’UntilIdoremember，love，thatyouwillsooncomebacktome，andbemyownforever。ThisiswhatI
　　alwaysthinkof，thisiswhatIhopefor。’
　　Althoughhereyesweresoglorious，andbeamingwitheternity，thisdistantsortofbeatitudewasnotmuchtomyliking。Iwantedtohavemyloveonearth；andmydearwifeinmyownhome；andchildreningoodtime，ifGodshouldpleasetosendusany。AndthenIwouldbetothem，exactlywhatmyfatherwastome。Andbesideallthis，Idoubtedmuchaboutbeingfitforheaven；wherenoploughsare，andnocattle，unlesssacrificedbullswentthither。
　　ThereforeIsaid，’Nowkissme，Lorna；anddon’ttalkanynonsense。’Andthedarlingcameanddidit；beingkindlyobedient，astheotherworldoftenmakesus。
　　’Yousweetlove，’Isaidatthis，beingslavetohersoftobedience；’doyousupposeIshouldbecontenttoleaveyouuntilElysium？’
　　’HowonearthcanItell，dearJohn，whatyouwillbecontentwith？’
　　’You，andonlyyou，’saidI；’thewholeofitliesinasyllable。Nowyouknowmyentirewant；andwantmustbemycomfort。’
　　’ButsurelyifIhavemoney，sir，andbirth，andrank，andallsortsofgrandeur，youwouldneverdaretothinkofme。’
　　Shedrewherselfupwithanairofpride，asshegravelypronouncedthesewords，andgavemeascornfulglance，ortried；andturnedawayasiftoentersomegrandcoachorpalace；whileIwassoamazedandgrievedinmyrawsimplicityespeciallyafterthewayinwhichshehadfirstreceivedmynews，solovingandwarm-hearted，thatIneversaidaword，butstaredandthought，’Howdoesshemeanit？’
　　Shesawthepainuponmyforehead，andthewonderinmyeyes，andleavingcoachandpalacetoo，backsheflewtomeinamoment，assimpleassimplestmilkmaid。
　　’Oh，youfearfulstupid，John，youinexpressiblystupid，John，’shecriedwithbotharmsroundmyneck，andherlipsuponmyforehead；’youhavecalledyourselfthick-headed，John，andIneverwouldbelieveit。ButnowIdowithallmyheart。WillyouneverknowwhatIam，love？’
　　’No，Lorna，thatInevershall。Icanunderstandmymotherwell，andoneatleastofmysisters，andboththeSnowegirlsveryeasily，butyouIneverunderstand；onlyloveyouallthemoreforit。’
　　’Thennevertrytounderstandme，iftheresultisthat，dearJohn。AndyetIamtheverysimplestofallfoolishsimplecreatures。Nay，Iamwrong；thereinI
　　yieldthepalmtoyou，mydear。TothinkthatIcanactso!NowondertheywantmeinLondon，asanornamentforthestage，John。’
　　Nowinafterdays，whenIheardofLornaastherichest，andnoblest，andloveliestladytobefoundinLondon，Ioftenrememberedthatlittlescene，andrecalledeverywordandgesture，wonderingwhatlayunderit。Evennow，whileitwasquiteimpossibleoncetodoubtthosecleardeepeyes，andthebrightlipstremblingso；neverthelessIfelthowmuchtheworldwouldhavetodowithit；andthatthebestandtruestpeoplecannotshakethemselvesquitefree。However，forthemoment，Iwasveryproudandshowedit。
　　Andhereindiffersfactfromfancy，thingsastheybefallusfromthingsaswewouldhavethem，humanendsfromhumanhopes；thatthefirstaremovedbyathousandandthelastontwowheelsonly，whichbeingnamedaredesireandfear。Hopeofcourseisnothingmorethandesirewithatelescope，magnifyingdistantmatters，overlookingnearones；openingoneeyeontheobjects，closingtheothertoallobjections。Andifhopebethefuturetenseofdesire，thefutureoffearisreligion——atleastwithtoomanyofus。
　　WhetherIamrightorwronginthesesmallmoralities，onethingissureenough，towit，thathopeisthefastesttraveller，atanyrate，inthetimeofyouth。
　　AndsoIhopedthatLornamightbeprovedofblamelessfamily，andhonourablerankandfortune；andyetnonethelessforthat，lovemeandbelongtome。SoIledherintothehouse，andshefellintomymother’sarms；
　　andIleftthemtohaveagoodcryofit，withAnniereadytohelpthem。
　　IfMasterSticklesshouldnotmendenoughtogainhisspeechalittle，anddeclaretousallheknew，IwastosetoutforWatchett，ridinguponhorseback，andtheretohireacartwithwheels，suchaswehadnotbegun，asyet，touseonExmoor。Forallourworkwentonbroadwood，withrunnersandwithearthboards；andmanyofusstilllookeduponwheelsthoughmentionedintheBibleastheinventionoftheevilone，andPharoah’sespecialproperty。
