Thecorn，ohthecorn，andtheblessingofthecorn!
　　Comeuntothedoor，mylads，andlookbeneaththemoon，Wecansee，onhillandvalley，howitisyelloon，Withabreadthofglory，aswhenourLordwasborn。
　　Chorus
　　Thecorn，ohthecorn，andtheyellow，mellowcorn!
　　Thanksforthecorn，withourbreadupontheboard!
　　Soshallweacknowledgeit，beforewereapthemorn，Withourhandstoheaven，andourkneesuntotheLord。
　　Nowwesangthissongverywellthefirsttime，havingtheparishchoirtoleadus，andtheclarionet，andtheparsontogiveusthetimewithhiscup；andwesangitagainthesecondtime，notsobutwhatyoumightpraiseitifyouhadbeenwithusalltheevening，althoughtheparsonwasgonethen，andtheclerknotfittocomparewithhiminthematterofkeepingtime。Butwhenthatsongwasinitsthirdsinging，Idefyanymanhoweversobertohavemadeoutoneversefromtheother，oreventheburdenfromtheverses，inasmuchaseverymanpresent，ay，andwomantoo，sangasbecameconvenienttothem，inutterancebothofwordsandtune。
　　Andintruth，therewasmuchexcuseforthem；becauseitwasanobleharvest，fittothanktheLordfor，withoutHisthinkingushypocrites。Forwehadmorelandinwheat，thatyear，thaneverwehadbefore，andtwicethecroptotheacre；andIcouldnothelpnowandthenremembering，inthemidstofthemerriment，howmyfatherinthechurchyardyonderwouldhavegloriedtobeholdit。Andmymother，whohadleftusnow，happeningtoreturnjustthen，beingcalledtohaveherhealthdrunkforthetwentiethtimeatleast，IknewbythesadnessinhereyesthatshewasthinkingjustasIwas。Presently，therefore，I
　　slippedawayfromthenoise，andmirth，andsmokingalthoughofthatlasttherewasnotmuch，exceptfromFarmerNicholas，andcrossingthecourtyardinthemoonlight，Iwent，justtocoolmyself，asfarasmyfather’stombstone。
　　Ihadlongoutgrownunwholesomefeelingastomyfather’sdeath，andsohadAnnie；thoughLizziewhomusthavelovedhimleaststillentertainedsomeevilwill，andlongingforapunishment。ThereforeIwassurprisedandindeed，startledwouldnotbetoomuchtosay，themoonbeingsomewhatfleecy，toseeourAnniesittingthereasmotionlessasthetombstone，andwithallherbestfallalsuponher，afterstowingawaythedishes。
　　Mynerves，however，aregoodandstrong，exceptatleastinlovematters，whereintheyalwaysfailme，andwhenImeetwithwitches；andthereforeIwentuptoAnnie，althoughshelookedsowhiteandpure；forIhadseenherbeforewiththosethingson，anditstruckmewhoshewas。
　　“Whatareyoudoinghere，Annie？“Iinquiredrathersternly，beingvexedwithherforhavinggonesoveryneartofrightenme。
　　“Nothingatall，“saidourAnnieshortly。Andindeeditwastruthenoughforawoman。NotthatIdaretobelievethatwomenaresuchliarsasmensay；onlythatImeantheyoftenseethingsroundthecorner，andknownotwhichiswhichofit。AndindeedIneverhaveknownawomanthoughrightenoughintheirmeaning
　　purelyandperfectlytrueandtransparent，exceptonlymyLorna；andevenso，Imightnothavelovedher，ifshehadbeenugly。
　　’Why，howso？’saidI；’MissAnnie，whatbusinesshaveyouhere，doingnothingatthistimeofnight？Andleavingmewithallthetroubletoentertainourguests!’
　　’Youseemnottometobedoingit，John，’Annieansweredsoftly；’whatbusinesshaveyouheredoingnothing，atthistimeofnight？’
　　Iwastakensoabackwiththis，andtheextremeimpertinenceofit，fromamereyounggirllikeAnnie，thatIturnedroundtomarchawayandhavenothingmoretosaytoher。Butshejumpedup，andcaughtmebythehand，andthrewherselfuponmybosom，withherfaceallwetwithtears。
　　’Oh，John，Iwilltellyou。Iwilltellyou。Onlydon’tbeangry，John。’
　　’Angry!noindeed，’saidI；’whatrighthaveItobeangrywithyou，becauseyouhaveyoursecrets？Everychitofagirlthinksnowthatshehasarighttohersecrets。’
　　’Andyouhavenoneofyourown，John；ofcourseyouhavenoneofyourown？Allyourgoingoutatnight——’
　　’Wewillnotquarrelhere，poorAnnie，’Ianswered，withsomeloftiness；’therearemanythingsuponmymind，whichgirlscanhavenonotionof。’
　　’Andsothereareuponmine，John。Oh，John，Iwilltellyoueverything，ifyouwilllookatmekindly，andpromisetoforgiveme。Oh，Iamsomiserable!’
