OnedayatthebeginningofJuly，Icamehomefrommowingaboutnoon，oralittlelater，tofetchsomeciderforallofus，andtoeatamorselofbacon。Formowingwasnojokethatyear，thesummerbeingwonderfullywetevenforourwetcountry，andtheswathefallingheavieroverthescythethaneverIcouldrememberit。Weweredrenchedwithrainalmosteveryday；butthemowingmustbedonesomehow；andwemusttrusttoGodforthehaymaking。
　　InthecourtyardIsawalittlecart，withironbrakesunderneathit，suchasfastidiouspeopleusetodeadenthejoltingoftheroad；butfewmenunderalordorbaronetwouldbesoparticular。ThereforeIwonderedwhoournoblevisitorcouldbe。ButwhenIenteredthekitchen-place，brushingupmyhairforsomebody，beholditwasnoonegreaterthanourAnnie，withmygodsoninherarms，andlookingpaleandtear-begone。Andatfirstshecouldnotspeaktome。Butpresentlyhavingsatdownalittle，andreceivedmuchpraiseforherbaby，shesmiledandblushed，andfoundhertongueasifshehadnevergonefromus。
　　’Hownaturalitalllooksagain!Oh，Ilovethisoldkitchenso!Babydear，onlylookatitwidhimpitty，pittyeyes，andhimtongueoutofhismousy!Butwhoputtheflour-riddleupthere。Andlookatthepestleandmortar，andrustIdeclareinthepattypans!Andabook，positivelyadirtybook，wherethecleanskewersoughttohang!Oh，Lizzie，Lizzie，Lizzie!’
　　’Youmayjustaswellceaselamenting，’Isaid，’foryoucan’talterLizzie’snature，andyouwillonlymakemotheruncomfortable，andperhapshaveaquarrelwithLizzie，whoisproudasPunchofherhousekeeping。’
　　’She，’criedAnnie，withallthecontemptthatcouldbecompressedinasyllable。’Well，John，nodoubtyouarerightaboutit。Iwilltrynottonoticethings。
　　Butitisahardthing，afterallmycare，toseeeverythinggoingtoruin。ButwhatcanbeexpectedofagirlwhoknowsallthekingsofCarthage？’
　　’TherewerenokingsofCarthage，Annie。Theywerecalled，whyletmesee——theywerecalled——oh，somethingelse。’
　　’Nevermindwhattheywerecalled，’saidAnnie；’willtheycookourdinnerforus？Butnow，John，Iaminsuchtrouble。Allthistalkismake-believe。’
　　’Don’tyoucry，mydear：don’tcry，mydarlingsister，’
　　Ianswered，asshedroppedintothewornplaceofthesettle，andbentaboveherinfant，rockingasifboththeirheartswereone：’don’tyouknow，Annie，Icannottell，butIknow，oratleastImean，Ihaveheardthemenofexperiencesay，itissobadforthebaby。’
　　’PerhapsIknowthataswellasyoudo，John，’saidAnnie，lookingupatmewithagleamofheroldlaughing：’buthowcanIhelpcrying；Iaminsuchtrouble。’
　　’Tellmewhatitis，mydear。Anygriefofyourswillvexmegreatly；butIwilltrytobearit。’
　　’Then，John，itisjustthis。Tomhasgoneoffwiththerebels；andyoumust，oh，youmustgoafterhim。’
　　MovedasIwasbyAnnie’stears，andgentlestyleofcoaxing，andmostofallbymyloveforher，IyetdeclaredthatIcouldnotgo，andleaveourhouseandhomestead，farlessmydearmotherandLizzie，atthemercyofthemercilessDoones。
　　’Isthatallyourobjection，John？’askedAnnie，inherquickpantingway：’wouldyougobutforthat，John？’
　　’Now，’Isaid，’beinnosuchhurry’——forwhileIwasgraduallyyielding，Ilikedtopassitthroughmyfingers，asifmyfingersshapedit：’therearemanythingstobethoughtabout，andmanywaysofviewingit。’
　　’Oh，younevercanhavelovedLorna!Nowonderyougaveherupso!John，youcanlovenobody，butyouroat-ricks，andyourhay-ricks。’
　　’Sistermine，becauseIrantnot，neitherraveofwhatIfeel，canyoubesoshallowastodreamthatIfeelnothing？WhatisyourloveforTomFaggus？Whatisyourloveforyourbabyprettydarlingasheistocomparewithsuchaloveasforeverdwellswithme？
　　BecauseIdonotprateofit；becauseitisbeyondme，notonlytoexpress，butevenformtomyownheartinthoughts；becauseIdonotshapemyface，andwouldscorntoplaytoit，asathingofacting，andlayitoutbeforeyou，areyoufoolsenoughtothink——’buthereIstopped，havingsaidmorethanwasusualwithme。
　　’Iamverysorry，John。DearJohn，Iamsosorry。
　　WhatashallowfoolIam!’
