FromTivertontowntothetownofOareisaverylongandpainfulroad，andingoodtruththetravellermustmakehisway，asthesayingis；forthewayisstillunmade，atleast，onthissideofDulverton，althoughthereislessdangernowthaninthetimeofmyschooling；fornowagoodhorsemaygotherewithoutmuchcostofleaping，butwhenIwasaboythespurswouldfail，whenneededmost，byreasonoftheslough-cake。Itistothecreditofthisage，andouradvanceuponfatherlyways，thatnowwehavelaiddownrodsandfagots，andevenstump-oakshereandthere，sothatamaningooddaylightneednotsink，ifhebequitesober。ThereisnothingIhavestrivenatmorethandoingmyduty，way-wardenoverExmoor。
　　Butinthosedays，whenIcamefromschoolandgoodtimestheywere，too，fullofawarmthandfinehearth-comfort，whichnowaredyingout，itwasasadandsorrybusinesstofindwherelaythehighway。Wearetakingnowtomarkitoffwithafenceoneitherside，atleast，whenatownishandy；buttomehisseemsofahighpretence，andasortoflandmark，andchannelforrobbers，thoughwellenoughnearLondon，wheretheyhaveearnedarace-course。
　　Weleftthetownofthetwofords，whichtheysayisthemeaningofit，veryearlyinthemorning，afterlyingonedaytorest，aswasdemandedbythenags，soreoffootandfoundered。Formypart，too，Iwasgladtorest，havingachesalloverme，andveryheavybruises；andwelodgedatthesignoftheWhiteHorseInn，inthestreetcalledGoldStreet，oppositewherethesoulsareofJohnandJoanGreenway，setupingoldletters，becausewemusttakethehomewardwayatcockcrowofthemorning。ThoughstillJohnFrywasdrywithmeofthereasonofhiscoming，andonlytoldliesaboutfather，andcouldnotkeepthemagreeable，I
　　hopedforthebest，asallboyswill，especiallyafteravictory。AndIthought，perhapsfatherhadsentformebecausehehadagoodharvest，andtheratswerebadinthecorn-chamber。
　　ItwashighnoonbeforeweweregottoDulvertonthatday，neartowhichtowntheriverExeanditsbigbrotherBarlehaveunion。Mymotherhadanunclelivingthere，butwewerenottovisithishousethistime，atwhichIwassomewhatastonished，sinceweneedsmuststopforatleasttwohours，tobaitourhorsesthoroughwell，beforecomingtotheblackbogway。Thebogsareverygoodinfrost，exceptwherethehot-springsrise；butasyettherehadbeennofrostthisyear，savejustenoughtomaketheblackbirdslookbiginthemorning。Inaheartyblack-frosttheylooksmall，untilthesnowfallsoverthem。
　　TheroadfromBamptontoDulvertonhadnotbeenverydelicate，yetnothingtocomplainofmuch——nodeeper，indeed，thanthehocksofahorse，exceptintherottenplaces。Thedaywasinclinedtobemildandfoggy，andbothnagssweatedfreely；butPeggycarryinglittleweightformywardrobewasuponSmiler，andJohnFrygrumblingalways，wecouldeasilykeepinfront，asfarasyoumayhearalaugh。
　　Johnhadbeenratherbitterwithme，whichmethoughtwasamarkofilltasteatcominghomefortheholidays；andyetImadeallowanceforJohn，becausehehadneverbeenatschool，andneverwouldhavechancetoeatfryuponconditionofspellingit；thereforeI
　　rodeon，thinkingthathewashard-set，likeasaw，forhisdinner，andwouldsoftenaftertooth-work。Andyetathismosthungrytimes，whenhismindwasfargoneuponbacon，certesheseemedtocheckhimselfandlookatmeasifheweresorryforlittlethingscomingovergreat。
