Soon after Uncle Reuben went home, I decided to visit the
Doone valley again. I put on expensive new clothes, forgetting
about the effect of water on them. I wanted to look my best. I
walked to the waterfall that I had once climbed up. I was a big
man now, and the whirlpool and the rocks seemed smaller than I
remembered. I climbed up behind the waterfall, as I had done
before, and I soon reached the top.
I hid behind the rock and looked out. Spring was very early
that year. Already there were fresh young leaves on the trees and
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small yellow flowers in the grass. The sky was very blue and the
birds were singing sweet love songs.
Then I heard a sweet voice, sweeter than all the birds. It was
the voice of Lorna Doone. I stayed behind the rocks, because I
was afraid that the sweet singer would see me and run away. After
a few minutes I looked out and saw her coming towards me,
walking by the side of the stream. I could not see her face clearly.
I saw only that her lovely dark hair had white flowers in it. It was
sunset, and the soft light over the western hills made shadows
behind her. Even now, when I see the sunset, I think of her on
that day.
I came out from behind the rocks, and she turned to run away.
I fell down on the grass, as I had fallen seven years ago when I
reached the top of the waterfall.
'Lorna Doone,' I said. She turned round and smiled. I knew
that she had recognized me, but she pretended to be angry.
'Who are you, sir?' she cried. 'And how do you know
my name?'
'I'm John Ridd,' I answered. 'The boy who climbed up the
waterfall seven years ago.'
'Yes, I remember. You were so frightened, and hid here in the
water. But you've forgotten how dangerous this place is.'
I saw that she was afraid for me. Her soft, bright eyes watched
me as she spoke, and I could not answer her. I knew that I would
love her all my life, but I did not think I was good enough for
her. It would be better, I thought, if I left immediately.
'Miss Lorna, I'll go,' I said. 'I can see that you're afraid. I know
you'd be sad if they killed me. Try to think of me sometimes. I'll
come again, and bring you some fresh eggs from our hens.'
'Thank you very much,' she said, 'but you mustn't come to
look for me.You can leave the eggs in the hole in the rocks that I
showed you.'
Then she smiled, and I wanted so much to find the way to her