havingboundmefirstbyoath，nottoimparttoanyone，withouthisownpermission，untilallwasover。
　　Butatthispresenttimeofwriting，allisoverlongago；ayandforgottentoo，Iween，exceptbythosewhosuffered。ThereforemayItellthewholewithoutanybreachofconfidence。MasterStickleswasgoingforthuponhisusualnightjourney，whenhemetmecominghome，andIsaidsomethinghalfinjest，abouthiszealandsecrecy；uponwhichhelookedallroundtheyard，andledmetoanopenspaceinthecloverfieldadjoining。
　　’John，’hesaid，’youhavesomerighttoknowthemeaningofallthis，beingtrustedasyouwerebytheLordChiefJustice。Buthefoundyouscarcelysuppleenough，neithergiftedwithduebrains。’
　　’ThankGodforthatsame，’Ianswered，whilehetappedhishead，tosignifyhisownmuchlargerallowance。
　　Thenhemademebindmyself，whichinanevilhourI
　　did，toretainhissecret；andafterthathewentonsolemnly，andwithmuchimportance，——
　　’Therebesomepeoplefittoplot，andotherstobeplottedagainst，andotherstounravelplots，whichisthehighestgiftofall。Thislasthathfallentomyshare，andaverythanklessgiftitis，althougharareandchoiceone。Muchofperiltooattendsit；daringcourageandgreatcoolnessareasneedfulfortheworkasreadywitandspotlesshonour。
　　ThereforeHisMajesty’sadvisershavechosenmeforthishightask，andtheycouldnothavechosenabetterman。AlthoughyouhavebeeninLondon，Jack，muchlongerthanyouwishedit，youarewhollyignorant，ofcourse，inmattersofstate，andthepublicweal。’
　　’Well，’saidI，’nodoubtbutIam，andallthebetterforme。AlthoughIheardadealofthem；foreverybodywastalking，andreadytocometoblows；ifonlyitcouldbedonewithoutdanger。Butonesaidthis，andonesaidthat；andtheytalkedsomuchaboutBirminghams，andTantivies，andWhigsandTories，andProtestantflailsandsuchlike，thatIwasonlytoogladtohavemyglassandclinkmyspoonforanswer。’
　　’Right，John，thouartrightasusual。LettheKinggohisowngait。HehathtoomanymistressestobeeverEngland’smaster。Nobodyneedfearhim，forheisnotlikehisfather：hewillhavehisownway，’tistrue，butwithoutstoppingotherfolkoftheirs：andwellheknowswhatwomenare，forheneverasksthemquestions。
　　NowheardyoumuchinLondontownabouttheDukeofMonmouth？’
　　’Notsoverymuch，’Ianswered；’nothalfsomuchasinDevonshire：onlythathewasaheartyman，andaveryhandsomeone，andnowwasbanishedbytheTories；andmostpeoplewishedhewascomingback，insteadoftheDukeofYork，whowastryingbootsinScotland。’
　　’Thingsarechangedsinceyouwereintown。TheWhigsaregettingupagain，throughthefollyoftheTorieskillingpoorLordRussell；andnowthisMasterSidneyifmyLordcondemnshimwillmakeitworseagain。
　　Thereismuchdisaffectioneverywhere，anditmustgrowtoanoutbreak。TheKinghathmanytroopsinLondon，andmeanethtobringmorefromTangier；buthecannotcommandthesecountryplaces；andthetrainedbandscannothelphimmuch，eveniftheywould。Now，doyouunderstandme，John？’
　　’Intruth，notI。IseenotwhatTangierhathtodowithExmoor；northeDukeofMonmouthwithJeremyStickles。’
　　’Thougreatclod，putittheotherway。JeremySticklesmayhavemuchtodoabouttheDukeofMonmouth。TheWhigshavingfailedofExclusion，andhavingbeenpunishedbitterlyforthebloodtheyshed，areripeforanyviolence。Andtheturnofthebalanceisnowtothem。See-sawisthefashionofEnglandalways；andtheWhigswillsoonbethetop-sawyers。’
　　’But，’saidI，stillmoreconfused，’“TheKingisthetop-sawyer，“accordingtoourproverb。HowthencantheWhigsbe？’
　　’Thouartahopelessass，John。Bettertosewwithachestnutthantoteachtheetheconstitution。Letitbeso，letitbe。Ihaveseenaboyoffiveyearsoldmoreaptatpoliticsthanthou。Nay，looknotoffended，lad。Itismyfaultforbeingover-deeptothee。Ishouldhaveconsideredthyintellect。’