　　Butnow，atDulverton，wedinedupontherarestandchoicestvictualsthateverIdidtaste。Evennow，atmytimeoflife，tothinkofitgivesmeappetite，asonceandawhiletothinkofmyfirstlovemakesmeloveallgoodness。HotmuttonpastywasathingIhadoftenheardoffromverywealthyboysandmen，whomadeadessertofdinner；andtohearthemtalkofitmademylipssmack，andmyribscomeinwards。
　　AndnowJohnFrystrodeintothehostel，withtheairandgraceofashort-leggedman，andshoutedasloudasifhewascallingsheepuponExmoor，——
　　’Hotmootonpastyfortwootrarv’lers，atnumbervaive，invaiveminnits!Dishunupinthetinwiththegrahvy，zameasIharderedlastTuesday。’
　　Ofcourseitdidnotcomeinfiveminutes，noryetintenortwenty；butthatmadeitallthebetterwhenitcametotherealpresence；andthesmellofitwasenoughtomakeanemptymanthankGodfortheroomtherewasinsidehim。Fiftyyearshavepassedmequickerthanthetasteofthatgravy。
　　Itisthemannerofallgoodboystobecarelessofapparel，andtakenoprideinadornment。Goodlack，ifIseeaboymaketodoaboutthefitofhiscrumpler，andthecreasingofhisbreeches，anddesiretobeshodforcomelinessratherthanforuse，Icannot’scapethemarkthatGodtookthoughttomakeagirlofhim。Notsowhentheygrowolder，andcourttheregardofthemaidens；thenmaythebraverypassfromtheinsidetotheoutsideofthem；andnobiggerfoolsarethey，eventhen，thantheirfatherswerebeforethem。ButGodforbidanymantobeafooltolove，andbeloved，asI
　　havebeen。Elsewouldhehavepreventedit。
　　Whenthemuttonpastywasdone，andPeggyandSmilerhaddinedwellalso，outIwenttowashatthepump，beingaloverofsoapandwater，atallrisk，exceptofmydinner。AndJohnFry，whocaredverylittletowash，saveSabbathdaysinhisownsoap，andwhohadkeptmefromthepumpbythreateninglossofthedish，outhecameinasatisfiedmanner，withapieceofquillinhishand，toleanagainstadoor-post，andlistentothehorsesfeeding，andhavehisteethreadyforsupper。
　　Thenalady’s-maidcameout，andthesunwasonherface，andsheturnedroundtogobackagain；butputabetterfaceuponit，andgaveatripandhitchedherdress，andlookedatthesunfullbody，lestthehostlersshouldlaughthatshewaslosinghercomplexion。WithalongItalianglassinherfingersverydaintily，shecameuptothepumpinthemiddleoftheyard，whereIwasrunningthewateroffallmyheadandshoulders，andarms，andsomeofmybreasteven，andthoughIhadglimpsedherthroughthesprinkle，itgavemequiteaturntoseeher，childasIwas，inmyopenaspect。Butshelookedatme，nowhitabashed，makingababyofme，nodoubt，asawomanofthirtywilldo，evenwithaverybigboywhentheycatchhimonahayrick，andshesaidtomeinabrazenmanner，asifIhadbeennobody，whileIwasshrinkingbehindthepump，andcravingtogetmyshirton，’Goodleetleboy，comehithertome。Fineheaven!howblueyoureyesare，andyourskinlikesnow；butsomenaughtymanhasbeatenitblack。Oh，leetleboy，letmefeelit。Ah，howthenitmusthavehurtyou!Therenow，andyoushallloveme。’
　　Allthistimeshewastouchingmybreast，hereandthere，verylightly，withherdelicatebrownfingers，andIunderstoodfromhervoiceandmannerthatshewasnotofthiscountry，butaforeignerbyextraction。
　　AndthenIwasnotsoshyofher，becauseIcouldtalkbetterEnglishthanshe；andyetIlongedformyjerkin，butlikednottoberudetoher。
　　’Ifyouplease，madam，Imustgo。JohnFryiswaitingbythetapster’sdoor，andPeggyneighingtome。Ifyouplease，wemustgethometo-night；andfatherwillbewaitingformethissideofthetelling-house。’
　　’There，there，youshallgo，leetledear，andperhapsI
