第78章

HavingobtainedfromBenitaOdamaverycloseandfulldescriptionoftheplacewhereherpoormistresslay，andthemarkswherebytoknowit，IhastenedtoWatchettthefollowingmorning，beforethesunwasup，oranypeoplewereabout。Andso，withoutinterruption，Iwasinthechurchyardatsunrise。

Inthefarthestanddarkestnook，overgrownwithgrass，andoverhungbyaweeping-treealittlebankofearthbetokenedtheroundingoffofahaplesslife。Therewasnothingtotellofrank，orwealth，oflove，orevenpity；namelessasapeasantlaythelast(assupposed)ofamightyrace。Onlysomeunskilfulhand，probablyMasterOdam’sunderhiswife’steaching，hadcarvedarudeL。，andaruderD。，uponalargepebblefromthebeach，andsetitupasaheadstone。

IgatheredalittlegrassforLornaandasprigoftheweeping-tree，andthenreturnedtotheForestCat，asBenita’slonelyinnwascalled。ForthewayislongfromWatchetttoOare；andthoughyoumayrideitrapidly，astheDooneshaddoneonthatfatalnight，totravelonwheels，withonehorseonly，isamatteroftimeandofprudence。Therefore，wesetoutprettyearly，threeofusandababy，whocouldnotwellbeleftbehind。Thewifeofthemanwhoownedthecarthadundertakentomindthebusiness，andtheotherbabies，uponconditionofhavingthekeysofallthetapsleftwithher。

Asthemannerofjourneyingoverthemoorhasbeendescribedoftenoughalready，Iwillsaynomore，exceptthatweallarrivedbeforeduskofthesummer’sday，safeatPlover’sBarrows。MistressBenitawasdelightedwiththechangefromherdullhardlife；andshemademanyexcellentobservations，suchasseemnaturaltoaforeignerlookingatourcountry。

Asluckwouldhaveit，thefirstwhocametomeetusatthegatewasLorna，withnothingwhateveruponherhead(theweatherbeingsummerly)butherbeautifulhairshedroundher；andwearingasweetwhitefrocktuckedin，andshowingherfigureperfectly。Inherjoysheranstraightuptothecart；andthenstoppedandgazedatBenita。Atoneglanceheroldnurseknewher：’Oh，theeyes，theeyes!’shecried，andwasovertherailofthecartinamoment，inspiteofallhersubstance。

Lorna，ontheotherhand，lookedatherwithsomedoubtandwonder，asthoughhavingrighttoknowmuchabouther，andyetunabletodoso。ButwhentheforeignwomansaidsomethinginRomanlanguage，andflungnewhayfromthecartuponher，asifinarompofchildhood，theyoungmaidcried，’Oh，Nita，Nita!’andfelluponherbreast，andwept；andafterthatlookedroundatus。

Thisbeingso，therecouldbenodoubtastothepowerofprovingLadyLorna’sbirth，andrights，bothbyevidenceandtoken。Forthoughwehadnotthenecklacenow——thankstoAnnie’swisdom——wehadtheringofheavygold，averyancientrelic，withwhichmymaid(inhersimpleway)hadpledgedherselftome。AndBenitaknewthisringaswellassheknewherownfingers，havingheardalonghistoryaboutit；andtheeffigyonitofthewildcatwasthebearingofthehouseofLorne。

ForthoughLorna’sfatherwasanoblemanofhighandgoodlylineage，hermotherwasofyetmoreancientandrenowneddescent，beingthelastinlinedirectfromthegreatandkinglychiefsofLorne。Awildandheadstrongracetheywere，andmusthaveeverythingtheirownway。Hotbloodwaseveramongthem，evenofonehousehold；andtheirsovereignty(whichmorethanoncehaddefiedtheKingofScotland)wanedandfellamongthemselves，bycontinualquarrelling。Anditwasofapiecewiththis，thattheDoones(whowereanoffset，bythemother’sside，holdinginco-

partnershipsomelargeproperty，whichhadcomebythespindle，aswesay)shouldfalloutwiththeEarlofLorne，thelastbutoneofthattitle。

ThedaughterofthisnoblemanhadmarriedSirEnsorDoone；butthis，insteadofhealingmatters，ledtofiercerconflict。Inevercouldquiteunderstandalltheinsandoutsofit；whichnonebutalawyermaygothrough，andkeephisheadattheendofit。Themotivesofmankindareplainerthanthemotionstheyproduce。Especiallywhencharity(suchasfoundamongus)sitstojudgetheformer，andisneverwearyofit；

whilereasondoesnotcaretotracethelattercomplications，exceptforfeeortitle。

Thereforeitisenoughtosay，thatknowingLornatobedirectinheirshiptovastproperty，andbearing