第14章

Itisbeyondmeandaboveme，todiscussthesesubjects；andintruthIlovethelawrightwell，whenitdothsupportme，andwhenIcanlayitdowntomyliking，withprejudicetonobody。Loyal，too，totheKingamI，asbehoveschurchwarden；andreadytomakethebestofhim，ashegenerallyrequires。Butafterall，Icouldnotsee(untilIgrewmucholder，andcametohavesomeproperty)whyTomFaggus，workinghard，wascalledarobberandfelonofgreat；whiletheKing，doingnothingatall(asbecamehisdignity)，wasliege-lord，andparamountowner；witheverybodytothankhimkindlyforacceptingtribute。

Forthepresent，however，Ilearnednothingmoreastowhatourcousin’sprofessionwas；onlythatmotherseemedfrightened，andwhisperedtohimnowandthennottotalkofsomething，becauseofthechildrenbeingthere；whereuponhealwaysnoddedwithasageexpression，andappliedhimselftohollands。

’NowletusgoandseeWinnie，Jack，’hesaidtomeaftersupper；’forthemostpartIfeedherbeforemyself；butshewassohotfromthewayyoudroveher。

Nowshemustbegrievingforme，andIneverlethergrievelong。’

Iwastoogladtogowithhim，andAnniecameslylyafterus。Thefillywaswalkingtoandfroonthenakedfloorofthestable(forhewouldnotletherhaveanystraw，untilheshouldmakeabedforher)，andwithoutsomuchasaheadstallon，forhewouldnothaveherfastened。’Doyoutakemymareforadog？’hehadsaidwhenJohnFrybroughthimahalter。Andnowsherantohimlikeachild，andhergreateyesshoneatthelanthorn。

’Hitme，Jack，andseewhatshewilldo。Iwillnotletherhurtthee。’Hewasrubbingherearsallthetimehespoke，andshewasleaningagainsthim。ThenI

madebelievetostrikehim，andinamomentshecaughtmebythewaistband，andliftedmecleanfromtheground，andwascastingmedowntotrampleuponme，whenhestoppedhersuddenly。

’Whatthinkyouofthat，boy？Haveyouhorseordogthatwoulddothatforyou？Ay，andmorethanthatshewilldo。IfIweretowhistle，by-and-by，inthetonethattellsmydanger，shewouldbreakthisstable-doordown，andrushintotheroomtome。Nothingwillkeepherfrommethen，stone-wal1orchurch-tower。Ah，Winnie，Winnie，youlittlewitch，weshalldietogether。’

Thenheturnedawaywithajoke，andbegantofeedhernicely，forshewasverydainty。Notahuskofoatwouldshetouchthathadbeenunderthebreathofanotherhorse，howeverhungryshemightbe。Andwithheroatshemixedsomepowder，fetchingitfromhissaddle-bags。WhatthiswasIcouldnotguess，neitherwouldhetellme，butlaughedandcalledit’star-shavings。’Hewatchedhereateverymorselofit，withtwoorthreedrinksofpurewater，ministeredbetweenwhiles；andthenhemadeherbedinaformI