　　willgoafteryou。Ihavetakenmuchloveofyou。Butthebaronessishardtome。HowfaryoucallitnowtothebankoftheseaatWash——Wash——’
　　’AtWatchett，likelyyoumean，madam。Oh，averylongway，andtheroadsassoftastheroadtoOare。’
　　’Oh-ah，oh-ah——Ishallremember；thatistheplacewheremyleetleboylive，andsomedayIwillcomeseekforhim。Nowmakethepumptoflow，mydear，andgivemethegoodwater。Thebaronesswillnottouchunlessanebulebeformedoutsidetheglass。’
　　Ididnotknowwhatshemeantbythat；yetIpumpedforherveryheartily，andmarvelledtoseeherforfiftytimesthrowthewaterawayinthetrough，asifitwasnotgoodenough。Atlastthewatersuitedher，withalikenessoffogoutsidetheglass，andthegleamofacrystalunderit，andthenshemadeacurtseytome，inasortofmockingmanner，holdingthelongglassbythefoot，nottotakethecloudoff；andthenshewantedtokissme；butIwasoutofbreath，andhavealwaysbeenshyofthatwork，exceptwhenIcometoofferit；andsoIduckedunderthepump-handle，andsheknockedherchinontheknobofit；andthehostlerscameout，andaskedwhethertheywoulddoaswell。
　　Uponthis，sheretreateduptheyard，withacertaindarkdignity，andaforeignwayofwalking，whichstoppedthematoncefromgoingfarther，becauseitwassodifferentfromthefashionoftheirsweethearts。
　　Onewithanothertheyhungback，wherehalfacart-loadofhaywas，andtheylookedtobesurethatshewouldnotturnround；andtheneachonelaughedattherestofthem。
　　Now，uptotheendofDulvertontown，onthenorthwardsideofit，wherethetwonewpig-stiesbe，theOarefolkandtheWatchettfolkmusttrudgeontogether，untilwecometoabrokencross，whereamurderedmanliesburied。PeggyandSmilerwentupthehill，asifnothingcouldbetoomuchforthem，afterthebeanstheyhadeaten，andsuddenlyturningacorneroftrees，wehappeneduponagreatcoachandsixhorseslabouringveryheavily。JohnFryrodeonwithhishatinhishand，asbecamehimtowardsthequality；butIwasamazedtothatdegree，thatIleftmycaponmyhead，anddrewbridlewithoutknowingit。
　　Forinthefrontseatofthecoach，whichwashalf-wayopen，beingofthecity-make，andthedayinwantofair，satetheforeignlady，whohadmetmeatthepumpandofferedtosaluteme。Byhersidewasalittlegirl，dark-hairedandverywonderful，withawealthysoftnessonher，asifshemusthaveherownway。I
　　couldnotlookatherfortwoglances，andshedidnotlookatmeforone，beingsuchalittlechild，andbusywiththehedges。Butinthehonourableplacesateahandsomelady，verywarmlydressed，andsweetlydelicateofcolour。Andclosetoherwasalivelychild，twooritmaybethreeyearsold，bearingawhitecockadeinhishat，andstaringatallandeverybody。Now，hesawPeggy，andtooksuchalikingtoher，thattheladyhismother——ifsoshewere——wasforcedtolookatmyponyandme。And，totellthetruth，althoughIamnotofthosewhoadorethehighfolk，shelookedatusverykindly，andwithasweetnessrarelyfoundinthewomenwhomilkthecowsforus。
　　ThenItookoffmycaptothebeautifullady，withoutaskingwherefore；andsheputupherhandandkissedittome，thinking，perhaps，thatIlookedlikeagentleandgoodlittleboy；forfolkalwayscalledmeinnocent，thoughGodknowsIneverwasthat。Butnowtheforeignlady，orlady’smaid，asitmightbe，whohadbeenbusywithlittledarkeyes，turneduponallthisgoing-on，andlookedmestraightintheface。I
