Neitherwasthistheworstofit；forJeremymadenodoubtbutwhatifhecouldonlygetthemilitiatoturnoutinforcehemightmanage，withthehelpofhisownmen，toforcethestrongholdoftheenemy；butthetruthwasthattheofficers，knowinghowharditwouldbetocollecttheirmenatthattimeoftheyear，andinthatstateoftheweather，beganwithoneaccordtomakeeverypossibleexcuse。Andespeciallytheypressedthispoint，thatBagworthywasnotintheircounty；theDevonshirepeopleaffirmingvehementlythatitlayintheshireofSomerset，andtheSomersetshirefolkaverring，evenwithimprecations，thatitlayinDevonshire。NowIbelievethetruthtobethattheboundaryofthetwocounties，aswellasofOareandBrendonparishes，isdefinedbytheBagworthyriver；sothatthedisputantsonbothsideswerebothrightandwrong。
　　Uponthis，MasterSticklessuggested，andasIthoughtverysensibly，thatthetwocountiesshouldunite，andequallycontributetotheextirpationofthispest，whichshamedandinjuredthembothalike。Buthencearoseanotherdifficulty；forthemenofDevonsaidtheywouldmarchwhenSomersethadtakenthefield；andthesonsofSomersetrepliedthatindeedtheywerequiteready，butwhatweretheircousinsofDevonshiredoing？AndsoitcametopassthattheKing’sCommissionerreturnedwithoutanyarmywhatever；butwithpromiseoftwohundredmenwhentheroadsshouldbemorepassable。Andmeanwhile，whatwerewetodo，abandonedasweweretothemerciesoftheDoones，withonlyourownhandstohelpus？AndhereinIgrievedatmyownfolly，inhavingletTomFaggusgo，whosewitandcouragewouldhavebeenworthatleasthalfadozenmentous。UponthismatterIheldlongcouncilwithmygoodfriendStickles；tellinghimallaboutLorna’spresence，andwhatIknewofherhistory。Heagreedwithmethatwecouldnothopetoescapeanattackfromtheoutlaws，andthemoreespeciallynowthattheyknewhimselftobereturnedtous。Alsohepraisedmeformyforethoughtinhavingthreshedoutallourcorn，andhiddentheproduceinsuchamannerthattheywerenotlikelytofindit。Furthermore，herecommendedthatalltheentrancestothehouseshouldatoncebestrengthened，andawatchmustbemaintainedatnight；
　　andhethoughtitwiserthatIshouldgolateasitwastoLynmouth，ifahorsecouldpassthevalley，andfetcheveryoneofhismountedtroopers，whomightnowbequarteredthere。Alsoifanymenofcourage，thoughcapableonlyofhandlingapitchfork，couldbefoundintheneighbourhood，Iwastotrytosummonthem。Butourdistrictissothinlypeopled，thatIhadlittlefaithinthis；howevermyerrandwasgivenme，andI
　　setforthuponit；forJohnFrywasafraidofthewaters。
　　Knowinghowfiercelythefloodswereout，Iresolvedtotravelthehigherroad，byCosgateandthroughCountisbury；thereforeIswammyhorsethroughtheLynn，atthefordbelowourhousewheresometimesyoumaystepacross，andthencegallopedupandalongthehills。Icouldseealltheinlandvalleysribbon’dwithbroadwaters；andineverywindingcrook，thebanksofsnowthatfedthem；whileonmyrighttheturbidseawasflakedwithAprilshowers。ButwhenI
　　descendedthehilltowardsLynmouth，Ifearedthatmyjourneywasallinvain。
　　FortheEastLynnwhichisourriverwasrampingandroaringfrightfully，lashingwholetrunksoftreesontherocks，andrendingthem，andgrindingthem。Andintoitrushed，fromtheoppositeside，atorrentevenmadder；upsettingwhatitcametoaid；shatteringwavewithboilingbillow，andscatteringwrathwithfury。
