In that second house there was a gathering of loud and merry outlaws, making as much noise as if they had the law upon their side.

Some, indeed, as I approached, were laying down both right and wrong, as purely, and with as high a sense, as if they knew the difference.

Cold and troubled as I was, I could hardly keep from laughing.
Before I betook myself home that night, and eased dear mother's heart so much, and made her pale face spread with smiles, I had resolved to penetrate Glen Doone from the upper end, and learn all about my Lorna.
Not but what I might have entered from my unsuspected channel, as so often I had done; but that I saw fearful need for knowing something more than that.

Here was every sort of trouble gathering upon me, here was Jeremy Stickles stealing upon every one in the dark; here was Uncle Reuben plotting Satan only could tell what; here was a white night-capped man coming bodily from the grave; here was my own sister Annie committed to a highwayman, and mother in distraction; most of all--here, there, and where--was my Lorna stolen, dungeoned, perhaps outraged.

It was no time for shilly shally, for the balance of this and that, or for a man with blood and muscle to pat his nose and ponder.
If I left my Lorna so; if I let those black-soul'd villains work their pleasure on my love; if the heart that clave to mine could find no vigour in it--then let maidens cease from men, and rest their faith in tabby-cats.
Rudely rolling these ideas in my heavy head and brain I resolved to let the morrow put them into form and order, but not contradict them.