CHAPTER XLIII
NOT TOO SOON
When I started on my road across the hills and valleys (which now werepretty much alike), the utmost I could hope to do was to gain the crestof hills, and look into the Doone Glen. Hence I might at least descrywhether Lorna still was safe, by the six nests still remaining, and theview of the Captain's house. When I was come to the open country, farbeyond the sheltered homestead, and in the full brunt of the wind, thekeen blast of the cold broke on me, and the mighty breadth of snow. Moorand highland, field and common, cliff and vale, and watercourse, overall the rolling folds of misty white were flung. There was nothingsquare or jagged left, there was nothing perpendicular; all the ruggedlines were eased, and all the breaches smoothly filled. Curves, andmounds, and rounded heavings, took the place of rock and stump; and allthe country looked as if a woman's hand had been on it.
Through the sparkling breadth of white, which seemed to glance my eyesaway, and outside the humps of laden trees, bowing their backs like awoodman, I contrived to get along, half-sliding and half-walking, inplaces where a plain-shodden man must have sunk, and waited freezingtill the thaw should come to him. For although there had been suchviolent frost, every night, upon the snow, the snow itself, having neverthawed, even for an hour, had never coated over. Hence it was as softand light as if all had fallen yesterday. In places where no drift hadbeen, but rather off than on to them, three feet was the least ofdepth; but where the wind had chased it round, or any draught led like afunnel, or anything opposed it; there you might very safely say thatit ran up to twenty feet, or thirty, or even fifty, and I believe sometimes a hundred.
At last I got to my spy-hill (as I had begun to call it), although Inever should have known it but for what it looked on. And even toknow this last again required all the eyes of love, soever sharpand vigilant. For all the beautiful Glen Doone (shaped from outthe mountains, as if on purpose for the Doones, and looking in thesummer-time like a sharp cut vase of green) now was besnowed half upthe sides, and at either end so, that it was more like the white basinswherein we boil plum-puddings. Not a patch of grass was there, nota black branch of a tree; all was white; and the little river flowedbeneath an arch of snow; if it managed to flow at all.
Now this was a great surprise to me; not only because I believed GlenDoone to be a place outside all frost, but also because I thoughtperhaps that it was quite impossible to be cold near Lorna. And now itstruck me all at once that perhaps her ewer was frozen (as mine had beenfor the last three weeks, requiring embers around it), and perhaps herwindow would not shut, any more than mine would; and perhaps she wantedblankets. This idea worked me up to such a chill of sympathy, thatseeing no Doones now about, and doubting if any guns would go off, inthis state of the weather, and knowing that no man could catch me up(except with shoes like mine), I even resolved to slide the cliffs, andbravely go to Lorna.
It helped me much in this resolve, that the snow came on again, thickenough to blind a man who had not spent his time among it, as I had donenow for days and days. Therefore I took my neatsfoot oil, which now wasclogged like honey, and rubbed it hard into my leg-joints, so far asI could reach them. And then I set my back and elbows well against asnowdrift, hanging far adown the cliff, and saying some of the Lord'sPrayer, threw myself on Providence. Before there was time to think ordream, I landed very beautifully upon a ridge of run-up snow in a quietcorner. My good shoes, or boots, preserved me from going far beneath it;though one of them was sadly strained, where a grub had gnawed the ash,in the early summer-time. Having set myself aright, and being in goodspirits, I made boldly across the valley (where the snow was furrowedhard), being now afraid of nobody.
If Lorna had looked out of the window she would not have known me, withthose boots upon my feet, and a well-cleaned sheepskin over me, bearingmy own (J.R.) in red, just between my shoulders, but covered now insnow-flakes. The house was partly drifted up, though not so much as ourswas; and I crossed the little stream almost without knowing that it wasunder me. At first, being pretty safe from interference from the otherhuts, by virtue of the blinding snow and the difficulty of walking, Iexamined all the windows; but these were coated so with ice, like fernsand flowers and dazzling stars, that no one could so much as guess whatmight be inside of them. Moreover I was afraid of prying narrowly intothem, as it was not a proper thing where a maiden might be; only Iwanted to know just this, whether she were there or not.
Taking nothing by this movement, I was forced, much against my will, toventure to the door and knock, in a hesitating manner, not being surebut what my answer might be the mouth of a carbine. However it was notso, for I heard a pattering of feet and a whispering going on, and thena shrill voice through the keyhole, asking, 'Who's there?'
