第52章

Notaword，norsoundbetweenus；notevenakisswasinterchanged；butman，ormaid，whohaseverlovedhathlearnedourunderstanding。

Thereforeitcametopass，thatwesawfittoenterSirEnsor’sroominthefollowingmanner。Lorna，withherrighthandswallowedentirelybythepalmofmine，andherwaistretiredfromviewbymeansofmyleftarm。

Allonesideofherhaircamedown，inawaytoberemembered，upontheleftandfairestpartofmyfavouriteotter-skinwaistcoat；andherheadaswellwouldhavelaintheredoubtless，butforthedangerofwalkingso。I，formypart，wastoofargonetolagbehindinthematter；butcarriedmylovebravely，fearingneitherdeathnorhell，whilesheabodebesideme。

OldSirEnsorlookedmuchastonished。Forfortyyearshehadbeenobeyedandfearedbyallaroundhim；andheknewthatIhadfearedhimvastly，beforeIgotholdofLorna。AndindeedIwasstillafraidofhim；onlyforlovingLornaso，andhavingtoprotecther。

ThenImadehimabow，totheverybestofallIhadlearnedbothatTivertonandinLondon；afterthatI

waitedforhimtobegin，asbecamehisageandrankinlife。

’Yetwofools!’hesaidatlast，withadepthofcontemptwhichnowordsmayexpress；’yetwofools!’

’Mayitpleaseyourworship，’Iansweredsoftly；’maybewearenotsuchfoolsaswelook。Butthoughwebe，wearewellcontent，solongaswemaybetwofoolstogether。’

’Why，John，’saidtheoldman，withaspark，asofsmilinginhiseyes；’thouartnotaltogethertheclumsyyokel，andtheclod，Itooktheefor。’

’Oh，no，grandfather；oh，deargrandfather，’criedLorna，withsuchzealandflashing，thatherhandswentforward；’nobodyknowswhatJohnRiddis，becauseheissomodest。Imean，nobodyexceptme，dear。’Andheresheturnedtomeagain，androseupontiptoe，andkissedme。

’Ihaveseenalittleo’theworld，’saidtheoldman，whileIwashalfashamed，althoughsoproudofLorna；

’butthisisbeyondallIhaveseen，andnearlyallI

haveheardof。ItismorefitforsouthernclimatesthanforthefogsofExmoor。’

’Itisfitforalltheworld，yourworship；withyourhonour’sgoodleave，andwill，’Iansweredinhumility，beingstillashamedofit；’whenithappenssotopeople，thereisnothingthatcanstopit，sir。’

NowSirEnsorDoonewasleaningbackuponhisbrownchair-rail，whichwasbuiltlikeatriangle，asinoldfarmhouses(fromoneofwhichithadcome，nodoubt，freefromexpenseorgratitude)；andasIspokehecoughedalittle；andhesighedagooddealmore；andperhapshisdyingheartdesiredtoopentimeagain，withsuchaliftofwarmthandhopeashedescriedinoureyes，andarms。Icouldnotunderstandhimthen；

anymorethanababyplayingwithhisgrandfather’sspectacles；neverthelessIwonderedwhether，athistimeoflife，orratheronthebrinkofdeath，hewasthinkingofhisyouthandpride。

’Foolsyouare；befoolsforever，’saidSirEnsorDoone，atlast；whilewefearedtobreakhisthoughts，butleteachotherknowourown，withlittlewaysofpressure；’itisthebestthingIcanwishyou；boyandgirl，beboyandgirl，untilyouhavegrandchildren。’

Partlyinbitternesshespoke，andpartlyinpureweariness，andthenheturnedsoasnottoseeus；andhiswhitehairfell，likeashroud，aroundhim。

Allthingsbeingfullofflaw，allthingsbeingfullofholes，thestrengthofallthingsisinshortness。

IfSirEnsorDoonehaddwelledforhalfanhouruponhimself，andanhourperhapsuponLornaandme，wemustbothhaveweariedofhim，andrequiredchangeofair。

ButnowIlongedtoseeandknowagreatdealmoreabouthim，andhopedthathemightnotgotoHeavenforatleastaweekormore。However，hewastoogoodforthisworld(aswesayofallpeoplewholeaveit)；andIverilybelievehisheartwasnotabadone，afterall。

Evilhehaddone，nodoubt，asevilhadbeendonetohim；yethowmanyhavedoneevil，whilereceivingonlygood!Bethatasitmay；andnotvexingaquestion(settledforeverwithoutourvotes)，letusownthathewas，atleast，abraveandcourteousgentleman。

Andhislossarousedgreatlamentation，notamongtheDoonesalone，andthewomentheyhadcarriedoff，butalsoofthegeneralpublic，andmanyevenofthemagistrates，forseveralmilesround