittenthatthedistinguishedmanofwar，andworshipfulscholar，MasterBloxham，wasnowpromotedtotakethetolls，andcatchalltherebelsaroundourpart。
Lornawasgreatlypleasedwiththegoose，andthebutter，andthebrandiedcherries；andtheEarlBrandirhimselfdeclaredthathenevertastedbetterthanthoselast，andwouldbegtheyoungmanfromthecountrytoprocurehiminstructionsformakingthem。Thisnobleman，beingasdeafasapost，andofaverysolidmind，couldneverbebroughttounderstandthenatureofmythoughtstowardsLorna。Helookeduponmeasanexcellentyouth，whohadrescuedthemaidenfromtheDoones，whomhecordiallydetested；andlearningthatI
hadthrowntwoofthemoutofwindowasthestorywastoldhim，hepattedmeontheback，anddeclaredthathisdoorswouldeverbeopentome，andthatIcouldnotcometoooften。
Ithoughtthisverykindofhislordship，especiallyasitenabledmetoseemydarlingLorna，notindeedasoftenasIwished，butatanyrateveryfrequently，andasmanytimesasmodestyevermyleadingprinciple
wouldincommonconscienceapproveof。AndImadeupmymindthatifeverIcouldhelpEarlBrandir，itwouldbe——aswesay，whenwithbrandyandwater——the’proudestmomentofmylife，’whenIcouldfulfilthepledge。
AndIsoonwasabletohelpLordBrandir，asIthink，intwodifferentways；firstofallasregardedhismind，andthenasconcernedhisbody：andthelatterperhapswasthegreatestservice，athistimeoflife。
Butnottobetooniceaboutthat；letmetellhowthesethingswere。
Lornasaidtomeoneday，beinginastateofexcitement——wheretoshewasoverprone，whenreftofmyslownesstosteadyher，——
’Iwilltellhim，John；Imusttellhim，John。Itismeanofmetoconcealit。’
Ithoughtthatshemeantallaboutourlove，whichwehadendeavouredthricetodrillintohisfineoldears；
butcouldnotmakehimcomprehend，withoutriskofbringingthehousedown：andsoIsaid，’Byallmeans；
darling；haveanothertryatit。’
Lorna，however，lookedatme——forhereyestoldmorethantongue——asmuchastosay，’Well，youareastupid。Weagreedtoletthatsubjectrest。’AndthenshesawthatIwasvexedatmyownwantofquickness；
andsoshespokeverykindly，——
’Imeantabouthispoorson，dearest；thesonofhisoldagealmost；whoselossthrewhimintothatdreadfulcold——forhewent，withouthat，tolookforhim——whichendedinhislosingtheuseofhisdearoldears。I
believeifwecouldonlygethimtoPlover’sBarrowsforamonth，hewouldbeabletohearagain。Andlookathisage!heisnotmuchoverseventy，John，youknow；andIhopethatyouwillbeabletohearme，longafteryouareseventy，John。’
’Well，’saidI，’Godsettlesthat。Oratanyrate，Heleavesustimetothinkaboutthosequestions，whenweareoverfifty。Nowletmeknowwhatyouwant，Lorna。
Theideaofmybeingseventy!Butyouwouldstillbebeautiful。’
’Totheonewholovesme，’sheanswered，tryingtomakewrinklesinherpurebrightforehead：’butifyouwillhavecommonsense，asyoualwayswill，John，whetherI
wishitorotherwise——IwanttoknowwhetherIambound，inhonour，andinconscience，totellmydearandgoodoldunclewhatIknowabouthisson？’
’Firstletmeunderstandquiteclearly，’saidI，neverbeinginahurry，exceptwhenpassionmovesme，’whathislordshipthinksatpresent；andhowfarhismindisurgedwithsorrowandanxiety。’Thiswasnotthefirsttimewehadspokenofthematter。
’Why，youknow，John，wellenough，’sheanswered，wonderingatmycoolness，’thatmypoorunclestlllbelievesthathisonebelovedsonwillcometolightandliveagain。Hehasmadeallarrangementsaccordingly：allhispropertyissettledonthatsupposition。HeknowsthatyoungAlanalwayswaswhathecallsa“fecklessne’er-do-weel；“butheloveshimallthemoreforthat。Hecannotbelievethathewilldie，withouthissoncomingbacktohim；andhealwayshasabedroomready，andabottleofAlan’sfavouritewinecoolfromoutthecellar；hehasmademeworkhimapairofslippersfromthesizeofamouldyboot；andifhehearsofanewtobacco——muchashehatesthesmellofit——hewillgototheotherendofLondontogetsomeforAlan。Nowyouknowhowdeafheis；butifanyonesay，“Alan，“evenintheplaceoutsidethedoor，hewillmakehiscourteousbowtotheveryhighestvisitor，andbeoutthereinamoment，andsearchtheentirepassage，andyetletnooneknowit。’
