’Toourgoodsubject，JohnRidd，etc。’——describingmeeversomuchbetterthanIknewmyself——’bythesepresents，greeting。Thesearetorequirethee，inthenameofourlordtheKing，toappearinpersonbeforetheRightWorshipful，theJusticesofHisMajesty’sBenchatWestminster，layingasideallthineownbusiness，andtheretodeliversuchevidenceasiswithinthycognisance，touchingcertainmatterswherebythepeaceofoursaidlordtheKing，andthewell-beingofthisrealm，is，are，orotherwisemaybeimpeached，impugned，imperilled，orotherwisedetrimented。Aswitnessthesepresents。’Andthentherewerefourseals，andthenasignatureIcouldnotmakeout，onlythatitbeganwithaJ，andendedwithsomeotherwriting，donealmostinacircle。Underneathwasaddedinadifferenthandwriting’Chargeswillbeborne。Thematterisfullurgent。’
　　Themessengerwatchedme，whileIreadsomuchasI
　　couldreadofit；andheseemedwellpleasedwithmysurprise，becausehehadexpectedit。Then，notknowingwhatelsetodo，Ilookedagainatthecover，andonthetopofitIsaw，’Ride，Ride，Ride!OnHisGraciousMajesty’sbusiness；spurandsparenot。’
　　Itmaybesupposedbyallwhoknowme，thatIwastakenhereuponwithsuchagiddinessinmyheadandnoisinessinmyears，thatIwasforcedtoholdbythecrookdriveninbelowthethatchforholdingofthehay-rakes。Therewasscarcelyanysenseleftinme，onlythatthethingwascomebypowerofMotherMelldrum，becauseIdespisedherwarning，andhadagainsoughtLorna。Buttheofficerwasgrievedforme，andthedangertohissupper。
　　’Myson，benotafraid，’hesaid；’wearenotgoingtoskinthee。Onlythoutellallthetruth，anditshallbe——butnevermind，Iwilltelltheeallaboutit，andhowtocomeoutharmless，ifIfindthyvictualsgood，andnodelayinservingthem。’
　　’Wedoourbest，sir，withoutbargain，’saidI，’topleaseourvisitors。’
　　Butwhenmymothersawthatparchmentforwecouldnotkeepitfromhershefellawayintoherfavouritebedofstockgilly-flowers，whichshehadbeentending；
　　andwhenwebroughtherroundagain，didnothingbutexclaimagainstthewickednessoftheageandpeople。
　　’Itwasuselesstotellher；sheknewwhatitwas，andsoshouldalltheparishknow。TheKinghadheardwhathersonwas，howsober，andquiet，anddiligent，andthestrongestyoungmaninEngland；andbeinghimselfsuchareprobate——Godforgiveherforsayingso——hecouldneverresttillhegotpoorJohnny，andmadehimasdissoluteashimself。Andifhedidthat’——heremotherwentoffintoafitofcrying；andAnniemindedherface，whileLizziesawthathergownwasincomelyorder。
　　ButthecharacteroftheKingimproved，whenMasterJeremySticklesbeingreallymovedbythelookofit，andnobadmanafteralllaiditclearlybeforemymotherthattheKingonhisthronewasunhappy，untilhehadseenJohnRidd。ThatthefameofJohnhadgonesofar，andhissize，andallhisvirtues——thatverilybytheGodwhomadehim，theKingwasovercomewithit。
　　Thenmotherlaybackinhergardenchair，andsmileduponthewholeofus，andmostofallonJeremy；
　　lookingonlyshylyonme，andspeakingthroughsomebreakoftears。’HisMajestyshallhavemyJohn；HisMajestyisverygood：butonlyforafortnight。Iwantnotitlesforhim。Johnnyisenoughforme；andMasterJohnfortheworkingmen。’
　　NowthoughmymotherwassowillingthatIshouldgotoLondon，expectinggreatpromotionandhighgloryforme，Imyselfwasdeeplygoneintothepitofsorrow。
　　ForwhatwouldLornathinkofme？Herewasthelongmonthjustexpired，afterworldsofwaiting；therewouldbeherlovelyself，peepingsoftlydowntheglen，andfearingtoencourageme；yettherewouldbenobodyelse，andwhataninsulttoher!Dwellinguponthis，andseeingnochanceofescapefromit，Icouldnotfindonewinkofsleep；thoughJeremyStickleswhosleptclosebysnoredloudenoughtosparemesome。
