第33章

WhatmotherthoughtIcannottell；andindeedIdoubtifshethoughtatallformorethanhalfanhour，butonlymanagedtoholdmetight，andcry，andthankGodnowandthen，butwithsomefearofHistakingme，ifsheshouldbetoograteful。Moreovershethoughtitwasmyowndoing，andIoughttohavethecreditofit，andsheevencamedownverysharplyuponJohn’swife，Mrs。Fry，forsayingthatwemustnotbetooproud，forallofitwastheLord’sdoing。However，dearmotherwasashamedofthatafterwards，andaskedMrs。Fry’shumblepardon；andperhapsIoughtnottohavementionedit。

OldSmilerhadtoldthemthatIwascoming——alltherest，Imean，exceptAnnie——forhavingescapedfromhishalter-ring，hewascomeouttograzeinthelaneabit；whenwhatshouldheseebutastrangehorsecomingwithyoungmasterandmistressuponhim，forAnniemustneedsgetupbehindme，therebeingonlysheeptolookather。ThenSmilergaveusastareandaneigh，withhistailquitestiffwithamazement，andthen(whetherinjoyorthroughindignation)heflunguphishindfeetandgallopedstraighthome，andseteverydogwildwithbarking。

Now，methinks，quiteenoughhasbeensaidconcerningthismightyreturnoftheyoungJohnRidd(whichwasknownupatCosgatethatevening)，andfeelingthatI

cannotdescribeit，howcanIhopethatanyoneelsewilllabourtoimagineit，evenofthefewwhoareable？Forveryfewcanhavetravelledsofar，unlessindeedtheywhosetradeitis，orveryunsettledpeople。Andevenofthosewhohavedoneso，notoneinahundredcanhavesuchahomeasIhadtocomehometo。

Motherweptagain，withgriefandsomewrath，andsodidAnniealso，andevenlittleEliza，andallwereunsettledinloyalty，andtalkedaboutarepublic，whenItoldthemhowIhadbeenleftwithoutmoneyfortravellinghomeward，andexpectedtohavetobegmyway，whichFarmerSnowewouldhaveheardof。AndthoughIcouldseetheyweredisappointedatmyfailureofanypromotion，theyalldeclaredhowgladtheywere，andhowmuchbettertheylikedmetobenomorethanwhattheywereaccustomedto。Atleast，mymotherandAnniesaidso，withoutwaitingtohearanymore；butLizziedidnotanswertoit，untilIhadopenedmybagandshownthebeautifulpresentIhadforher。Andthenshekissedme，almostlikeAnnie，andvowedthatshethoughtverylittleofcaptains。

ForLizzie’spresentwasthebestofall，Imean，ofcourse，exceptLorna’s(whichIcarriedinmybreastalltheway，hopingthatitmightmakeherloveme，fromhavinglainsolong，closetomyheart)。ForI

hadbroughtLizziesomethingdear，andapreciousheavybookitwas，andmuchbeyondmyunderstanding；whereasIknewwellthattoboththeothersmygiftswouldbedear，formineownsake。Andhappierpeoplecouldnotbefoundthanthewholeofuswerethatevening。

MuchasIlongedtoknowmoreaboutLorna，andthoughallmyheartwasyearning，IcouldnotreconcileityetwithmydutytomotherandAnnie，toleavethemonthefollowingday，whichhappenedtobeaSunday。Forlo，beforebreakfastwasoutofourmouths，therecameallthemenofthefarm，andtheirwives，andeventhetwocrow-boys，dressedasifgoingtoBarnstaplefair，toinquirehowMasterJohnwas，andwhetheritwastruethattheKinghadmadehimoneofhisbody-guard；andifso，whatwastobedonewiththebeltforthechampionshipoftheWest-Countieswrestling，whichI

hadheldnowforayearormore，andnonewerereadytochallengeit。Strangetosay，thislastpointseemedthemostimportantofalltothem；andnoneaskedwhowastomanagethefarm，oranswerfortheirwages；butallaskedwhowastowearthebelt。

TothisIreplied，aftershakinghandstwiceoverallroundwithallofthem，thatImeanttowearthebeltmyself，forthehonourofOareparish，solongaseverGodgavemestrengthandhealthtomeetall-comers；forIhadneverbeenaskedtobebody-guard，andifaskedI

wouldneverhavedoneit。SomeofthemcriedthattheKingmustbemazed，nottokeepmeforhisprotection，intheseviolenttimesofPopery。IcouldhavetoldthemthattheKingwasnotintheleastafraidofPapists，butonthecontrary，veryfondofthem；

however，Iheldmytongue，rememberingwhatJudgeJeffreysbademe。

Inchurch，thewholecongregation，man，woman，andchild(except，indeed，theSnowegirls，whoonlylookedwhenIwasnotwatching)，turnedonmewithoneaccord，andstaredsosteadfastly，togetsomereflectionoftheKingfromme，thattheyforgotthetimetokneeldownandtheparsonwasforcedtospeaktothem。IfI

coughed，ormovedmybook，orbowed，orevensaid’Amen，’glanceswereexchanged