’Itisapiteousthing，’Isaid；forLorna’seyeswerefulloftears。
’Andhemeansmetomarryhim。Itisthepetschemeofhislife。Iamtogrowmorebeautiful，andmorehighlytaught，andgraceful；untilitpleasesAlantocomeback，anddemandme。Canyouunderstandthismatter，John？Ordoyouthinkmyunclemad？’
’Lorna，Ishouldbemadmyself，tocallanyothermanmad，forhoping。’
’Thenwillyoutellmewhattodo？Itmakesmeverysorrowful。ForIknowthatAlanBrandirliesbelowthesodinDoone-valley。’
’Andifyoutellhisfather，’Iansweredsoftly，butclearly，’inafewweekshewillliebelowthesodinLondon；atleastifthereisany。’
’Perhapsyouareright，John，’shereplied：’tolosehopemustbeadreadfulthing，whenoneisturnedofseventy。ThereforeIwillnevertellhim。’
TheotherwayinwhichImanagedtohelpthegoodEarlBrandirwasoflesstruemomenttohim；butashecouldnotknowofthefirst，thiswastheonewhichmovedhim。Andithappenedprettymuchasfollows——thoughI
hardlyliketotell，becauseitadvancedmetosuchaheightasImyselfwasgiddyat；andwhichallmyfriendsresentedgreatlysavethoseofmyownfamily，andevennowaresometimesbitter，inspiteofallmyhumility。Nowthisisamatterofhistory，becausetheKingwasconcernedinit；andbeingsostronglymisunderstood，especiallyinmyownneighbourhood，I
willovercomesofarasIcanmydiffidenceintellingit。
ThegoodEarlBrandirwasamanofthenoblestcharity。
Truecharitybeginsathome，andsodidhis；andwasafraidoflosingtheway，ifitwentabroad。Sothisgoodnoblemankepthismoneyinahandsomepewterbox，withhiscoatofarmsuponit，andadoublelidandlocks。Moreover，therewasaheavychain，fixedtoastapleinthewall，sothatnonemightcarryoffthepewterwiththegoldinsideofit。Lornatoldmetheboxwasfull，forshehadseenhimgotoit，andsheoftenthoughtthatitwouldbeniceforustobegintheworldwith。Itoldherthatshemustnotallowhermindtodwelluponthingsofthissort；beingwhollyagainstthelastcommandmentsetupinourchurchatOare。
NowoneeveningtowardsSeptember，whenthedaysweredrawingin，lookingbackatthehousetoseewhetherLornawerelookingafterme，Iespiedbyalittleglimpse，asitwereapairofvillainousfellowsaboutwhomtherecouldbenomistakewatchingfromthethicket-corner，somehundredyardsorsobehindthegoodEarl’sdwelling。’Thereismischiefafoot，’
thoughtItomyself，beingthoroughlyconversantwiththeft，frommyknowledgeoftheDoones；’howwillbethemoonto-night，andwhenmayweexpectthewatch？’
Ifoundthatneithermoonnorwatchcouldbelookedforuntilthemorning；themoon，ofcourse，beforethewatch，andmorelikelytobepunctual。ThereforeI
resolvedtowait，andseewhatthosetwovillainsdid，andsaveifitwerepossibletheEarlofBrandir’spewterbox。Butinasmuchasthosebadmenwerealmostsuretohaveseenmeleavingthehouseandlookingback，andstrikingoutontheLondonroad，Imarchedalongatamerrypace，untiltheycouldnotdiscernme；
andthenIfetchedacompassround，andrefreshedmyselfatacertaininn，entitledTheCross-bonesandButtons。
HereIremaineduntilitwasverynearlyasdarkaspitch；andthehousebeingfulloffootpadsandcutthroats，Ithoughtitrighttoleavethem。Oneortwocameafterme，inthehopeofdesigningastratagem；butIdroppedtheminthedarkness；andknowingalltheneighbourhoodwell，Itookupmyposition，twohoursbeforemidnight，amongtheshrubsattheeasternendofLordBrandir’smansion。Hence，althoughImightnotsee，Icouldscarcelyfailtohear，ifanyunlawfulentranceeitheratbackorfrontweremade。
