d me I
took, and raised it to my lips with fear, as a thing too good for me.
"Is that all?" she whispered; and then her eyes gleamed up at me; and in
another instant, she was weeping on my breast.

"Darling Lorna, Lady Lorna," I cried, in astonishment, yet unable but to
keep her closer to me, and closer; "surely, though I love you so, this
is not as it should be."

"Yes, it is, John. Yes, it is. Nothing else should ever be. Oh, why have
you behaved so?"

"I am behaving." I replied, "to the very best of my ability. There is no
other man in the world could hold you so, without kissing you."

"Then why don't you do it, John?" asked Lorna, looking up at me, with a
flash of her old fun.

Now this matter, proverbially, is not for discussion, and repetition.
Enough that we said nothing more than, "Oh, John, how glad I am!" and
"Lorna, Lorna Lorna!" for about five minutes. Then my darling drew
back proudly, with blushing cheeks, and tear-bright eyes, she began to
cross-examine me.

"Master John Ridd, you shall tell the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth. I have been in Chancery, sir; and can detect a
story. Now why have you never, for more than a twelvemonth, taken the
smallest notice of your old friend, Mistress Lorna Doone?" Although she
spoke in this lightsome manner, as if it made no difference, I saw that
her quick heart was moving, and the flash of her eyes controlled.

"Simply for this cause," I answered, "that my old friend and true love,
took not the smallest heed of me. Nor knew I where to find her."

"What!" cried Lorna; and nothing more; being overcome with wondering;
and much inclined to fall away, but for my assistance. I told her, over
and over again, that not a single syllable of any message from her,
or tidings of her welfare, had reached me, or any one of us, since the
letter she left behind; except by soldier's gossip.

"Oh, you poor dear John!" said Lorna, sighing at thought of my misery:
"how wonderfully good of you, thinking of me as you must have done, not
to marry that little plain thing (or perhaps I should say that lovely
creature, for I have never seen her), Mistress Ruth--I forget her name;
but something like a towel."

"Ruth Huckaback is a worthy maid," I answered with some dignity; "and
she alone of all our world, except indeed poor Annie, has kept her
confidence in you, and told me not to dread your rank, but trust your
heart, Lady Lorna."

"Then Ruth is my best friend