第10章

’LornaDoone，’sheanswered，inalowvoice，asifafraidofit，andhangingherheadsothatIcouldseeonlyherforeheadandeyelashes；’ifyouplease，mynameisLornaDoone；andIthoughtyoumusthaveknownit。’

ThenIstoodupandtouchedherhand，andtriedtomakeherlookatme；butsheonlyturnedawaythemore。

Youngandharmlessasshewas，hernamealonemadeguiltofher。NeverthelessIcouldnothelplookingathertenderly，andthemorewhenherblushesturnedintotears，andhertearstolong，lowsobs。

’Don’tcry，’Isaid，’whateveryoudo。Iamsureyouhaveneverdoneanyharm。IwillgiveyouallmyfishLorna，andcatchsomemoreformother；onlydon’tbeangrywithme。’

Sheflungherlittlesoftarmsupinthepassionofhertears，andlookedatmesopiteously，thatwhatdidI

dobutkissher。Itseemedtobeaveryoddthing，whenIcametothinkofit，becauseIhatedkissingso，asallhonestboysmustdo。Butshetouchedmyheartwithasuddendelight，likeacowslip-blossom(althoughtherewerenonetobeseenyet)，andthesweetestflowersofspring。

Shegavemenoencouragement，asmymotherinherplacewouldhavedone；nay，sheevenwipedherlips(whichmethoughtwasratherrudeofher)，anddrewaway，andsmoothedherdress，asifIhadusedafreedom。ThenI

feltmycheeksgrowburningred，andIgazedatmylegsandwassorry。Foralthoughshewasnotatallaproudchild(atanyrateinhercountenance)，yetIknewthatshewasbybirthathousandyearsinfrontofme。Theymighthavetakenandframedme，or(whichwouldbemoretothepurpose)mysisters，untilitwastimeforustodie，andthenhavetrainedourchildrenafterus，formanygenerations；yetnevercouldwehavegottenthatlookuponourfaceswhichLornaDoonehadnaturally，asifshehadbeenborntoit。

HerewasI，ayeoman’sboy，ayeomaneveryinchofme，evenwhereIwasnaked；andtherewasshe，aladyborn，andthoroughlyawareofit，anddressedbypeopleofrankandtaste，whotookprideinherbeautyandsetittoadvantage。Forthoughherhairwasfallendownbyreasonofherwildness，andsomeofherfrockwastouchedwithwetwhereshehadtendedmeso，beholdherdresswasprettyenoughforthequeenofalltheangels。Thecolourswerebrightandrichindeed，andthesubstanceverysumptuous，yetsimpleandfreefromtinselstuff，andmatchingmostharmoniously。Allfromherwaisttoherneckwaswhite，plaitedincloselikeacurtain，andthedarksoftweepingofherhair，andtheshadowylightofhereyes(likeawoodrayedthroughwithsunset)，madeitseemyetwhiter，asifitweredoneonpurpose。Asfortherest，sheknewwhatitwasagreatdealbetterthanIdid，forInevercouldlookfarawayfromhereyeswhentheywereopeneduponme。

Now，seeinghowIheededher，andfeelingthatIhadkissedher，althoughshewassuchalittlegirl，eightyearsoldorthereabouts，sheturnedtothestreaminabashfulmanner，andbegantowatchthewater，andrubbedonelegagainsttheother。

I，formypart，beingvexedatherbehaviourtome，tookupallmythingstogo，andmadeafussaboutit；

toletherknowIwasgoing。Butshedidnotcallmebackatall，asIhadmadesureshewoulddo；moreover，Iknewthattotrythedescentwasalmostcertaindeathtome，anditlookedasdarkaspitch；andsoatthemouthIturnedroundagain，andcamebacktoher，andsaid，’Lorna。’

’Oh，Ithoughtyouweregone，’sheanswered；’whydidyouevercomehere？Doyouknowwhattheywoulddotous，iftheyfoundyouherewithme？’

’Beatus，Idaresay，veryhard；orme，atleast。Theycouldneverbeatyou，’

’No。Theywouldkillusbothoutright，andburyusherebythewater；andthewateroftentellsmethatI

mustcometothat。’

’Butwhatshouldtheykillmefor？’

’Becauseyouhavefoundthewayuphere，andtheynevercouldbelieveit。Now，pleasetogo；oh，pleasetogo。

Theywillkillusbothinamoment。Yes，Ilikeyouverymuch’——forIwasteasinghertosayit——’verymuchindeed，andIwillcallyouJohnRidd，ifyoulike；

onlypleasetogo，John。Andwhenyourfeetarewell，youknow，youcancomeandtellmehowtheyare。’

