Thesetwoveryworthyfellows——nay，morethanthatbytheirownaccount，beingdownrightmartyrs——werecome，forthepublicbenefit，fromtheCourtofChancery，sittingforeverybody’sgood，andboldlyredressingevil。ThiscourthasapowerofscentunknowntotheCommon-lawpractitioners，andslowlyyetsurelytracksitsgame；evenasthegreatlumberingdogs，nowintroducedfromSpain，andcalledbysomepeople’pointers，’differfromtheswiftgaze-hound，whoseeshispreyandrunshimdowninthemannerofthecommonlawyers。Ifaman’sillfateshoulddrivehimtomakeachoicebetweenthesetwo，lethimratherbechasedbythehoundsoflaw，thantrackedbythedogsofEquity。
　　Now，asitfellinaveryblackdayforallexceptthelawyersHisMajesty’sCourtofChancery，ifthatbewhatitcalleditself，gainedscentofpoorLorna’slife，andofallthatmightbemadeofit。Whetherthroughthatbraveyounglordwhoranintosuchperil，orthroughanyofhisfriends，orwhetherthroughthatdeepoldCounsellor，whosegamenonemightpenetrate；
　　orthroughanydisclosuresoftheItalianwoman，orevenofJeremyhimself；nonejustnowcouldtellus；
　　onlythistruthwastooclear——ChanceryhadheardofLorna，andthenhadseenhowrichshewas；andneverdelayinginonething，hadopenedmouth，andswallowedher。
　　TheDoones，withashareofthatdryhumourwhichwasinthemhereditary，hadwelcomedthetwoapparitorsifthatbethepropernameforthemandledthemkindlydownthevalley，andtoldthemthentoservetheirwrit。Mislikingthelookofthings，thesepoormenbegantofumbleamongtheirclothes；uponwhichtheDoonescried，’offwiththem!Letusseeifyourmessageheonyourskins。’Andwithnomoremannersthanthat，theystripped，andlashedthemoutofthevalley；onlybiddingthemcometous，iftheywantedLornaDoone；andtoustheycameaccordingly。Neitherweretheysureatfirstbutthatweshouldtreatthemso；fortheyhadnoknowledgeofthewestcountry，andthoughtitquiteagodlessplace，whereinnowritwasholy。
　　Wehowevercomfortedandcheeredthemsoconsiderably，that，ingratitude，theyshowedtheirwrits，towhichtheyhadstucklikeleeches。Andtheseweretwofold；
　　oneaddressedtoMistressLornaDoone，socalled，andbiddingherkeepinreadinesstotravelwhenevercalledupon，andcommitherselftonobody，excepttheaccreditedmessengersoftherighthonourableCourt；
　　whiletheotherwasaddressedtoallsubjectsofHisMajesty，havingcustodyofLornaDoone，oranypoweroverher。Andthislastthreatenedandexhorted，andheldouthopesofrecompense，ifshewererenderedtruly。MymotherandIheldconsultation，overboththesedocuments，withamixtureofsomewrathandfear，andaforkofgreatsorrowtostirthem。AndnowhavingJeremyStickles’sleave，whichhegavewithanodwhenItoldhimall，andatlastmadehimunderstandit，IlaidbaretomymotheraswellwhatI
　　knew，aswhatImerelysurmised，orguessed，concerningLorna’sparentage。Allthisshereceivedwithgreattears，andwonder，andferventthankstoGod，andstillmoreferventpraiseofherson，whohadnothingwhatevertodowithit。However，nowthequestionwas，howtoactaboutthesewrits。AndhereinitwasmostunluckythatwecouldnothaveMasterStickles，withhisknowledgeoftheworld，andespeciallyofthelaw-courts，toadviseuswhattodo，andtohelpindoingit。AndfirstlyofthefirstIsaid，’Wehaveroguestodealwith；buttrywenottoroguethem。’
　　Tothis，insomemeasure，dearmotheragreed，thoughshecouldnotseethejusticeofit，yetthoughtthatitmighthewiser，becauseofourwantofpractice。
　　AndthenIsaid，’NowweareboundtotellLorna，andtoservehercitationuponher，whichthesegoodfellowshavegivenus。’
　　’Thengo，anddoitthyself，myson，’motherrepliedwithamournfulsmile，misdoubtingwhattheendmightbe。SoItooktheslipofbrownparchment，andwenttoseekmydarling。
　　Lornawasinherfavouriteplace，thelittlegardenwhichshetendedwithsuchcareanddiligence。Seeinghowthemaidenlovedit，andwashappythere，Ihadlabouredhardtofenceitfromthedangersofthewood。