　　ForIfeltmyselftobe，asitwere，inaplaceofsomeimportance；inasituationoftrust，Imaysay；andboundnottodepartfromit。ForwhocouldtellwhattheKingmighthavetosaytomeabouttheDoones——andIfeltthattheywereatthebottomofthisstrangeappearance——orwhatHisMajestymightthink，ifafterreceivingamessagefromhimtrustyundersomanysealsIweretoviolatehisfaithinmeasachurchwarden’sson，andfalselyspreadhiswordsabroad？
　　PerhapsIwasnotwiseinbuildingsuchawallofscruples。Nevertheless，allthatwasthere，andweigheduponmeheavily。AndatlastImadeupmymindtothis，thatevenLornamustnotknowthereasonofmygoing，neitheranythingaboutit；butthatshemightknowIwasgonealongwayfromhome，andperhapsbesorryforit。NowhowwasItoletherknoweventhatmuchofthematter，withoutbreakingcompact？
　　Puzzlingonthis，Ifellasleep，afterthepropertimetogetup；norwasItobeseenatbreakfasttime；andmotherbeingquitestrangetothatwasveryuneasyaboutit。ButMasterSticklesassuredherthattheKing’swritoftenhadthateffect，andthesymptomwasagoodone。
　　’Now，MasterStickles，whenmustwestart？’Iaskedhim，asheloungedintheyardgazingatourturkeypoultspickingandrunninginthesuntothetuneoftheirfather’sgobble。’Yourhorsewasgreatlyfoundered，sir，andishardlyfitfortheroadto-day；
　　andSmilerwassleddingyesterdayallupthehigherCleve；andnoneoftherestcancarryme。’
　　’Inafewmoreyears，’repliedtheKing’sofficer，contemplatingmewithmuchsatisfaction；’’twillbeacrueltytoanyhorsetoputtheeonhisback，John。’
　　MasterStickles，bythistime，wasquitefamiliarwithus，callingme’Jack，’andEliza’Lizzie，’andwhatI
　　likedtheleastofall，ourprettyAnnie’Nancy。’
　　’ThatwillbeasGodpleases，sir，’Iansweredhim，rathersharply；’andthehorsethatsufferswillnotbethine。ButIwishtoknowwhenwemuststartuponourlongtraveltoLondontown。Iperceivethatthematterisofgreatdespatchandurgency。’
　　’Tobesure，soitis，myson。ButIseeayearlingturkeythere，himImeanwiththehopinhiswalk，whoifIknowaughtoffowlswouldroastwellto-morrow。
　　Thymothermusthavepreparation：itisnomorethanreasonable。Now，havethatturkeykilledto-nightforhisfatnessmakesmelongforhim，andwewillhavehimfordinnerto-morrow，with，perhaps，oneofhisbrethren；andafewmorecollopsofreddeer’sfleshforsupper，andthenontheFridaymorning，withthegraceofGod，wewillsetourfacestotheroad，uponHisMajesty’sbusiness。’
　　’Nay，butgoodsir，’Iaskedwithsometrembling，soeagerwasItoseeLorna；’ifHisMajesty’sbusinesswillkeeptillFriday，mayitnotkeepuntilMonday？
　　Wehavealitterofsucking-pigs，excellentlychoiceandwhite，sixweeksold，comeFriday。Therebetoomanyforthesow，andoneofthemneedethroasting。
　　Thinkyounotitwouldbeapitytoleavethewomentocarveit？’
　　’MysonJack，’repliedMasterStickles，’neverwasIinsuchquartersyet：andGodforbidthatIshouldbesounthankfultoHimastohurryaway。AndnowIthinkonit，Fridayisnotadayuponwhichpiouspeoplelovetocommenceanenterprise。Iwillchoosetheyoungpigto-morrowatnoon，atwhichtimetheyarewonttogambol；andwewillcelebratehisbirthdaybycarvinghimonFriday。Afterthatwewillgirdourloins，andsetforthearlyonSaturday。’
　　Nowthiswaslittlebettertomethanifwehadsetforthatonce。SundaybeingtheveryfirstdayuponwhichitwouldbehonourableformetoenterGlenDoone。ButthoughItriedeverypossiblemeanswithMasterJeremyStickles，offeringhimthechoicefordinnerofeverybeastthatwasonthefarm，hedurstnotputoffourdeparturelaterthantheSaturday。Andnothingelsebutloveofusandofourhospitalitywouldhavesopersuadedhimtoremainwithustillthen。ThereforenowmyonlychanceofseeingLorna，beforeIwent，layinwatchingfromthecliffandespyingher，orasignalfromher。