　　’Iwillgoseekyourhusband，’Isaid，tochangethesubject，foreventoAnnieIwouldnotlayopenallmyheartaboutLorna：’butonlyuponconditionthatyouensurethishouseandpeoplefromtheDoonesmeanwhile。
　　EvenforthesakeofTom，Icannotleaveallhelpless。
　　Theoat-ricksandthehay-ricks，whicharemyonlylove，theyarewelcometomakecindersof。ButIwillnothavemothertreatedso；norevenlittleLizzie，althoughyouscornyoursisterso。’
　　’Oh，John，Idothinkyouarethehardest，aswellasthesoftestofallthemenIknow。Notevenawoman’sbitterwordbutwhatyoupayheroutfor。Willyouneverunderstandthatwearenotlikeyou，John？Wesayallsortsofspitefulthings，withoutabitofmeaning。John，forGod’ssakefetchTomhome；andthenrevilemeasyouplease，andIwillkneelandthankyou。’
　　’Iwillnotpromisetofetchhimhome，’Ianswered，beingashamedofmyselfforhavinglostcommandso：
　　’butIwillpromisetodomybest，ifwecanonlyhitonaplanforleavingmotherharmless。’
　　Anniethoughtforalittlewhile，tryingtogatherhersmoothclearbrowintomaternalwrinkles，andthenshelookedatherchild，andsaid，’Iwillriskit，fordaddy’ssake，darling；youprecioussoul，fordaddy’ssake。’Iaskedherwhatshewasgoingtorisk。Shewouldnottellme；buttookupperhand，andsawtomycider-cansandbacon，andwentfromcornertocupboard，exactlyasifshehadneverbeenmarried；onlywithoutanapronon。Andthenshesaid，’Nowtoyourmowers，John；andmakethemostofthisfineafternoon；kissyourgodsonbeforeyougo。’AndI，beingusedtoobeyher，inlittlethingsofthatsort，kissedthebaby，andtookmycans，andwentbacktomyscytheagain。
　　BythetimeIcamehomeitwasdarknight，andpouringagainwithafoggyrain，suchaswehaveinJuly，evenmorethaninJanuary。Beingsoakedallthrough，andthrough，andwithwaterquelchinginmyboots，likeapumpwithabadbucket，IwasonlytoogladtofindAnnie’sbrightface，andquickfigure，flittinginandoutthefirelight，insteadofLizziesittinggrandly，withafeastofliterature，andnotadropofgravy。
　　Motherwasinthecorneralso，withhercheery-colouredribbonsglisteningverynicebycandle-light，lookingatAnnienowandthen，withmemoriesofherbabyhood；
　　andthenatherhavingababy：yethalfafraidofpraisinghermuch，forfearofthatyoungLizzie。ButLizzieshowednojealousy：shetrulylovedourAnnienowthatshewasgonefromus，andshewantedtoknowallsortsofthings，andsheadoredthebaby。
　　ThereforeAnniewasallowedtoattendtome，assheusedtodo。
　　’Now，John，youmuststartthefirstthinginthemorning，’shesaid，whentheothershadlefttheroom，butsomehowshestucktothebaby，’tofetchmebackmyrebel，accordingtoyourpromise。’
　　’Notso，’Ireplied，mislikingthejob，’allIpromisedwastogo，ifthishousewereassuredagainstanyonslaughtoftheDoones。’
　　’Justso；andhereisthatassurance。’Withthesewordsshedrewforthapaper，andlaiditonmykneewithtriumph，enjoyingmyamazement。This，asyoumaysupposewasgreat；notonlyatthedocument，butalsoatherpossessionofit。Forintruthitwasnolessthanaformalundertaking，onthepartoftheDoones，nottoattackPlover’sBarrowsfarm，ormolestanyoftheinmates，orcarryoffanychattels，duringtheabsenceofJohnRidduponaspecialerrand。ThisdocumentwassignednotonlybytheCounsellor，butbymanyotherDoones：whetherCarver’snamewerethere，I
　　couldnotsayforcertain；asofcoursehewouldnotsignitunderhisnameof’Carver，’andIhadneverheardLornasaytowhatifanyhehadbeenbaptized。
　　Inthefaceofsuchadeedasthis，Icouldnolongerrefusetogo；andhavingreceivedmypromise，Annietoldmeaswasonlyfairhowshehadprocuredthatpaper。Itwasbothacleverandcourageousact；andwouldhaveseemedtome，atfirstsight，farbeyondAnnie’spower。Butnonemaygaugeawoman’spower，whenherloveandfaitharemoved。
　　ThefirstthingAnniehaddonewasthis：shemadeherselflookugly。Thiswasnotaneasything；butshehadlearnedagreatdealfromherhusband，uponthesubjectofdisguises。Ithurtherfeelingsnotalittletomakesosadafrightofherself；butwhatcoulditmatter？——ifshelostTom，shemustbeafargreaterfrightinearnest，thannowshewasinseeming。