　　Andhereshehadcorrectedme，withbettertaste，andsenseofpleasure，andthejoysofmusing。ForImeanttoshutoutthebrook，andbuildmyfenceinsideofit；
　　butLornasaidno；ifwemusthaveafence，whichcouldnotbutbeinjury，atanyrateleavethestreaminside，andapleasantbankbeyondit。AndsoonIperceivedthatshewasright，thoughnotsomuchasafterwards；
　　forthefairestofallthingsinagarden，andinsummer-timemostuseful，isabrookofcrystalwater；
　　whereamanmaycomeandmeditate，andtheflowersmayleanandseethemselves，andtheraysofthesunarepurfied。Nowpartlywithherownwhitehands，andpartlywithGwenny’sredones，Lornahadmadeofthissunnyspotahavenofbeautytodwellin。Itwasnotonlythatcolourslayintheharmonywewouldseekofthem，neitherwasittheheightofplants，slopingtooneanother；noreventhedelicatetoneoffoliagefollowingsuit，andneighbouring。Eventhebreathingofthewind，softandgentleinandout，movingthingsthatneednotmove，andpassinglonger-stalkedones，eventhiswasnotenoughamongtheflushoffragrance，totellamanthereasonofhisquietsatisfaction。
　　Butsoitshallforeverbe。Astheriverwefloatuponwithwine，andflowers，andmusic，isnothingatthewell-springbutabubblewithoutreason。
　　Feelingmanythings，butthinkingwithoutmuchtoguideme，overthegrass-platslaidbetween，IwentuptoLorna。Sheinashowerofdamaskroses，raisedhereyesandlookedatme。Andevennow，inthosesweeteyes，sodeepwithloving-kindness，andsoftmaidendreamings，thereseemedtobeaslightunwilling，halfconfessedwithdrawal；overcomebyloveandduty，yetapainfulthingtosee。
　　’Darling，’Isaid，’areyourspiritsgood？Areyoustrongenoughto-day，tobearataleofcruelsorrow；
　　butwhichperhaps，whenyourtearsareshed，willleaveyouallthehappier？’
　　’Whatcanyoumean？’sheansweredtrembling，nothavingbeenveystrongoflate，andnowsurprisedatmymanner；’areyoucometogivemeup，John？’
　　’Notverylikely，’Ireplied；’neitherdoIhopesuchathingwouldleaveyouallthehappier。Oh，Lorna，ifyoucanthinkthatsoquicklyasyouseemtohavedone，nowyouhaveeveryprospectandstrongtemptationtoit。Youarefar，farabovemeintheworld，andIhavenorighttoclaimyou。Perhaps，whenyouhaveheardthesetidingsyouwillsay，“JohnRidd，begone；yourlifeandmineareparted。“’
　　’WillI？’criedLorna，withallthebrightnessofherplayfulwaysreturning：’youveryfoolishandjealousJohn，howshallIpunishyouforthis？AmItoforsakeeveryflowerIhave，andnotevenknowthattheworldgoesround，whileIlookupatyou，thewholedaylongandsay，“John，Ilove，love，loveyou？“’
　　Duringthesewordssheleaneduponme，halfingayimitationofwhatIhadsooftenmadeherdo，andhalfindepthofearnestness，asthethrice-repeatedwordgrewstronger，andgrewwarmer，withandtoherheart。
　　Andasshelookedupatthefinish，saying，’you，’somusically，Iwasmuchinclinedtoclaspherround；butrememberingwhoshewas，forbore；atwhichsheseemedsurprisedwithme。
　　’MistressLorna，Ireplied，withIknownotwhattemptation，makinglittleofhercaresses，thoughmorethanallmyhearttome：’MistressLorna，youmustkeepyourrankandproperdignity。Youmustneverlookatmewithanythingbutpitynow。’
　　’Ishalllookatyouwithpity，John，’saidLorna，tryingtolaughitoff，yetnotknowingwhattomakeofme，’ifyoutalkanymoreofthisnonsense，knowingmeasyououghttodo。Ishallevenbegintothinkthatyou，andyourfriends，arewearyofme，andofsolongsupportingme；andareonlyseekingcausetosendmebacktomyoldmisery。Ifitbeso，Iwillgo。Mylifematterslittletoanyone。’Herethegreatbrighttearsarose；butthemaidenwastooproudtosob。
　　’Sweetestofallsweetloves，’Icried，forthesignofateardefeatedme；’whatpossibilitycouldmakemeevergiveupLorna？’
　　’Dearestofalldears，’sheanswered；’ifyoudearlyloveme，whatpossibilitycouldevermakemegiveyouup，dear？’
　　Uponthattherewasnomoreforbearing，butIkissedandclaspedher，whethershewereCountess，orwhetherQueenofEngland；mineshewas，atleastinheart；andminesheshouldbewholly。Andshebeingofthesameopinion，nothingwassaidbetweenus。