　　Now，insteadofgettingbetter，ColonelSticklesgrewworseandworse，inspiteofallourtendanceofhim，withsimplesandwithnourishment，andnopoisonousmedicine，suchasdoctorswouldhavegivenhim。Andthefaultofthislaynotwithus，butpurelywithhimselfandhisunquietconstitution。Forherousedhimselfuptoaperfectfever，whenthroughLizzie’sgiddinesshelearnedtheverythingwhichmotherandAnniewerehidingfromhim，withtheutmostcare；
　　namely，thatSergeantBloxhamhadtakenuponhimselftosenddirecttoLondonbytheChanceryofficers，afullreportofwhathadhappened，andoftheillnessofhischief，togetherwithanurgentprayerforafullbattalionofKing’stroops，andaplenarycommander。
　　ThisSergeantBloxham，beingseniorofthesurvivingsoldiers，andaveryworthymaninhisway，butatrifleover-zealous，hadsucceededtothecaptaincyuponhismaster’sdisablement。Then，withdesiretoservehiscountryandshowhiseducation，hesatupmostpartofthreenights，andwrotethisverywonderfulreportbytheaidofourstablelanthorn。Itwasaveryfinepieceofwork，asthreementowhomhereaditbutonlyoneatatimepronounced，beingundersealofsecrecy。Andallmighthavegonewellwithit，iftheauthorcouldonlyhaveheldhistongue，whenneartheearsofwomen。Butthiswasbeyondhissenseasitseems，althoughsogoodawriter。ForhavingheardthatourLizziewasafamousjudgeofliteratureasindeedshetoldalmosteveryone，hecouldnotcontainhimself，butmusthaveheropinionuponhiswork。
　　Lizziesatonalogofwood，andlistenedwithallherearsup，havingmadeprovisothatnooneelseshouldbetheretointerrupther。Andsheputinasyllablehereandthere，andmanyatimeshetookoutonefortheSergeantoverloadedhisgun，moreoftenthanunderchargedit；likealiberalmanofletters，andthenshedeclaredtheresultsogood，sochaste，andthestyletobesoelegant，andyetsofervent，thattheSergeantbrokehispipeinthree，andfellinlovewithheronthespot。Nowthishasledmeoutofmyway；asthingsarealwaysdoing，partlythroughtheirownperverseness，partlythroughmykinddesiretogivefairturntoallofthem，andtoallthepeoplewhodothem。Ifanyoneexpectsofmeastrictandwell-drilledstory，standing’atattention’allthetime，withhandsatthesideliketwowensonmytrunk，andeyesgoingneitherrightnorleft；Itrowthatmanhasbeendisappointedmanyapageago，andhasleftmetomyevilways；andifnot，Ilovehischarity。
　　Thereforeletmeseekhisgrace，andgetback，andjustbeginagain。
　　ThatgreatdespatchwassenttoLondonbytheChanceryofficers，whomwefittedupwithclothes，andforthreedaysfattenedthem；whichinstrictjusticetheyneededmuch，aswellasinpointofequity。Theywerekindenoughtobepleasedwithus，andacceptedmynewshirtsgenerously；andurgentastheirbusinesswas，anotherweekastheybothdeclaredcoulddonoharmtonobody，andmightsetthemupontheirlegsagain。
　　Andknowing，althoughtheywereLondonmen，thatfishdoliveinwater，thesetwofellowswentfishingallday，butneverlandedanything。However，theirholidaywascutshort；fortheSergeant，havingfinishednowhisnarrativeofproceedings，wasnotthemantoletithangfire，andbequenchedperhapsbyStickles。
　　Therefore，havingdonetheirbusiness，andservedbothcitations，thesetwogoodmenhadapannierofvictualsputupbydearAnnie，andborrowingtwoofourhorses，rodetoDunster，wheretheyleftthem，andhiredontowardsLondon。Wehadnottimetolikethemmuch，andsowedidnotmissthem，especiallyinourgreatanxietyaboutpoorMasterStickles。
　　Jeremylaybetweenlifeanddeath，foratleastafortnight。Ifthelinkofchainhadflownupwardsforhalfalinkofchainitwaswhichtookhiminthemouthso，evenoneinchupwards，thepoormancouldhaveneedednooneexceptParsonBowden；forthebottomofhisskull，whichholdsthebrainasintheegg-cup，musthavecleangonefromhim。Butstrikinghimhorizontally，andalittleupontheskew，themetalcameoutatthebackofhisneck，andthepowdernotbeingstrong，Isupposeitlodgedinhisleathercollar。
　　Nowtherustofthisironhunginthewound，oratleastwethoughtso；thoughsinceIhavetalkedwithamanofmedicine，Iamnotsosureofit。Andourchiefaimwastopurgethisrust；whenratherweshouldhavestoppedthehole，andlettheoxidedoitsworst，withaplugofnewfleshonbothsidesofit。