Frommyownobservation，Ithoughtitlikelythattheattackwouldheintherear；andsoindeeditcametopass。Forwhenallthelightswerequenched，andallthehousewasquiet，Iheardalowandwilywhistlefromaclumpoftreescloseby；andthenthreefigurespassedbetweenmeandawhitewashedwall，andcametoawindowwhichopenedintoapartoftheservants’
basement。Thiswindowwascarefullyraisedbysomeoneinsidethehouse；andafteralittlewhispering，andsomethingwhichsoundedlikeakiss，allthethreemenentered。
’Oh，youvillains!’Isaidtomyself，’thisisworsethananyDoonejob；becausethereistreacheryinit。’
Butwithoutwaitingtoconsiderthesubjectfromamoralpointofview，Icreptalongthewall，andenteredveryquietlyafterthem；beingratheruneasyaboutmylife，becauseIborenofire-arms，andhadnothingmorethanmyhollystaff，forevenaviolentcombat。
Tomethiswasmatterofdeepregret，asIfollowedthesevilemeninward。NeverthelessIwasresolvedthatmyLornashouldnotberobbedagain。ThroughusoratleastthroughourAnnieshehadlostthatbrilliantnecklace；whichthenwasheronlybirthright：
thereforeitbehovedmedoubly，topreservethepewterbox；whichmustbelongtoherintheend，unlessthethievesgotholdofit。
Iwentalongverydelicatelyasamanwhohaslearnedtowrestlecando，althoughhemayweightwentystone，followingcarefullythelight，broughtbythetraitorousmaid，andshakinginherloosedishonesthand。Isawherleadthemenintoalittleplacecalledapantry；andthereshegavethemcordials，andIcouldhearthemboasting。
Nottobetoolongoverit——whichtheyweremuchinclinedtobe——Ifollowedthemfromthisdrinking-bout，bytheaidofthelighttheybore，asfarasEarlBrandir’sbedroom，whichIknew，becauseLornahadshownittomethatImightadmirethetapestry。ButIhadsaidthatnohorsecouldeverbeshodasthehorseswereshodtherein，unlesshehadthefootofafrog，aswellasafrogtohisfoot。AndLornahadbeenvexedatthisastasteandhighartalwaysare，atanysmallaccurateknowledge，andsoshehadbroughtmeoutagain，beforeIhadtimetoadmirethings。
Now，keepingwellawayinthedark，yetnearerthanwasnecessarytomyowndearLorna’sroom，IsawthesefellowstrythedoorofthegoodEarlBrandir，knowingfromthemaid，ofcourse，thathislordshipcouldhearnothing，exceptthenameofAlan。Theytriedthelock，andpushedatit，andevensettheirkneesupright；butaScottishnoblemanmaybetrustedtosecurehisdooratnight。Sotheywereforcedtobreakitopen；andatthistheguiltymaid，orwoman，ranaway。Thesethreerogues——forroguestheywere，andnocharitymaydenyit——burstintoEarlBrandir’sroom，withalight，andacrowbar，andfire-arms。Ithoughttomyselfthatthiswasharduponanhonestnobleman；andiffurthermischiefcouldbesaved，Iwouldtrytosaveit。
WhenIcametothedooroftheroom，beingmyselfinshadow，Ibeheldtwobadmentryingvainlytobreakopenthepewterbox，andthethirdwithapistol-muzzlelaidtothenight-capofhislordship。Withfoulfaceandyetfoulerwords，thismanwasdemandingthekeyofthebox，whichtheothermencouldbynomeansopen，neitherdragitfromthechain。
’Itellyou，’saidthisagedEarl，beginningtounderstandatlastwhattheserogueswereupfor；’I
willgivenokeytoyou。Itallbelongstomyboy，Alan。Nooneelseshallhaveafarthing。’
’Thenyoumaycountyourmoments，lord。Thekeyisinyouroldcrampedhand。One，two，andatthree，Ishootyou。’
Isawthattheoldmanwasabroad；notwithfear，butwithgreatwonder，andtheregretsofdeafness。AndI
sawthatratherwouldhebeshotthanletthesemengorobhisson，buriednow，orlaidtobleachinthetanglesofthewood，three，oritmightbefouryearsagone，butstillalivetohisfather。Hereuponmyheartwasmoved；andIresolvedtointerfere。Thethiefwiththepistolbegantocount，asIcrossedthefloorveryquietly，whiletheoldEarlfearfullygazedatthemuzzle，butclenchedstilltighterhiswrinkledhand。Thevillain，withhairalloverhiseyes，andthegreathorse-pistollevelled，cried’three，’andpulledthetrigger；butluckily，atthatverymoment，I