’ButItellyou，Lorna，Ilikeyouverymuchindeed——nearlyasmuchasAnnie，andagreatdealmorethanLizzie。AndIneversawanyonelikeyou，andI

mustcomebackagainto-morrow，andsomustyou，toseeme；andIwillbringyousuchlotsofthings——thereareapplesstill，andathrushIcaughtwithonlyonelegbroken，andourdoghasjusthadpuppies——’

’Oh，dear，theywon’tletmehaveadog。Thereisnotadoginthevalley。Theysaytheyaresuchnoisythings——’

’Onlyputyourhandinmine——whatlittlethingstheyare，Lorna!AndIwillbringyoutheloveliestdog；I

willshowyoujusthowlongheis。’

’Hush!’Ashoutcamedownthevalley，andallmyheartwastrembling，likewateraftersunset，andLorna’sfacewasalteredfrompleasantplaytoterror。Sheshranktome，andlookedupatme，withsuchapowerofweakness，thatIatoncemadeupmymindtosaveherortodiewithher。Atinglewentthroughallmybones，andIonlylongedformycarbine。Thelittlegirltookcouragefromme，andputhercheekquiteclosetomine。

’Comewithmedownthewaterfall。Icancarryyoueasily；andmotherwilltakecareofyou。’

’No，no，’shecried，asItookherup：’Iwilltellyouwhattodo。Theyareonlylookingforme。Youseethathole，thatholethere？’

Shepointedtoalittlenicheintherockwhichvergedthemeadow，aboutfiftyyardsawayfromus。InthefadingofthetwilightIcouldjustdescryit。

’Yes，Iseeit；buttheywillseemecrossingthegrasstogetthere。’

’Look!look!’Shecouldhardlyspeak。’Thereisawayoutfromthetopofit；theywouldkillmeifItoldit。Oh，heretheycome，Icanseethem。’

Thelittlemaidturnedaswhiteasthesnowwhichhungontherocksaboveher，andshelookedatthewaterandthenatme，andshecried，’Ohdear!ohdear!’Andthenshebegantosobaloud，beingsoyoungandunready。

ButIdrewherbehindthewithy-bushes，andclosedowntothewater，whereitwasquietandshelvingdeep，ereitcametothelipofthechasm。Heretheycouldnotseeeitherofusfromtheuppervalley，andmighthavesoughtalongtimeforus，evenwhentheycamequitenear，ifthetreeshadbeencladwiththeirsummerclothes。LuckilyIhadpickedupmyfishandtakenmythree-prongedforkaway。

Crouchinginthathollownest，aschildrengettogetherineversolittlecompass，Isawadozenfiercemencomedown，ontheothersideofthewater，notbearinganyfire-arms，butlookinglaxandjovial，asiftheywerecomefromridingandadinnertakenhungrily。

’Queen，queen!’theywereshouting，hereandthere，andnowandthen：’wherethepestisourlittlequeengone？’

’Theyalwayscallme“queen，“andIamtobequeenby-and-by，’Lornawhisperedtome，withhersoftcheekonmyroughone，andherlittleheartbeatingagainstme：’oh，theyarecrossingbythetimberthere，andthentheyaresuretoseeus。’

’Stop，’saidI；’nowIseewhattodo。Imustgetintothewater，andyoumustgotosleep。’

’Tobesure，yes，awayinthemeadowthere。Buthowbittercolditwillbeforyou!’

Shesawinamomentthewaytodoit，soonerthanI

couldtellher；andtherewasnotimetolose。

’Nowmindyounevercomeagain，’shewhisperedoverhershoulder，asshecreptawaywithachildishtwisthidingherwhitefrontfromme；’onlyIshallcomesometimes——oh，heretheyare，Madonna!’

