I felt much inclined to tell dear mother all about Lorna, and how I loved her, yet had no hope of winning her.  Often and often, I had longed to do this, and have done with it.  But the thought of my father’s terrible death, at the hands of the Doones, prevented me.  And it seemed to me foolish and mean to grieve mother, without any chance of my suit ever speeding.  If once Lorna loved me, my mother should know it; and it would be the greatest happiness to me to have no concealment from her, though at first she was sure to grieve terribly.  But I saw no more chance of Lorna loving me, than of the man in the moon coming down; or rather of the moon coming down to the man, as related in old mythology.

Now the merriment of the small birds, and the clear voice of the waters, and the lowing of cattle in meadows, and the view of no houses (except just our own and a neighbour’s), and the knowledge of everybody around, their kindness of heart and simplicity, and love of their neighbour’s doings,—­all these could not help or please me at all, and many of them were much against me, in my secret depth of longing and dark tumult of the mind.  Many people may think me foolish, especially after coming from London, where many nice maids looked at me (on account of my bulk and stature), and I might have been fitted up with a sweetheart, in spite of my west-country twang, and the smallness of my purse; if only I had said the word.  But nay; I have contempt for a man whose heart is like a shirt-stud (such as I saw in London cards), fitted into one to-day, sitting bravely on the breast; plucked out on the morrow morn, and the place that knew it, gone.

Now, what did I do but take my chance; reckless whether any one heeded me or not, only craving Lorna’s heed, and time for ten words to her.  Therefore I left the men of the farm as far away as might be, after making them work with me (which no man round our parts could do, to his own satisfaction), and then knowing them to be well weary, very unlike to follow me—­and still more unlike to tell of me, for each had his London present—­I strode right away, in good trust of my speed, without any more misgivings; but resolved to face the worst of it, and to try to be home for supper.

And first I went, I know not why, to the crest of the broken highland, whence I had agreed to watch for any mark or signal.  And sure enough at last I saw (when it was too late to see) that the white stone had been covered over with a cloth or mantle,—­the sign that something had arisen to make Lorna want me.  For a moment I stood amazed at my evil fortune; that I should be too late, in the very thing of all things on which my heart was set!  Then after eyeing sorrowfully every crick and cranny to be sure that not a single flutter of my love was visible, off I set, with small respect either for my knees or neck, to make the round of the outer cliffs, and come up my old access.

Nothing could stop me; it was not long, although to me it seemed an age, before I stood in the niche of rock at the head of the slippery watercourse, and gazed into the quiet glen, where my foolish heart was dwelling.  Notwithstanding doubts of right, notwithstanding sense of duty, and despite all manly striving, and the great love of my home, there my heart was ever dwelling, knowing what a fool it was, and content to know it.