HavingobtainedfromBenitaOdamaverycloseandfulldescriptionoftheplacewhereherpoormistresslay，andthemarkswherebytoknowit，IhastenedtoWatchettthefollowingmorning，beforethesunwasup，oranypeoplewereabout。Andso，withoutinterruption，Iwasinthechurchyardatsunrise。
　　Inthefarthestanddarkestnook，overgrownwithgrass，andoverhungbyaweeping-treealittlebankofearthbetokenedtheroundingoffofahaplesslife。Therewasnothingtotellofrank，orwealth，oflove，orevenpity；namelessasapeasantlaythelastassupposedofamightyrace。Onlysomeunskilfulhand，probablyMasterOdam’sunderhiswife’steaching，hadcarvedarudeL。，andaruderD。，uponalargepebblefromthebeach，andsetitupasaheadstone。
　　IgatheredalittlegrassforLornaandasprigoftheweeping-tree，andthenreturnedtotheForestCat，asBenita’slonelyinnwascalled。ForthewayislongfromWatchetttoOare；andthoughyoumayrideitrapidly，astheDooneshaddoneonthatfatalnight，totravelonwheels，withonehorseonly，isamatteroftimeandofprudence。Therefore，wesetoutprettyearly，threeofusandababy，whocouldnotwellbeleftbehind。Thewifeofthemanwhoownedthecarthadundertakentomindthebusiness，andtheotherbabies，uponconditionofhavingthekeysofallthetapsleftwithher。
　　Asthemannerofjourneyingoverthemoorhasbeendescribedoftenoughalready，Iwillsaynomore，exceptthatweallarrivedbeforeduskofthesummer’sday，safeatPlover’sBarrows。MistressBenitawasdelightedwiththechangefromherdullhardlife；andshemademanyexcellentobservations，suchasseemnaturaltoaforeignerlookingatourcountry。
　　Asluckwouldhaveit，thefirstwhocametomeetusatthegatewasLorna，withnothingwhateveruponherheadtheweatherbeingsummerlybutherbeautifulhairshedroundher；andwearingasweetwhitefrocktuckedin，andshowingherfigureperfectly。Inherjoysheranstraightuptothecart；andthenstoppedandgazedatBenita。Atoneglanceheroldnurseknewher：’Oh，theeyes，theeyes!’shecried，andwasovertherailofthecartinamoment，inspiteofallhersubstance。
　　Lorna，ontheotherhand，lookedatherwithsomedoubtandwonder，asthoughhavingrighttoknowmuchabouther，andyetunabletodoso。ButwhentheforeignwomansaidsomethinginRomanlanguage，andflungnewhayfromthecartuponher，asifinarompofchildhood，theyoungmaidcried，’Oh，Nita，Nita!’andfelluponherbreast，andwept；andafterthatlookedroundatus。
　　Thisbeingso，therecouldbenodoubtastothepowerofprovingLadyLorna’sbirth，andrights，bothbyevidenceandtoken。Forthoughwehadnotthenecklacenow——thankstoAnnie’swisdom——wehadtheringofheavygold，averyancientrelic，withwhichmymaidinhersimplewayhadpledgedherselftome。AndBenitaknewthisringaswellassheknewherownfingers，havingheardalonghistoryaboutit；andtheeffigyonitofthewildcatwasthebearingofthehouseofLorne。
　　ForthoughLorna’sfatherwasanoblemanofhighandgoodlylineage，hermotherwasofyetmoreancientandrenowneddescent，beingthelastinlinedirectfromthegreatandkinglychiefsofLorne。Awildandheadstrongracetheywere，andmusthaveeverythingtheirownway。Hotbloodwaseveramongthem，evenofonehousehold；andtheirsovereigntywhichmorethanoncehaddefiedtheKingofScotlandwanedandfellamongthemselves，bycontinualquarrelling。Anditwasofapiecewiththis，thattheDooneswhowereanoffset，bythemother’sside，holdinginco-
　　partnershipsomelargeproperty，whichhadcomebythespindle，aswesayshouldfalloutwiththeEarlofLorne，thelastbutoneofthattitle。
　　ThedaughterofthisnoblemanhadmarriedSirEnsorDoone；butthis，insteadofhealingmatters，ledtofiercerconflict。Inevercouldquiteunderstandalltheinsandoutsofit；whichnonebutalawyermaygothrough，andkeephisheadattheendofit。Themotivesofmankindareplainerthanthemotionstheyproduce。Especiallywhencharitysuchasfoundamongussitstojudgetheformer，andisneverwearyofit；
　　whilereasondoesnotcaretotracethelattercomplications，exceptforfeeortitle。
　　Thereforeitisenoughtosay，thatknowingLornatobedirectinheirshiptovastproperty，andbearingespecialspiteagainstthehouseofwhichshewasthelast，theDooneshadbroughtherupwithfullintentionoflawfulmarriage；andhadcarefullysecludedherfromthewildestoftheiryounggallants。Ofcourse，iftheyhadbeennextinsuccession，thechildwouldhavegonedownthewaterfall，tosaveanyfurthertrouble；
　　buttherewasaninterceptingbranchofsomehonestfamily；andtheybeingoutlaws，wouldhaveapoorchancethoughthelawlovesoutlawsagainstthem。
　　OnlyLornawasofthestock；andLornatheymustmarry。
　　Andwhatatriumphagainsttheoldearl，foracursedDoonetosucceedhim!
