Here, though the tears were in my eyes, at the loving things love said of me, I could not help a little laugh at the notion of any bitter piety being found among the Doones, or even in mother, for that matter.  Lorna smiled, in her slyest manner, and went on again:—­

“Now, you see, I have proved my point; there is nothing between us but worldly position—­if you can defend me against the Doones, for which, I trow, I may trust you.  And worldly position means wealth, and title, and the right to be in great houses, and the pleasure of being envied.  I have not been here for a year, John, without learning something.  Oh, I hate it; how I hate it!  Of all the people I know, there are but two, besides my uncle, who do not either covet, or detest me.  And who are those two, think you?”

“Gwenny, for one,” I answered.

“Yes, Gwenny, for one.  And the queen, for the other.  The one is too far below me (I mean, in her own opinion), and the other too high above.  As for the women who dislike me, without having even heard my voice, I simply have nothing to do with them.  As for the men who covet me, for my land and money, I merely compare them with you, John Ridd; and all thought of them is over.  Oh, John, you must never forsake me, however cross I am to you.  I thought you would have gone, just now; and though I would not move to stop you, my heart would have broken.”

“You don’t catch me go in a hurry,” I answered very sensibly, “when the loveliest maiden in all the world, and the best, and the dearest, loves me.  All my fear of you is gone, darling Lorna, all my fear—­”

“Is it possible you could fear me, John, after all we have been through together?  Now you promised not to interrupt me; is this fair behaviour?  Well, let me see where I left off—­oh, that my heart would have broken.  Upon that point, I will say no more, lest you should grow conceited, John; if anything could make you so.  But I do assure you that half London—­however, upon that point also I will check my power of speech, lest you think me conceited.  And now to put aside all nonsense; though I have talked none for a year, John, having been so unhappy; and now it is such a relief to me—­”

“Then talk it for an hour,” said I; “and let me sit and watch you.  To me it is the very sweetest of all sweetest wisdom.”

“Nay, there is no time,” she answered, glancing at a jewelled timepiece, scarcely larger than an oyster, which she drew from her waist-band; and then she pushed it away, in confusion, lest its wealth should startle me.  “My uncle will come home in less than half an hour, dear:  and you are not the one to take a side-passage, and avoid him.  I shall tell him that you have been here; and that I mean you to come again.”

As Lorna said this, with a manner as confident as need be, I saw that she had learned in town the power of her beauty, and knew that she could do with most men aught she set her mind upon.  And as she stood there, flushed with pride and faith in her own loveliness, and radiant with the love itself, I felt that she must do exactly as she pleased with every one.  For now, in turn, and elegance, and richness, and variety, there was nothing to compare with her face, unless it were her figure.  Therefore I gave in, and said,—­