hadneverseenbefore，andsowesaid’Good-night’toher。

Afterwardsbythefiresidehekeptusverymerry，sittinginthegreatchimney-corner，andmakingusplaygameswithhim。AndallthewhilehewassmokingtobaccoinamannerIneverhadseenbefore，notusinganypipeforit，buthavingitrolledinlittlesticksaboutaslongasmyfinger，bluntatoneendandsharpattheother。Thesharpendhewouldputinhismouth，andlayabrandofwoodtotheother，andthendrawawhitecloudofcurlingsmoke，andwenevertiredofwatchinghim。Iwantedhimtoletmedoit，buthesaid，’No，myson；itisnotmeantforboys。’ThenAnnieputupherlipsandasked，withbothhandsonhisknees(forshehadtakentohimwonderfully)，’IsitmeantforgirlsthencousinTom？’Butshehadbetternothaveasked，forhegaveithertotry，andsheshutbotheyes，andsuckedatit。Onebreath，however，wasquiteenough，foritmadehercoughsoviolentlythatLizzieandImustthumpherbackuntilshewasalmostcrying。Toatoneforthat，cousinTomsetto，andtolduswholepagesofstories，notabouthisowndoingsatall，butstrangelyenoughtheyseemedtoconcernalmosteveryoneelsewehadeverheardof。Withouthaltingonceforawordoradeed，histalesflowedonwardasfreelyandbrightlyastheflamesofthewoodupthechimney，andwithnosmallervariety。Forhespokewiththevoicesoftwentypeople，givingeachpersonthepropermanner，andtheproperplacetospeakfrom；

sothatAnnieandLizzieranallabout，andsearchedtheclockandthelinen-press。Andhechangedhisfaceeverymomentso，andwithsuchpowerofmimicrythatwithoutsomuchasasmileofhisown，hemadeevenmotherlaughsothatshebrokehernewtenpennywaistband；andasforuschildren，werolledonthefloor，andBettyMuxworthyroaredinthewash-up。

NowalthoughMr。Fagguswassoclever，andgenerous，andcelebrated，Iknownotwhether，uponthewhole，wewereratherproudofhimasamemberofourfamily，orinclinedtobeashamedofhim。AndindeedIthinkthattheswayofthebalancehunguponthecompanywewerein。Forinstance，withtheboysatBrendon——forthereisnovillageatOare——Iwasexceedingproudtotalkofhim，andwouldfreelybragofmyCousinTom。Butwiththerichparsonsoftheneighbourhood，orthejustices(whocameroundnowandthen，andweregladtorideuptoawarmfarm-house)，oreventhewell-to-dotradesmenofPorlock——inaword，anysettledpower，whichwasafraidoflosingthings——withallofthemwewereveryshyofclaimingourkinshiptothatgreatoutlaw。

Andsure，Ishouldpity，aswellascondemnhimthoughourwaysintheworldweresodifferent，knowingasI

dohisstory；whichknowledge，methinks，wouldoftenleadustoletaloneGod’sprerogative——judgment，andholdbyman’sprivilege——pity。NotthatIwouldfindexcuseforTom’sdownrightdishonesty，whichwasbeyonddoubtadisgracetohim，andnocredittohiskinsfolk；

onlythatitcameaboutwithouthismeaninganyharmorseeinghowhetooktowrong；yetgraduallyknowingit。

Andnow，tosaveanyfurthertrouble，andtomeetthosewhodisparagehim(withoutallowanceforthetimeorthecrosseslaiduponhim)，Iwilltellthehistoryofhim，justasifhewerenotmycousin，andhopingtobeheeded。AndIdefyanymantosaythatawordofthisiseitherfalse，orinanywaycolouredbyfamily。

Muchcausehehadtobeharshwiththeworld；andyetallacknowledgedhimverypleasant，whenamangaveuphismoney。Andoftenandoftenhepaidthetollforthecarriagecomingafterhim，becausehehademptiedtheirpockets，andwouldnotaddinconvenience。Bytradehehadbeenablacksmith，inthetownofNorthmolton，inDevonshire，aroughrudeplaceattheendofExmoor，sothatmanypeoplemarvelledifsuchamanwasbredthere。Notonlycouldhereadandwrite，buthehadsolidsubstance；apieceoflandworthahundredpounds，andrightofcommonfortwohundredsheep，andascoreandahalfofbeasts，liftinguporlyingdown。Andbeingleftanorphan(withallthesecaresuponhim)hebegantoworkrightearly，andmadesuchafameattheshoeingofhorses，thatthefarriersofBarumwereliketolosetheircustom。AndindeedhewonagoldenJacobusforthebest-shodnaginthenorthofDevon，andsomesaythatheneverwasforgiven。

