I travelled back to Somerset alone and arrived home safely. My
mother and sisters were very pleased with the presents that I had
bought for them in London. That day, everyone on the farm
came to see me — the men, their wives and their children. They
all wanted to hear my stories about London.
But, more than anything else, I wanted to visit Lorna. Early
the next morning, I climbed to the top of the hill that looked
over the Doone valley. I looked towards the white stone and saw
that it was covered with a black cloth!
I did not know how long the stone had been covered, but I
did not wait another minute. I went up the stream to the
waterfall and climbed up into the valley.
Birds were singing in the golden evening. The trees were bright
in the light of the sunset. I waited. At last Lorna came, looking very
small and beautiful in the shadows. I ran towards her, not thinking
of the guards or the danger. She looked frightened.
'Are you in trouble?' I asked.
'Oh, yes,' she answered, 'but that was a long time ago — two
months or more, sir. 'She looked away from me, with a cold look
in her eyes.
I felt very frightened. Perhaps another man had taken her from
me. I tried to turn away and leave, but could not. I could not stop
myself— I started to cry.
Lorna heard it and it told her everything. She came to me and
held out her hands. Her bright eyes were full of kindness.
'John Ridd,' she whispered softly, 'I didn't want to make
you sad.'
'You're the only person who can do that,' I answered. I could
not look at her.
'Come away from this bright place. Come into the shadows,'
said Lorna.
She led me to her secret place in the rocks. Now she knew my
feelings for her. She could not look at me, but she could not look
away either.
'Lorna, do you love me?' I managed to say.
'Yes, I like you very much,' she answered.
'But do you love me, Lorna, more than all the world?'
'No,' she said. 'I like you very much, when you don't talk
wildly. I like your strength. You could even fight Carver and beat
him - I like that. But I put the black cloth on the rock two
months ago, and you didn't come. Why didn't you come when I
needed help, if you like me so much? The Counsellor's trying to
make me marry Carver. My grandfather thinks I'm too young -
Carver's thirty-five and I'm only seventeen. Another man,
Charlie Doone, watches me all the time too, so my grandfather's
afraid that Carver and Charlie will fight because of me. People
watch me and follow me everywhere I go. I'm only here with
you today because little Gwenny Carfax helps me.'
When I heard this, I promised never to leave Lorna again. I
gave her the little present that I had brought her from London.
I explained why I had not come, and was forgiven. We spoke
sweet words to each other. Her eyes and her words showed me
that she had begun to care for me, and I was happier than I had
ever been. We planned how she could send news to me if she
needed me.
'Now go, John,' she said. 'You must go home. You can come
and see me again in two months.'
Then she turned and ran down the valley.