第56章

ThenIspokewithastrangetingleuponbothsidesofmyheart，knowingthatthisundertakingwasaseriousoneforall，andmightburnourfarmdown，——

’IfIwarranttotakeyousafe，andwithoutmuchfrightorhardship，Lorna，willyoucomewithme？’

’TobesureIwill，dear，’saidmybeauty，withasmileandaglancetofollowit；’Ihavesmallalternative，tostarve，orgowithyou，John。’

’Gwenny，haveyoucourageforit？Willyoucomewithyouryoungmistress？’

’WillIstaybehind？’criedGwenny，inavoicethatsettledit。Andsowebegantoarrangeaboutit；andIwasmuchexcited。Itwasuselessnowtoleaveitlonger；ifitcouldbedoneatall，itcouldnotbetooquicklydone。ItwastheCounsellorwhohadordered，afterallotherschemeshadfailed，thathisnieceshouldhavenofooduntilshewouldobeyhim。Hehadstrictlywatchedthehouse，takingturnswithCarver，toensurethatnonecamenighitbearingfoodorcomfort。Butthisevening，theyhadthoughtitneedlesstoremainonguard；anditwouldhavebeenimpossible，becausethemselveswerebusyofferinghighfestivaltoallthevalley，inrightoftheirowncommandership。AndGwennysaidthatnothingmadehersonearlymadwithappetiteastheaccountshereceivedfromawomanofallthedishespreparing。Neverthelessshehadansweredbravely，——

’GoandtelltheCounsellor，andgoandtelltheCarver，whosentyoutospyuponus，thatweshallhaveafinerdishthananysetbeforethem。’Andsointruththeydid，althoughsolittledreamingit；fornoDoonethatwaseverborn，howevermuchofaCarver，mightviewithourAnnieformince-meat。

Nowwhilewesatreflectingmuch，andtalkingagooddealmore，inspiteofallthecold——forIneverwasinahurrytogo，whenIhadLornawithme——shesaid，inhersilveryvoice，whichalwaysledmesoalong，asifIwereaslavetoabeautifulbell，——

’Now，John，wearewastingtime，dear。Youhavepraisedmyhair，tillitcurlswithpride，andmyeyestillyoucannotseethem，eveniftheyarebrowndiamondswhichIhaveheardforthefiftiethtimeatleast；thoughIneversawsuchajewel。Don’tyouthinkitishightimetoputonyoursnow-shoes，John？’

’Certainlynot，’Ianswered，’tillwehavesettledsomethingmore。IwassocoldwhenIcamein；andnowIamaswarmasacricket。Andsoareyou，youlivelysoul；thoughyouarenotuponmyhearthyet。’

’Remember，John，’saidLorna，nestlingforamomenttome；’theseverityoftheweathermakesagreatdifferencebetweenus。Andyoumustnevertakeadvantage。’

’Iquiteunderstandallthat，dear。Andtheharderitfreezesthebetter，whilethatunderstandingcontinues。

Nowdotrytobeserious。’

’Itrytobeserious!AndIhavebeentryingfiftytimes，andcouldnotbringyoutoit，John!AlthoughI

amsurethesituation，astheCounsellorsaysatthebeginningofaspeech，thesituation，tosaytheleast，isseriousenoughforanything。Come，Gwenny，imitatehim。’

GwennywasfamedforherimitationoftheCounsellormakingaspeech；andshebegantoshakeherhair，andmountuponafootstool；butIreallycouldnothavethis，thoughevenLornaorderedit。Thetruthwasthatmydarlingmaidenwasinsuchwildspirits，atseeingmesounexpected，andattheprospectofrelease，andofwhatshehadneverknown，quietlifeandhappiness，thatlikeallwarmandlovingnatures，shecouldscarcecontrolherself。

’Cometothisfrozenwindow，John，andseethemlightthestack-fire。Theywilllittleknowwholooksatthem。Nowbeverygood，John。Youstayinthatcorner，dear，andIwillstandonthisside；andtrytobreatheyourselfapeep-holethroughthelovelyspearsandbanners。Oh，youdon’tknowhowtodoit。Imustdoitforyou。Breathethreetimes，likethat，andthat；andthenyourubitwithyourfingers，beforeithastimetofreezeagain。’

Allthisshedidsobeautifully，withherlipsputuplikecherries，andherfingersbenthalfback，asonlygirlscanbendthem，andherlittlewaistthrownoutagainstthewhiteofthesnowed-upwindow，thatImadeherdoitthreetimesover；andIstoppedhereverytimeandletitfreezeagain，thatsoshemightbethelonger。NowIknewthatallherlovewasmine，everybitasmuchasminewashers；yetImusthavehertoshowit，dwellinguponeveryproof，lengtheningoutallcertainty。Perhapsthejealousheartisloathtoownalifeworthtwiceitsown。Bethatasitmay，Iknowthatwethawedthewindownicely。

AndthenIsaw，fardownthestream(orratherdownthebedofit，fortherewasnostreamv