Forshestoodattheheadofadeepgreenvalley，carvedfromoutthemountainsinaperfectoval，withafenceofsheerrockstandingroundit，eightyfeetorahundredhigh；fromwhosebrinkblackwoodedhillssweptuptothesky-line。Byhersidealittleriverglidedoutfromundergroundwithasoftdarkbabble，unawaresofdaylight；thengrowingbrighter，lapsedaway，andfellintothevalley。Then，asitrandownthemeadow，aldersstoodoneithermarge，andgrasswasbladingoutuponit，andyellowtuftsofrushesgathered，lookingatthehurry。Butfurtherdown，oneitherbank，werecoveredhousesbuiltofstone，squareandroughlycornered，setasifthebrookweremeanttobethestreetbetweenthem。Onlyoneroomhightheywere，andnotplacedoppositeeachother，butinandoutasskittlesare；onlythatthefirstofall，whichprovedtobethecaptain’s，wasasortofdoublehouse，orrathertwohousesjoinedtogetherbyaplank-bridge，overtheriver。
Fourteencotsmymothercounted，allverymuchofapattern，andnothingtochoosebetweenthem，unlessitwerethecaptain’s。Deepinthequietvalleythere，awayfromnoise，andviolence，andbrawl，savethatoftherivulet，anymanwouldhavedeemedthemhomesofsimplemindandinnocence。Yetnotasinglehousestoodtherebutwasthehomeofmurder。
Twomenledmymotherdownasteepandglidderystair-way，liketheladderofahay-mow；andthencefromthebreakofthefallingwaterasfarasthehouseofthecaptain。Andthereatthedoortheylefthertrembling，strungasshewas，tospeakhermind。
Now，afterall，whatrighthadshe，acommonfarmer’swidow，totakeitamissthatmenofbirththoughtfittokillherhusband。AndtheDooneswereofveryhighbirth，asallweclodsofExmoorknew；andwehadenoughofgoodteachingnow——letanymansaythecontrary——tofeelthatallwehadbelongedofrighttothoseaboveus。Thereforemymotherwashalf-ashamedthatshecouldnothelpcomplaining。
Butafteralittlewhile，asshesaid，remembranceofherhusbandcame，andthewayheusedtostandbyhersideandputhisstrongarmroundher，andhowhelikedhisbaconfried，andpraisedherkindlyforit——andsothetearswereinhereyes，andnothingshouldgainsaythem。