　　Nowthis，thoughshewasbehavingsobadly，movedmemuchtowardsher；especiallyasIlongedtoknowwhatshehadtotellme。ThereforeIallowedhertocoaxme，andtokissme，andtoleadmeawayalittle，asfarastheoldyew-tree；forshewouldnottellmewhereshewas。
　　Butevenintheshadowthere，shewasverylongbeforebeginning，andseemedtohavetwomindsaboutit，orratherperhapsadozen；andshelaidhercheekagainstthetree，andsobbedtillitwaspitiful；andIknewwhatmotherwouldsaytoherforspoilingherbestfrockso。
　　’Nowwillyoustop？’Isaidatlast，harderthanI
　　meantit，forIknewthatshewouldgoonallnight，ifanyoneencouragedher：andthoughnotwellacquaintedwithwomen，Iunderstoodmysisters；orelseImustbeabornfool——except，ofcourse，thatIneverprofessedtounderstandEliza。
　　’Yes，Iwillstop，’saidAnnie，panting；’youareveryhardonme，John；butIknowyoumeanitforthebest。
　　Ifsomebodyelse——IamsureIdon’tknowwho，andhavenorighttoknow，nodoubt，butshemustbeawickedthing——ifsomebodyelsehadbeentakensowithapainallroundtheheart，John，andnopoweroftellingit，perhapsyouwouldhavecoaxed，andkissedher，andcomealittlenearer，andmadeopportunitytobeveryloving。’
　　NowthiswassoexactlywhatIhadtriedtodotoLorna，thatmybreathwasalmosttakenawayatAnnie’ssodescribingit。ForawhileIcouldnotsayaword，butwonderedifshewereawitch，whichhadneverbeeninourfamily：andthen，allofasudden，Isawthewaytobeather，withthedevilatmyelbow。
　　’Fromyourknowledgeofthesethings，Annie，youmusthavehadthemdonetoyou。Idemandtoknowthisverymomentwhohastakensuchliberties。’
　　’Then，John，youshallneverknow，ifyouaskinthatmanner。Besides，itwasnolibertyintheleastatall，Cousinshavearighttodothings——andwhentheyareone’sgodfather——’HereAnniestoppedquitesuddenlyhavingsobetrayedherself；butmetmeinthefullmoonlight，beingresolvedtofaceitout，withagoodfaceputuponit。
　　’Alas，Ifeareditwouldcometothis，’Iansweredverysadly；’Iknowhehasbeenheremanyatime，withoutshowinghimselftome。Thereisnothingmeanerthanforamantosneak，andstealayoungmaid’sheart，withoutherpeopleknowingit。’
　　’Youarenotdoinganythingofthatsortyourselfthen，dearJohn，areyou？’
　　’Onlyacommonhighwayman!’Ianswered，withoutheedingher；’amanwithoutanacreofhisown，andliabletohanguponanycommon，andnootherrightofcommonoverit——’
　　’John，’saidmysister，’aretheDoonesprivilegednottobehangeduponcommonland？’
　　AtthisIwassothunderstruck，thatIleapedintheairlikeashotrabbit，andrushedashardasIcouldthroughthegateandacrosstheyard，andbackintothekitchen；andthereIaskedFarmerNicholasSnowetogivemesometobacco，andtolendmeasparepipe。
　　Thishedidwithagratefulmanner，beingnowsomefive-fourthsgone；andsoIsmokedtheveryfirstpipethateverhadenteredmylipstillthen；andbeyondadoubtitdidmegood，andspreadmyheartatleisure。
　　Meanwhilethereapersweremostlygone，tobeupbetimesinthemorning；andsomewereledbytheirwives；andsomehadtoleadtheirwivesthemselves，accordingtothecapacityofmanandwiferespectively。
　　ButBettywasaslivelyasever，bustlingaboutwitheveryone，andlookingoutforthechanceofgroats，whichthebetteroffmightbefreewith。Andoverthekneading-pannextday，shedroppedthreeandsixpenceoutofherpocket；andLizziecouldnottellforherlifehowmuchmoremighthavebeeninit。
　　NowbythistimeIhadalmostfinishedsmokingthatpipeoftobacco，andwonderingatmyselfforhavingsodespisedithitherto，andmakingupmymindtohaveanothertrialto-morrownight，itbegantooccurtomethatalthoughdearAnniehadbehavedsoverybadlyandrudely，andalmosttakenmybreathawaywiththesuddennessofherallusion，yetitwasnotkindofmetoleaveheroutthereatthattimeofnight，allalone，andinsuchdistress。Anyofthereapersgoinghomemightbegottensofarbeyondfearofghostsastoventureintothechurchyard；andalthoughtheywouldknowagreatdealbetterthantoinsultasisterofminewhensober，therewasnotellingwhattheymightdointheirpresentstateofrejoicing。Moreover，itwasonlyrightthatIshouldlearn，forLorna’ssake，howfarAnnie，oranyoneelse，hadpenetratedoursecret。
