'I can't remember my father or mother. They say that my
father was the eldest son of Sir Ensor Doone, and that he was the
bravest and best of men. They call me "Queen" and tell me that
one day the valley will be mine.'
'It's beautiful and peaceful here in the valley, and perhaps I
should be happy. But the men kill and steal and drink and talk
roughly. I don't feel that I belong to the Doones, and I hate their
way of life. No one helps me or teaches me what's right.'
Lorna started to cry again. I did not know how to help her, so
I said nothing. After a few minutes, she continued her story.
'The Counsellor's son, Carver Doone, wants to marry me.
He's the strongest and bravest of all the Doones, but he's also the
roughest and the cruellest. I don't like him, but he may force me
to marry him. He often offers me stolen jewels.'
She saw from my face that I had heard of Carver. When she
told me his name, and that he wanted Lorna as his wife, my heart
was filled with anger.
Lorna continued, 'I had an aunt, Aunt Sabina, who was very
kind to me. But she died a year ago, and now I have no one I can
talk to, except my little servant girl, Gwenny Carfax. She's a little
girl that we found almost dying in the hills. Her father went away
one day and never returned. She has no family, so now she lives
with us. The poor girl is fat and ugly, so none of the men are
interested in her. She can go where she likes, and the guards don't
stop her.'
'Gwenny is very patient and kind, and her example helps me.
I often want to run away from this valley because I hate the
Doones so much. But then I think of my grandfather and my
love for him. He's very old, and I don't want him to die without
a gentle hand beside him. He's the only reason I stay. Once,
someone wanted to help me escape, but it ended terribly. The
events of that day changed my life. I stopped being a child and
learned about death and darkness.'