　　wasabouttosaluteher，atadistance，indeed，andnotwiththenicetyshehadofferedtome，but，strangetosay，shestaredatmyeyesasifshehadneverseenmebefore，neitherwishedtoseemeagain。AtthisIwassostartled，suchthingsbeingsoutofmyknowledge，thatIstartledPeggyalsowiththemuscleofmylegs，andshebeingfreshfromstable，andthemirescrapedoffwithcask-hoop，brokeawaysosuddenlythatIcoulddonomorethanturnroundandlowermycap，nowfivemonthsold，tothebeautifullady。SoonIovertookJohnFry，andaskedhimallaboutthem，andhowitwasthatwehadmissedtheirstartingfromthehostel。ButJohnwouldnevertalkmuchtillafteragallonofcider；andallthatIcouldwinoutofhimwasthattheywere’murderingPapishers，’andlittlehecaredtodowiththem，orthedevil，astheycamefrom。Andagoodthingforme，andaprovidence，thatIwasgonedownDulvertontowntobuysweetstuffforAnnie，elsemystupidheadwouldhavegoneastraywiththeirgreatout-coming。
　　Wesawnomoreofthemafterthat，butturnedintothesideway；andsoonhadthefillofourhandsandeyestolooktoourowngoing。Fortheroadgotworseandworse，untiltherewasnoneatall，andperhapsthepurestthingitcoulddowastobeashamedtoshowitself。Butwepushedonasbestwemight，withdoubtofreachinghomeanytime，exceptbyspecialgraceofGod。
　　ThefogcamedownuponthemoorsasthickaseverIsawit；andtherewasnosoundofanysort，norabreathofwindtoguideus。Thelittlestubbytreesthatstandhereandthere，likebusheswithawoodenlegtothem，weredrizzledwithamessofwet，andhungtheirpointswithdropping。Whereverthebutt-endofahedgerowcameupfromthehollowground，likethewithersofahorse，holesofsplashwerepockedandpimpledintheyellowsandofconeys，orunderthedwarftree’sovens。
　　Butsoonitwastoodarktoseethat，oranythingelse，Imaysay，exceptthecreasesinthedusk，whereprisonedlightcreptupthevalleys。
　　Afterawhileeventhatwasgone，andnoothercomfortleftusexcepttoseeourhorses’headsjoggingtotheirfootsteps，andthedarkgroundpassbelowus，lighterwherethewetwas；andthenthesplash，footafterfoot，morecleverthanwecandoit，andtheorderlyjerkofthetail，andthesmellofwhatahorseis。
　　JohnFrywasbowingforwardwithsleepuponhissaddle，andnowIcouldnolongerseethefrizzleofwetuponhisbeard——forhehadaverybraveone，ofabrightredcolour，andtrimmedintoawhale-oilknot，becausehewasnewlymarried——althoughthatcombofhairhadbeenasubjectofsomewondertome，whetherI，inGod’sgoodtime，shouldhavethelikeofthat，handsomelysetwithshiningbeads，smallaboveandlargebelow，fromtheweepingoftheheaven。ButstillIcouldseethejogofhishat——aSundayhatwithatoptoit——andsomeofhisshoulderbowedoutinthemist，sothatonecouldsay’Holdup，John，’whenSmilerputhisfootin。
　　’MercyofGod!wherebeusnow？’saidJohnFry，wakingsuddenly；’usoughttohavepassedholdhash，Jan。
　　Zeenitontheroad，have’ee？’
　　’Noindeed，John；nooldash。Nornothingelsetomyknowing；norheardnothing，savetheesnoring。’
　　’Wattavuletheemustbethen，Jan；andmemyzellnobetter。Harken，lad，harken!’
　　Wedrewourhorsesupandlistened，throughthethicknessoftheair，andwithourhandslaidtoourears。Atfirsttherewasnothingtohear，exceptthepantingofthehorsesandthetrickleoftheeavingdropsfromourhead-coversandclothing，andthesoftsoundsofthelonelynight，thatmakeusfeel，andtrynottothink。Thentherecameamellownoise，verylowandmournsome，notasoundtobeafraidof，buttolongtoknowthemeaning，withasoftriseofthehair。