hadledhimintoourkitchen，withanapologyateverystep，andgivenhimhotschnappsandwater，andacigarroofbraveTomFaggus：’younevercansaymuch，sir，inthewayofreasoninghowevergentlymeantandputbutwhatthesewomenwillflyout。Itiswisertoputawildbirdinacage，andexpecthimtositandlookatyou，andchirpwithoutafeatherrumpled，thanitistoexpectawomantoanswerreasonreasonably。’
　　Sayingthis，helookedathispuffofsmokeasifitcontainedmorereason。
　　’IamsureIdonotknow，sir，’Iansweredaccordingtoaphrasewhichhasalwaysbeenmyfavourite，onaccountofitsgeneraltruth：moreover，hewasnowourguest，andhadrighttobetreatedaccordingly：’Iam，asyousee，notacquaintedwiththewaysofwomen，exceptmymotherandsisters。’
　　’Exceptnoteventhem，myson，saidtheCounsellor，nowhavingfinishedhisglass，withoutmuchconsultationaboutit；’ifyouonceunderstandyourmotherandsisters——whyyouunderstandthelotofthem。’
　　Hemadeatwistinhiscloudofsmoke，anddashedhisfingerthroughit，sothatIcouldnotfollowhismeaning，andinmannerslikednottopresshim。
　　’Nowofthisbusiness，John，’hesaid，aftergettingtothebottomofthesecondglass，andhavingatrifleorsotoeat，andpraisingourchimney-corner；’takingyouonthewhole，youknow，youarewonderfullygoodpeople；andinsteadofgivingmeuptothesoldiers，asyoumighthavedone，youaredoingyourbesttomakemedrunk。’
　　’Notatall，sir，’Ianswered；’notatall，yourworship。Letmemixyouanotherglass。Werarelyhaveagreatgentlemanbythesideofourembersandoven。
　　Ionlybegyourpardon，sir，thatmysisterAnniewhoknowswheretofindallthegoodpansandthelard
　　couldnotwaituponyouthisevening；andIfeartheyhavedoneitwithdrippinginstead，andinapanwiththebottomburned。ButoldBettyquitelosesherheadsometimes，bydintofover-scolding。’
　　’Myson，’repliedtheCounsellor，standingacrossthefrontofthefire，toprovehisstrictsobriety：’I
　　meanttocomedownuponyouto-night；butyouhaveturnedthetablesuponme。Notthroughanyskillonyourpart，northroughanypaltryweaknessastoloveandallthatstuff，whichboysandgirlsspintopsat，orknockdolls’nosestogether，butthroughyoursimplewayoftakingme，asamantobebelieved；
　　combinedwiththecomfortofthisplace，andthechoicetobaccoandcordials。Ihavenotenjoyedaneveningsomuch，GodblessmeifIknowwhen!’
　　’Yourworship，’saidI，’makesmemoreproudthanI
　　wellknowwhattodowith。Ofallthethingsthatpleaseandleadusintohappysleepatnight，thefirstandchiefestistothinkthatwehavepleasedavisitor。’
　　’Then，John，thouhastdeservedgoodsleep；forIamnotpleasedeasily。Butalthoughourfamilyisnotsohighnowasithathbeen，Ihaveenoughofthegentlemanlefttobepleasedwhengoodpeopletryme。
　　Myfather，SirEnsor，wasbetterthanIinthisgreatelementofbirth，andmysonCarverisfarworse。
　　Aetasparentum，whatisit，myboy？Ihearthatyouhavebeenatagrammar-school。’
　　’SoIhave，yourworship，andataverygoodone；butI
　　onlygotfarenoughtomakemoretailthanheadofLatin。’
　　’Letthatpass，’saidtheCounsellor；’John，thouartallthewiser。’Andtheoldmanshookhishoarylocks，asifLatinhadbeenhisruin。Ilookedathimsadly，andwonderedwhetheritmighthavesoruinedme，butforGod’smercyinstoppingit。
　　ThatnightthereverendCounsellor，notbeinginsuchstateofmindasoughttogoalone，kindlytookourbestoldbedstead，carvedinpanels，wellenough，withthewomanofSamaria。Isethimup，bothstraightandheavy，sothatheneedbutclosebotheyes，andkeephismouthjustopen；andinthemorninghewasthankfulforallthathecouldremember。
　　I，formypart，scarcelyknewwhetherhereallyhadbeguntofeelgoodwilltowardsus，andtoseethatnothingelsecouldbeofanyusetohim；orwhetherhewasmerelyacting，soastodeceiveus。Andithadstruckme，severaltimes，thathehadmadeagreatdealmoreofthespirithehadtakenthanthequantitywouldwarrant，withamansowiseandsolid。NeitherdidI
　　quiteunderstandalittlestorywhichLornatoldme，howthatinthenightawaking，shehadheard，orseemedtohear，asoundoffeelinginherroom；asiftherehadbeensomeonegropingcarefullyamongthethingswithinherdrawersorwardrobe-closet。Butthenoisehadceasedatonce，shesaid，whenshesatupinbedandlistened；andknowinghowmanymicewehad，shetookcourageandfellasleepagain。
