第40章

Bythistime，theharvestbeingdone，andthethatchingofthericksmadesureagainstsouth-westerntempests，andallthereapersbeinggone，withgoodmoneyandthankfulness，IbegantoburninspiritforthesightofLorna。IhadbeggedmysisterAnnietoletSallySnoweknow，onceforall，thatitwasnotinmypowertohaveanythingmoretodowithher。OfcourseourAnniewasnottogrieveSally，neithertoletitappearforamomentthatIsuspectedherkindviewsuponme，andherstrongregardforourdairy：onlyIthoughtitrightuponourpartnottowasteSally’stimeanylonger，beingahandsomewenchasshewas，andmanyyoungfellowsgladtomarryher。

AndAnniedidthisuncommonlywell，assheherselftoldmeafterwards，havingtakenSallyinthesweetestmannerintoherpureconfidence，andopenedhalfherbosomtoher，aboutmyverysadloveaffair。NotthatsheletSallyknow，ofcourse，whoitwas，orwhatitwas；onlythatshemadeherunderstand，withouthintingatanydesireofit，thattherewasnochancenowofhavingme。Sallychangedcolouralittleatthis，andthenwentonaboutaredcowwhichhadpassedsevenneedlesatmilkingtime。

Inasmuchastherearetwosortsofmonthwellrecognisedbythecalendar，towitthelunarandthesolar，Imadeboldtoregardbothmymonths，intheabsenceofanyprovision，asintendedtobestrictlylunar。ThereforeupontheverydaywhentheeightweekswereexpiringforthIwentinsearchofLorna，takingthepearlringhopefully，andallthenew-laideggsIcouldfind，andadozenandahalfofsmalltroutfromourbrook。Andthepleasureitgavemetocatchthosetrout，thinkingaseveryonecameforthanddanceduponthegrass，howmuchshewouldenjoyhim，ismorethanIcannowdescribe，althoughIwellrememberit。Anditstruckmethatafteracceptingmyring，andsayinghowmuchshelovedme，itwaspossiblethatmyQueenmightinvitemeeventostayandsupwithher：

andsoIarrangedwithdearAnniebeforehand，whowasnowthegreatestcomforttome，toaccountformyabsenceifIshouldbelate。

Butalas，Iwasutterlydisappointed；foralthoughI

waitedandwaitedforhours，withanequalamountbothofpatienceandperil，noLornaeverappearedatall，noreventhefaintestsignofher。Andanotherthingoccurredaswell，whichvexedmemorethanitneedhavedone，forsosmallamatter。Andthiswasthatmylittleofferingofthetroutandthenew-laideggswascarriedoffinthecoolestmannerbythatvileCarverDoone。Forthinkingtokeepthemthefresherandnicer，awayfromsomuchhandling，Ilaidtheminalittlebedofreedsbythesideofthewater，andplacedsomedog-leavesoverthem。

AndwhenIhadquiteforgottenaboutthem，andwaswatchingfrommyhiding-placebeneaththewillow-tree(forIlikednottoenterLorna’sbower，withoutherpermission；exceptjusttopeepthatshewasnotthere)，andwhileIwasturningtheringinmypocket，havingjustseenthenewmoon，I

becameawareofagreatmancomingeisurelydownthevalley。

Hehadabroad-brimmedhat，andaleatherjerkin，andheavyjack-bootstohismiddlethigh，andwhatwasworstofallforme，onhisshoulderheborealongcarbine。Havingnothingtomeethimwithalbutmystaff，anddesiringtoavoiddisturbance，Iretiredpromptlyintothechasm，keepingthetreebetwixtusthathemightnotdescryme，andwatchingfrombehindthejutofarock，wherenowI

hadscrapedmyselfaneatlittleholeforthepurpose。

Presentlythegreatmanreappeared，beingnowwithinfiftyyardsofme，andthelightstillgoodenough，ashedrewnearerformetodescryhisfeatures：andthoughIamnotajudgeofmen’sfaces，therewassomethinginhiswhichturnedmecold，asthoughwithakindofhorror。Notthatitwasanuglyface；nay，ratheritseemedahandsomeone，sofarasmereformandlinemightgo，fullofstrength，andvigour，andwill，andsteadfastresolution。Fromtheshortblackhairabovethebroadforehead，tothelongblackbearddescendingbelowthecurt，boldchin，therewasnotanycurveorglimpseofweaknessorofafterthought。

Nothingplayful，nothingpleasant，nothingwithatrackofsmiles；nothingwhichafriendcouldlike，andlaughathimforhaving。Andyethemighthavebeenagoodman(forIhaveknownverygoodmensofortifiedbytheirownstrangeideasofGod)：