　　Itwascertaindeathtoattemptthepassage：andthelittlewoodenfootbridgehadbeencarriedawaylongago。AndthemenIwasseekingmustbe，ofcourse，ontheothersideofthisdeluge，foronmysidetherewasnotasinglehouse。
　　Ifollowedthebankofthefloodtothebeach，sometwoorthreehundredyardsbelow；andtherehadthelucktoseeWillWatcombeontheoppositeside，caulkinganoldboat。ThoughIcouldnotmakehimhearaword，fromthedeafeningroarofthetorrent，IgothimtounderstandatlastthatIwantedtocrossover。Uponthishefetchedanotherman，andthetwoofthemlaunchedaboat；andpaddlingwellouttosea，fetchedroundthemouthofthefranticriver。TheothermanprovedtobeStickles’schiefmate；andsohewentbackandfetchedhiscomrades，bringingtheirweapons，butleavingtheirhorsesbehind。Asithappenedtherewerebutfourofthem；however，tohaveeventhesewasahelp；andIstartedagainatfullspeedformyhome；
　　forthemenmustfollowafoot，andcrossourriverhighuponthemoorland。
　　Thistookthemalongwayround，andthetrackwasratherbadtofind，andtheskyalreadydarkening；sothatIarrivedatPlover’sBarrowsmorethantwohoursbeforethem。Buttheyhaddoneasagaciousthing，whichwaswellworththedelay；forbyhoistingtheirflaguponthehill，theyfetchedthetwowatchmenfromtheForeland，andaddedthemtotheirnumber。
　　ItwasluckythatIcamehomesosoon；forIfoundthehouseinagreatcommotion，andallthewomentrembling。WhenIaskedwhatthematterwas，Lorna，whoseemedthemostself-possessed，answeredthatitwasallherfault，forshealonehadfrightenedthem。
　　Andthisinthefollowingmanner。Shehadstolenouttothegardentowardsdusk，towatchsomefavouritehyacinthsjustpushingup，likeababy’steeth，andjustattractingthefatalnoticeofagreathouse-snailatnight-time。Lornaatlasthaddiscoveredtheglutton，andwasbearinghimoffintriumphtothetribunaloftheducks，whenshedescriedtwoglitteringeyesglaringathersteadfastly，fromtheelder-bushbeyondthestream。Theelderwassmoothingitswrinkledleaves，beingatleasttwomonthsbehindtime；
　　andamongthemthiscalmcruelfaceappeared；andsheknewitwasthefaceofCarverDoone。
　　Themaiden，althoughsousedtoterrorasshetoldmeoncebefore，lostallpresenceofmindhereat，andcouldneithershrieknorfly，butonlygaze，asifbewitched。ThenCarverDoone，withhisdeadlysmile，gloatinguponherhorror，liftedhislonggun，andpointedfullatLorna’sheart。Invainshestrovetoturnaway；frighthadstrickenherstiffasstone。
　　Withtheinbornloveoflife，shetriedtocoverthevitalpartwhereinthewingeddeathmustlodge——forsheknewCarver’scertainaim——butherhandshungnumbed，andheavy；innothingbuthereyeswaslife。
　　Withnosignofpityinhisface，noquiverofrelenting，butawell-pleasedgrinatallthecharmingpalsyofhisvictim，CarverDoonelowered，inchbyinch，themuzzleofhisgun。Whenitpointedtotheground，betweenherdelicatearchedinsteps，hepulledthetrigger，andthebulletflungthemouldalloverher。Itwasarefinementofbullying，forwhichI
　　sworetoGodthatnight，uponmyknees，insecret，thatIwouldsmitedownCarverDooneorelseheshouldsmitemedown。Basebeast!whatlargesthumanity，orwhatdreamsofdivinity，couldmakeamanputupwiththis？
　　Mydarlingtheloveliest，andmostharmless，intheworldofmaidens，fellawayonabankofgrass，andweptatherowncowardice；andtrembled，andwonderedwhereIwas；andwhatIwouldthinkofthis。GoodGod!
