第84章

’Whowillthreshitoutofyou，andstarveit，andswearitoutofyou!’wasthemeaningofmyimprecation：butLizzie，notdreamingasyetofsuchthings，couldnotunderstandme，andwasratherthankful；thereforesheansweredquietly，——

’Theletterisinthelittlecupboard，neartheheadofLadyLorna’sbed，wheresheusedtokeepthediamondnecklace，whichwecontrivedtogetstolen。’

WithoutanotherwordIrushed(sothateveryboardinthehouseshook)uptomylostLorna’sroom，andtorethelittlewall-nicheopenandespiedmytreasure。Itwasassimple，andashomely，andloving，asevenI

couldwish。Partofitranasfollows，——theotherpartsitbehovesmenottoopenouttostrangers：——’Myownlove，andsometimelord，——Takeitnotamissofme，thatevenwithoutfarewell，Igo；forIcannotpersuadethementowait，yourreturnbeingdoubtful。Mygreat-uncle，somegrandlord，isawaitingmeatDunster，havingfearofventuringtoonearthisExmoorcountry。I，whohavebeensolawlessalways，andthechildofoutlaws，amnowtoatoneforthis，itseems，bylivinginacourtoflaw，andunderspecialsurveillance(astheycallit，Ibelieve)ofHisMajesty’sCourtofChancery。Myuncleisappointedmyguardianandmaster；andImustlivebeneathhiscare，untilIamtwenty-oneyearsold。Tomethisappearsadreadfulthing，andveryunjust，andcruel；forwhyshouldIlosemyfreedom，throughheritageoflandandgold？Iofferedtoabandonalliftheywouldonlyletmego；Iwentdownonmykneestothem，andsaidI

wantedtitlesnot，neitherland，normoney；onlytostaywhereIwas，wherefirstIhadknownhappiness。

Buttheyonlylaughedandcalledme“child，“andsaidI

musttalkofthattotheKing’sHighChancellor。Theirorderstheyhad，andmustobeythem；andMasterStickleswasorderedtoo，tohelpastheKing’sCommissioner。Andthen，althoughitpiercedmyheartnottosayone“goodbye，John，“Iwasgladuponthewholethatyouwerenotheretodisputeit。ForIamalmostcertainthatyouwouldnot，withoutforcetoyourself，haveletyourLornagotopeoplewhonever，nevercancareforher。’

Heremydarlinghadweptagain，bythetokensonthepaper；andthentherefollowedsomesweetwords，toosweetformetochatterthem。Butshefinishedwiththesenoblelines，which(beingcommontoallhumanity，inacaseofsteadfastlove)Idonoharm，butratherhelpalltruelovebyrepeating。’Ofonethingrestyouwellassured——andIdohopethatitmayproveofservicetoyourrest，love，elsewouldmyownbebroken——nodifferenceofrank，orfortune，oroflifeitself，shallevermakemeswervefromtruthtoyou。

Wehavepassedthroughmanytroubles，dangers，anddispartments，butneveryetwasdoubtbetweenus；

neitherevershallbe。Eachhastrustedwelltheother；andstilleachmustdoso。ThoughtheytellyouIamfalse，thoughyourownmindharboursit，fromthesenseofthingsaround，andyourownundervaluing，yettakecounselofyourheart，andcastsuchthoughtsawayfromyou；beingunworthyofitselftheymustheunworthyalsooftheonewhodwellsthere；andthatoneis，andevershallbe，yourownLornaDugal。’

Somepeoplecannotunderstandthattearsshouldcomefrompleasure；butwhetherfrompleasureorfromsorrow(mixedastheyareinthetwistedstringsofaman’sheart，orawoman’s)，greattearsfellfrommystupideyes，evenontheblotsofLorna’s。

’Nodoubtitisallover，’mymindsaidtomebitterly；

’trustme，allshallyetberight，’myheartrepliedverysweetly。

Somepeoplemaylookdownuponusforourslavishways(astheymaychoosetocallthem)，butinourpartofthecountry，wedolovetomentiontitle，andtorollitonourtongues，withaconscienceandacomfort。

Evenifamanknowsnot，throughfaultofeducation，whotheDukeofthisis，ortheEarlofthat，itwillneverdoforhimtosayso，lesttheroomlookdownonhim。Thereforehemustnodhishead，andsay，’Ah，tohesure!IknowhimaswellaseverIknowmyowngoodwoman’sbrother。HemarriedLordFlipflap’sseconddaughter，andapreciouslifesheledhim。’Whereupontheroomlooksupathim。ButI，beingquiteunabletocarryallthisinmyhead，asIought，wasspeedilyputdownbypeo