'Only me, John Ridd,' I answered; upon which I heard a little laughter,and a little sobbing, or something that was like it; and then the doorwas opened about a couple of inches, with a bar behind it still; andthen the little voice went on,--
'Put thy finger in, young man, with the old ring on it. But mind thee,if it be the wrong one, thou shalt never draw it back again.'
Laughing at Gwenny's mighty threat, I showed my finger in the opening;upon which she let me in, and barred the door again like lightning.
'What is the meaning of all this, Gwenny?' I asked, as I slippedabout on the floor, for I could not stand there firmly with my greatsnow-shoes on.
'Maning enough, and bad maning too,' the Cornish girl made answer. Us beshut in here, and starving, and durstn't let anybody in upon us. I wishthou wer't good to ate, young man: I could manage most of thee.'
I was so frightened by her eyes, full of wolfish hunger, that I couldonly say 'Good God!' having never seen the like before. Then drew Iforth a large piece of bread, which I had brought in case of accidents,and placed it in her hands. She leaped at it, as a starving dog leaps atsight of his supper, and she set her teeth in it, and then withheldit from her lips, with something very like an oath at her own vilegreediness; and then away round the corner with it, no doubt for heryoung mistress. I meanwhile was occupied, to the best of my ability, intaking my snow-shoes off, yet wondering much within myself why Lorna didnot come to me.
But presently I knew the cause, for Gwenny called me, and I ran, andfound my darling quite unable to say so much as, 'John, how are you?'Between the hunger and the cold, and the excitement of my coming, shehad fainted away, and lay back on a chair, as white as the snow aroundus. In betwixt her delicate lips, Gwenny was thrusting with all herstrength the hard brown crust of the rye-bread, which she had snatchedfrom me so.
'Get water, or get snow,' I said; 'don't you know what fainting is, youvery stupid child?'
'Never heerd on it, in Cornwall,' she answered, trusting still to thebread; 'be un the same as bleeding?'
'It will be directly, if you go on squeezing away with that crust so.Eat a piece: I have got some more. Leave my darling now to me.'
Hearing that I had some more, the starving girl could resist no longer,but tore it in two, and had swallowed half before I had coaxed my Lornaback to sense, and hope, and joy, and love.
'I never expected to see you again. I had made up my mind to die, John;and to die without your knowing it.'
As I repelled this fearful thought in a manner highly fortifying, thetender hue flowed back again into her famished cheeks and lips, and asofter brilliance glistened from the depth of her dark eyes. She gave meone little shrunken hand, and I could not help a tear for it.
'After all, Mistress Lorna,' I said, pretending to be gay, for a smilemight do her good; 'you do not love me as Gwenny does; for she evenwanted to eat me.'
'And shall, afore I have done, young man,' Gwenny answered laughing;'you come in here with they red chakes, and make us think o' sirloin.'
'Eat up your bit of brown bread, Gwenny. It is not good enough foryour mistress. Bless her heart, I have something here such as she nevertasted the like of, being in such appetite. Look here, Lorna; smell itfirst. I have had it ever si
nce Twelfth Day, and kept it all the timefor you. Annie made it. That is enough to warrant it good cooking.'
And then I showed my great mince-pie in a bag of tissue paper, and Itold them how the mince-meat was made of golden pippins finely shred,with the undercut of the sirloin, and spice and fruit accordingly andfar beyond my knowledge. But Lorna would not touch a morsel until shehad thanked God for it, and given me the kindest kiss, and put a piecein Gwenny's mouth.
I have eaten many things myself, with very great enjoyment, and keenperception of their merits, and some thanks to God for them. But I neverdid enjoy a thing, that had found its way between my own lips, half, oreven a quarter as much as I now enjoyed beholding Lorna, sittingproudly upwards (to show that she was faint no more) entering intothat mince-pie, and moving all her pearls of teeth (inside her littlemouth-place) exactly as I told her. For I was afraid lest she should betoo fast in going through it, and cause herself more damage so, than shegot of nourishment. But I had no need to fear at all, and Lorna couldnot help laughing at me for thinking that she had no self-control.
