第89章

Now，lookatitasIwould，therewasnoexcuseleftforme，afterthepromisegiven。DearAnniehadnotonlycheatedtheDoones，butalsohadgottenthebestofme，byapledgetoathingimpossible。AndI

bitterlysaid，’IamnotlikeLorna：apledgeoncegiven，Ikeepit。’

’IwillnothaveawordagainstLorna，’criedAnnie；’I

willanswerforhertruthassurelyasIwouldformyownoryours，John。’Andwiththatshevanquishedme。

ButwhenmypoormotherheardthatIwascommitted，bywordofhonour，toawild-goosechase，amongtherebels，afterthatrunagateTomFaggus，shesimplystared，andwouldnotbelieveit。ForlatelyIhadjokedwithher，inalittlestyleofjerks，aspeopledowhenoutofsorts；andshe，notunderstandingthis，andknowingjokestobeoutofmypower，wouldonlylook，andsigh，andtoss，andhopethatImeantnothing。Atlast，however，weconvincedherthatIwasinearnest，andmustbeoffintheearlymorning，andleaveJohnFrywiththehaycrop。

ThenmotherwasreadytofalluponAnnie，asnotcontentwithdisgracingus，byweddingamanofnewhonesty(ifindeedofany)，butlayingtrapstocatchherbrother，andentanglehimperhapstohisdeath，forthesakeofaworthlessfellow；and’felon’——shewasgoingtosay，asbytheshapeofherlipsIknew。ButIlaidmyhandupondearmother’slips；becausewhatmustbe，mustbe；andifmotheranddaughterstayedathome，betterinlovethaninquarrelling。

Rightearlyinthemorning，Iwasoff，withoutwordtoanyone；knowingthatmotherandsisterminehadcriedeachhergoodselftosleep；relentingwhenthelightwasout，andsorryforhardwordsandthoughts；andyettoomuchalikeinnaturetounderstandeachother。

ThereforeItookgoodKickums，who(althoughwithoneeyespoiled)wasworthtensweet-temperedhorses，toamanwhoknewhowtomanagehim；andbeingwellchargedbothwithbaconandpowder，forthIsetonmywild-goosechase。

ForthisIclaimnobravery。Icaredbutlittlewhatcameofit；saveformother’ssake，andAnnie’s，andthekeepingofthefarm，anddiscomfitureoftheSnowes，andlamentingofLornaatmydeath，ifdieI

mustinalonesomemanner，notfoundouttillafterwards，andbleachingboneslefttoweepover。

However，Ihadalittlekettle，andapoundandahalfoftobacco，andtwodirtypipesandacleanone；alsoabitofclothesforchange，alsoabrisketofhungvenison，andfourloavesoffarmhousebread，andoftheuppersideofbaconastoneandahalfitmightbe——nottomentiondiverssmallthingsforcampaigning，whichmaycomeinhandily，whennooneelsehasgottenthem。

Wewentawayinmerrystyle；myhorsebeingreadyforanything，andIonlygladofabitofchange，aftermonthsofworkingandbrooding；withnocontenttocrownthework；nohopetohatchthebrooding；orwithouthatchingtoreckonit。WhocouldtellbutwhatLornamightbediscovered，oratanyrateheardof，beforetheendofthiscampaign；ifcampaignitcouldbecalledofamanwhowenttofightnobody，onlytoredeemarunagate？AndvexedasIwasaboutthehay，andthehunch-backedricksJohnwassuretomake(whichspoilthelookofafarm-yard)，stilleventhiswasbetterthantohavethemowsandhousesfired，asIhadnightlyexpected，andbeenwornoutwiththeworryofit。

Yettherewasonethingratherunfavourabletomypresententerprise，namely，thatIknewnothingofthecountryIwasboundto，noreveninwhatpartofitmybusinessmightbesupposedtolie。Forbesidetheuncertaintycausedbytheconflictofreports，itwaslikelythatKingMonmouth’sarmywouldbemovingfromplacetoplace，accordingtotheprospectofsuppliesandofreinforcements。However，therewouldarisemorechanceofgettingnewsasIwenton：andmyroadbeingtowardstheeastandsouth，Dulvertonwouldnotliesoveryfarasideofit，butwhatitmightbeworthavisit，bothtocollectthelatesttidings，andtoconsultthemapsandplansinUncleReuben’sparlour。

ThereforeIdrewtheoff-handrein，atthecross-roadonthehills，andmadeforthetown；expectingperhapstohavebrea