do，andnevershallknowmuchofit，this，Isay，sobroughtherround，thatallherfearwasnowforme，andhowtogetmesafelyoff，withoutmischancetoanyone。Andsoothtosay，inspiteoflongingjusttoseeifMasterCarvercouldhaveservedmesuchatrick——asitgrewtowardsthedusk，Iwasnotbestpleasedtobethere；foritseemedalawlessplace，andsomeofLorna’sfrightstayedwithmeasItalkeditawayfromher。
　　AfterhearingthattalefromLorna，Iwenthomeinsorryspirits，havingaddedfearforher，andmiseryabout，toallmyotherailments。Andwasitnotquitecertainnowthatshe，beingownedfullcousintoapeerandlordofScotlandalthoughhewasadeadone，musthavenoughttodowithme，ayeoman’sson，andboundtobethefatherofmoreyeomen？IhadbeenverysorrywhenfirstIheardaboutthatpooryoungpopinjay，andwouldgladlyhavefoughthardforhim；butnowitstruckmethatafterallhehadnorighttobethere，prowlingasitwereforLorna，withoutanyinvitation：andwefarmerslovenottrespass。Still，ifIhadseenthething，Imusthavetriedtosavehim。
　　Moreover，Iwasgreatlyvexedwithmyownhesitation，stupidity，orshyness，orwhateverelseitwas，whichhadheldmebackfromsaying，ereshetoldherstory，whatwasinmyhearttosay，videlicet，thatImustdieunlesssheletmeloveher。NotthatIwasfoolenoughtothinkthatshewouldanswermeaccordingtomyliking，orbegintocareaboutmeforalongtimeyet；
　　ifindeedsheevershould，whichIhardlydaredtohope。ButthatIhadheardfrommenmoreskillfulinthematterthatitiswisetobeintime，thatsothemaidsmaybegintothink，whentheyknowthattheyarethoughtof。And，totellthetruth，Ihadbitterfears，onaccountofherwondrousbeauty，lestsomeyoungfellowofhigherbirthandfinerparts，andfinish，mightstealinbeforepoorme，andcutmeoutaltogether。Thinkingofwhich，Iusedtodoublemygreatfist，withoutknowingit，andkeepitinmypocketready。
　　Buttheworstofallwasthis，thatinmygreatdismayandanguishtoseeLornaweepingso，Ihadpromisednottocauseheranyfurthertroublefromanxietyandfearofharm。Andthis，beingbroughttopractice，meantthatIwasnottoshowmyselfwithintheprecinctsofGlenDoone，foratleastanothermonth。UnlessindeedasIcontrivedtoedgeintotheagreementanythingshouldhappentoincreaseherpresenttroubleandeveryday’suneasiness。Inthatcase，shewastothrowadarkmantle，orcoveringofsomesort，overalargewhitestonewhichhungwithintheentrancetoherretreat——Imeantheouterentrance——andwhich，thoughunseenfromthevalleyitself，wasasIhadobserved
　　conspicuousfromtheheightwhereIstoodwithUncleReuben。
　　Nowcominghomesosadandweary，yettryingtoconsolemyselfwiththethoughtthatloveo’erleapethrank，andmuststillbelordofall，Ifoundashamefulthinggoingon，whichmademeveryangry。ForitneedsmusthappenthatyoungMarwooddeWhichehalse，onlysonoftheBaron，ridinghomethatveryevening，fromchasingoftheExmoorbustards，withhishoundsandserving-
　　men，shouldtaketheshortcutthroughourfarmyard，andbeingdryfromhisexercise，shouldcomeandaskfordrink。AnditneedsmusthappenalsothatthereshouldbenonetogiveittohimbutmysisterAnnie。
　　ImorethansuspectthathehadheardsomereportofourAnnie’scomeliness，andhadamindtosatisfyhimselfuponthesubject。Now，ashetookthelargeox-hornofourquarantine-appleciderwhichwealwayskeepapartfromtherest，beingtoogoodexceptforthequality，helethisfingersdwellonAnnie’s，bysomesortofaccident，whileheliftedhisbeavergallantly，andgazedonherfaceinthelightfromthewest。ThenwhatdidAnniedoassheherselftoldmeafterwards
　　butmakeherverybestcurtseytohim，beingpleasedthathewaspleasedwithher，whileshethoughtwhatafineyoungmanhewasandsomuchbreedingabouthim!