　　Asfortheiroutlawry，greatrobberies，andgrandmurders，theveriestchild，nowadays，mustknowthatmoneyhealsthewholeofthat。Eveniftheyhadmurderedpeopleofagoodposition，itwouldonlycostabouttwiceasmuchtoprovetheirmotivesloyal。Buttheyhadneverslainanymanabovetherankofyeoman；
　　andfolkevensaidthatmyfatherwasthehighestoftheirvictims；forthedeathofLorna’smotherandbrotherwasneversettotheiraccount。
　　Purepleasureitistoanyman，toreflectuponallthesethings。Howtrulywediscernclearjustice，andhowwellwedealit。Ifanypoormanstealsasheep，havingtenchildrenstarving，andregardingitasmountaingameasarichmandoesahare，tothegallowswithhim。Ifamanofrankbeatsdownadoor，smitestheowneruponthehead，andhonoursthewifewithattention，itisathingtobegratefulfor，andtoslouchsmittenheadthelower。
　　Whilewewerefullofallthesethings，andwonderingwhatwouldhappennext，orwhatweoughtourselvestodo，anotherveryimportantmattercalledforourattention。ThiswasnolessthanAnnie’smarriagetotheSquireFaggus。Wehadtriedtoputitoffagain；
　　forinspiteofalladvantages，neithermymothernormyselfhadanyrealheartforit。NotthatwedwelleduponTom’sshort-comingsorratherperhapshisgoingtoofar，atthetimewhenheworkedtheroadso。AllthatwascoveredbytheKing’spardon，anduniversalrespectoftheneighbourhood。Butourscruplewasthis——andthemorewetalkedthemoreitgrewuponus——
　　thatwebothhadgreatmisgivingsastohisfuturesteadiness。
　　Foritwouldbeathousandpities，wesaid，forafine，well-grown，andprettymaidensuchasourAnniewas，usefultoo，insomanyways，andlively，andwarm-hearted，andmistressof500pounds，tothrowherselfawayonamanwithakindofaturnfordrinking。Ifthatlastwereevenhinted，Anniewouldbemostindignant，andask，withcheeksasredasroses，whohadeverseenMasterFaggusanytheworseforliquorindeed？Herownopinionwas，intruth，thatbetookagreatdealtoolittle，afterallhishardwork，andhardriding，andcomingoverthehillstobeinsulted!Andifeveritlayinherpower，andwithnoonetogrudgehimhistrumperyglass，shewouldseethatpoorTomhadthenourishmentwhichhiscoughandhislungsrequired。
　　Hislungsbeingquiteassoundasmine，thismatterwasoutofallargument；somotherandIlookedatoneanother，asmuchastosay，’lethergoupstairs，shewillcryandcomedownmorereasonable。’Andwhileshewasgone，weusedtosaythesamethingoverandoveragain；butwithoutperceivingacureforit。Andwealmostalwaysfinishedupwiththefollowingreflection，whichsometimescamefrommother’slips，andsometimesfrommyown：’Well，well，thereisnotelling。Nonecansayhowamanmayalter；whenhetakestomatrimony。ButifwecouldonlymakeAnniepromisetobealittlefirmwithhim!’
