[Lorna Doone<br> A Romance of Exmoor by R. D. Blackmore]@TWC D-Link book
Lorna Doone
A Romance of Exmoor

CHAPTER XX
13/13

There honest folk may go to work in the glory of the sunrise, with hope of coming home again quite safe in the quiet evening, and finding all their children; and even in the darkness they have no fear of lying down, and dropping off to slumber, and hearken to the wind of night, not as to an enemy trying to find entrance, but a friend who comes to tell the value of their comfort.
'Of all this golden ease I hear, but never saw the like of it; and, haply, I shall never do so, being born to turbulence.

Once, indeed, I had the offer of escape, and kinsman's aid, and high place in the gay, bright world; and yet I was not tempted much, or, at least, dared not to trust it.

And it ended very sadly, so dreadfully that I even shrink from telling you about it; for that one terror changed my life, in a moment, at a blow, from childhood and from thoughts of play and commune with the flowers and trees, to a sense of death and darkness, and a heavy weight of earth.

Be content now, Master Ridd ask me nothing more about it, so your sleep be sounder.' But I, John Ridd, being young and new, and very fond of hearing things to make my blood to tingle, had no more of manners than to urge poor Lorna onwards, hoping, perhaps, in depth of heart, that she might have to hold by me, when the worst came to the worst of it.

Therefore she went on again..


<<Back  Index  Next>>

D-Link book Top

TWC mobile books