　　AtlastIprevaileduponhimbyargument，thathemustgetbetter，tosavehimselffrombeingignoblyandunjustlysuperseded；andhereuponIreviledSergeantBloxhammorefiercelythanJeremy’sselfcouldhavedone，andindeedtosuchapitchthatJeremyalmostforgavehim，andbecamemuchmilder。Andafterthathisfeverandtheinflammationofhiswound，diminishedveryrapidly。
　　However，notknowingwhatmighthappen，orevenhowsoonpoorLornamightbetakenfromourpower，and，fallingintolawyers’hands，havecausetowishherselfmostheartilybackamongtherobbers，IsetforthonedayforWatchett，takingadvantageofthevisitofsometroopersfromanoutpost，whowouldmakeourhousequitesafe。Irodealone，beingfullyprimed，andhavingnomisgivings。ForitwassaidthateventheDooneshadbeguntofearme，sinceIcasttheirculverinthroughthedoor，asaboverelated；andtheycouldnotbutbelieve，frommybeingstilluntouchedalthoughsolargeanobjectinthethickestoftheirfire，bothofgunandcannon，thatImustbearacharmedlife，proofagainstballandbullet。However，IknewthatCarverDoonewasnotalikelymantoholdanysuperstitiousopinions；andofhimIhadaninstinctivedread，althoughquitereadytofacehim。
　　Ridingalong，ImeditateduponLorna’shistory；howmanythingswerenowbeginningtounfoldthemselves，whichhadbeenobscureanddark!Forinstance，SirEnsorDoone’sconsent，ortosaytheleasthisindifference，tohermarriagewithayeoman；whichinamansoproudthoughdyinghadgreatlypuzzledbothofus。Butnow，ifshenotonlyprovedtobenograndchildoftheDoone，butevendescendedfromhisenemy，itwasnaturalenoughthatheshouldfeelnogreatrepugnancetoherhumiliation。AndthatLorna’sfatherhadbeenafoetothehouseofDooneIgatheredfromhermother’scrywhenshebeheldtheirleader。
　　Moreoverthatfactwouldsupplytheirmotiveincarryingofftheunfortunatelittlecreature，andrearingheramongthem，andasoneoftheirownfamily；
　　yethidinghertruebirthfromher。Shewasa’greatcard，’aswesay，whenplayingAll-foursatChristmas-time；andifoneofthemcouldmarryher，beforeshelearnedofrightandwrong，vastproperty，enoughtobuypardonsforathousandDoones，wouldbeattheirmercy。AndsinceIwascometoknowLornabetter，andshetoknowmethoroughly——manythingshadbeenoutspoken，whichherearlybashfulnesshadkeptcoveredfromme。AttemptsImeantopledgeherlovetothisone，orthatother；someofwhichperhapsmighthavebeensuccessful，iftherehadnotbeentoomany。
　　Andthen，asherbeautygrewricherandbrighter，CarverDoonewassmittenstrongly，andwouldhearofnooneelseasasuitorforher；andbytheterrorofhisclaimdroveoffalltheothers。Heretoomaytheexplanationofathingwhichseemedtobeagainstthelawsofhumannature，anduponwhichIlonged，butdarednottocross-questionLorna。Howcouldsuchalovelygirl，althoughsoyoung，andbrave，anddistant，haveescapedthevileaffectionsofalawlesscompany？
　　Butnowitwasasclearasneedbe。Foranyprovenviolencewouldhaveutterlyvitiatedallclaimuponhergrandestate；atleastasthoseclaimsmustbeurgedbeforeacourtofequity。Andthereforealltheelderswithviewsuponherrealestatekeptstrictwatchontheyoungers，whoconfinedtheirviewstoherpersonality。
　　NowIdonotmeantosaythatallthis，orthehundredotherthingswhichcame，crowdingconsideration，werehalfasplaintomeatthetime，asIhavesetthemdownabove。Farbeitfrommetodeceiveyouso。Nodoubtmythoughtswerethendarkandhazy，likeanoil-lampfulloffungus；andIhavetrimmedthem，aswhentheyburned，withscissorssharpenedlongafterwards。AllImeantosayisthis，thatjoggingalongtoacertaintuneofthehorse’sfeet，whichwecall’three-halfpenceandtwopence，’Isawmywayalittleintosomethingswhichhadpuzzledme。
　　WhenIknockedatthelittledoor，whosesillwasgrittyandgrimedwithsand，noonecameforaverylongtimetoanswerme，ortoletmein。Notwishingtobeunmannerly，Iwaitedalongtime，andwatchedthesea，fromwhichthewindwasblowing；andwhosemanylipsofwaves——thoughthetidewashalf-wayout——spoketoandrefreshedme。AfterawhileIknockedagain，formyhorsewasbecominghungry；andagoodwhileafterthatagain，avoicecamethroughthekey-hole，——
　　’Whoisthatwishestoenter？’