第22章

AlthoughwellnightheendofMarch，thewindblewwildandpiercing，asIwentonfootthatafternoontoMotherMelldrum’sdwelling。Itwassafernottotakeahorse，lest(ifanythingvexedher)sheshouldputaspelluponhim；ashadbeendonetoFarmerSnowe’sstablebythewisewomanofSimonsbath。

ThesunwaslowontheedgeofthehillsbythetimeI

enteredthevalley，forIcouldnotleavehometillthecattleweretended，andthedistancewassevenmilesormore。Theshadowsofrocksfellfaranddeep，andthebrowndeadfernwasfluttering，andbrambleswiththeirsereleaveshanging，swayedtheirtatterstoandfro，witharedlookonthem。Inpatchesunderneaththecrags，afewwildgoatswerebrowsing；thentheytossedtheirhorns，andfled，andleapedonledges，andstaredatme。Moreover，thesoundoftheseacameup，andwentthelengthofthevalley，andthereitlappedonabuttofrocks，andmurmuredlikeashell。

Takingthingsonewithanother，andfeelingallthelonesomeness，andhavingnostickwithme，Iwasmuchinclinedtogobrisklyback，andcomeatabetterseason。AndwhenIbeheldatallgreyshape，ofsomethingoranother，movingatthelowerendofthevalley，wheretheshadewas，itgavemesuchastrokeoffear，aftermanyothers，thatmythumbwhichlayinmother’sBible(broughtinmybigpocketforthesakeofsafety)shooksomuchthatitcameout，andIcouldnotgetitinagain。’Thisservesmeright，’Isaidtomyself，’fortamperingwithBeelzebub。OhthatIhadlistenedtoparson!’

AndthereuponIstruckaside；notlikingtorunawayquite，assomepeoplemightcallit；butseekingtolooklikeawandererwhowascometoseethevalley，andhadseenalmostenoughofit。HereinIshouldhavesucceeded，andgonehome，andthenbeenangryatmywantofcourage，butthatontheveryturnandbendingofmyfootsteps，thewomaninthedistanceliftedupherstafftome，sothatIwasboundtostop。

Andnow，beingbroughtfacetoface，bythewillofGod(asonemightsay)withanythingthatmightcomeofit，Ikeptmyselfquitestraightandstiff，andthrustawayallwhitefeather，trustinginmyBiblestill，hopingthatitwouldprotectme，thoughIhaddisobeyedit。

Butuponthatremembrance，myconsciencetookmebytheleg，sothatIcouldnotgoforward。

Allthiswhile，thefearfulwomanwascomingnearandmoreneartome；andIwasgladtositdownonarockbecausemykneeswereshakingso。Itriedtothinkofmanythings，butnoneofthemwouldcometome；andI

couldnottakemyeyesaway，thoughIprayedGodtobenearme。

ButwhenshewascomesonightomethatIcoulddescryherfeatures，therewassomethinginhercountenancethatmademenotdislikeher。Shelookedasifshehadbeenvisitedbymanytroubles，andhadfeltthemonebyone，yetheldenoughofkindlynaturestilltogrieveforothers。Longwhitehair，oneitherside，wasfallingdownbelowherchin；andthroughherwrinklesclearbrighteyesseemedtospreadthemselvesuponme。

ThoughIhadplentyoftimetothink，Iwastakenbysurprisenoless，andunabletosayanything；yeteagertohearthesilencebroken，andlongingforanoiseortwo。

’Thouartnotcometome，’shesaid，lookingthroughmysimpleface，asifitwerebutglass，’tobestruckforbone-shave，nortobeblessedforbarn-gun。Givemeforththyhand，JohnRidd；andtellwhythouartcometome。’

ButIwassomuchamazedatherknowingmynameandallaboutme，thatIfearedtoplacemyhandinherpower，orevenmytonguebyspeaking。

’Havenofearofme，myson；Ihavenogifttoharmthee；andifIhad，itshouldbeidle。Now，ifthouhastanywit，tellmewhyIlovethee。’

’Ineverhadanywit，mother，’IansweredinourDevonshireway；’andneverseteyesontheebefore，tothefurthestofmyknowledge。’

’AndyetIknowtheeaswell，John，asifthouwertmygrandson。RememberyoutheoldOareoak，andthebogattheheadofExe，andthechildwhowouldhavediedthere，butforthystrengthandcourage，andmostofallthykindness？Thatwasmygranddaughter，John；andallIhaveonearthtolove。’

Nowthatshecametospeakofit，withtheplaceandthat，soclearly，Irememberedallaboutit(athingthathappenedlastAugust)，andthoughthowstupidI

musthavebeennottolearnmoreofthelittlegirlwhohadfallenintotheblackpit，withabasketfulofwhortleberries，andwhomighthavebeengulfedifherlittledoghadnotspiedmeinthedistance。Icarriedheronmybacktomother；andthenwedressedherallanew，andtookherwheresheorderedus；butshedidnottelluswhoshewas，noranythingmorethanherChristian