　　WhatcouldIthinkofit？Sheover-ratedmyslownature，toadmitthequestion。
　　Whilesheleanedthere，quiteunableyettosaveherself，Carvercametothebrinkoftheflood，whichalonewasbetweenthem；andthenhestrokedhisjet-blackbeard，andwaitedforLornatobegin。Verylikely，bethoughtthatshewouldthankhimforhiskindnesstoher。Butshewasnowrecoveringthepowerofhernimblelimbs；andreadytobeofflikehope，andwonderatherowncowardice。
　　’Ihavesparedyouthistime，’hesaid，inhisdeepcalmvoice，’onlybecauseitsuitsmyplans；andI
　　neveryieldtotemper。Butunlessyoucomebackto-morrow，pure，andwithallyoutookaway，andteachmetodestroythatfool，whohasdestroyedhimselfforyou，yourdeathishere，yourdeathishere，whereithaslongbeenwaiting。’
　　Althoughhisgunwasempty，hestruckthebreechofitwithhisfinger；andthenheturnedaway，notdeigningevenoncetolookbackagain；andLornasawhisgiantfigurestridingacrossthemeadow-land，asiftheRiddswerenobodies，andhetheproperowner。BothmotherandIweregreatlyhurtathearingofthisinsolence：
　　forwehadownedthatmeadow，fromthetimeofthegreatAlfred；andevenwhenthatgoodkinglayintheIsleofAthelney，hehadaRiddalongwithhim。
　　NowIspoketoLornagently，seeinghowmuchshehadbeentried；andIpraisedherforhercourage，innothavingrunaway，whenshewassounable；andmydarlingwaspleasedwiththis，andsmileduponmeforsayingit；thoughsheknewrightwellthat，inthismatter，myjudgmentwasnotimpartial。Butyoumaytakethisasageneralrule，thatawomanlikespraisefromthemanwhomsheloves，andcannotstopalwaystobalanceit。
　　Nowexpectingasharpattackthatnight——whenJeremySticklesthemoreexpected，afterthewordsofCarver，whichseemedtobemeanttomisleadus——wepreparedagreatquantityofknucklesofpork，andahaminfullcut，andafilletofhungmutton。Forwewouldalmostsurrenderratherthankeepourgarrisonhungry。Andallourmenwereexceedinglybrave；andcountedtheirroundsofthehouseinhalf-pints。
　　Beforethemaidenswenttobed，Lornamadearemarkwhichseemedtomeaverycleverone，andthenI
　　wonderedhowonearthithadneveroccurredtomebefore。ButfirstshehaddoneathingwhichIcouldnotintheleastapproveof：forshehadgoneuptomymother，andthrownherselfintoherarms，andbeggedtobeallowedtoreturntoGlenDoone。
　　’Mychild，areyouunhappyhere？’motheraskedher，verygently，forshehadbeguntoregardhernowasadaughterofherown。
　　’Oh，no!Toohappy，byfartoohappy，Mrs。Ridd。I
　　neverknewrestorpeacebefore，ormetwithrealkindness。ButIcannotbesoungrateful，Icannotbesowicked，astobringyouallintodeadlyperil，formysakealone。Letmego：youmustnotpaythisgreatpriceformyhappiness。’
　　’Dearchild，wearepayingnopriceatall，’repliedmymother，embracingher；’wearenotthreatenedforyoursakeonly。AskJohn，hewilltellyou。Heknowseverybitaboutpolitics，andthisisapoliticalmatter。’
　　Dearmotherwasratherproudinherheart，aswellasterriblyfrightened，attheimportancenowaccruingtoPlover’sBarrowsfarm；andsheoftendeclaredthatitwouldbeasfamousinhistoryastheRyeHouse，ortheMeal-tub，oreventhegreatblackbox，inwhichshewasafirmbeliever：andevenmyknowledgeofpoliticscouldnotmoveheruponthatmatter。’Suchthingshadhappenedbefore，’shewouldsay，shakingherheadwithitswisdom，’andwhymighttheynothappenagain？
　　Womenwouldbewomen，andmenwouldbemen，totheendofthechapter；andifshehadbeeninLucyWater’splace，shewouldkeepitquiet，asshehaddone’；andthenshewouldlookround，forfear，lesteitherofherdaughtershadheardher；’butnow，canyougivemeanyreason，whyitmaynothavebeenso？Youaresofearfullypositive，John：justasmenalwaysare。’
