d not meaning only the victuals: "the scent of the gorse on the moors
drove me wild, and the primroses under the hedges. I am sure I was meant
for a farmer's--I mean for a farm-house life, dear Lizzie"--for Lizzie
was looking saucily--"just as you were meant for a soldier's bride, and
for writing despatches of victory. And now, since you will not ask me,
dear mother, in the excellence of your manners, and even John has not
the impudence, in spite of all his coat of arms--I must tell you a
thing, which I vowed to keep until tomorrow morning; but my resolution
fails me. I am my own mistress--what think you of that, mother? I am my
own mistress!"

"Then you shall not be so long," cried I; for mother seemed not to
understand her, and sought about for her glasses: "darling, you shall be
mistress of me; and I will be your master."

"A frank announcement of your intent, and beyond doubt a true one; but
surely unusual at this stage, and a little premature, John. However,
what must be, must be." And with tears springing out of smiles, she fell
on my breast, and cried a bit.

When I came to smoke a pipe over it (after the rest were gone to bed), I
could hardly believe in my good luck. For here was I, without any merit,
except of bodily power, and the absence of any falsehood (which surely
is no commendation), so placed that the noblest man in England might
envy me, and be vexed with me. For the noblest lady in all the land, and
the purest, and the sweetest--hung upon my heart, as if there was none
to equal it.

I dwelled upon this matter, long and very severely, while I smoked a
new tobacco, brought by my own Lorna for me, and next to herself most
delicious; and as the smoke curled away, I thought, "Surely this is too
fine to last, for a man who never deserved it."

Seeing no way out of this, I resolved to place my faith in God; and so
went to bed and dreamed of it. And having no presence of mind to pray
for anything, under the circumstances, I thought it best to fall asleep,
and trust myself to the future. Yet ere I fell asleep the roof above me
swarmed with angels, having Lorna under it.

In the morning Lorna was ready to tell her story, and we to hearken; and
she wore a dress of most simple stuff; and yet perfectly wonderful, by
means of the shape and her figure. Lizzie was wild with jealousy, as
might be expected (though never would Annie have been so, but have
praised it, and craved for the pattern), and mother not und