　　Andintruthhewasadark，handsomefellow，hasty，reckless，andchangeable，withalookofsaddestinyinhisblackeyesthatwouldmakeanywomanpityhim。
　　WhathewasthinkingofourAnnieisnotformetosay，althoughImaythinkthatyoucouldnothavefoundanothersuchmaidenonExmoor，exceptofcoursemyLorna。
　　ThoughyoungSquireMarwoodwassothirsty，hespentmuchtimeoverhiscider，oratanyrateovertheox-horn，andhemademanybowstoAnnie，anddrankhealthtoallthefamily，andspokeofmeasifIhadbeenhisverybestfriendatBlundell’s；whereasheknewwellenoughallthetimethatwehadnoughttosaytooneanother；hebeingthreeyearsolder，andthereforeofcoursedisdainingme。Butwhilehewascastingaboutperhapsforsomeexcusetostoplonger，andAnniewasbeginningtofearlestmothershouldcomeafterher，orElizabeatthewindow，orBettyupinpigs’house，suddenlytherecameuptothem，asiffromtheveryheartoftheearth，thatlong，low，hollow，mysterioussoundwhichIspokeofinwinter。
　　Theyoungmanstartedinhissaddle，letthehornfallonthehorse-steps，andgazedallaroundinwonder；
　　whileasforAnnie，sheturnedlikeaghost，andtriedtoslamthedoor，butfailedthroughtheviolenceofhertrembling；fornevertillnowhadanyonehearditsocloseathandasyoumightsayorinthemerefallofthetwilight。Andbythistimetherewasnoman，atleastinourparish，butknew——fortheParsonhimselfhadtoldusso——thatitwasthedevilgroaningbecausetheDoonesweretoomanyforhim。
　　MarwooddeWhichehalsewasnotsoalarmedbutwhathesawafineopportunity。Heleapedfromhishorse，andlaidholdofdearAnnieinahighlycomfortingmanner；
　　andsheneverwouldtellusaboutitbeingsoshyandmodest，whetherinbreathinghiscomforttoherhetriedtotakesomefromherpurelips。Ihopehedidnot，becausethattomewouldseemnotthedeedofagentleman，andhewasofgoodoldfamily。
　　Atthisverymoment，whoshouldcomeintotheendofthepassageuponthembuttheheavywriterofthesedoingsI，JohnRiddmyself，andwalkingthefaster，itmaybe，onaccountofthenoiseImentioned。Ienteredthehousewithsomewrathuponmeatseeingthegazehoundsintheyard；foritseemsacruelthingtometoharassthebirdsinthebreeding-time。AndtomyamazementthereIsawSquireMarwoodamongthemilk-panswithhisarmaroundourAnnie’swaist，andAnnieallblushingandcoaxinghimoff，forshewasnotcometoscoldyet。
　　PerhapsIwaswrong；Godknows，andifIwas，nodoubtIshallpayforit；butIgavehimtheflatofmyhandonhishead，anddownhewentinthethickofthemilk-pans。Hewouldhavehadmyfist，Idoubt，butforhavingbeenatschoolwithme；andafterthatitislikeenoughhewouldneverhavespokenanotherword。
　　Asitwas，helaystunned，withthecreamrunningonhim；whileItookpoorAnnieupandcarriedherintomother，whohadheardthenoiseandwasfrightened。
　　ConcerningthismatterIaskednomore，butheldmyselfreadytobearitoutinanyformconvenient，feelingthatIhaddonemyduty，andcarednotfortheconsequence；onlyforseveraldaysdearAnnieseemedfrightenedratherthangrateful。ButtheoddestresultofitwasthatEliza，whohadsodespisedme，andmadeveryrudeversesaboutme，nowcametryingtositonmyknee，andkissme，andgivemethebestofthepan。
　　However，Iwouldnotallowit，becauseIhatesuddenchanges。
　　Anotherthingalsoastonishedme——namely，abeautifulletterfromMarwooddeWhichehalsehimselfsentbyagroomsoonafterwards，inwhichheapologisedtome，asifIhadbeenhisequal，forhisrudenesstomysister，whichwasnotintendedintheleast，butcameoftheircommonalarmatthemoment，andhisdesiretocomforther。Alsohebeggedpermissiontocomeandseeme，asanoldschoolfellow，andseteverythingstraightbetweenus，asshouldbeamonghonestBlundellites。
　　Allthiswassodifferenttomyideaoffightingoutaquarrel，whenonceitisuponaman，thatIknewnotwhattomakeofit，butbowedtohigherbreeding。OnlyonethingIresolvedupon，thatcomewhenhewouldheshouldnotseeAnnie。Andtodomysisterjustice，shehadnodesiretoseehim。
　　However，Iamtooeasy，thereisnodoubtofthat，beingveryquicktoforgiveaman，andveryslowtosuspect，unlesshehathonceliedtome。Moreover，astoAnnie，ithadalwaysseemedtomemuchagainstmywishesthatsomeshrewdloveofawaitingsortwasbetweenherandTomFaggus：andthoughTomhadmadehisfortunenow，andeverybodyrespectedhim，ofcoursehewasnottobecompared，inthatpointofrespectability，withthosepeoplewhohangedtherobberswhenfortuneturnedagainstthem。