　　Afterbreakfast，theCounsellorwholookednowhittheworseforschnapps，butevenmoregraveandvenerable
　　followedourAnnieintothedairy，toseehowwemanagedtheclottedcream，ofwhichhehadeatenabasinful。Andthereupontheytalkedalittle；andAnniethoughthimafineoldgentleman，andaveryjustone；forhehadnoblycondemnedthepeoplewhospokeagainstTomFaggus。
　　’Yourhonourmustplainlyunderstand，’saidAnnie，beingnowalonewithhim，andspreadingoutherlightquickhandsoverthepans，likebutterflies，’thattheyarebroughtinheretocool，afterbeingsetinthebasin-holes，withthewood-ashunderthem，whichI
　　showedyouintheback-kitchen。Andtheymusthaveverylittleheat，notenoughtosimmereven；onlyjusttomakethebubblesrise，andthescumuponthetopsetthick；andafterthat，itclotsasfirm——oh，asfirmasmytwohandsbe。’
　　’Haveyoueverheard，’askedtheCounsellor，whoenjoyedthistalkwithAnnie，’thatifyoupassacrossthetop，withoutbreakingthesurface，astringofbeads，orpolishedglass，oranythingofthatkind，thecreamwillsetthreetimesassolid，andinthricethequantity？’
　　’No，sir；Ihaveneverheardthat，’saidAnnie，staringwithallhersimpleeyes；’whatathingitistoreadbooks，andgrowlearned!Butitisveryeasytotryit：
　　Iwillgetmycoralnecklace；itwillnotbewitchcraft，willit，sir？’
　　’Certainlynot，’theoldmanreplied；’Iwillmaketheexperimentmyself；andyoumaytrustmenottobehurt，mydear。Butcoralwillnotdo，mychild，neitherwillanythingcoloured。Thebeadsmustbeofplaincommonglass；butthebrightertheyarethebetter。’
　　’ThenIknowtheverything，’criedAnnie；’asbrightasbrightcanbe，andwithoutanycolourinit，exceptinthesunorcandlelight。DearestLornahastheverything，anecklaceofsomeoldglass-beads，orIthinktheycalledthemjewels：shewillbetoogladtolendittous。Iwillgoforit，inamoment。’
　　’Mydear，itcannotbehalfsobrightasyourownprettyeyes。Butrememberonething，Annie，youmustnotsaywhatitisfor；oreventhatIamgoingtouseit，oranythingatallaboutit；elsethecharmwillbebroken。Bringithere，withoutaword；ifyouknowwhereshekeepsit。’
　　’TobesureIdo，’sheanswered；’Johnusedtokeepitforher。Butshetookitawayfromhimlastweek，andsheworeitwhen——Imeanwhensomebodywashere；andhesaiditwasveryvaluable，andspokewithgreatlearningaboutit，andcalleditbysomeparticularname，whichIforgetatthismoment。Butvaluableornot，wecannothurtit，canwe，sir，bypassingitoverthecream-pan？’
　　’Hurtit!’criedtheCounsellor：’nay，weshalldoitgood，mydear。Itwillhelptoraisethecream：andyoumaytakemywordforit，youngmaiden，nonecandogoodinthisworld，withoutinturnreceivingit。’
　　Pronouncingthisgreatsentiment，helookedsograndandbenevolent，thatAnnieasshesaidafterwards
　　couldscarceforbearfromkissinghim，yetfearedtotaketheliberty。Therefore，sheonlyranawaytofetchmyLorna’snecklace。
　　Nowasluckwouldhaveit——whethergoodluckorotherwise，youmustnotjudgetoohastily，——mydarlinghadtakenitintoherhead，onlyadayortwobefore，thatIwasfartoovaluabletobetrustedwithhernecklace。Nowthatshehadsomeideaofitspriceandquality，shehadbeguntofearthatsomeone，perhapsevenSquireFaggusinwhomherfaithwasilliberal，mightformdesignsagainstmyhealth，towinthebaublefromme。So，withmanyprettycoaxings，shehadledmetogiveitup；which，exceptforherownsake，Iwasgladenoughtodo，mislikingachargeofsuchimportance。
　　ThereforeAnniefounditsparklinginthelittlesecrethole，neartheheadofLorna’sbed，whichsheherselfhadrecommendedforitssafercustody；andwithoutawordtoanyoneshebroughtitdown，anddanceditintheairbeforetheCounsellor，forhimtoadmireitslustre。
　　’Oh，thatoldthing!’saidthegentleman，inatoneofsomecontempt；’Irememberthatoldthingwellenough。
　　However，forwantofabetter，nodoubtitwillanswerourpurpose。Threetimesthree，Ipassitover。
　　Crinkleum，crankum，grassandclover!Whatareyoufearedof，yousillychild？’
　　’Goodsir，itisperfectwitchcraft!Iamsureofthat，becauseitrhymes。Oh，whatwouldmothersaytome？
　　ShallIevergotoheavenagain？Oh，Iseethecreamalready!’