Some creatures require a deal of food (I myself among the number), andsome can do with a very little; making, no doubt, the best of it. And Ihave often noticed that the plumpest and most perfect women never eat sohard and fast as the skinny and three-cornered ones. These last be oftenashamed of it, and eat most when the men be absent. Hence it came topass that Lorna, being the loveliest of all maidens, had as much as shecould do to finish her own half of pie; whereas Gwenny Carfax (thoughgenerous more than greedy), ate up hers without winking, after finishingthe brown loaf; and then I begged to know the meaning of this state ofthings.
'The meaning is sad enough,' said Lorna; 'and I see no way out of it. Weare both to be starved until I let them do what they like with me.
'That is to say until you choose to marry Carver Doone, and be slowlykilled by him?'
'Slowly! No, John, quickly. I hate him so intensely, that less than aweek would kill me.'
'Not a doubt of that,' said Gwenny; 'oh, she hates him nicely then; butnot half so much as I do.'
I told them that this state of things could be endured no longer, onwhich point they agreed with me, but saw no means to help it. Foreven if Lorna could make up her mind to come away with me and live atPlover's Barrows farm, under my good mother's care, as I had urged sooften, behold the snow was all around us, heaped as high as mountains,and how could any delicate maiden ever get across it?
Then I spoke with a strange tingle upon both sides of my heart, knowingthat this undertaking was a serious one for all, and might burn our farmdown,--
'If I warrant to take you safe, and without much fright or hardship,Lorna, will you come with me?'
'To be sure I will, dear,' said my beauty, with a smile and a glance tofollow it; 'I have small alternative, to starve, or go with you, John.'
'Gwenny, have you courage for it? Will you come with your youngmistress?'
'Will I stay behind?' cried Gwenny, in a voice that settled it. And sowe began to arrange about it; and I was much excited. It was uselessnow to leave it longer; if it could be done at all, it could not be tooquickly done. It was the Counsellor who had ordered, after all otherschemes had failed, that his niece should have no food until she wouldobey him. He had strictly watched the house, taking turns with Carver,to ensure that none came nigh it bearing food or comfort. But thisevening, they had thought it needless to remain on guard; and itwould have been impossible, because themselves were busy offering highfestival to all the valley, in right of their own commandership. AndGwenny said that nothing made her so nearly mad with appetite asthe account she received from a woman of all the dishes preparing.Nevertheless she had answered bravely,--
'Go and tell the Counsellor, and go and tell the Carver, who sent you tospy upon us, that we shall have a finer dish than any set before them.'And so in truth they did, although so little dreaming it; for no Doonethat was ever born, however much of a Carver, might vie with our Anniefor mince-meat.
Now while we sat reflecting much, and talking a good deal more, in spiteof all the cold--for I never was in a hurry to go, when I had Lorna withme--she said, in her silvery voice, which always led me so along, as ifI were a slave to a beautiful bell,--
'Now, John, we are wasting time, dear. You have praised my hair, till itcurls with pride, and my eyes till you cannot see them, even if they arebrown diamonds which I have heard for the fiftieth time at least; thoughI never saw such a jewel. Don't you think it is high time to put on yoursnow-shoes, John?'
'Certainly not,' I answered, 'till we have settled something more. I wasso cold when I came in; and now I am as warm as a cricket. And so areyou, you lively soul; though you are not upon my hearth yet.'
'Remember, John,' said Lorna, nestling for a moment to me; 'the severityof the weather makes a great difference between us. And you must nevertake advantage.'
'I quite understand all that, dear. And the harder it freezes thebetter, while that understanding continues. Now do try to be serious.'
'I try to be serious! And I have been trying fifty times, and couldnot bring you to it, John! Although I am sure the situation, as theCounsellor says at the beginning of a speech, the situation, to say theleast, is serious enough for anything. Come, Gwenny, imitate him.'
Gwenny was famed for her imitation of the Counsellor making a speech;and she began to shake her hair, and mount upon a footstool; but Ireally could not have this, though even Lorna ordered it. The truthwas that my darling maiden was in such wild spirits, at seeing me sounexpected, and at the prospect of release, and of what she had neverknown, quiet life and happiness, that like all warm and loving natures,she could scarce control herself.
'Come to this frozen window, John, and see them light the stack-fire.They will little know who looks at them. Now be very good, John. Youstay in that corner, dear, and I will stand on this side; and try tobreathe yourself a peep-hole through the lovely spears and banners. Oh,you don't know how to do it. I must do it for you. Breathe three times,like that, and that; and then you rub it with your fingers, before ithas time to freeze again.'