Astothat，Iknownomore，exceptthatmenarejealous。Butwhetheritwerethat，ornot，hefellintobittertroublewithinamonthofhisvictory；whenhistradewasgrowinguponhim，andhissweetheartreadytomarryhim。ForhelovedamaidofSouthmolton(acurrier’sdaughterIthinkshewas，andhernamewasBetsyParamore)，andherfatherhadgivenconsent；andTomFaggus，wishingtolookhisbest，andbecleanofcourse，hadatailoratworkupstairsforhim，whohadcomeallthewayfromExeter。AndBetsy’sthingswerereadytoo——forwhichtheyaccusedhimafterwards，asifhecouldhelpthat——whensuddenly，likeathunderbolt，alawyer’swritfelluponhim。

Thiswasthebeginningofalaw-suitwithSirRobertBampfylde，agentlemanoftheneighbourhood，whotriedtoousthimfromhiscommon，anddrovehiscattleandharassedthem。AndbythatsuitoflawpoorTomwasruinedaltogether，forSirRobertcouldpayformuchswearing；andthenallhisgoodsandhisfarmweresoldup，andevenhissmitherytaken。Buthesaddledhishorse，beforetheycouldcatchhim，androdeawaytoSouthmolton，lookingmorelikeamadmanthanagoodfarrier，asthepeoplesaidwhosawhim。Butwhenhearrivedthere，insteadofcomfort，theyshowedhimthefaceofthedooralone；forthenewsofhislosswasbeforehim，andMasterParamorewasasound，prudentman，andahighmemberofthetowncouncil。ItissaidthattheyevengavehimnoticetopayforBetsy’swedding-clothes，nowthathewastoopoortomarryher。

Thismaybefalse，andindeedIdoubtit；inthefirstplace，becauseSouthmoltonisabusyplacefortalking；

andinthenext，thatIdonotthinktheactionwouldhavelainatlaw，especiallyasthemaidlostnothing，butuseditallforherweddingnextmonthwithDickVellacott，ofMockham。

AllthiswasverysoreuponTom；andhetookittoheartsogrievously，thathesaid，asabettermanmighthavesaid，beinglooseofmindandproperty，’Theworldhathpreyedonmelikeawolf。Godhelpmenowtopreyontheworld。’

Andinsoothitdidseem，forawhile，asifProvidencewerewithhim；forhetookraretollonthehighway，andhisnamewassoonasgoodasgoldanywherethissideofBristowe。Hestudiedhisbusinessbynightandbyday，withthreehorsesallinhardwork，untilhehadmadeafinereputation；andthenitwascompetenttohimtorest，andhehadplentyleftforcharity。

AndIoughttosayforsocietytoo，forhetrulylovedhighsociety，treatingsquiresandnoblemen(whomuchaffectedhiscompany)totheverybestfareofthehostel。AndtheysaythatoncetheKing’sJustitiaries，beinguponcircuit，acceptedhisinvitation，declaringmerrilythatifnevertruebillhadbeenfoundagainsthim，minehostshouldnowbequalifiedtodrawone。Andsothelandlordsdid；andhealwayspaidthemhandsomely，sothatallofthemwerekindtohim，andcontendedforhisvisits。LetitbeknowninanytownshipthatMr。Fagguswastakinghisleisureattheinn，andstraightwayallthemenflockedthithertodrinkhishealthwithoutoutlay，andallthewomentoadmirehim；whilethechildrenweresetatthecross-roadstogivewarningofanyofficers。OneofhisearliestmeetingswaswithSirRobertBampfyldehimself，whowasridingalongtheBarumroadwithonlyoneserving-manafterhim。TomFaggusputapistoltohishead，beingthenobligedtobeviolent，throughwantofreputation；whiletheserving-manpretendedtobealongwayroundthecorner。Thenthebaronetpulledouthispurse，quitetremblinginthehurryofhispoliteness。Tomtookthepurse，andhisring，andtime-piece，andthenhandedthembackwithaverylowbow，sayingthatitwasagainstallusageforhimtorobarobber。Thenheturnedtotheunfaithfulknave，andtrouncedhimrightwellforhiscowardice，andstrippedhimofallhisproperty。

