reachedthetop；andhaltedtolookaboutmewell，beforetrustingtobroaddaylight。
　　ThewinterasIsaidbeforehadbeenaverymildone；
　　andnowthespringwastowardsothatbankandbushweretouchedwithit。ThevalleyintowhichIgazedwasfairwithearlypromise，havingshelterfromthewindandtakingallthesunshine。Thewillow-bushesoverthestreamhungasiftheywereanglingwithtasseledfloatsofgoldandsilver，burstinglikeabean-pod。Betweenthemcamethewaterlaughing，likeamaidatherowndancing，andspreadwiththatyoungbluewhichneverlivesbeyondtheApril。Andoneitherbank，themeadowruffledasthebreezecameby，openingthroughnewtuft，ofgreendaisy-budorcelandine，orashyglimpsenowandthenofthelove-lornprimrose。
　　ThoughIamsoblankofwit，orperhapsforthatsamereason，theselittlethingscomeanddwellwithme，andIamhappyaboutthem，andlongfornothingbetter。I
　　feelwitheverybladeofgrass，asifithadahistory；
　　andmakeachildofeverybudasthoughitknewandlovedme。Andbeingso，theyseemtotellmeofmyowndelusions，howIamnomorethanthey，exceptinself-
　　importance。
　　WhileIwasforgettingmuchofmanythingsthatharmone，andlettingofmythoughtsgowildtosoundsandsightsofnature，asweeternotethanthrushorouzeleverwooedamatein，floatedonthevalleybreezeatthequietturnofsundown。Thewordswereofanancientsong，fittolaughorcryat。
　　Love，aniftherebeone，Comemylovetobe，MyloveisfortheoneLovinguntome。
　　Notformetheshow，love，Ofagildedbliss；
　　Onlythoumustknow，love，Whatmyvalueis。
　　Ifinalltheearth，love，Thouhastnonebutme，Thisshallbemyworth，love：
　　Tobecheaptothee。
　　But，ifsothoueverStrivesttobefree，’TwillbemyendeavourTobedeartothee。
　　SoshallIhaveplea，love，IsthyheartandbreathClingingstilltothee，love，Inthedoomofdeath。
　　AllthisItookinwithgreateagerness，notforthesakeofthemeaningwhichisnodoubtanallegory，butforthepowerandrichness，andsoftnessofthesinging，whichseemedtomebetterthanweeverhadeveninOarechurch。ButallthetimeIkeptmyselfinablacknicheoftherock，wherethefallofthewaterbegan，lestthesweetsingerespyingmeshouldbealarmed，andfleeaway。ButpresentlyIventuredtolookforthwhereabushwas；andthenIbeheldtheloveliestsight——oneglimpseofwhichwasenoughtomakemekneelinthecoldestwater。
　　Bythesideofthestreamshewascomingtome，evenamongtheprimroses，asifshelovedthemall；andeveryflowerlookedthebrighter，ashereyeswereonthem，Icouldnotseewhatherfacewas，myheartsoawokeandtrembled；onlythatherhairwasflowingfromawreathofwhiteviolets，andthegraceofhercomingwasliketheappearanceofthefirstwind-flower。Thepalegleamoverthewesterncliffsthrewashadowoflightbehindher，asifthesunwerelingering。NeverdoIseethatlightfromtheclosingofthewest，eveninthesemyageddays，withoutthinkingofher。Ahme，ifitcomestothat，whatdoIseeofearthorheaven，withoutthinkingofher？
　　Thetremulousthrillofhersongwashangingonheropenlips；andsheglancedaround，asifthebirdswereaccustomedtomakeanswer。Tomeitwasathingofterrortobeholdsuchbeauty，andfeelmyselfthewhiletobesoverylowandcommon。ButscarcelyknowingwhatIdid，asifaropeweredrawingme，Icamefromthedarkmouthofthechasm；andstood，afraidtolookather。
　　Shewasturningtofly，notknowingme，andfrightened，perhaps，atmystature，whenIfellonthegrassasI
　　fellbeforehersevenyearsagonethatday，andIjustsaid，’LornaDoone!’