　　’No，’Iusedtosay；’Icangiveyounoreason，whyitmaynothavebeenso，mother。Butthequestionis，ifitwasso，ornot；ratherthanwhatitmighthavebeen。
　　And，Ithink，itisprettygoodproofagainstit，thatwhatninemenofeveryteninEnglandwouldonlytoogladlybelieve，iftrue，isneverthelesskeptdarkfromthem。’’Thereyouareagain，John，’motherwouldreply，’allaboutmen，andnotasinglewordaboutwomen。Ifyouhadanyargumentatall，youwouldownthatmarriageisaquestionuponwhichwomenarethebestjudges。’’Oh!’Iwouldgroaninmyspirit，andgo；
　　leavingmydearestmotherquitesure，thatnowatlastshemusthaveconvincedme。ButifmotherhadknownthatJeremyStickleswasworkingagainsttheblackbox，anditsissue，Idoubtwhetherhewouldhavefaredsowell，eventhoughhewasavisitor。However，sheknewthatsomethingwasdoingandsomethingofimportance；
　　andshetrustedinGodfortherestofit。Onlysheusedtetellme，veryseriously，ofanevening，’Theveryleasttheycangiveyou，dearJohn，isacoatofarms。Besureyoutakenothingless，dear；andthefarmcanwellsupportit。’
　　Butlo!IhaveleftLornaeversolong，anxioustoconsultmeuponpoliticalmatters。Shecametome，andhereyesaloneaskedahundredquestions，whichI
　　ratherhadanswereduponherlipsthantroubledherprettyearswiththem。ThereforeItoldhernothingatall，savethattheattackifanyshouldbewouldnotbemadeonheraccount；andthatifsheshouldhear，byanychance，atrifleofanoiseinthenight，shewastowraptheclothesaroundher，andshutherbeautifuleyesagain。Onnoaccount，whatevershedid，wasshetogotothewindow。Shelikedmyexpressionabouthereyes，andpromisedtodotheverybestshecouldandthenshecreptsoveryclose，thatIneedsmusthavehercloser；andwithherheadonmybreastsheasked，——
　　’Can’tyoukeepoutofthisfight，John？’
　　’Myownone，’Ianswered，gazingthroughthelongblacklashes，atthedepthsofradiantlove；’Ibelievetherewillbenothing：butwhatthereisImustseeout。’
　　’ShallItellyouwhatIthink，John？Itisonlyafancyofmine，andperhapsitisnotworthtelling。’
　　’Letushaveit，dear，byallmeans。Youknowsomuchabouttheirways。’
　　’WhatIbelieveisthis，John。Youknowhowhightheriversare，higherthanevertheywerebefore，andtwiceashigh，youhavetoldme。IbelievethatGlenDooneisflooded，andallthehousesunderwater。’
　　’Youlittlewitch，’Ianswered；’whatafoolImustbenottothinkofit!Ofcourseitis：itmustbe。ThetorrentfromalltheBagworthyforest，andallthevalleysaboveit，andthegreatdriftsintheglenitself，nevercouldhaveoutletdownmyfamouswaterslide。Thevalleymustbeunderwatertwentyfeetatleast。Well，ifevertherewasafool，Iamhe，fornothavingthoughtofit。’
　　’Irememberoncebefore，’saidLorna，reckoningonherfingers，’whentherewasheavyrain，allthroughtheautumnandwinter，fiveoritmaybesixyearsago，therivercamedownwithsucharushthatthewaterwastwofeetdeepinourrooms，andweallhadtocampbythecliff-edge。Butyouthinkthatthefloodsarehighernow，IbelieveIheardyousay，John。’
　　’Idon’tthinkaboutit，mytreasure，’Ianswered；’youmaytrustmeforunderstandingfloods，afterourworkatTiverton。AndIknowthatthedelugeinallourvalleysissuchthatnolivingmancanremember，neitherwilleverbeholdagain。Considerthreemonthsofsnow，snow，snow，andafortnightofrainonthetopofit，andalltobedrainedinafewdaysaway!Andgreatbarricadesoficestillintheriversblockingthemup，andpondingthem。Youmaytakemywordforit，MistressLorna，thatyourprettybowerissixfeetdeep。’。