’Then——Ah，it’sgonefrommeagain！’saidSimon。’O，andthentheywillraisetheirtents，youknow，andpickettheirhorses。Thatwasit；soitwas。’
　　Bythistimethecolumnofhorsehadascendedintofullview，andtheyformedalivelyspectacleastheyrodealongthehighgroundinmarchingorder，backedbythepalebluesky，andlitbythesoutherlysun。Theiruniformwasbrightandattractive；whitebuckskinpantaloons，three-quarterboots，scarletshakossetoffwithlace，mustachioswaxedtoaneedlepoint；andaboveall，thoserichlyornamentedbluejacketsmantledwiththehistoricpelisse——
　　thatfascinationtowomen，andencumbrancetothewearersthemselves。
　　’’TistheYorkHussars！’saidSimonBurden，brighteninglikeadyingemberfanned。’Foreignerstoaman，andenrolledlongsincemytime。Butasgoodheartycomrades，theysay，asyou’llfindintheKing’sservice。’
　　’Herearemoreanddifferentones，’saidMrs。Garland。
　　Othertroopshad，duringthelastfewminutes，beenascendingthedownataremoterpoint，andnowdrewnear。Thesewereofdifferentweightandbuildfromtheothers；lightermen，inhelmethats，withwhiteplumes。
　　’Idon’tknowwhichIlikebest，’saidAnne。’These，Ithink，afterall。’
　　Simon，whohadbeenlookinghardatthelatter，nowsaidthattheywerethe——thDragoons。
　　’AllEnglishmenthey，’saidtheoldman。’TheylayatBudmouthbarracksafewyearsago。’
　　’Theydid。Irememberit，’saidMrs。Garland。
　　’Andlotsofthechapsabouthere’listedatthetime，’saidSimon。
　　’Icancalltomindthattherewas——ah，’tisgonefrommeagain！
　　However，allthat’soflittleaccountnow。’
　　Thedragoonspassedinfrontofthelookers-onastheothershaddone，andtheirgayplumes，whichhadhunglazilyduringtheascent，swungtonorthwardastheyreachedthetop，showingthatonthesummitafreshbreezeblew。’Butlookacrossthere，’saidAnne。
　　Therehadentereduponthedownfromanotherdirectionseveralbattalionsoffoot，inwhitekerseymerebreechesandclothgaiters。
　　Theyseemedtobewearyfromalongmarch，theoriginalblackoftheirgaitersandbootsbeingwhity-brownwithdust。Presentlycameregimentalwaggons，andtheprivatecanteencartswhichfollowedattheendofaconvoy。
　　Thespaceinfrontofthemill-pondwasnowoccupiedbynearlyalltheinhabitantsofthevillage，whohadturnedoutinalarm，andremainedforpleasure，theireyeslightedupwithinterestinwhattheysaw；fortrappingsandregimentals，warhorsesandmen，intownsanattraction，wereherealmostasublimity。
　　Thetroopsfiledtotheirlines，dismounted，andinquicktimetookofftheiraccoutrements，rolleduptheirsheep-skins，picketedandunbittedtheirhorses，andmadereadytoerectthetentsassoonastheycouldbetakenfromthewaggonsandbroughtforward。Whenthiswasdone，atagivensignalthecanvasesflewupfromthesod；andthencefortheverymanhadaplaceinwhichtolayhishead。
　　Thoughnobodyseemedtobelookingonbutthefewatthewindowandinthevillagestreet，therewere，asamatteroffact，manyeyesconverginguponthatmilitaryarrivalinitshighandconspicuousposition，nottomentiontheglancesofbirdsandotherwildcreatures。Menindistantgardens，womeninorchardsandatcottage-doors，shepherdsonremotehills，turnip-hoersinblue-greenenclosuresmilesaway，captainswithspy-glassesoutatsea，wereregardingthepicturekeenly。Thosethreeorfourthousandmenofonemachine-likemovement，someofthemswashbucklersbynature；
　　others，doubtless，ofaquietshop-keepingdispositionwhohadinadvertentlygotintouniform——allofthemhadarrivedfromnobodyknewwhere，andhencewerematterofgreatcuriosity。Theyseemedtothemereeyetobelongtoadifferentorderofbeingsfromthosewhoinhabitedthevalleysbelow。Apparentlyunconsciousandcarelessofwhatalltheworldwasdoingelsewhere，theyremainedpicturesquelyengrossedinthebusinessofmakingthemselvesahabitationontheisolatedspotwhichtheyhadchosen。
　　Mrs。Garlandwasofafestiveandsanguineturnofmind，awomansoonsetupandsoonsetdown，andthecomingoftheregimentsquiteexcitedher。Shethoughttherewasreasonforputtingonherbestcap，thoughtthatperhapstherewasnot；thatshewouldhurryonthedinnerandgooutintheafternoon；thenthatshewould，afterall，donothingunusual，norshowanysillyexcitementswhatever，sincetheywereunbecominginamotherandawidow。Thuscircumscribingherintentionstillshewastoneddowntoanordinarypersonofforty，Mrs。Garlandaccompaniedherdaughterdownstairstodine，saying，’PresentlywewillcallonMillerLoveday，andhearwhathethinksofitall。’