　　’Nay，MasterJeremy，makenoapologies。ItisIthatshouldexcusemyself；but，Godknows，Ihavenopolitics。’
　　’Sticktothat，mylad，’heanswered；’soshaltthoudieeasier。Now，intenwordswithoutparties，ortryingthypoorbraintoomuch，Iamheretowatchthegatheringofasecretplot，notsomuchagainsttheKingasagainsttheduesuccession。’
　　’NowIunderstandatlast。But，MasterStickles，youmighthavesaidallthatanhouragoalmost。’
　　’Itwouldhavebeenbetter，ifIhad，tothee，’herepliedwithmuchcompassion；’thyhatisnearlyoffthyheadwiththeswellingofbrainIhavegiventhee。
　　Blows，blows，arethybusiness，Jack。Therethouartinthineelement。And，haply，thisbusinesswillbringtheeplentyevenforthygreatheadtotake。Nowhearkentoonewhowishestheewell，andplainlyseestheendofit——stickthoutothewinningside，andhavenaughttodowiththeotherone。’
　　’That，’saidI，ingreathasteandhurry，’istheverythingIwanttodo，ifIonlyknewwhichwasthewinningside，forthesakeofLorna——thatistosay，forthesakeofmydearmotherandsisters，andthefarm。’
　　’Ha!’criedJeremyStickles，laughingattherednessofmyface——’Lorna，saidstthou；nowwhatLorna？Isitthenameofamaiden，oralight-o’-love？’
　　’Keeptoyourownbusiness，’Ianswered，veryproudly；
　　’spyasmuchase’erthouwilt，anduseourhousefordoingit，withoutaskingleaveortelling；butifI
　　everfindtheespyingintomyaffairs，alltheKing’slifeguardsinLondon，andthedragoonsthoubringesthither，shallnotsavetheefrommyhand——oronefingerisenoughforthee。’
　　BeingcarriedbeyondmyselfbyhisinsolenceaboutLorna，IlookedatMasterSticklesso，andspakeinsuchavoice，thatallhisdaringcourageandhisspotlesshonourquailedwithinhim，andheshrank——asifIwouldstrikesosmallaman。
　　ThenIlefthim，andwenttoworkatthesacksuponthecorn-floor，totakemyevilspiritfrommebeforeI
　　shouldseemother。Fortotellthetruthnowmystrengthwasfull，andtroublesweregatheringroundme，andpeopletookadvantagesomuchofmyeasytemper，sometimeswhenIwasover-tried，asuddenheatranoverme，andaglowingofallmymuscles，andatinglingforamightythrow，suchasmyutmostself-command，andfearofhurtinganyone，couldbutillrefrain。Afterwards，Iwasalwaysverysadlyashamedofmyself，knowinghowpoorathingbodilystrengthis，ascomparedwithpowerofmind，andthatitisacoward’sparttomisuseituponweakerfolk。
　　ForthepresenttherewasalittlebreachbetweenMasterSticklesandme，forwhichIblamedmyselfverysorely。Butthough，infullmemoryofhiskindnessandfaithfulnessinLondon，Iaskedhispardonmanytimesformyfoolishangerwithhim，andofferedtoundergoanypenaltyhewouldlayuponme，heonlysaiditwasnomatter，therewasnothingtoforgive。Whenpeoplesaythat，thetruthoftenisthattheycanforgivenothing。
　　SoforthepresentabreachwasmadebetweenMasterJeremyandmyself，whichtomeseemednogreatloss，inasmuchasitrelievedmefromanyprivitytohisdealings，forwhichIhadsmallliking。AllIfearedwaslestImight，inanyway，beungratefultohim；butwhenhewouldhavenomoreofme，whatcouldIdotohelpit？However，inafewdays’timeIwasofgoodservicetohim，asyoushallseeinitsproperplace。
　　ButnowmyownaffairswerethrownintosuchdisorderthatIcouldthinkofnothingelse，andhadthegreatestdifficultyinhidingmyuneasiness。Forsuddenly，withoutanywarning，orawordofmessage，allmyLorna’ssignalsceased，whichIhadbeenaccustomedtowatchfordaily，andasitweretofeeduponthem，withaglowingheart。ThefirsttimeI
　　stoodonthewoodedcrest，andfoundnochangefromyesterday，Icouldhardlybelievemyeyes，orthoughtatleastthatitmustbesomegreatmistakeonthepartofmylove。However，eventhatoppressedmewithaheavyheart，whichgrewheavier，asIfoundfromdaytodaynotoken。
