Sir Quixote of the Moors

language, I could tell the niceties of my feelings in a way which is impossible for me in any other. And, indeed, to make my conduct intelligible, I should forthwith fall to telling eac

ng room, where the remains of the last night's supper still lay on the table. The white morning light made all things clear and obtrusive, and I remember wishing that the lamp was lit again and

might be. In the center of the back room stood a great, swart man, shaking the rain from his clothes and hair, and waiting

asked angrily, for I was half amazed

I am Andrew Gibb," h

ur errand?" I

You'll be the foreigner wha

I said

ar my news and dae your best. Their hidy-hole at the heid o' the Stark Water's been betrayed, and unless they get w

ne of the

ehauden to the minister for the life o' my bairn, whilk is ower lang a story for ye to hear; and to help him I would rin frae Maidenkirk to Berwick. So

. Will you take any f

f to be back in t

drew Gibb," I said, and in

certain path, which they pointed out, to a certain place, and there overturn a little cairn of stones. This was to be a signal to them for instant movement. I knew nothing of the p

irst getting honest gentlemen into delicate and difficult positions, and then troubling them with dangerous errands. Then there was the constant vision of the maid to vex me. This was the sorest point of all. For, though I blush to own it, the sight of her was not altogether unpleasing to me; nay, to put it positively, I had come almost to f

honor, for lo! I found myself compelled by an inexorable force to set about the performance of my duty. I take no credit for it, since I was only half willing, my grosser

er hair all in disorder. I stood booted and cloaked and equipped fo

so early, Jo

early, Mistress

her eyes were dull and restless, and I do believe that the poor maid h

n a hard errand, and I entreat you to

our errand, pr

lover. I have had word from a secret source of a great dang

came to her eyes. It passed like a sungleam, and i

, in a formal tone, and with a w

th my heart the battlefield o

d by some chance dragoon. The weather was dull and cold, and a slight snow, the first token of winter, sprinkled the moor. The heather was wet, the long rushes dripped and shivered, and in the little trenches the peat-water lay black as ink. A smell of damp hung over all things, an odor of rotten leaves and soaked earth. The heavy mist rol

ne sitting at home by the fire, warm, clean, and dainty, the very counter of the foul morasses in which I labored, and where the men I had striven to rescue were thought to lie hidden. My loathing was so great that I could scarce find it in my heart to travel the weary miles to the manse, every step being taken

moment all was changed. The fire crackled in the room, and the light danced on the great volumes on the shelves. The gray

urned," she

so, had I not gripped my chair, and sat with pale face and dazed eyes till the fit had passed. I have told you ere now how my feelings toward Anne had changed from interest to something not unlike a passionate love. It had been a thing of secret growth, and I scarcely knew it till I found myself in the midst of it. I tried to smot

he rain. Down by the rows of birch trees I walked, past the rough ground where the pot-herbs were grown, till I came to the shady green lawn. Up and down it I pas

w a face looking at me from

glance I recognized it. 'Twas the face of Mas

h of hair on lip and chin, and the dirt on his cheeks, made him unlike my friend of the past. But the memorable change was in his eyes, which glowed large and

What brings you here,

hout replying, whic

nne?" he as

well and unscathed. Sh

am no pretty sight for a youn

l. But how is

ntered his bones, and even now he may be p

d y

d a pain at my heart, but I am still hale and fit to testify to the truth. Oh, man, 'twill ill befa'

or nay, I will fetch y

nd fare sumptuously. I ask ye but one thing: let the maid walk in the garden that I may see her. And,

trust myse

id, and without another word

a chair. Anne sat sewing as before. She started as I e

do you no ill to walk round the garden to the gate. I have just been

ediently as if my word w

gate-side," I cried after her, laughing

only knew what desperate act he might do. He might spring out and clasp her in his arms; she, I knew, had not a shred of affection left for him; sh

sat down in her wont

; "'tis raw and chilly in the gard

m to depart without meeting him again, partly out of pity for the man, partly to as

s, and he chewed his lips unceasingly. At the sight of me he came out and stood before me, as wild a figure as I ever hope to see-clothes in tatters, hair unkempt, and skin all foul with

d he spake I was

her by night among the hills, and seen her face close to me and tried to catch it, but 'twas gone. Oh, man, John, get down on your knees, and pray to God to make y

me where you are going, and be about it

ted unto me that I shall sit at his right hand on the last, the great day, and she shall be by my side. For oh, she is the only one of her mother; she is the choice one of her that bare her; the daughters saw her and

Anne, so wholesome and sane, in the same thought as this foul idiot; and yet this man had been once as whole in mind and body as myself; he had suffered in a valiant caus