Johncontinuedhissadandheavypacetillwalkingseemedtoooldandworn-outawayofshowingsorrowsonew，andheleanthimselfagainsttheforkofanapple-treelikealog。Therethetrumpet-majorremainedforaconsiderabletime，hisfaceturnedtowardsthehouse，whoseancient，many-chimneyedoutlineroseagainstthedarkenedsky，andjustshutoutfromhisviewthecampabove。Butfaintnoisescomingthencefromhorsesrestlessatthepickets，andfromvisitorstakingtheirleave，recalleditsexistence，andremindedhimthat，inconsequenceofMatilda’sarrival，hehadobtainedleaveforthenight——afactwhich，owingtothestartlingemotionsthatfollowedhisentry，hehadnotyetmentionedtohisfriends。
　　Whileabstractedlyconsideringhowhecouldbestusethatprivilegeunderthenewcircumstanceswhichhadarisen，heheardFarmerDerrimandriveuptothefrontdoorandholdaconversationwithhisfather。TheoldmanhadatlastapparentlybroughtthetinboxofprivatepapersthathewishedthemillertotakechargeofduringDerriman’sabsence；anditbeingacalmnight，Johncouldhear，thoughhelittleheeded，UncleBenjy’sreiteratedsupplicationstoLovedaytokeepitsafefromfireandthieves。ThenUncleBenjyleft，andJohn’sfatherwentupstairstodeposittheboxinaplaceofsecurity，thewholeproceedingreachingJohn’spreoccupiedcomprehensionmerelyasvoicesduringsleep。
　　ThenextthingwastheappearanceofalightinthebedroomwhichhadbeenassignedtoMatildaJohnson。Thiseffectuallyarousedthetrumpet-major，andwithastealthinessunusualinhimhewentindoors。Nolightwasinthelowerrooms，hisfather，Mrs。Garland，andAnnehavinggoneoutonthebridgetolookatthenewmoon。
　　Johnwentupstairsontip-toe，andalongtheunevenpassagetillhecametoherdoor。Itwasstandingajar，abandofcandlelightshiningacrossthepassageanduptheoppositewall。Assoonasheenteredtheradiancehesawher。Shewasstandingbeforethelooking-glass，apparentlylostinthought，herfingersbeingclaspedbehindherheadinabstraction，andthelightfallingfulluponherface。
　　’Imustspeaktoyou，’saidthetrumpet-major。
　　Shestarted，turnedandgrewpalerthanbefore；andthen，asifmovedbyasuddenimpulse，sheswungthedoorwideopen，and，comingout，saidquitecollectedlyandwithapparentpleasantness，’Oyes；
　　youaremyBob’sbrother！Ididn’t，foramoment，recognizeyou。’
　　’Butyoudonow？’
　　’AsBob’sbrother。’
　　’Youhavenotseenmebefore？’
　　’Ihavenot，’sheanswered，withafaceasimpassibleasTalleyrand’s。
　　’GoodGod！’
　　’Ihavenot！’sherepeated。
　　’Noranyofthe——thDragoons？CaptainJolly，forinstance？’
　　’No。’
　　’Youmistake。I’llremindyouofparticulars，’hesaiddrily。Andhedidremindheratsomelength。
　　’Never！’shesaiddesperately。
　　Butshehadmiscalculatedherstayingpowers，andheradversary’scharacter。Fiveminutesafterthatshewasintears，andtheconversationhadresolveditselfintowords，which，onthesoldier’spart，wereofthenatureofcommands，temperedbypity，andwereamereseriesofentreatiesonhers。
　　Thewholescenedidnotlasttenminutes。Whenitwasover，thetrumpet-majorwalkedfromthedoorwaywheretheyhadbeenstanding，andbrushedmoisturefromhiseyes。Reachingadarklumber-room，hestoodstilltheretocalmhimself，andthendescendedbyaFlemish-