　　MillerLovedaywastherepresentativeofanancientfamilyofcorn-grinderswhosehistoryislostinthemistsofantiquity。HisancestrallinewascontemporaneouswiththatofDeRos，Howard，andDeLaZouche；but，owingtosometriflingdeficiencyinthepossessionsofthehouseofLoveday，theindividualnamesandintermarriagesofitsmemberswerenotrecordedduringtheMiddleAges，andthustheirprivatelivesinanygivencenturywereuncertain。Butitwasknownthatthefamilyhadformedmatrimonialallianceswithfarmersnotsoverysmall，andoncewithagentleman-
　　tanner，whohadformanyyearspurchasedaftertheirdeaththehorsesofthemostaristocraticpersonsinthecounty——fierysteedsthatearlierintheircareerhadbeenvaluedatmanyhundredguineas。
　　ItwasalsoascertainedthatMr。Loveday’sgreat-grandparentshadbeeneightinnumber，andhisgreat-great-grandparentssixteen，everyoneofwhomreachedtoyearsofdiscretion:ateverystagebackwardshissiresandgammersthusdoubledanddoubledtilltheybecameavastbodyofGothicladiesandgentlemenoftherankknownasceorlsorvilleins，fullofimportancetothecountryatlarge，andramifyingthroughouttheunwrittenhistoryofEngland。Hisimmediatefatherhadgreatlyimprovedthevalueoftheirresidencebybuildinganewchimney，andsettingupanadditionalpairofmillstones。
　　OvercombeMillpresentedatoneendtheappearanceofahard-workedhouseslippingintotheriver，andattheotherofanidle，genteelplace，half-cloakedwithcreepersatthistimeoftheyear，andhavingnovisibleconnexionwithflour。Ithadhipsinsteadofgables，givingitaround-shoulderedlook，fourchimneyswithnosmokecomingoutofthem，twozigzagcracksinthewall，severalopenwindows，withalooking-glasshereandthereinside，showingitswarpedbacktothepasser-by；snowydimitycurtainswavinginthedraught；twomilldoors，oneabovetheother，theupperenablingapersontostepoutuponnothingataheightoftenfeetfromtheground；agapingarchvomitingtheriver，andalean，long-nosedfellowlookingoutfromthemilldoorway，whowasthehiredgrinder，exceptwhenabulgingfifteenstonemanoccupiedthesameplace，namely，themillerhimself。
　　Behindthemilldoor，andinvisibletothemerewayfarerwhodidnotvisitthefamily，werechalkedadditionandsubtractionsums，manyofthemoriginallydonewrong，andthefigureshalfrubbedoutandcorrected，noughtsbeingturnedintonines，andonesintotwos。
　　Thesewerethemiller’sprivatecalculations。Therewerealsochalkedinthesameplacerowsandrowsofstrokeslikeopenpalings，representingthecalculationsofthegrinder，whoinhisyouthfulcipheringstudieshadnotgonesofarasArabicfigures。
　　Inthecourtinfrontweretwoworn-outmillstones，madeusefulagainbybeingletinlevelwiththeground。Herepeoplestoodtosmokeandconsiderthingsinmuddyweather；andcatssleptonthecleansurfaceswhenitwashot。Inthelargestubbard-treeatthecornerofthegardenwaserectedapoleoflarchfir，whichthemillerhadboughtwithothersatasaleofsmalltimberinDamer’sWoodoneChristmasweek。Itrosefromtheupperboughsofthetreetoabouttheheightofafisherman’smast，andonthetopwasavaneintheformofasailorwithhisarmstretchedout。Whenthesunshoneuponthisfigureitcouldbeseenthatthegreaterpartofhiscountenancewasgone，andthepaintwashedfromhisbodysofarastorevealthathehadbeenasoldierinredbeforehebecameasailorinblue。Theimagehad，infact，beenJohn，oneofourcomingcharacters，andwasthenturnedintoRobert，anotherofthem。
　　Thisrevolvingpieceofstatuarycouldnot，however，bereliedonasavane，owingtotheneighbouringhill，whichformedvariablecurrentsinthewind。
　　Theleafyandquieterwingofthemill-housewasthepartoccupiedbyMrs。Garlandandherdaughter，whomadeupinsummer-timeforthenarrownessoftheirquartersbyoverflowingintothegardenonstoolsandchairs。Theparlourordining-roomhadastonefloor——afactwhichthewidowsoughttodisguisebydoublecarpeting，lestthestandingofAnneandherselfshouldbeloweredinthepubliceye。Herenowthemid-daymealwentlightlyandmincinglyon，asitdoeswherethereisnogreedycarnivorousmantokeepthedishesabout，andwashangingontheclosewhensomebodyenteredthepassageasfarasthechinkoftheparlourdoor，andtapped。ThisproceedingwasprobablyadoptedtokindlyavoidgivingtroubletoSusan，theneighbour’spinkdaughter，whohelpedatMrs。Garland’sinthemornings，butwasatthatmomentparticularlyoccupiedinstandingonthewater-buttandgazingatthesoldiers，withaninhalingpositionofthemouthandcirculareyes。