　　’Tobesureyoudo；butyoumustnotlook，orthewholecharmwillbebroken，andthedevilwillflyawaywiththepan，anddrowneverycowyouhavegotinit。’
　　’Oh，sir，itistoohorrible。Howcouldyouleadmetosuchasin？Awaywiththee，witchofEndor!’
　　Forthedoorbegantocreak，andabroomappearedsuddenlyintheopening，withourBetty，nodoubt，behindit。ButAnnie，inthegreatestterror，slammedthedoor，andboltedit，andthenturnedagaintotheCounsellor；yetlookingathisface，hadnotthecouragetoreproachhim。Forhiseyesrolledliketwoblazingbarrels，andhiswhiteshaggedbrowswereknitacrossthem，andhisforeheadscowledinblackfurrows，sothatAnniesaidthatifsheeversawthedevil，shesawhimthen，andnomistake。Whethertheoldmanwishedtoscareher，orwhetherhewastryingnottolaugh，ismorethanIcantellyou。
　　’Now，’hesaid，inadeepsternwhisper；’notawordofthistoalivingsoul；neithermustyou，noranyotherenterthisplaceforthreehoursatleast。Bythattimethecharmwillhavedoneitswork：thepanwillbecreamtothebottom；andyouwillblessmeforasecretwhichwillmakeyourfortune。Putthebaubleunderthispannikin；whichnonemustliftforadayandanight。Havenofear，mysimplewench；notabreathofharmshallcometoyou，ifyouobeymyorders’
　　’Oh，thatIwill，sir，thatIwill：ifyouwillonlytellmewhattodo。’
　　’Gotoyourroom，withoutsomuchasasinglewordtoanyone。Boltyourselfin，andforthreehoursnow，readtheLord’sPrayerbackwards。’
　　PoorAnniewasonlytoogladtoescape，upontheseconditions；andtheCounsellorkissedherupontheforeheadandtoldhernottomakehereyesred，becausetheyweremuchtoosweetandpretty。Shedroppedthematthis，withasobandacurtsey，andranawaytoherbedroom；butasforreadingtheLord’sPrayerbackwards，thatwasmuchbeyondher；andshehadnotdonethreewordsquiteright，beforethethreehoursexpired。
　　MeanwhiletheCounsellorwasgone。Hebadeourmotheradieu，withsomuchdignityofbearing，andsuchwarmthofgratitude，andthehigh-bredcourtesyoftheoldschoolnowfastdisappearing，thatwhenhewasgone，dearmotherfellbackonthechairwhichhehadusedlastnight，asifitwouldteachherthegraces。Andformorethananhourshemadebelievenottoknowwhattherewasfordinner。
　　’Oh，thewickednessoftheworld!Oh，theliesthataretoldofpeople——orratherImeanthefalsehoods——becauseamanisbetterborn，andhasbettermanners!Why，Lorna，howisitthatyouneverspeakaboutyourcharminguncle？Didyounotice，Lizzie，howhissilverhairwaswavinguponhisvelvetcollar，andhowwhitehishandswere，andeverynaillikeanacorn；onlypinklikeshell-fish，oratleastlikeshells？Andthewayhebowed，anddroppedhiseyes，fromhispurerespectforme!Andthen，thathewouldnotevenspeak，onaccountofhisemotion；butpressedmyhandinsilence!Oh，Lizzie，youhavereadmebeautifulthingsaboutSirGallyhead，andtherest；
　　butnothingtoequalSirCounsellor。’
　　’Youhadbettermarryhim，madam，’saidI，cominginverysternly；thoughIknewIoughtnottosayit：’hecanrepayyouradoration。Hehasstolenahundredthousandpounds。’
　　’John，’criedmymother，’youaremad!’Andyetsheturnedaspaleasdeath；forwomenaresoquickatturning；andsheinkledwhatitwas。
　　’OfcourseIam，mother；madaboutthemarvelsofSirGalahad。HehasgoneoffwithmyLorna’snecklace。