　　’Now，Lorna，’saidI，asshehungonmyarm，willingtotrustmeanywhere，’cometoyourlittleplant-house，andhearmymovingstory。’
　　’Nostorycanmovememuch，dear，’sheansweredratherfaintly，foranyexcitementstayedwithher；’sinceI
　　knowyourstrengthofkindness，scarcelyanytalecanmoveme，unlessitbeofyourself，love；orofmypoormother。’
　　’Itisofyourpoormother，darling。Canyoubeartohearit？’AndyetIwonderedwhyshedidnotsayasmuchofherfather。
　　’Yes，Icanbearanything。ButalthoughIcannotseeher，andhavelongforgotten，Icouldnotbeartohearillofher。’
　　’Thereisnoilltohear，sweetchild，exceptofevildonetoher。Lorna，youareofanill-starredrace。’
　　’Betterthatthanawickedrace，’sheansweredwithherusualquickness，leapingatconclusion；’tellmeIamnotaDoone，andIwill——butIcannotloveyoumore。’
　　’YouarenotaDoone，myLorna，forthat，atleast，I
　　cananswer；thoughIknownotwhatyournameis。’
　　’Andmyfather——yourfather——whatImeanis——’
　　’Yourfatherandminenevermetoneanother。YourfatherwaskilledbyanaccidentinthePyreneanmountains，andyourmotherbytheDoones；oratleasttheycausedherdeath，andcarriedyouawayfromher。’
　　Allthis，comingasinonebreathuponthesensitivemaiden，wasmorethanshecouldbearallatonce；asanybutafoollikememustofcoursehaveknown。Shelaybackonthegardenbench，withherblackhairshedontheoakenbark，whilehercolourwentandcameandonlybythat，andherquiveringbreath，couldanyonesaythatshelivedandthought。Andyetshepressedmyhandwithhers，thatImighttellherallofit。
　　NoflowerthatIhaveeverseen，eitherinshiftingoflightandshade，orinthepearlymorning，mayviewithafairyoungwoman’sfacewhentenderthoughtandquickemotionvary，enrich，andbeautifyit。ThusmyLornahearkenedsoftly，almostwithoutwordorgesture，yetwithsighsandglancestelling，andthepressureofmyhand，howeachwordwasmovingher。
　　Whenatlastmytalewasdone，sheturnedaway，andweptbitterlyforthesadfateofherparents。Buttomysurpriseshespokenotevenawordofwrathorrancour。Sheseemedtotakeitallasfate。
　　’Lorna，darling，’Isaidatlength，formenaremoreimpatientintrialsoftimethanwomenare，’doyounotevenwishtoknowwhatyourpropernameis？’
　　’Howcanitmattertome，John？’sheanswered，withadepthofgriefwhichmademeseematrifler。’Itcannevermatternow，whentherearenonetoshareit。’
　　’Poorlittlesoul!’wasallIsaidinatoneofpurestpity；andtomysurprisesheturneduponme，caughtmeinherarms，andlovedmeasshehadneverdonebefore。
　　’Dearest，Ihaveyou，’shecried；’you，andonlyyou，love。HavingyouIwantnoother。Allmylifeisonewithyours。Oh，John，howcanItreatyouso？’
　　Blushingthroughthewetofweeping，andthegloomofpondering，yetshewouldnothidehereyes，butfoldedme，anddwelledonme。
　　’Icannotbelieve，’intheprideofmyjoy，Iwhisperedintoonelittleear，’thatyoucouldeversoloveme，beauty，astogiveuptheworldforme。’
　　’Wouldyougiveupyourfarmforme，John？’criedLorna，leapingbackandlooking，withherwondrouspoweroflightatme；’wouldyougiveupyourmother，yoursisters，yourhome，andallthatyouhaveintheworldandeveryhopeofyourlife，John？’
　　’OfcourseIwould。Withouttwothoughts。Youknowit；youknowit，Lorna。’
　　’ItistruethatIdo，’sheansweredinatoneofdeepestsadness；’anditisthispowerofyourlovewhichhasmademeloveyouso。Nogoodcancomeofit，nogood。God’sfaceissetagainstselfishness。’
　　AsshespokeinthatlowtoneIgazedattheclearlinesofherfacewhereeverycurvewasperfectnotwithloveandwonderonly，butwithastrangenewsenseofawe。
　　’Darling，’Isaid，’comenearertome。Givemesuretyagainstthat。ForGod’ssakeneverfrightenmewiththethoughtthatHewouldpartus。’
　　’Doesitthensofrightenyou？’shewhispered，comingclosetome；’Iknowit，dear；Ihaveknownitlong；
　　butitneverfrightensme。Itmakesmesad，andverylonely，tillIcanremember。’
　　’Tillyoucanrememberwhat？’Iasked，withalong，deepshudder；forwearesosuperstitious。