第26章

do，andnevershallknowmuchofit)，this，Isay，sobroughtherround，thatallherfearwasnowforme，andhowtogetmesafelyoff，withoutmischancetoanyone。Andsoothtosay，inspiteoflongingjusttoseeifMasterCarvercouldhaveservedmesuchatrick——asitgrewtowardsthedusk，Iwasnotbestpleasedtobethere；foritseemedalawlessplace，andsomeofLorna’sfrightstayedwithmeasItalkeditawayfromher。

AfterhearingthattalefromLorna，Iwenthomeinsorryspirits，havingaddedfearforher，andmiseryabout，toallmyotherailments。Andwasitnotquitecertainnowthatshe，beingownedfullcousintoapeerandlordofScotland(althoughhewasadeadone)，musthavenoughttodowithme，ayeoman’sson，andboundtobethefatherofmoreyeomen？IhadbeenverysorrywhenfirstIheardaboutthatpooryoungpopinjay，andwouldgladlyhavefoughthardforhim；butnowitstruckmethatafterallhehadnorighttobethere，prowling(asitwere)forLorna，withoutanyinvitation：andwefarmerslovenottrespass。Still，ifIhadseenthething，Imusthavetriedtosavehim。

Moreover，Iwasgreatlyvexedwithmyownhesitation，stupidity，orshyness，orwhateverelseitwas，whichhadheldmebackfromsaying，ereshetoldherstory，whatwasinmyhearttosay，videlicet，thatImustdieunlesssheletmeloveher。NotthatIwasfoolenoughtothinkthatshewouldanswermeaccordingtomyliking，orbegintocareaboutmeforalongtimeyet；

ifindeedsheevershould，whichIhardlydaredtohope。ButthatIhadheardfrommenmoreskillfulinthematterthatitiswisetobeintime，thatsothemaidsmaybegintothink，whentheyknowthattheyarethoughtof。And，totellthetruth，Ihadbitterfears，onaccountofherwondrousbeauty，lestsomeyoungfellowofhigherbirthandfinerparts，andfinish，mightstealinbeforepoorme，andcutmeoutaltogether。Thinkingofwhich，Iusedtodoublemygreatfist，withoutknowingit，andkeepitinmypocketready。

Buttheworstofallwasthis，thatinmygreatdismayandanguishtoseeLornaweepingso，Ihadpromisednottocauseheranyfurthertroublefromanxietyandfearofharm。Andthis，beingbroughttopractice，meantthatIwasnottoshowmyselfwithintheprecinctsofGlenDoone，foratleastanothermonth。Unlessindeed(asIcontrivedtoedgeintotheagreement)anythingshouldhappentoincreaseherpresenttroubleandeveryday’suneasiness。Inthatcase，shewastothrowadarkmantle，orcoveringofsomesort，overalargewhitestonewhichhungwithintheentrancetoherretreat——Imeantheouterentrance——andwhich，thoughunseenfromthevalleyitself，was(asIhadobserved)

conspicuousfromtheheightwhereIstoodwithUncleReuben。

Nowcominghomesosadandweary，yettryingtoconsolemyselfwiththethoughtthatloveo’erleapethrank，andmuststillbelordofall，Ifoundashamefulthinggoingon，whichmademeveryangry。ForitneedsmusthappenthatyoungMarwooddeWhichehalse，onlysonoftheBaron，ridinghomethatveryevening，fromchasingoftheExmoorbustards，withhishoundsandserving-

men，shouldtaketheshortcutthroughourfarmyard，andbeingdryfromhisexercise，shouldcomeandaskfordrink。AnditneedsmusthappenalsothatthereshouldbenonetogiveittohimbutmysisterAnnie。

ImorethansuspectthathehadheardsomereportofourAnnie’scomeliness，andhadamindtosatisfyhimselfuponthesubject。Now，ashetookthelargeox-hornofourquarantine-applecider(whichwealwayskeepapartfromtherest，beingtoogoodexceptforthequality)，helethisfingersdwellonAnnie’s，bysomesortofaccident，whileheliftedhisbeavergallantly，andgazedonherfaceinthelightfromthewest。ThenwhatdidAnniedo(assheherselftoldmeafterwards)

butmakeherverybestcurtseytohim，beingpleasedthathewaspleasedwithher，whileshethoughtwhatafineyoungmanhewasandsomuchbreedingabouthim!

Andintruthhewasadark，handsomefellow，hasty，reckless，andchangeable，withalookofsaddestinyinhisblackeyesthatwouldmakeanywomanpityhim。

WhathewasthinkingofourAnnieisnotformetosay，althoughImaythinkthatyoucouldnothavefoundanothersuchmaidenonExmoor，except(ofcourse)myLorna。

ThoughyoungSquireMarwoodwassothirsty，hespentmuchtimeoverhiscider，oratanyrateovertheox