第96章

Moreover，Ifoundfromthissameletter(whichwaspinnedupontheknuckleofalegofmutton，forfearofbeinglostinstraw)thatgoodTomFagguswasathomeagain，andnearlycuredofhisdreadfulwound；butintendedtogotowarnomore，onlytomindhisfamily。

Anditgrievedhimmorethananythingheevercouldhaveimagined，thathisdutytohisfamily，andthestrongpowerofhisconscience，sototallyforbadehimtocomeupandseeafterme。Fornowhisdesignwastoleadanewlife，andbeincharitywithallmen。Manybettermenthanhehadbeenhanged，hesawnocausetodoubt；butbythegraceofGodhehopedhimselftocheatthegallows。

Therewasnofurthernewsofmomentinthisverycleverletter，exceptthatthepriceofhorses’shoeswasgoneupagain，thoughalreadytwopence-farthingeach；andthatBettyhadbrokenherlover’sheadwiththestockingfullofmoney；andtheninthecorneritwaswrittenthatthedistinguishedmanofwar，andworshipfulscholar，MasterBloxham，wasnowpromotedtotakethetolls，andcatchalltherebelsaroundourpart。

Lornawasgreatlypleasedwiththegoose，andthebutter，andthebrandiedcherries；andtheEarlBrandirhimselfdeclaredthathenevertastedbetterthanthoselast，andwouldbegtheyoungmanfromthecountrytoprocurehiminstructionsformakingthem。Thisnobleman，beingasdeafasapost，andofaverysolidmind，couldneverbebroughttounderstandthenatureofmythoughtstowardsLorna。Helookeduponmeasanexcellentyouth，whohadrescuedthemaidenfromtheDoones，whomhecordiallydetested；andlearningthatI

hadthrowntwoofthemoutofwindow(asthestorywastoldhim)，hepattedmeontheback，anddeclaredthathisdoorswouldeverbeopentome，andthatIcouldnotcometoooften。

Ithoughtthisverykindofhislordship，especiallyasitenabledmetoseemydarlingLorna，notindeedasoftenasIwished，butatanyrateveryfrequently，andasmanytimesasmodesty(evermyleadingprinciple)

wouldincommonconscienceapproveof。AndImadeupmymindthatifeverIcouldhelpEarlBrandir，itwouldbe——aswesay，whenwithbrandyandwater——the’proudestmomentofmylife，’whenIcouldfulfilthepledge。

AndIsoonwasabletohelpLordBrandir，asIthink，intwodifferentways；firstofallasregardedhismind，andthenasconcernedhisbody：andthelatterperhapswasthegreatestservice，athistimeoflife。

Butnottobetooniceaboutthat；letmetellhowthesethingswere。

Lornasaidtomeoneday，beinginastateofexcitement——wheretoshewasoverprone，whenreftofmyslownesstosteadyher，——

’Iwilltellhim，John；Imusttellhim，John。Itismeanofmetoconcealit。’

Ithoughtthatshemeantallaboutourlove，whichwehadendeavouredthricetodrillintohisfineoldears；

butcouldnotmakehimcomprehend，withoutriskofbringingthehousedown：andsoIsaid，’Byallmeans；

darling；haveanothertryatit。’

Lorna，however，lookedatme——forhereyestoldmorethantongue——asmuchastosay，’Well，youareastupid。Weagreedtoletthatsubjectrest。’AndthenshesawthatIwasvexedatmyownwantofquickness；

andsoshespokeverykindly，——

’Imeantabouthispoorson，dearest；thesonofhisoldagealmost；whoselossthrewhimintothatdreadfulcold——forhewent，withouthat，tolookforhim——whichendedinhislosingtheuseofhisdearoldears。I

believeifwecouldonlygethimtoPlover’sBarrowsforamonth，hewouldbeabletohearagain。Andlookathisage!heisnotmuchoverseventy，John，youknow；andIhopethatyouwillbeabletohearme，longafteryouareseventy，John。’

’Well，’saidI，’Godsettlesthat。Oratanyrate，Heleavesustimetothinkaboutthosequestions，whenweareoverfifty。Nowletmeknowwhatyouwant，Lorna。

Theideaofmybeingseventy!Butyouwouldstillbebeautiful。’

’Totheonewholovesme，’sheanswered，tryingtomakewrinklesinherpurebrightforehead：’butifyouwillhavecommonsense，asyoualwayswill，John，whetherI

wishitorotherwise——IwanttoknowwhetherIambound，inhonour，andinconscience，totellmydearandgoodoldunclewhatIknowabouthisson？’

’Firstletmeunderstandquiteclearly，’saidI，neverbeinginahurry，exceptwhenpassionmovesme，’whathislordshipthinksatpresent；andhowfarhismindisurgedwithsorrowandanxiety。’Thiswasnotthefirsttimewehadspokenofthematter。

’Why，youknow，John，wellenough，’sheanswered，