Status Updates From Lorna Doone: A Romance of E...

This may seem a violent and unholy revenge upon them. And I (who led the heart of it) have in these my latter years doubted how I shall be judged, not of men - for God only knows the errors of man's judgements - but by that great God Himself, the front of whose forehead is mercy.

For that, she gave me the simplest, kindest, and sweetest of all kisses; and I went down the grand stairs grandly, thinking of nothing else but that.

I wrung the hand of Jeremy Stickles, for his truth and goodness; and he almost wept (for since his wound, he had been a weakened man) as he answered, 'Turn for turn, John. You saved my life from the Doones; and by the mercy of God, I have saved you from a far worse company. Let your sister Annie know it.'

He turned away in bitter pain, that none might see his trouble, and Annie, going along with him, looked as if I had killed our mother. For my part, I was so upset, for fear of having gone too far, that without a word to either of them, but a message on the title-page of King James's Prayer-book, I saddled Kickums and was off, and glad of the moorland air again.

(...) Being in the leg-line myself, I wanted to know what the muscles of a man were like who turned a wheel all day. I had never seen a treadmill (though they have one now at Exeter), and it touched me much to learn whether it was good exercise. And herein, from what I saw of Odam, I incline to think that it does great harm, as moving the muscles too much in a line, and without variety.

For such, I tried to persuade myself, was the nature of Ruth's regard for me: and upon looking back, I could not charge myself with any misconduct towards the little maiden. I had never sought her company, I had never trifled with her (at least until that very day), and being so engrossed with my own love, I had scarcely even thought of her. (...)

Having made this very long speech (for her), mother came home upon my shoulder, and wept so that (but for heeding her) I would have taken Tom by the nose, and thrown him, and Winnie after him, over our farmyard gate. For I am violent when roused, and freely hereby acknowledge it, though even my enemies will own that it takes a great deal to rouse me. (...)

With this, I folded her in my arms, and she looked frightened at me, not having perceived her danger. Then I told Gwenny again what I had told her mistress, but she only nodded and said, 'Young man, go and teach thy grandmother.'

Upon that, he shook me by the hand, with a pressure such as we feel not often; and having learned from me how to pass quite beyond the view of his enemies, he rode on to his duty, whatever it might be. (...)