　　Sheknewmeatonce，frommymannerandways，andasmilebrokethroughhertrembling，assunshinecomesthroughaspen-leaves；andbeingsoclever，shesaw，ofcourse，thatsheneedednottofearme。
　　’Oh，indeed，’shecried，withafeintofangerbecauseshehadshownhercowardice，andyetinherheartshewaslaughing；’oh，ifyouplease，whoareyou，sir，andhowdoyouknowmyname？’
　　’IamJohnRidd，’Ianswered；’theboywhogaveyouthosebeautifulfish，whenyouwereonlyalittlething，sevenyearsagoto-day。’
　　’Yes，thepoorboywhowasfrightenedso，andobligedtohidehereinthewater。’
　　’Anddoyourememberhowkindyouwere，andsavedmylifebyyourquickness，andwentawayridinguponagreatman’sshoulder，asifyouhadneverseenme，andyetlookedbackthroughthewillow-trees？’
　　’Oh，yes，Iremembereverything；becauseitwassoraretoseeanyexcept——ImeanbecauseIhappentoremember。
　　Butyouseemnottoremember，sir，howperilousthisplaceis。’
　　Forshehadkepthereyesuponme；largeeyesofasoftness，abrightness，andadignitywhichmademefeelasifImustforeverloveandyetforeverknowmyselfunworthy。Unlessthemselvesshouldfillwithlove，whichisthespringofallthings。AndsoI
　　couldnotanswerher，butwasovercomewiththinkingandfeelingandconfusion。NeithercouldIlookagain；
　　onlywaitedforthemelodywhichmadeeverywordlikeapoemtome，themelodyofhervoice。Butshehadnottheleastideaofwhatwasgoingonwithme，anymorethanImyselfhad。
　　’Ithink，MasterRidd，youcannotknow，’shesaid，withhereyestakenfromme，’whatthedangersofthisplaceare，andthenatureofthepeople。’
　　’Yes，Iknowenoughofthat；andIamfrightenedgreatly，allthetime，whenIdonotlookatyou。’
　　Shewastooyoungtoanswermeinthestylesomemaidenswouldhaveused；themanner，Imean，whichnowwecallfromaforeignword’coquettish。’Andmorethanthat，shewastremblingfromrealfearofviolence，leststronghandsmightbelaidonme，andamiserableendofit。Andtotellthetruth，Igrewafraid；
　　perhapsfromakindofsympathy，andbecauseIknewthatevilcomesmorereadilythangoodtous。
　　Therefore，withoutmoreado，ortakinganyadvantage——althoughIwouldhavebeengladatheart，ifneedshadbeen，tokissherwithoutanythoughtofrudeness——itstruckmethatIhadbettergo，andhavenomoretosaytoheruntilnexttimeofcoming。Sowouldshelookthemoreformeandthinkthemoreaboutme，andnotgrowwearyofmywordsandthewantofchangethereisinme。For，ofcourse，IknewwhatachurlIwascomparedtoherbirthandappearance；butmeanwhileImightimprovemyselfandlearnamusicalinstrument。’Thewindhathadrawafterflyingstraw’
　　isasayingwehaveinDevonshire，made，peradventure，bysomebodywhohadseenthewaysofwomen。
　　’MistressLorna，Iwilldepart’——markyou，Ithoughtthatapowerfulword——’infearofcausingdisquiet。Ifanyrogueshotmeitwouldgrieveyou；Imakeboldtosayit，anditwouldbethedeathofmother。Fewmothershavesuchasonasme。Trytothinkofmenowandthen，andIwillbringyousomenew-laideggs，forouryoungbluehenisbeginning。’
　　’Ithankyouheartily，’saidLorna；’butyouneednotcometoseeme。Youcanputtheminmylittlebower，whereIamalmostalways——ImeanwhitherdailyIrepairtoreadandtobeawayfromthem。’
　　’Onlyshowmewhereitis。ThriceadayIwillcomeandstop——’
　　’Nay，MasterRidd，Iwouldnevershowthee——never，becauseofperil——onlythatsohappensitthouhastfoundthewayalready。’
　　Andshesmiledwithalightthatmademecaretocryoutfornootherway，excepttoherdearheart。ButonlytomyselfIcriedforanythingatall，havingenoughofmaninmetobebashfulwithyoungmaidens。
　　SoItouchedherwhitehandsoftlywhenshegaveittome，andfancyingthatshehadsighedwastouchedatheartaboutit，andresolvedtoyieldherallmygoods，althoughmymotherwasliving；andthengrewangrywithmyselfforamileormoreofwalkingtothinkshewouldcondescendso；andthen，fortherestofthehomewardroad，wasmadwitheverymanintheworldwhowoulddaretothinkofhavingher。