ButnowMr。Fagguskeptonlyonehorse，lesttheGovernmentshouldstealthem；andthatonewastheyoungmareWinnie。Howhecamebyherheneverwouldtell，butIthinkthatshewaspresentedtohimbyacertainColonel，aloverofsport，andverycleverinhorseflesh，whoselifeTomhadsavedfromsomegamblers。WhenIhaveaddedthatFaggusasyethadneverbeenguiltyofbloodshed(forhiseyes，andtheclickofhispistolatfirst，andnowhishighreputationmadeallhiswishesrespected)，andthatheneverrobbedapoorman，neitherinsultedawoman，butwasverygoodtotheChurch，andofhotpatrioticopinions，andfullofjestandjollity，Ihavesaidasmuchasisfairforhim，andshownwhyhewassopopular。EverybodycursedtheDoones，wholivedapartdisdainfully。ButallgoodpeoplelikedMr。

Faggus——whenhehadnotrobbedthem——andmanyapoorsickmanorwomanblessedhimforotherpeople’smoney；

andallthehostlers，stable-boys，andtapstersentirelyworshippedhim。

Ihavebeenratherlong，andperhapstedious，inmyaccountofhim，lestatanytimehereafterhischaractershouldbemisunderstood，andhisgoodnamedisparaged；whereashewasmysecondcousin，andtheloverofmy——Butletthatbide。’Tisamelancholystory。

Hecameagainaboutthreemonthsafterwards，inthebeginningofthespring-time，andbroughtmeabeautifulnewcarbine，havinglearnedmyloveofsuchthings，andmygreatdesiretoshootstraight。Butmotherwouldnotletmehavethegun，untilheaverreduponhishonourthathehadboughtithonestly。Andsohehad，nodoubt，sofarasitishonesttobuywithmoneyacquiredrampantly。ScarcecouldIstoptomakemybulletsinthemouldwhichcamealongwithit，butmustbeofftotheQuarryHill，andnewtargetIhadmadethere。AndhetaughtmethenhowtoridebrightWinnie，whowasgrownsinceIhadseenher，butrememberedmemostkindly。AftermakingmuchofAnnie，whohadawondrouslikingforhim——andhesaidhewashergodfather，butGodknowshowhecouldhavebeen，unlesstheyconfirmedhimprecociously——awayhewent，andyoungWinnie’ssidesshonelikeacherrybycandlelight。

NowIfeelthatofthoseboyishdaysIhavelittlemoretotell，becauseeverythingwentquietly，astheworldforthemostpartdoeswithus。Ibegantoworkatthefarminearnest，andtriedtohelpmymother，andwhenIrememberedLornaDoone，itseemednomorethanthethoughtofadream，whichIcouldhardlycalltomind。

Nowwhocarestoknowhowmanybushelsofwheatwegrewtotheacre，orhowthecattlemilchedtillweatethem，orwhattheturnoftheseasonswas？Butmystupidselfseemedliketobethebiggestofallthecattle；forhavingmuchtolookafterthesheep，andbeingalwaysinkindappetite，Igrewfourincheslongerineveryyearofmyfarming，andamatteroftwoincheswider；untiltherewasnomanofmysizetobeseenelsewhereuponExmoor。Letthatpass：whatoddstoanyhowtallorwideIbe？ThereisnoDoone’sdooratPlover’sBarrowsandiftherewereIcouldnevergothroughit。Theyvexedmesomuchaboutmysize，longbeforeIhadcompletedit，girdingatmewithpaltryjokeswhosewitwasgoodonlytostayathome，thatI