　　laddertothebakehouse，insteadofbythefrontstairs。Hefoundthattheothers，includingBob，hadgatheredintheparlourduringhisabsenceandlightedthecandles。
　　MissJohnson，havingsentdownsometimebeforeJohnre-enteredthehousetosaythatshewouldprefertokeepherroomthatevening，wasnotexpectedtojointhem，andonthisaccountBobshowedlessthanhiscustomaryliveliness。Themillerwishingtokeepuphisson’sspirits，expressedhisregretthat，itbeingSundaynight，theycouldhavenosongstomaketheeveningcheerful；whenMrs。
　　Garlandproposedthattheyshouldsingpsalmswhich，bychoosinglivelytunesandnotthinkingofthewords，wouldbealmostasgoodasballads。
　　Thistheydid，thetrumpet-majorappearingtojoininwiththerest；
　　butasamatteroffactnosoundcamefromhismovinglips。HismindwasinsuchastatethathederivednopleasureevenfromAnneGarland’spresence，thoughheheldacornerofthesamebookwithher，andwastreatedinawinsomewaywhichitwasnotherusualpracticetoindulgein。Shesawthathismindwasclouded，and，farfromguessingthereasonwhy，wasdoingherbesttoclearit。
　　AtlengththeGarlandsfoundthatitwasthehourforthemtoleave，andJohnLovedayatthesametimewishedhisfatherandBobgood-night，andwentasfarasMrs。Garland’sdoorwithher。
　　Hehadsaidnotawordtoshowthathewasfreetoremainoutofcamp，forthereasonthattherewaspainfulworktobedone，whichitwouldbebesttodoinsecretandalone。Helingerednearthehousetillitsreflectedwindow-lightsceasedtoglimmeruponthemill-pond，andallwithinthedwellingwasdarkandstill。Thenheenteredthegardenandwaitedtheretillthebackdooropened，andawoman’sfiguretimorouslycameforward。JohnLovedayatoncewentuptoher，andtheybegantotalkinlowyetdissentienttones。
　　Theyhadconversedabouttenminutes，andwerepartingasiftheyhadcometosomepainfularrangement，MissJohnsonsobbingbitterly，whenaheadstealthilyaroseabovethedensehedgerow，andinamomentashoutburstfromitsowner。
　　’Thieves！thieves！——mytinbox！——thieves！thieves！’
　　Matildavanishedintothehouse，andJohnLovedayhastenedtothehedge。’Forheaven’ssake，holdyourtongue，Mr。Derriman！’heexclaimed。
　　’Mytinbox！’saidUncleBenjy。’O，onlythetrumpet-major！’
　　’Yourboxissafeenough，Iassureyou。Itwasonly’——herethetrumpet-majorgaveventtoanartificiallaugh——’onlyaslybitofcourting，youknow。’
　　’Ha，ha，Isee！’saidtherelievedoldsquireen。’CourtingMissAnne！Thenyou’veoustedmynephew，trumpet-major！Well，somuchthebetter。Asformyself，thetruthon’tisthatIhaven’tbeenabletogotobedeasy，forthinkingthatpossiblyyourfathermightnottakecareofwhatIputunderhischarge；andatlastIthoughtIwouldjuststepoverandseeifallwassafeherebeforeIturnedin。AndwhenIsawyourtwoshapesmypoornervesmagnifiedyetohousebreakers，andBoneys，andIdon’tknowwhatall。’
　　’Youhavealarmedthehouse，’saidthetrumpet-major，hearingtheclickingofflintandsteelinhisfather’sbedroom，followedinamomentbytheriseofalightinthewindowofthesameapartment。
　　’Youhavegotmeintodifficulty，’headdedgloomily，ashisfatheropenedthecasement。
　　’Iamsorryforthat，’saidUncleBenjy。’Butstepback；I’llputitallrightagain。’