Daringscarcetopeep，Icreptintothewater，andlaydownbodilyinit，withmyheadbetweentwoblocksofstone，andsomeflood-driftcombingoverme。Theduskwasdeepeningbetweenthehills，andawhitemistlayontheriver；butI，beinginthechannelofit，couldseeeveryripple，andtwig，andrush，andglazingoftwilightaboveit，asbrightasinapicture；sothattomyignorancethereseemednochanceatallbutwhatthemenmustfindme。Forallthistimetheywereshoutingandswearing，andkeepingsuchahullabaloo，thattherocksallroundthevalleyrang，andmyheartquaked，so(whatwiththisandthecold)thatthewaterbegantogurgleroundme，andtolapuponthepebbles。

NeitherintruthdidItrytostopit，beingnowsodesperate，betweenthefearandthewretchedness；tillIcaughtaglimpseofthelittlemaid，whosebeautyandwhosekindlinesshadmademeyearntobewithher。AndthenIknewthatforhersakeIwasboundtobebraveandhidemyself。Shewaslyingbeneatharock，thirtyorfortyyardsfromme，feigningtobefastasleep，withherdressspreadbeautifully，andherhairdrawnoverher。

Presentlyoneofthegreatroughmencameroundacorneruponher；andtherehestoppedandgazedawhileatherfairnessandherinnocence。Thenhecaughtherupinhisarms，andkissedhersothatIheardhim；andifIhadonlybroughtmygun，Iwouldhavetriedtoshoothim。

’Hereourqueenis!Here’sthequeen，here’sthecaptain’sdaughter!’heshoutedtohiscomrades；’fastasleep，byGod，andhearty!NowIhavefirstclaimtoher；andnooneelseshalltouchthechild。Backtothebottle，allofyou!’

Hesetherdaintylittleformuponhisgreatsquareshoulder，andhernarrowfeetinonebroadhand；andsointriumphmarchedaway，withthepurplevelvetofherskirtrufflinginhislongblackbeard，andthesilkenlengthofherhairfetchedout，likeacloudbythewindbehindher。Thiswayofhergoingvexedmeso，thatIleapeduprightinthewater，andmusthavebeenspiedbysomeofthem，butfortheirhastetothewine-bottle。Oftheirlittlequeentheytooksmallnotice，beinginthisurgency；althoughtheyhadthoughttofindherdrowned；buttroopedawayafteroneanotherwithkindlychallengetogambling，sofarasI

couldmakethemout；andIkeptsharpwatch，Iassureyou。

Goingupthatdarkenedglen，littleLorna，ridingstillthelargestandmostfierceofthem，turnedandputupahandtome，andIputupahandtoher，inthethickofthemistandthewillows。

Shewasgone，mylittledear(thoughtallofherageandhealthy)；andwhenIgotovermythriftlessfright，Ilongedtohavemoretosaytoher。HervoicetomewassodifferentfromallIhadeverheardbefore，asmightbeasweetsilverbellintonedtothesmallchordsofaharp。ButIhadnotimetothinkaboutthis，ifIhopedtohaveanysupper。

Icreptintoabushforwarmth，andrubbedmyshiveringlegsonbark，andlongedformother’sfagot。Thenasdaylightsankbelowtheforget-me-notofstars，withasorrowtobequit，Iknewthatnowmustbemytimetogetaway，iftherewereany。

Therefore，wringingmysoddenbreaches，ImanagedtocrawlfromthebanktothenicheinthecliffwhichLornahadshownme。

ThroughtheduskIhadtroubletoseethemouth，ateventhefiveland-yardsofdistance；nevertheless，I

enteredwell，andheldonbysomedeadfern-stems，anddidhopethatnoonewouldshootme。

ButwhileIwashuggingmyselflikethis，withaboyishmannerofreasoning，myjoywasliketohaveendedinsadgriefbothtomyselfandmymother，andhaplytoallhonestfolkwhoshalllovetoreadthishistory。

Forhearinganoiseinfrontofme，andlikeacowardnotknowingwhere，butafraidtoturnroundorthinkofit，Ifeltmyselfgoingdownsomedeeppassageintoapitofdarkness。Itwasnogoodtocatchthesides，thewholethingseemedtogowithme。Then，withoutknowinghow，Iwasleaningoveranightofwater。

Thiswaterwasofblackradiance，asarecertaindiamonds，spannedacrosswithvaultsofrock，andcarryingnoimage，neithershowingmargenorend，butcentred(atitmightbe)withabottomlessindrawal。

Withthatchillanddreaduponme，andthesheerrockallaround，andthefaintlightheavingwavilyonthesilenceofthisgulf，Imusthavelostmywitsandgonetothebottom，iftherewereany。

Butsuddenlyarobinsang(astheywilldoafterdark，towardsspring)inthebrownfernandivybehindme。I

tookitforourlittleAnnie’svoice(forshecouldcallanyrobin)，andgatheringquickwarmcomfort，sprangupthesteepwaytowardsthestarlight。

Climbingback，asthestonesgliddown，Iheardthecoldgreedywavegojapping，likeablindblackdog，intothedistanceofarchesandhollowdepthsofdarkness。