　　Therewasaflutterinthelittledining-room——thesensitivenessofhabitualsolitudemakesheartsbeatforpreternaturallysmallreasons——andaguessingastowhothevisitormightbe。Itwassomemilitarygentlemanfromthecampperhaps？No；thatwasimpossible。
　　Itwastheparson？No；hewouldnotcomeatdinner-time。Itwasthewell-informedmanwhotravelledwithdraperyandthebestBirminghamearrings？Notatall；histimewasnottillThursdayatthree。Beforetheycouldthinkfurtherthevisitormovedforwardanotherstep，andthedinersgotaglimpseofhimthroughthesamefriendlychinkthathadaffordedhimaviewoftheGarlanddinner-table。
　　’O！ItisonlyLoveday。’
　　Thisapproximationtonobodywasthemillerabovementioned，ahalemanoffifty-fiveorsixty——haleallthrough，asmanywereinthosedays，andnotmerelyveneeredwithpurplebyexhilaratingvictualsanddrinks，thoughthelatterwerenotatalldespisedbyhim。Hisfacewasindeedratherpalethanotherwise，forhehadjustcomefromthemill。Itwascapableofimmensechangesofexpression:
　　mobilitywasitsessence，arolloffleshformingabuttresstohisnoseoneachside，andadeepravinelyingbetweenhislowerlipandthetumulusrepresentedbyhischin。Thesefleshylumpsmovedstealthily，asifoftheirownaccord，wheneverhisfancywastickled。
　　Hiseyeshavinglightedonthetable-cloth，plates，andviands，hefoundhimselfinapositionwhichhadasensibleawkwardnessforamodestmanwhoalwayslikedtoenteronlyatseasonabletimesthepresenceofagirlofsuchpleasantlysoftwaysasAnneGarland，shewhocouldmakeapplesseemlikepeaches，andthrowoverhershillingstheglamourofguineaswhenshepaidhimforflour。
　　’Dinnerisover，neighbourLoveday；pleasecomein，’saidthewidow，seeinghiscase。Themillersaidsomethingaboutcominginpresently；butAnnepressedhimtostay，withatendermotionofherlipasitplayedonthevergeofasolicitoussmilewithoutquitelapsingintoone——herhabitualmannerwhenspeaking。
　　Lovedaytookoffhislow-crownedhatandadvanced。Hehadnotcomeaboutpigsorfowlsthistime。’Youhavebeenlookingout，liketheresto’us，nodoubt，Mrs。Garland，atthemampusofsoldiersthathavecomeuponthedown？Well，oneofthehorseregimentsisthe——
　　thDragoons，mysonJohn’sregiment，youknow。’
　　Theannouncement，thoughitinterestedthem，didnotcreatesuchaneffectasthefatherofJohnhadseemedtoanticipate；butAnne，wholikedtosaypleasantthings，replied，’Thedragoonslookednicerthanthefoot，ortheGermancavalryeither。’
　　’Theyareahandsomebodyofmen，’saidthemillerinadisinterestedvoice。’Faith！Ididn’tknowtheywerecoming，thoughitmaybeinthenewspaperallthetime。ButoldDerrimankeepsitsolongthatweneverknowthingstilltheybeineverybody’smouth。’
　　ThisDerrimanwasasquireenlivingnear，whowaschieflydistinguishedinthepresentwarliketimebyhavinganephewintheyeomanry。
　　’Weweretoldthattheyeomanrywentalongtheturnpikeroadyesterday，’saidAnne；’andtheysaythattheywereaprettysight，andquitesoldierly。’
　　’Ah！well——theybenotregulars，’saidMillerLoveday，keepingbackharshercriticismasuncalledfor。Butinflamedbythearrivalofthedragoons，whichhadbeentheexcitingcauseofhiscall，hismindwouldnotgotoyeomanry。’Johnhasnotbeenhomethesefiveyears，’hesaid。
　　’Andwhatrankdoesheholdnow？’saidthewidow。
　　’He’strumpet-major，ma’am；andagoodmusician。’Themiller，whowasagoodfather，wentontoexplainthatJohnhadseensomeservice，too。Hehadenlistedwhentheregimentwaslyinginthisneighbourhood，morethanelevenyearsbefore，whichputhisfatheroutoftemperwithhim，ashehadwishedhimtofollowonatthemill。Butastheladhadenlistedseriously，andashehadoftensaidthathewouldbeasoldier，themillerhadthoughtthathewouldletJacktakehischanceintheprofessionofhischoice。
　　Lovedayhadtwosons，andthesecondwasnowbroughtintotheconversationbyaremarkofAnne’sthatneitherofthemseemedtocareforthemiller’sbusiness。
　　’No，’saidLovedayinalessbuoyanttone。’Robert，yousee，mustneedsgotosea。’