　　This，however，Ididinvain，untilmyeyeswerewearyandoftenwoulddeludethemselveswithhopeofwhattheyachedfor。ButthoughIlayhiddenbehindthetreesuponthecrestofthestonyfall，andwaitedsoquietthattherabbitsandsquirrelsplayedaroundme，andeventhekeen-eyedweaseltookmeforatrunkofwood——itwasallasone；nocastofcolourchangedthewhitestone，whosewhitenessnowwashatefultome；nordidwreathorskirtofmaidenbreakthelonelinessofthevale。
　　AjourneytoLondonseemedtousinthosebygonedaysashazardousanddarkanadventureascouldbeforcedonanyman。Imean，ofcourse，apoorman；fortoagreatnobleman，witheversomanyoutriders，attendants，andretainers，theriskwasnotsogreat，unlessthehighwaymenknewoftheircomingbeforehand，andsocombinedagainstthem。Toapoorman，however，theriskwasnotsomuchfromthosegentlemenoftheroadasfromthemoreignoblefootpads，andthelandlordsofthelesserhostels，andthelooseunguardedsoldiers，overandabovethepitfallsandthequagmiresoftheway；sothatitwashardtosettle，atthefirstoutgoingwhetheramanwerewisetopraymoreforhisneckorforhishead。
　　Butnowadaysitisverydifferent。Notthathighway-menarescarce，inthisthereignofourgoodQueenAnne；forintruththeythriveaswellasever，albeittheydeserveitnot，beinglessuprightandcourteous——butthattheroadsaremuchimproved，andthegrowinguseofstage-waggonssomeofwhichwilltravelasmuchasfortymilesinasummerdayhasturnedourancientideasofdistancealmostupsidedown；andIdoubtwhetherGodbepleasedwithourflyingsofastawayfromHim。However，thatisnotmybusiness；nordoesitlieinmymouthtospeakverystronglyuponthesubject，seeinghowmuchImyselfhavedonetowardsmakingofroadsuponExmoor。
　　Toreturntomystoryand，intruth，Ilosethatroadtoooften，itwouldhavetakentenKing’smessengerstogetmeawayfromPlover’sBarrowswithoutonegoodbyetoLorna，butformysenseofthetrustandreliancewhichHisMajestyhadreposedinme。AndnowIfeltmostbitterlyhowtheveryarrangementswhichseemedsowise，andindeedingenious，maybytheforceofeventsbecomeourmostfatalobstacles。Forlo!I
　　wasblockedentirelyfromgoingtoseeLorna；whereasweshouldhavefixeditsothatIaswellmighthavethepowerofsignallingmynecessity。
　　Itwastoolatenowtothinkofthat；andsoImadeupmymindatlasttokeepmyhonouronbothsides，bothtotheKingandtothemaiden，althoughImightloseeverythingexceptaheavyheartforit。Andindeed，moreheartsthanminewereheavy；forwhenitcametothetugofparting，mymotherwaslike，andsowasAnnie，tobreakdownaltogether。ButIbadethembeofgoodcheer，andsmiledinthebriskestmanneruponthem，andsaidthatIshouldbebacknextweekasoneofHisMajesty’sgreatestcaptains，andtoldthemnottofearmethen。Uponwhichtheysmiledattheideaofeverbeingafraidofme，whateverdressImighthaveon；andsoIkissedmyhandoncemore，androdeawayverybravely。Butblessyourheart，IcouldnomorehavedonesothanflownallthewaytoLondonifJeremyStickleshadnotbeenthere。
　　Andnottotaketoomuchcredittomyselfinthismatter，Imustconfessthatwhenwewerecometotheturnintheroadwherethemoorbegins，andwhenceyouseethelastoftheyard，andthericksandthepoultryroundthemandcanbyknowingtheplaceobtainaglanceofthekitchenwindowunderthewalnut-tree，itwentsohardwithmejustherethatIevenmadepretenceofastoneinancientSmiler’sshoe，todismount，andtobendmyheadawhile。Then，knowingthatthoseIhadleftbehindwouldbewatchingtoseethelastofme，andmighthavefalsehopesofmycomingback，Imountedagainwithallpossiblecourage，androdeafterJeremyStickles。