　　Andthensheleftherchildasleep，underBettyMuxworthy’stendance——forBettytooktothatchild，asifthereneverhadbeenachildbefore——andawayshewentinherown’spring-cart’asthenameofthatengineprovedtobe，withoutawordtoanyone，excepttheoldmanwhohaddrivenherfromMollandparishthatmorning，andwhocoollytookoneofourbesthorses，without’byyourleave’toanyone。
　　AnniemadetheoldmandriveherwithineasyreachoftheDoone-gate，whosepositionsheknewwellenough，fromallourtalkaboutit。Andthereshebadetheoldmanstay，untilsheshouldreturntohim。Thenwithhercomelyfigurehiddenbyadirtyoldwoman’scloak，andherfairyoungfacedefacedbypatchesandbyliniments，sothatnonemightcovether，sheaddressedtheyoungmanatthegateinacrackedandtremblingvoice；andtheywerescarcelyciviltothe’oldhag，’
　　astheycalledher。ShesaidthatsheboreimportanttidingsforSirCounsellorhimself，andmustbeconductedtohim。Tohimaccordinglyshewasled，withoutevenanyhoodwinking，forshehadspectaclesoverhereyes，andmadebelievenottoseetenyards。
　　ShefoundSirCounsellorathome，andwhentherestwereoutofsight，threwoffalldisguisetohim，flashingforthasalovelyyoungwoman，fromallherwrapsanddisfigurements。Sheflungherpatchesonthefloor，amidtheoldman’slaughter，andlethertucked-uphaircomedown；andthenwentupandkissedhim。
　　’WorthyandreverendCounsellor，Ihaveafavourtoask，’shebegan。
　　’SoIshouldthinkfromyourproceedings，’——theoldmaninterrupted——’ah，ifIwerehalfmyage’——
　　’Ifyouwere，Iwouldnotsueso。ButmostexcellentCounsellor，youowemesomeamends，youknow，forthewayinwhichyourobbedme。’
　　’BeyondadoubtIdo，mydear。Youhaveputitratherstrongly；anditmightoffendsomepeople。
　　NeverthelessIownmydebt，havingsofairacreditor。’
　　’Anddoyourememberhowyouslept，andhowmuchwemadeofyou，andwouldhaveseenyouhome，sir；onlyyoudidnotwishit？’
　　’Andforexcellentreasons，child。Mybestescortwasinmycloak，afterwemadethecreamtorise。Ha，ha!
　　Theunholyspell。Myprettychild，hasitinjuredyou？’
　　’Yes，Ifearithas，saidAnnie；’orwhencecanallmyillluckcome？’Andheresheshowedsomesignsofcrying，knowingthatCounsellorhatedit。
　　’Youshallnothaveillluck，mydear。Ihaveheardallaboutyourmarriagetoaverynoblehighwayman。
　　Ah，youmadeamistakeinthat；youwereworthyofaDoone，mychild；yourfryingwasablessingmeantforthosewhocanappreciate。’
　　’Myhusbandcanappreciate，’sheansweredveryproudly；
　　’butwhatIwishtoknowisthis，willyoutrytohelpme？’
　　TheCounselloransweredthathewoulddoso，ifherneedsweremoderate；whereuponsheopenedhermeaningtohim，andtoldofallheranxieties。ConsideringthatLornawasgone，andhernecklaceinhispossession，andthatIagainstwhomaloneofustheDoonescouldbearanymalicewouldbeoutofthewayallthewhile，theoldmanreadilyundertookthatourhouseshouldnotbeassaulted，norourpropertymolested，untilmyreturn。Andtothepromptitudeofhispledge，twothingsperhapscontributed，namely，thatheknewnothowwewerestrippedofalldefenders，andthatsomeofhisownforceswereawayintherebelcamp。ForasIlearnedthereaftertheDoonesbeingnowindirectfeudwiththepresentGovernment，andsuretobecrushedifthatprevailed，hadresolvedtodropallreligiousquestions，andcastintheirlotwithMonmouth。Andtheturbulentyouths，beinglongrestrainedfromtheirwontedoutletforvehemence，bythetroopersintheneighbourhood，wereonlytoogladtorushforthuponanypromiseofblowsandexcitement。
　　However，Annieknewlittleofthis，buttooktheCounsellor’spledgeasamarkofespecialfavourinherbehalfwhichitmayhavebeentosomeextent，andthankedhimforitmostheartily，andfeltthathehadearnedthenecklace；whilehe，likeanancientgentleman，disclaimedallobligation，andsentherunderanescortsafetoherowncartagain。ButAnnie，repassingthesentinels，withheryouthrestoredandbloomingwiththeflushoftriumph，wentuptothemverygravely，andsaid，’Theoldhagwishesyougood-evening，gentlemen’；andsomadeherbestcurtsey。