　　SoyoungSquireMarwoodcameagain，asthoughIhadneversmittenhim，andspokeofitinaslightawayasifwewerestillatschooltogether。Itwasnotinmynature，ofcourse，tokeepanyangeragainsthim；andI
　　knewwhatacondescensionitwasforhimtovisitus。
　　Anditisaverygrievousthing，whichtouchessmalllandowners，toseeanancientfamilydaybydaydecaying：andwhenweheardthatLeyBartonitself，andalltheManorofLyntonwereunderaheavymortgagedebttoJohnLoveringofWeare-Gifford，therewasnotmuch，inourlittleway，thatwewouldnotgladlydoorsufferforthebenefitofDeWhichehalse。
　　Meanwhiletheworkofthefarmwastoward，andeverydaygaveusmoreadotodisposeofwhatitselfwasdoing。ForafterthelongdryskelteringwindofMarchandpartofApril，therehadbeenafortnightofsoftwet；andwhenthesuncameforthagain，hillandvalley，woodandmeadow，couldnotmakeenoughofhim。
　　ManyaspringhaveIseensincethen，butneveryettwospringsalike，andneveronesobeautiful。Orwasitthatmylovecameforthandtouchedtheworldwithbeauty？
　　Thespringwasinourvalleynow；creepingfirstforsheltershylyinthepauseoftheblusteringwind。
　　Therethelambscamebleatingtoher，andtheorchisliftedup，andthethindeadleavesofcloverlayforthenewonestospringthrough。Therethestiffestthingsthatsleep，thestubbyoak，andthesaplin’dbeech，droppedtheirbrowndefiancetoher，andpreparedforasoftreply。
　　Whileherover-eagerchildrenwhohadstartedforthtomeether，throughthefrostandshowerofsleet，catkin’dhazel，gold-glovedwithy，youthfulelder，andoldwoodbine，withallthetribeofgoodhedge-climberswhomusthastenwhilehastetheymay——wasthereoneofthemthatdidnotclaimthemeritofcomingfirst？
　　Thereshestayedandheldherrevel，assoonasthefearoffrostwasgone；alltheairwasafountoffreshness，andtheearthofgladness，andthelaughingwatersprattledofthekindnessofthesun。
　　Butallthismadeitmuchharderforus，plyingthehoeandrake，tokeepthefieldswithroomuponthemforthecorntotiller。Thewinterwheatwaswellenough，beingsturdyandstrong-sided；butthespringwheatandthebarleyandtheoatswereoverrunbyillweedsgrowingfaster。Therefore，astheoldsayingis，——
　　Farmer，thatthywifemaythrive，Letnotburrandburdockwive；
　　Andifthouwouldstkeepthyson，Seethatbineandgithhavenone。
　　Sowewerecompelledtogodownthefieldandupit，strikinginandoutwithcarewherethegreenbladeshungtogether，sothateachhadspacetomoveinandtospreaditsrootsabroad。AndIdoassureyounow，thoughyoumaynotbelieveme，itwasharderworktokeepJohnFry，BillDadds，andJemSlocomballinalineandallmovingnimblytothetuneofmyowntool，thanitwastosetoutinthemorningalone，andhoehalfanacrebydinner-time。For，insteadofkeepingthegoodashmoving，theywouldforeverbefindingsomethingtolookatortospeakof，oratanyrate，tostopwith；blamingtheshapeoftheirtoolsperhaps，ortalkingaboutotherpeople’saffairs；or，whatwasmostirksomeofalltome，takingadvantageasmarriedmen，andwhisperingjokesofnoexcellenceaboutmyhaving，orhavingnot，orbeingashamedofasweetheart。AndthiswentsofaratlastthatIwasforcedtotaketwoofthemandknocktheirheadstogether；afterwhichtheyworkedwithabetterwill。
　　Whenwemettogetherintheeveningroundthekitchenchimney-place，afterthemenhadhadtheirsupperandtheirheavybootsweregone，mymotherandElizawoulddotheirveryutmosttolearnwhatIwasthinkingof。
　　Notthatwekeptanyfirenow，afterthecrockwasemptied；butthatwelovedtoseetheashescooling，andtobetogether。AtthesetimesAnniewouldneveraskmeanycraftyquestionsasElizadid，butwouldsitwithherhairuntwined，andonehandunderneathherchin，sometimeslookingsoftlyatme，asmuchastosaythatsheknewitallandIwasnoworseoffthanshe。
　　Butstrangetosaymymotherdreamednot，evenforaninstant，thatitwaspossibleforAnnietobethinkingofsuchathing。Shewassoverygoodandquiet，andcarefulofthelinen，andcleveraboutthecookeryandfowlsandbacon-curing，thatpeopleusedtolaugh，andsayshewouldneverlookatabacheloruntilhermotherorderedher。ButIperhapsfrommyownconditionandthesenseofwhatitwasfeltnocertaintyaboutthis，andevenhadanotheropinion，aswassaidbefore。