　　Therefore，Iwentforthatonce，bearingmypipeinaskilfulmanner，asIhadseenFarmerNicholasdo；andmarking，withanewkindofpleasure，howtheringsandwreathsofsmokehoveredandflutteredinthemoonlight，likealarkuponhiscarol。PoorAnniewasgonebackagaintoourfather’sgrave，andthereshesatupontheturf，sobbingverygently，andnotwishingtotroubleanyone。SoIraisedhertenderly，andmademuchofher，andconsoledher，forIcouldnotscoldherthere；andperhapsafterallshewasnottobeblamedsomuchasTomFaggushimselfwas。Anniewasverygratefultome，andkissedmemanytimes，andbeggedmypardoneversooftenforherrudenesstome。
　　Andthenhavinggonesofarwithit，andfindingmesocomplaisant，shemustneedstrytogoalittlefurther，andtoleadmeawayfromherownaffairs，andintomineconcerningLorna。Butalthoughitwascleverenoughofhershewasnotdeepenoughformethere；andIsoondiscoveredthatsheknewnothing，noteventhenameofmydarling；butonlysuspectedfromthingsshehadseen，andputtogetherlikeawoman。UponthisI
　　broughtherbackagaintoTomFaggusandhisdoings。
　　’MypoorAnnie，haveyoureallypromisedhimtobehiswife？’
　　’Thenafterallyouhavenoreason，John，noparticularreason，Imean，forslightingpoorSallySnoweso？’
　　’Withoutevenaskingmotherorme!Oh，Annie，itwaswrongofyou!’
　　’But，darling，youknowthatmotherwishesyousomuchtomarrySally；andIamsureyoucouldhaveherto-morrow。Shedotesontheveryground——’
　　’Idaresayhetellsyouthat，Annie，thathedotesonthegroundyouwalkupon——butdidyoubelievehim，child？’
　　’Youmaybelieveme，Iassureyou，John，andhalfthefarmtobesettleduponher，aftertheoldman’stime；
　　andthoughshegivesherselflittleairs，itisonlydonetoenticeyou；shehastheverybesthandinthedairyJohn，andthelightestataturn-overcake——’
　　’Now，Annie，don’ttalknonsenseso。IwishjusttoknowthetruthaboutyouandTomFaggus。Doyoumeantomarryhim？’
　　’Itomarrybeforemybrother，andleavehimwithnonetotakecareofhim!Whocandohimareddeercollop，exceptSallyherself，asIcan？Comehome，dear，atonce，andIwilldoyouone；foryouneverateamorselofsupper，withallthepeopleyouhadtoattendupon。’
　　Thiswastrueenough；andseeingnochanceofanythingmorethancrossquestionsandcrookedpurposes，atwhichagirlwassuretobeatme，Ievenallowedhertoleadmehome，withthethoughtsofthecollopuppermost。ButInevercounteduponbeingbeatensothoroughlyasIwas；forknowingmenowtobeoffmyguard，theyounghussystoppedatthefarmyardgate，asifwithabrierentanglingher，andwhileIwasstoopingtotakeitaway，shelookedmefullinthefacebythemoonlight，andjerkedoutquitesuddenly，——
　　’Canyourlovedoacollop，John？’
　　’No，Ishouldhopenot，’Iansweredrashly；’sheisnotamerecook-maidIshouldhope。’
　　’SheisnothalfsoprettyasSallySnowe；Iwillanswerforthat，’saidAnnie。
　　’SheistenthousandtimesasprettyastenthousandSallySnowes，’Irepliedwithgreatindignation。
　　’Oh，butlookatSally’seyes!’criedmysisterrapturously。
　　’LookatLornaDoone’s，’saidI；’andyouwouldneverlookagainatSally’s。’
　　’OhLornaDoone。LornaDoone!’exclaimedourAnniehalf-frightened，yetclappingherhandswithtriumph，athavingfoundmeoutso：’LornaDooneisthelovelymaiden，whohasstolenpoorsomebody’sheartso。Ah，I
　　shallrememberit；becauseitissoqueeraname。Butstop，Ihadbetterwriteitdown。Lendmeyourhat，poorboy，towriteon。’
　　’Ihaveagreatmindtolendyouaboxontheear，’I
　　answeredherinmyvexation，’andIwould，ifyouhadnotbeencryingso，youslygood-for-nothingbaggage。