　　Ifearthatallthistalkonourpartonlyhurriedmattersforward，Anniebeingmoredeterminedeverytimewepitiedher。AndatlastTomFagguscame，andspokeasifhewereontheKing’sroad，withapistolatmyhead，andoneatmother’s。’Nomorefastandloose，’
　　hecried。’eitheronethingortheother。Ilovethemaid，andshelovesme；andwewillhaveoneanother，eitherwithyourleave，orwithoutit。HowmanymoretimesamItodanceoverthesevilehills，andleavemybusiness，andgetnothingmorethanasighorakiss，and“Tom，Imustwaitformother“？Youarefamousforbeingstraightforward，youRidds。JusttreatmeasI
　　wouldtreatyounow。’
　　Ilookedatmymother；foraglancefromherwouldhavesentTomoutofthewindow；butshecheckedmewithherhand，andsaid，’Youhavesomegroundofcomplaint，sir；Iwillnotdenyit。NowIwillbeasstraight-forwardwithyou，asevenaRiddissupposedtobe。MysonandmyselfhaveallalongdislikedyourmarriagewithAnnie。Notforwhatyouhavebeensomuch，asforwhatwefearyouwillbe。Havepatience，onemoment，ifyouplease。Wedonotfearyourtakingtothehighwaylifeagain；forthatyouaretooclever，nodoubt，nowthatyouhaveproperty。Butwefearthatyouwilltaketodrinking，andtosquanderingmoney。
　　Therearemanyexamplesofthisaroundus；andweknowwhatthefateofthewifeis。Ithasbeenhardtotellyouthis，underourownroof，andwithourown——’Heremotherhesitated。
　　’Spirits，andcider，andbeer，’Ibrokein；’outwithit，likeaRidd，mother；ashewillhaveallofit。’
　　’Spirits，andcider，andbeer，’saidmotherveryfirmlyafterme；andthenshegavewayandsaid，’Youknow，Tom，youarewelcometoeverydropandmoreofit。’
　　NowTommusthavehadafarsweetertemperthaneverI
　　couldclaim；forIshouldhavethrustmyglassaway，andneverhavetakenanotherdropinthehousewheresuchacheckhadmetme。Butinsteadofthat，MasterFaggusreplied，withapleasantsmile，——
　　’IknowthatIamwelcome，goodmother；andtoproveit，Iwillhavesomemore。’
　　Andthereuponbemixedhimselfanotherglassofhollandswithlemonandhotwater，yetpouringitverydelicately。
　　’Oh，Ihavebeensomiserable——takealittlemore，Tom，’saidmother，handingthebottle。
　　’Yes，takealittlemore，’Isaid；’youhavemixeditoverweak，Tom。’
　　’Ifevertherewasasoberman，’criedTom，complyingwithourrequest；’ifevertherewasinChristendomamanofperfectsobriety，thatmanisnowbeforeyou。
　　Shallwesayto-morrowweek，mother？Itwillsuityourwashingday。’
　　’Howverythoughtfulyouare，Tom!NowJohnwouldneverhavethoughtofthat，inspiteofallhissteadiness。’
　　’Certainlynot，’Iansweredproudly；’whenmytimecomesforLorna，IshallnotstudyBettyMuxworthy。’
　　InthiswaytheSquiregotoverus；andFarmerNicholasSnowewassentfor，tocounselwithmotheraboutthematterandtosethistwodaughterssewing。
　　Whenthetimefortheweddingcame，therewassuchastirandcommotionashadneverbeenknownintheparishofOaresincemyfather’smarriage。ForAnnie’sbeautyandkindlinesshadmadehertheprideoftheneighbourhood；andthepresentssenther，fromallaround，wereenoughtostockashopwith。MasterStickles，whonowcouldwalk，andwhocertainlyowedhisrecovery，withtheblessingofGod，toAnnie，presentedherwithamightyBible，silver-clasped，andveryhandsome，beatingtheparson’soutandout，andforwhichhehadsenttoTaunton。Eventhecommontroopers，havingtastedhercookerymanytimestohelpouttheirpoorrations，clubbedtogether，andmusthavegivenatleastaweek’spayapiece，tohaveturnedoutwhattheydidforher。Thiswasnolessthanasilverpot，well-designed，butsuitedsurelyrathertothebridegroom’stastethanbride’s。Inaword，everybodygaveherthings。
　　AndnowmyLornacametome，withaspringoftearsinappealingeyes——forshewasstillsomewhatchildish，orrather，Ishouldsay，morechildishnowthanwhenshelivedinmisery——andsheplacedherlittlehandinmine，andshewashalfafraidtospeak，anddroppedhereyesformetoask。
　　’Whatisit，littledarling？’Iasked，asIsawherbreathcomefast；forthesmallestemotionmovedherform。
　　’Youdon’tthink，John，youdon’tthink，dear，thatyoucouldlendmeanymoney？’
　　’AllIhavegot，’Ianswered；’howmuchdoyouwant，dearheart？’
　　’Ihavebeencalculating；andIfearthatIcannotdoanygoodwithlessthantenpounds，John。’
　　Hereshelookedupatme，withhorroratthegrandeurofthesum，andnotknowingwhatIcouldthinkofit。
　　ButIkeptmyeyesfromher。’Tenpounds!’Isaidinmydeepestvoice，onpurposetohaveitoutincomfort，whensheshouldbefrightened；’whatcanyouwantwithtenpounds，child？’
　　’Thatismyconcern，saidLorna，pluckingupherspiritatthis：’whenaladyasksforaloan，nogentlemanpriesintothecauseofheraskingit。’
　　’Thatmaybeasmaybe，’Iansweredinajudicialmanner；’tenpounds，ortwenty，youshallhave。ButI
　　mustknowthepurport。’
　　’Thenthatyounevershallknow，John。Iamverysorryforaskingyou。Itisnotofthesmallestconsequence。
　　Oh，dear，no。’Herewithshewasrunningaway。