　　Toforgetone’sluckoflife，toforgetthecarkofcareandwitheringofyoungfingers；nottofeel，ornotbemovedby，allthechangeofthoughtandheart，fromlargeyoungheattothesinewylinesanddrybonesofoldage——thisiswhatIhavetodoereeverIcanmakeyouknowevenasadreamisknownhowIlovedmyLorna。Imyselfcanneverknow；nevercanconceive，ortreatitasathingofreason，nevercanbeholdmyselfdwellinginthemidstofit，andthinkthatthiswasI；
　　neithercanIwanderfarfromperpetualthoughtofit。
　　PerhapsIhavetwofarrowsofpigsreadyforthechapman；perhapsIhavetenstonesofwoolwaitingforthefactor。Itisallthesame。Ilookatboth，andwhatIsaytomyselfisthis：’WhichwouldLornachooseofthem？’Ofcourse，Iamafoolforthis；anymanmaycallmeso，andIwillnotquarrelwithhim，unlessheguessmysecret。Ofcourse，Ifetchmywit，ifitbeworththefetching，backagaintobusiness。Buttheremyheartisandmustbe；andallwholiketotrycancheatme，exceptuponparishmatters。
　　ThatweekIcoulddolittlemorethandreamanddreamandroveabout，seekingbyperpetualchangetofindthewaybacktomyself。Icarednotforthepeopleroundme，neithertookdelightinvictuals；butmadebelievetoeatanddrinkandblushedatanyquestions。Andbeingcalledthemasternow，head-farmer，andchiefyeoman，itirkedmemuchthatanyoneshouldtakeadvantageofme；yeteverybodydidsoassoonaseveritwasknownthatmywitsweregonemoon-raking。Forthatwasthewaytheylookedatit，notbeingabletocomprehendthegreatnessandtheloftiness。NeitherdoIblamethemmuch；forthewisestthingistolaughatpeoplewhenwecannotunderstandthem。I，formypart，tooknonotice；butinmyheartdespisedthemasbeingsofalessernature，whoneverhadseenLorna。YetI
　　wasvexed，andrubbedmyself，whenJohnFryspreadalloverthefarm，andevenattheshoeingforge，thatamaddoghadcomeandbittenme，fromtheothersideofMallond。
　　Thisseemslittletomenow；andsoitmighttoanyone；but，atthetime，itworkedmeuptoafeverofindignity。TomakeamaddogofLorna，tocompareallmyimaginingswhichwerestrange，Idoassureyou——thefacultynotbeingapttowork，tocounttheraisingofmysoulnomorethanhydrophobia!Allthisactedonmeso，thatIgaveJohnFrythesoundestthreshingthateverasheafofgoodcorndeserved，orabundleoftareswasblessedwith。Afterwardshewenthome，tootiredtotellhiswifethemeaningofit；butitprovedofservicetobothofthem，andanexamplefortheirchildren。
　　Nowtheclimateofthiscountryis——sofarasIcanmakeofit——tothrownomanintoextremes；andifhethrowhimselfsofar，topluckhimbackbychangeofweatherandtheneedoflookingafterthings。LestweshouldbeliketheSoutherns，forwhomtheskydoeseverything，andmensitunderawallandwatchbothfoodandfruitcomebeckoning。Theirskyisamothertothem；butoursagoodstepmothertous——fearingtohurtbyindulgence，andknowingthatseverityandchangeofmoodarewholesome。
　　Thespringbeingnowtooforward，achecktoitwasneedful；andintheearlypartofMarchtherecameachangeofweather。Alltheyounggrowthwasarrestedbyadrywindfromtheeast，whichmadebothfaceandfingersburnwhenamanwasdoingditching。Thelilacsandthewoodbines，justcrowdingforthinlittletufts，closekernellingtheirblossom，wereruffledback，likeasleeveturnedup，andnickedwithbrownatthecorners。Inthehedgesanyman，unlesshiseyeswereverydull，couldseethemischiefdoing。Therussetoftheyoungelm-bloomwasfaintobeinitsscaleagain；buthavingpushedforth，theremustbe，andturntoatawnycolour。Thehangersofthehazel，too，havingshedtheirdusttomakethenuts，didnotspreadtheirlittlecombsanddrythem，astheyoughttodo；butshrivelledatthebaseandfell，asifaknifehadcutthem。Andmorethanalltonoticewasatleastaboutthehedgestheshudderingofeverythingandtheshiveringsoundamongthemtowardthefeeblesun；suchaswemaketoapoorfireplacewhenseveraldoorsareopen。SometimesIputmyfacetowarmagainstthesoft，roughmaple-stem，whichfeelslikethefootofareddeer；butthepitilesseastwindcamethroughall，andtookandshookthecavedhedgeabacktillitskneeswereknockingtogether，andnothingcouldbeshelter。Thenwouldanyonehavingblood，andtryingtokeepathomewithit，runtoasturdytreeandhopetoeathisfoodbehindit，andlookforalittlesuntocomeandwarmhisfeetintheshelter。Andifitdidhemightstrikehisbreast，andtrytothinkhewaswarmer。