All this she did so beautifully, with her lips put up like cherries, andher fingers bent half back, as only girls can bend them, and her littlewaist thrown out against the white of the snowed-up window, that I madeher do it three times over; and I stopped her every time and let itfreeze again, that so she might be the longer. Now I knew that all herlove was mine, every bit as much as mine was hers; yet I must have herto show it, dwelling upon every proof, lengthening out all certainty.Perhaps the jealous heart is loath to own a life worth twice its own. Bethat as it may, I know that we thawed the window nicely.
And then I saw, far down the stream (or rather down the bed of it, forthere was no stream visible), a little form of fire arising, red, anddark, and flickering. Presently it caught on something, and went upwardboldly; and then it struck into many forks, and then it fell, and roseagain.
'Do you know what all that is, John?' asked Lorna, smiling cleverly atthe manner of my staring.
'How on earth should I know? Papists burn Protestants in the flesh; andProtestants burn Papists in effigy, as we mock them. Lorna, are theygoing to burn any one to-night?'
'No, you dear. I must rid you of these things. I see that you arebigoted. The Doones are firing Dunkery beacon, to celebrate their newcaptain.'
'But how could they bring it here through the snow? If they havesledges, I can do nothing.'
'They brought it before the snow began. The moment poor grandfather wasgone, even before his funeral, the young men, having none to check them,began at once upon it. They had always borne a grudge against it; notthat it ever did them harm; but because it seemed so insolent. "Can't agentleman go home, without a smoke behind him?" I have often heard themsaying. And though they have done it no serious harm, since they threwthe firemen on the fire, many, many years ago, they have often promisedto bring it here for their candle; and now they have done it. Ah, nowlook! The tar is kindled
.'
Though Lorna took it so in joke, I looked upon it very gravely, knowingthat this heavy outrage to the feelings of the neighbourhood would causemore stir than a hundred sheep stolen, or a score of houses sacked. Notof course that the beacon was of the smallest use to any one, neitherstopped anybody from stealing, nay, rather it was like the parish knell,which begins when all is over, and depresses all the survivors; yetI knew that we valued it, and were proud, and spoke of it as a mightyinstitution and even more than that, our vestry had voted, withinthe last two years, seven shillings and six-pence to pay for it, inproportion with other parishes. And one of the men who attended toit, or at least who was paid for doing so, was our Jem Slocombe'sgrandfather.
However, in spite of all my regrets, the fire went up very merrily,blazing red and white and yellow, as it leaped on different things.And the light danced on the snow-drifts with a misty lilac hue. I wasastonished at its burning in such mighty depths of snow; but Gwenny saidthat the wicked men had been three days hard at work, clearing, as itwere, a cock-pit, for their fire to have its way. And now they had amighty pile, which must have covered five land-yards square, heaped upto a goodly height, and eager to take fire.
In this I saw great obstacle to what I wished to manage. For when thispyramid should be kindled thoroughly, and pouring light and blazesround, would not all the valley be like a white room full of candles?Thinking thus, I was half inclined to abide my time for another night:and then my second thoughts convinced me that I would be a fool in this.For lo, what an opportunity! All the Doones would be drunk, of course,in about three hours' time, and getting more and more in drink as thenight went on. As for the fire, it must sink in about three hours ormore, and only cast uncertain shadows friendly to my purpose. And thenthe outlaws must cower round it, as the cold increased on them, helpingthe weight of the liquor; and in their jollity any noise would becheered as a false alarm. Most of all, and which decided once for all myaction,--when these wild and reckless villains should be hot with ardentspirits, what was door, or wall, to stand betwixt them and my Lorna?
This thought quickened me so much that I touched my darling reverently,and told her in a few short words how I hoped to manage it.
'Sweetest, in two hours' time, I shall be again with you. Keep the barup, and have Gwenny ready to answer any one. You are safe while they aredining, dear, and drinking healths, and all that stuff; and before theyhave done with that, I shall be again with you. Have everything you careto take in a very little compass, and Gwenny must have no baggage. Ishall knock loud, and then wait a little; and then knock twice, verysoftly.'
With this I folded her in my arms; and she looked frightened at me; nothaving perceived her danger; and then I told Gwenny over again what Ihad told her mistress: but she only nodded her head and said, 'Youngman, go and teach thy grandmother.'
Lorna Doone: A Romance of Exmoor Page 44