第95章

’Andyoumaytakeme，ifyouplease，beforethegreatLordJeffreys。Ihavedonenomorethanduty，thoughI

diditcrookedly，andtoldaheapoflies，foryoursake。AndprettygratitudeIgets。’

’Muchgratitudeyouhaveshown，’repliedLorna，’toMasterRidd，forallhiskindnessandhisgoodnesstoyou。Whowasitthatwentdown，attheperilofhislife，andbroughtyourfathertoyou，whenyouhadlosthimformonthsandmonths？Whowasit？Answerme，Gwenny？’

’GirtJanRidd，’saidthehandmaid，verysulkily。

’Whatmadeyoutreatmeso，littleGwenny？’Iasked，forLornawouldnotasklestthereplyshouldvexme。

’Because’eebe’estbelowherso。Hershanna’haveapoorfarmeringchap，notevenifherwereaCarnishman。

Allherland，andallherbirth——andwhobeyou，I’dliketoknow？’

’Gwenny，youmaygo，’saidLorna，reddeningwithquietanger；’andrememberthatyoucomenotnearmeforthenextthreedays。Itistheonlywaytopunishher，’

shecontinuedtome，whenthemaidwasgone，inastormofsobbingandweeping。’Now，forthenextthreedays，shewillscarcelytouchamorseloffood，andscarcelydoathingbutcry。Makeupyourmindtoonething，John；ifyoumeantotakeme，forbetterforworse，youwillhavetotakeGwennywithme。

’IwouldtakeyouwithfiftyGwennies，’saidI，’althougheveryoneofthemhatedme，whichIdonotbelievethislittlemaiddoes，inthebottomofherheart。’

’Noonecanpossiblyhateyou，John，’sheansweredverysoftly；andIwasbetterpleasedwiththis，thanifshehadcalledmethemostnobleandgloriousmaninthekingdom。

Afterthis，wespokeofourselvesandthewaypeoplewouldregardus，supposingthatwhenLornacametobeherownfreemistress(asshemustdointhecourseoftime)sheweretothrowherrankaside，andrefusehertitle，andcaringnotafigforfolkwhocaredlessthanafig-stalkforher，shouldshapehermindtoitsnativebent，andtomyperfecthappiness。Itwasnotmyplacetosaymuch，lestIshouldappeartouseanimproperandselfishinfluence。Andofcoursetoallmenofcommonsense，andtoeverybodyofmiddleage(whomustknowbestwhatisgoodforyouth)，thethoughtswhichmyLornaentertainedwouldbeenoughtoprovehermadness。

Notthatwecouldnotkeepherwell，comfortably，andwithniceclothes，andplentyofflowers，andfruit，andlandscape，andtheknowledgeofourneighbours’

affairs，andtheirkindinterestinourown。Stillthiswouldnotbeasifsheweretheownerofacounty，andahaughtytitle；andabletoleadthefirstmenoftheage，byhermind，andface，andmoney。

ThereforewasIquiteresolvednottohaveawordtosay，whilethisyoungqueenofwealthandbeauty，andofnoblemen’sdesire，madeherminduphowtoactforherpuresthappiness。Buttodoherjustice，thiswasnotthefirstthingshewasthinkingof：thetestofherjudgmentwasonlythis，’Howwillmylovebehappiest？’

’Now，John，’shecried；forshewassoquickthatshealwayshadmythoughtsbeforehand；’whywillyoubebackward，asifyoucarednotforme？DoyoudreamthatIamdoubting？Mymindhasbeenmadeup，goodJohn，thatyoumustbemyhusband，for——well，Iwillnotsayhowlong，lestyoushouldlaughatmyfolly。

ButIbelieveitwaseversinceyoucame，withyourstockingsoff，andtheloaches。Rightearlyformetomakeupmymind；butyouknowthatyoumadeupyours，John；and，ofcourse，Iknewit；andthathadagreateffectonme。Now，afterallthisageofloving，shallatrifleseverus？’

Itoldherthatitwasnotrifle，butamostimportantthing，toabandonwealth，andhonour，andthebrillianceofhighlife，andbedespisedbyeveryoneforsuchabundantfolly。Moreover，thatIshouldappearaknavefortakingadvantageofheryouth，andboundlessgenerosity，andruining(asmenwouldsay)anoblemaidbymyselfishness。AndItoldheroutright，havingworkedmyselfupbymyownconversation，thatshewasboundtoconsultherguardian，andthatwithouthisknowledge，Iwouldcomenomoretoseeher。Herflashofprideattheselastwordsmadeherlooklikeanempress；andIwasabouttoexplainmyselfbetter，butsheputforthherhandand