　　Jeremy，seeinghowmuchIwasdown，didhisbesttokeepmeupwithjokes，andtales，andlightdiscourse，until，beforewehadriddenaleague，Ibegantolongtoseethethingshewasdescribing。Theair，theweather，andthethoughtsofgoingtoawondrousplace，addedtothefinecompany——atleastsoJeremysaiditwas——ofamanwhoknewallLondon，mademefeelthatI
　　shouldbeungraciousnottolaughalittle。AndbeingverysimplethenIlaughednomorealittle，butsomethingquiteconsiderablethoughfreefromconsiderationatthestrangethingsMasterSticklestoldme，andhisstrangewayoftellingthem。Andsowebecameveryexcellentfriends，forhewasmuchpleasedwithmylaughing。
　　Notwishingtothrustmyselfmoreforwardthanneedbeinthisnarrative，Ihavescarcelythoughtitbecomingorrighttospeakofmyownadornments。Butnow，whatwiththebraveclothesIhadon，andthebetteronesstillthatwerepackedupinthebagbehindthesaddle，itisalmostbeyondmetoforbearsayingthatImusthavelookedverypleasing。AndmanyatimeIwished，goingalong，thatLornacouldonlybehereandthere，watchingbehindafurze-bush，lookingatme，andwonderinghowmuchmyclotheshadcost。Formotherwouldhavenostintinthematter，buthadassembledatourhouse，immediatelyuponknowledgeofwhatwastobeaboutLondon，everymanknowntobeagoodstitcheruponoursideofExmoor。Andforthreedaystheyhadworkedtheirbest，withoutstintofbeerorcider，accordingtotheconstitutionofeach。Theresult，sotheyalldeclared，wassuchastocreateadmiration，anddefycompetitioninLondon。Andtomeitseemedthattheywerequiteright；thoughJeremySticklesturneduphisnose，andfeignedtobedeafinthebusiness。
　　Nowbethatmatterasyouplease——forthepointisnotwortharguing——certainitisthatmyappearancewasbetterthanithadbeenbefore。Forbeinginthebestclothes，onetriestolookandtoactsofarasmaybeuptothequalityofthem。Notonlyforthefearofsoilingthem，butthattheyenlargeaman’sperceptionofhisvalue。Anditstrikesmethatoursinsarise，partlyfromdisdainofothers，butmainlyfromcontemptofself，bothworkingthedespiteofGod。
　　Butmenofmindmaynotbemeasuredbysuchpaltryruleasthis。
　　Bydinner-timewearrivedatPorlock，anddinedwithmyoldfriend，MasterPooke，nowgrowingrichandportly。
　　Forthoughwehadplentyofvictualswithuswewerenottobeginuponthem，untilallchanceofvictuallingamongourfriendswasleftbehind。Andduringthatfirstdaywehadnoneedtomeddlewithourstoreatall；forashadbeensettledbeforewelefthome，welaythatnightatDunsterinthehouseofaworthytanner，firstcousintomymother，whoreceivedusverycordially，andundertooktoreturnoldSmilertohisstableatPlover’sBarrows，afteroneday’srest。
　　ThencewehiredtoBridgwater；andfromBridgwaterontoBristowe，breakingthejourneybetweenthetwo。Butalthoughthewholewaywassonewtome，andsuchaperpetualsourceofconflict，thattheremembrancestillabideswithme，asifitwerebutyesterday，I
　　mustnotbesolongintellingasitwasintravelling，oryouwillwishmefarther；bothbecauseLornawasnothingthere，andalsobecauseamaninourneighbourhoodhaddonethewholeofitsincemytime，andfeignstothinknothingofit。However，onething，incommonjusticetoapersonwhohasbeentraduced，I
　　amboundtomention。Andthisis，thatbeingtwoofus，andmyselfofsuchmagnitude，wenevercouldhavemadeourjourneywithouteitherfightorrunning，butforthefreepasswhichdearAnnie，bysomemeansI