第36章

Thecorn，ohthecorn，andtheblessingofthecorn!

Comeuntothedoor，mylads，andlookbeneaththemoon，Wecansee，onhillandvalley，howitisyelloon，Withabreadthofglory，aswhenourLordwasborn。

(Chorus)

Thecorn，ohthecorn，andtheyellow，mellowcorn!

Thanksforthecorn，withourbreadupontheboard!

Soshallweacknowledgeit，beforewereapthemorn，Withourhandstoheaven，andourkneesuntotheLord。

Nowwesangthissongverywellthefirsttime，havingtheparishchoirtoleadus，andtheclarionet，andtheparsontogiveusthetimewithhiscup；andwesangitagainthesecondtime，notsobutwhatyoumightpraiseit(ifyouhadbeenwithusalltheevening)，althoughtheparsonwasgonethen，andtheclerknotfittocomparewithhiminthematterofkeepingtime。Butwhenthatsongwasinitsthirdsinging，Idefyanyman(howeversober)tohavemadeoutoneversefromtheother，oreventheburdenfromtheverses，inasmuchaseverymanpresent，ay，andwomantoo，sangasbecameconvenienttothem，inutterancebothofwordsandtune。

Andintruth，therewasmuchexcuseforthem；becauseitwasanobleharvest，fittothanktheLordfor，withoutHisthinkingushypocrites。Forwehadmorelandinwheat，thatyear，thaneverwehadbefore，andtwicethecroptotheacre；andIcouldnothelpnowandthenremembering，inthemidstofthemerriment，howmyfatherinthechurchyardyonderwouldhavegloriedtobeholdit。Andmymother，whohadleftusnow，happeningtoreturnjustthen，beingcalledtohaveherhealthdrunk(forthetwentiethtimeatleast)，IknewbythesadnessinhereyesthatshewasthinkingjustasIwas。Presently，therefore，I

slippedawayfromthenoise，andmirth，andsmoking(althoughofthatlasttherewasnotmuch，exceptfromFarmerNicholas)，andcrossingthecourtyardinthemoonlight，Iwent，justtocoolmyself，asfarasmyfather’stombstone。

Ihadlongoutgrownunwholesomefeelingastomyfather’sdeath，andsohadAnnie；thoughLizzie(whomusthavelovedhimleast)stillentertainedsomeevilwill，andlongingforapunishment。ThereforeIwassurprised(andindeed，startledwouldnotbetoomuchtosay，themoonbeingsomewhatfleecy)，toseeourAnniesittingthereasmotionlessasthetombstone，andwithallherbestfallalsuponher，afterstowingawaythedishes。

Mynerves，however，aregoodandstrong，exceptatleastinlovematters，whereintheyalwaysfailme，andwhenImeetwithwitches；andthereforeIwentuptoAnnie，althoughshelookedsowhiteandpure；forIhadseenherbeforewiththosethingson，anditstruckmewhoshewas。

“Whatareyoudoinghere，Annie？“Iinquiredrathersternly，beingvexedwithherforhavinggonesoveryneartofrightenme。

“Nothingatall，“saidourAnnieshortly。Andindeeditwastruthenoughforawoman。NotthatIdaretobelievethatwomenaresuchliarsasmensay；onlythatImeantheyoftenseethingsroundthecorner，andknownotwhichiswhichofit。AndindeedIneverhaveknownawoman(thoughrightenoughintheirmeaning)

purelyandperfectlytrueandtransparent，exceptonlymyLorna；andevenso，Imightnothavelovedher，ifshehadbeenugly。

’Why，howso？’saidI；’MissAnnie，whatbusinesshaveyouhere，doingnothingatthistimeofnight？Andleavingmewithallthetroubletoentertainourguests!’

’Youseemnottometobedoingit，John，’Annieansweredsoftly；’whatbusinesshaveyouheredoingnothing，atthistimeofnight？’

Iwastakensoabackwiththis，andtheextremeimpertinenceofit，fromamereyounggirllikeAnnie，thatIturnedroundtomarchawayandhavenothingmoretosaytoher。Butshejumpedup，andcaughtmebythehand，andthrewherselfuponmybosom，withherfaceallwetwithtears。

’Oh，John，Iwilltellyou。Iwilltellyou。Onlydon’tbeangry，John。’

’Angry!noindeed，’saidI；’whatrighthaveItobeangrywithyou，becauseyouhaveyoursecrets？Everychitofagirlthinksnowthatshehasarighttohersecrets。’

’Andyouhavenoneofyourown，John；ofcourseyouhavenoneofyourown？Allyourgoingoutatnight——’

’Wewillnotquarrelhere，poorAnnie，’Ianswered，withsomeloftiness；’thereareman