　　ThreetimesIwentandwaitedlongatthebottomofthevalley，wherenowthestreamwasbrownandangrywiththerainsofautumn，andtheweepingtreeshungleafless。ButthoughIwaitedateveryhourofday，andfarintothenight，nolightfootstepcametomeetme，nosweetvoicewasintheair；allwaslonely，drear，anddrenchedwithsoddendesolation。Itseemedasifmylovewasdead，andthewindswereatherfuneral。
　　OnceIsoughtfarupthevalley，whereIhadneverbeenbefore，evenbeyondthecopsewhereLornahadfoundandlostherbraveyoungcousin。Followinguptheriverchannel，inshelteroftheeveningfog，Igainedacornerwithinstone’sthrowofthelastoutlyingcot。
　　Thiswasagloomy，low，squarehouse，withoutanylightinthewindows，roughlybuiltofwoodandstone，asI
　　sawwhenIdrewnearer。ForknowingittobeCarver’sdwellingoratleastsuspectingso，fromsomewordsofLorna’s，Iwasledbycuriosity，andperhapsbyjealousy，tohaveacloserlookatit。Therefore，Icreptupthestream，losinghalfmysenseoffear，byreasonofanxiety。
　　Andintruththerewasnotmuchtofear，theskybeingnowtoodarkforevenashooterofwildfowltomakegoodaim。
　　Andnothingelsebutgunscouldhurtme，asintheprideofmystrengthIthought，andinmyskillofsingle-stick。
　　Nevertheless，Iwentwarily，beingnowalmostamongthisnestofcockatrices。ThebackofCarver’shouseabuttedonthewavesoftherushingstream；andseeingaloop-hole，vacantformuskets，Ilookedin，butallwasquiet。SofarasIcouldjudgebylistening，therewasnoonenowinside，andmyheartforamomentleapedwithjoy，forIhadfearedtofindLornathere。ThenI
　　tookacarefulsurveyofthedwelling，anditswindows，anditsdoor，andaspect，asifIhadbeenarobbermeaningtomakeprivyentrance。ItwaswellformethatIdidthis，asyouwillfindhereafter。
　　Havingimpresseduponmymindaslowbut，perhapsretentivemind，allthebearingsoftheplace，andallitsopportunities，andeventhecurveofthestreamalongit，andthebushesnearthedoor，Iwasmuchinclinedtogofartherup，andunderstandallthevillage。Butabarofredlightacrosstheriver，somefortyyardsonaboveme，andcrossingfromtheoppositesidelikeachain，preventedme。Inthatsecondhousetherewasagatheringofloudandmerryoutlaws，makingasmuchnoiseasiftheyhadthelawupontheirside。
　　Some，indeed，asIapproached，werelayingdownbothrightandwrong，aspurely，andwithashighasense，asiftheyknewthedifference。ColdandtroubledasI
　　was，Icouldhardlykeepfromlaughing。
　　BeforeIbetookmyselfhomethatnight，andeaseddearmother’sheartsomuch，andmadeherpalefacespreadwithsmiles，IhadresolvedtopenetrateGlenDoonefromtheupperend，andlearnallaboutmyLorna。NotbutwhatImighthaveenteredfrommyunsuspectedchannel，assooftenIhaddone；butthatIsawfearfulneedforknowingsomethingmorethanthat。Herewaseverysortoftroublegatheringuponme，herewasJeremySticklesstealinguponeveryoneinthedark；
　　herewasUncleReubenplottingSatanonlycouldtellwhat；herewasawhitenight-cappedmancomingbodilyfromthegrave；herewasmyownsisterAnniecommittedtoahighwayman，andmotherindistraction；mostofall——here，there，andwhere——wasmyLornastolen，dungeoned，perhapsoutraged。Itwasnotimeforshillyshally，forthebalanceofthisandthat，orforamanwithbloodandmuscletopathisnoseandponder。IfI
　　leftmyLornaso；ifIletthoseblack-soul’dvillainsworktheirpleasureonmylove；iftheheartthatclavetominecouldfindnovigourinit——thenletmaidensceasefrommen，andresttheirfaithintabby-cats。
　　RudelyrollingtheseideasinmyheavyheadandbrainI
　　resolvedtoletthemorrowputthemintoformandorder，butnotcontradictthem。Andthen，asmyconstitutionwilledbeinglikethatofEngland，I
　　slept，andtherewasnostoppingme。