I could not look at him very nicely, being afeared of the death in his face, and most afeared to show it. And to tell the truth, my poor blue eyes fell away from the blackness of his, as if it had been my coffin- plate. Therefore I made a low obeisance, and tried not to shiver. Only I groaned that Lorna thought it good manners to leave us two together.

‘Ah,’ said the old man, and his voice seemed to come from a cavern of skeletons; ‘are you that great John Ridd?’

‘John Ridd is my name, your honour,’ was all that I could answer; ‘and I hope your worship is better.’

‘Child, have you sense enough to know what you have been doing?’

‘Yes, I knew right well,’ I answered, ‘that I have set mine eyes far above my rank.’

‘Are you ignorant that Lorna Doone is born of the oldest families remaining in North Europe?’

‘I was ignorant of that, your worship; yet I knew of her high descent from the Doones of Bagworthy.’

The old man’s eyes, like fire, probed me whether I was jesting; then perceiving how grave I was, and thinking that I could not laugh (as many people suppose of me), he took on himself to make good the deficiency with a very bitter smile.

‘And know you of your own low descent from the Ridds of Oare?’

‘Sir,’ I answered, being as yet unaccustomed to this style of speech, ‘the Ridds, of Oare, have been honest men twice as long as the Doones have been rogues.’

‘I would not answer for that, John,’ Sir Ensor replied, very quietly, when I expected fury. ‘If it be so, thy family is the very oldest in Europe. Now hearken to me, boy, or clown, or honest fool, or whatever thou art; hearken to an old man’s words, who has not many hours to live. There is nothing in this world to fear, nothing to revere or trust, nothing even to hope for; least of all, is there aught to love.’

‘I hope your worship is not quite right,’ I answered, with great misgivings; ‘else it is a sad mistake for anybody to live, sir.’

‘Therefore,’ he continued, as if I had never spoken, ‘though it may seem hard for a week or two, like the loss of any other toy, I deprive you of nothing, but add to your comfort, and (if there be such a thing) to your happiness, when I forbid you ever to see that foolish child again. All marriage is a wretched farce, even when man and wife belong to the same rank of life, have temper well assorted, similar likes and dislikes, and about the same pittance of mind. But when they are not so matched, the farce would become a long, dull tragedy, if anything were worth lamenting. There, I have reasoned enough with you; I am not in the habit of reasoning. Though I have little confidence in man’s honour, I have some reliance in woman’s pride. You will pledge your word in Lorna’s presence never to see or to seek her again; never even to think of her more. Now call her, for I am weary.’

He kept his great eyes fixed upon me with their icy fire (as if he scorned both life and death), and on his haughty lips some slight amusement at my trouble; and then he raised one hand (as if I were a poor dumb creature), and pointed to the door. Although my heart rebelled and kindled at his proud disdain, I could not disobey him freely; but made a low salute, and went straightway in search of Lorna.

I found my love (or not my love; according as now she should behave; for I was very desperate, being put upon so sadly); Lorna Doone was crying softly at a little window, and listening to the river’s grief. I laid my heavy arm around her, not with any air of claiming or of forcing her thoughts to me, but only just to comfort her, and ask what she was thinking of. To my arm she made no answer, neither to my seeking eyes; but to my heart, once for all, she spoke with her own upon it. Not a word, nor sound between us; not even a kiss was interchanged; but man, or maid, who has ever loved hath learned our understanding.