第58章

’Mother，Iwillhaveitout，’wasallthatIcouldanswerher；’leavehertomealtogether；onlyyousitthereandwatch。’ForIfeltthatLornaknewme，andnoothersoulbutme；andthatifnotinterferedwith，shewouldsooncomehometome。ThereforeIsatgentlybyher，leavingnature，asitwere，toherowngoodtimeandwill。Andpresentlytheglancethatwatchedme，asatdistanceandindoubt，begantoflutterandtobrighten，andtodeepenintokindness，thentobeamwithtrustandlove，andthenwithgatheringtearstofalter，andinshametoturnaway。Butthesmallentreatinghandsfoundtheirway，asifbyinstinct，tomygreatprojectingpalms；andtrembledthere，andrestedthere。

Foralittlewhilewelingeredthus，neitherwishingtomoveaway，neithercaringtolookbeyondthepresenceoftheother；bothalikesofullofhope，andcomfort，andtruehappiness；ifonlytheworldwouldletusbe。

Andthenalittlesobdisturbedus，andmothertriedtomakebelievethatshewasonlycoughing。ButLorna，guessingwhoshewas，jumpedupsoveryrashlythatshealmostsetherfrockonfirefromthegreatashlog；

andawaysherantotheoldoakchair，wheremotherwasbytheclock-casepretendingtobeknitting，andshetooktheworkfrommother’shands，andlaidthembothuponherhead，kneelinghumbly，andlookingup。

’Godblessyou，myfairmistress!’saidmother，bendingnearer，andthenasLorna’sgazeprevailed，’Godblessyou，mysweetchild!’

Andsoshewenttomother’sheartbytheverynearestroad，evenasshehadcometomine；Imeantheroadofpity，smoothedbygrace，andyouth，andgentleness。

JeremyStickleswasgonesouth，ereeverthefrostsetin，forthepurposeofmusteringforcestoattacktheDooneGlen。But，ofcourse，thisweatherhadputastoptoeverykindofmovement；forevenifmencouldhavebornethecold，theycouldscarcelybebroughttofacetheperilsofthesnow-drifts。AndtotellthetruthIcarednothowlongthisweatherlasted，solongaswehadenoughtoeat，andcouldkeepourselvesfromfreezing。NotonlythatIdidnotwantMasterSticklesbackagain，tomakemoredisturbances；butalsothattheDoonescouldnotcomeprowlingafterLornawhilethesnowlaypiledbetweenus，withthesurfacesoftanddry。Ofcoursetheywouldverysoondiscoverwheretheirlawfulqueenwas，althoughthetrackofsleddandsnow-shoeshadbeenquiteobliteratedbyanothershower，beforetherevellerscouldhavegrownhalfasdrunkastheyintended。ButMarwooddeWhichehalse，whohadbeensnowedupamongthem(asGwennysaid)，afterhelpingtostripthebeacon，thatyoungSquirewasalmostcertaintohaverecognisedme，andtohavetoldthevileCarver。AnditgavemenolittlepleasuretothinkhowmadthatCarvermustbewithme，forrobbinghimofthelovelybridewhomhewasstarvingintomatrimony。However，Iwasnotpleasedatallwiththeprospectoftheconsequences；butsetallhandsontothreshthecorn，eretheDoonescouldcomeandburnthericks。ForIknewthattheycouldnotcomeyet，inasmuchasevenaforestponycouldnottraversethecountry，muchlesstheheavyhorsesneededtocarrysuchmenastheywere。Andhundredsoftheforestponiesdiedinthishardweather，somebeingburiedinthesnow，andmoreofthemstarvedforwantofgrass。

Goingthroughthisstateofthings，andlayingdownthelawaboutit(subjecttocorrection)，IverysoonpersuadedLornathatforthepresentshewassafe，and(whichmadeherstillmorehappy)thatshewasnotonlywelcome，butasgladdeningtooureyesastheflowersofMay。Ofcourse，sofarasregardedmyself，thiswasnotahundredthpartoftherealtruth；andevenasregardedothers，Imighthavesaidittentimesover。

ForLornahadsowonthemall，byherkindandgentleways，andhermodeofhearkeningtoeverybody’strouble，andreplyingwithoutwords，aswellasbyherbeauty，andsimplegraceofallthings，thatIcouldalmostwishsometimestherestwouldleavehermoretome。Butmothercouldnotdoenough；andAnniealmostworshippedher；andevenLizziecouldnotkeepherbitternesstowardsher；especiallywhenshefoundthatLornaknewasmuchofbooksasneedbe。

AsforJohnFry，andBetty，andMolly，theywereaperfectplaguewhenLornacameintothekitchen。ForbetwixttheircuriositytoseealiveDooneintheflesh(whencertainnottoeatthem)，andtheirhighrespectforbirth(withorwithouthonesty)，andtheirintensedesiretoknowallaboutMasterJohn’ssweetheart(dropped，astheysaid，fromthesnow-clouds)，andmostofalltheiradmirationofabeautysuchasnevereventheirangelscouldhaveseen——betwixtandbetweenallthis，Isay，therewasnogettingthedinnercooked，withLorna