\"Ohyes；Iwilltellyou。Onedayashewaswanderingabout，dressedquitelikeagentleman，heheardacry，andfoundoneveryfineladyinthehandsofonehighwayman，whowouldhaverobbedandmurderedher。Tomkillsthehighwaymanandconductstheladyhometoherhouseandherhusband，forshewasamarriedlady。OutofgratitudetoTomfortheservicehehasdone，thegentlemanandladyinvitehimtostaywiththem。Thegentleman，whoisagreatgentleman，fondofhisbottleandhunting，takesmightilytoTomforhisfunnysayingsandbecauseTom’sagoodhandataglasswhenattable，andagoodhandataleapwheninfield；theladyalsotakesverymuchtoTom，becauseheonedomm’dhandsomefellow，withplentyofwitandwhattheycallboetry—forTom，amongstotherthings，wasnobadboet，andcouldtreataladytopennillionaboutherfaceandherancle，andthetipofherear。AtlastTomgoesawayuponhiswanderings，not，however，beforehehasgotonepromisefromthelady，thatifevershebecomesdisengagedshewillbecomehiswife。Well，aftersometime，thelady’shusbanddiesandleavesherallhisproperty，sothatallofasuddenshefindsherselfonegreatindependentlady，mistressofthewholeofStrathFeen，onefairandpleasantvalleyfarawaythereovertheEasternhills，bytheTowey，onthebordersofShireCar。Tom，assoonashehearsthenewsofallthis，setsoffforStrathFeenandaskstheladytoperformherword；butthelady，whofindsherselfonegreatandindependentlady，andmoreoverdoesnotquiteliketheideaofmarryingonethief，forshehadlearntwhoTomwas，doeshumandhah，andatlengthbegstobeexcused，becauseshehaschangedhermind。Tombegsandentreats，butquiteinvain，tillatlastshetellshimtogoawayandnottroubleheranymore。Tomgoesaway，butdoesnotyetlosehope。Hetakesuphisquartersinonestrangelittlecave，nearlyatthetopofonewildhill，verymuchlikesugarloaf，whichdoesriseabovetheTowey，justwithinShireCar。Ihaveseenthecavemyself，whichisstillcalledYstafellTwmShoneCatty。Veryqueercaveitis，instrangesituation；steeprockjustaboveit，ToweyRiverroaringbelow。
ThereTomtakesuphisquarters，andfromthereheoftensalliesforth，inhopeofhavinginterviewwithfairladyandmakingheralterhermind，butshewillhavenothingtodowithhim，andatlastshutsherselfupinherhouseandwillnotgoout。Well，Tomnearlylosesallhope；he，however，determinestomakeonelasteffort；soonemorninghegoestothehouseandstandsbeforethedoor，entreatingwithoneloudandlamentablevoicethattheladywillseehimoncemore，becauseheiscometobidheroneeternalfarewell，beingabouttosetoffforthewarsinthekingdomofFrance。Well，theladywhohearsallhesaysrelentsonelittle，andshowingherselfatthewindow，beforewhichareverystrongironbars，shesays：’HereIam！whateveryouhavetosay，sayitquicklyandgoyourway。’SaysTom：’Iamcometobidyouoneeternalfarewell，andhavebutonelastslightrequesttomake，whichisthatyouvouchsafetostretchoutofthewindowyourlily—
whitehand，thatImayimpressonelastburningkissofloveonthesame。’Well，theladyhesitatesonelittletime；atlast，havingonewoman’sheart，shethinksshemaygranthimthislastlittlerequest，andstretchingherhandthroughthebars，shesays：
’Well，there’smyhand，kissitonceandbegone。’ForthwithTom，seizingherwristwithhislefthand，says：’Ihavegotyounow，andwillneverletyougotillyousweartobecomemywife。’
’Never，’saidthelady，’willIbecomethewifeofonethief，’andstriveswithallhermighttopullherhandfree，butcannot，forthelefthandofTomismorestrongthantherightofotherman。