　　’What，forheaven’ssake，isthematter？’saidthemiller，histassellednightcapappearingintheopening。
　　’Nothing，nothing！’saidthefarmer。’Iwasuneasyaboutmyfewbondsanddocuments，andIwalkedthisway，miller，beforegoingtobed，asIstartfromhometo-morrowmorning。WhenIcamedownbyyourgarden-hedge，IthoughtIsawthieves，butitturnedouttobe——
　　tobe——’
　　Herealumpofearthfromthetrumpet-major’shandstruckUncleBenjyinthebackasareminder。
　　’Tobe——theboughofacherry-treea-wavinginthewind。
　　Good-night。’
　　’Nothievesareliketotrymyhouse，’saidMillerLoveday。’Nowdon’tyoucomealarminguslikethisagain，farmer，oryoushallkeepyourboxyourself，beggingyourpardonforsayingso。
　　Good-nightt’ye！’
　　’Miller，willyejustlook，sinceIamhere——justlookandseeiftheboxisallright？there’sagoodman！Iamold，youknow，andmypoorremainsarenotwhatmyoriginalselfwas。Lookandseeifitiswhereyouputit，there’sagood，kindman。’
　　’Verywell，’saidthemillergood-humouredly。
　　’NeighbourLoveday！onsecondthoughtsIwilltakemyboxhomeagain，afterall，ifyoudon’tmind。Youwon’tdeemitillofme？
　　Ihavenosuspicion，ofcourse；butnowIthinkon’tthere’srivalrybetweenmynephewandyourson；andifFestusshouldtakeitintohisheadtosetyourhouseonfireinhisenmity，’twouldbebadformydeedsanddocuments。Nooffence，miller，butI’lltakethebox，ifyoudon’tmind。’
　　’Faith！Idon’tmind，’saidLoveday。’Butyournephewhadbetterthinktwicebeforeheletshisenmitytakethatcolour。’Recedingfromthewindow，hetookthecandletoabackpartoftheroomandsoonreappearedwiththetinbox。
　　’Iwon’ttroubleyetodress，’saidDerrimanconsiderately；’letendownbyanythingyouhaveathand。’
　　Theboxwasloweredbyacord，andtheoldmanclaspeditinhisarms。’Thankye！’hesaidwithheartfeltgratitude。’Good-night！’
　　Themillerrepliedandclosedthewindow，andthelightwentout。
　　’There，nowIhopeyouaresatisfied，sir？’saidthetrumpet-major。
　　’Quite，quite！’saidDerriman；and，leaningonhiswalking-stick，hepursuedhislonelyway。
　　ThatnightAnnelayawakeinherbed，musingonthetraitsofthenewfriendwhohadcometoherneighbour’shouse。Shewouldnotbecritical，itwasungenerousandwrong；butshecouldnothelpthinkingofwhatinterestedher。Andwerethere，shesilentlyasked，inMissJohnson’smindandpersonsuchrarequalitiesasplacedthatladyaltogetherbeyondcomparisonwithherself？Oyes，theremustbe；forhadnotCaptainBobsingledoutMatildafromamongallotherwomen，herselfincluded？Ofcourse，withhisworld-wideexperience，heknewbest。
　　Whenthemoonhadset，andonlythesummerstarsthrewtheirlightintothegreatdampgarden，shefanciedthatsheheardvoicesinthatdirection。PerhapstheywerethevoicesofBobandMatildatakingalover’swalkbeforeretiring。Ifso，howsleepytheywouldbenextday，andhowabsurditwasofMatildatopretendshewastired！Ruminatinginthisway，andsayingtoherselfthatshehopedtheywouldbehappy，Annefellasleep。
　　PartlyfromtheexcitementofhavinghisMatildaunderthepaternalroof，Bobrosenextmorningasearlyashisfatherandthegrinder，and，whenthebigwheelbegantopatterandthelittleonestomumbleinresponse，wenttosunhimselfoutsidethemill-front，amongthefowlsofbrownandspeckledkindswhichhauntedthatspot，andtheducksthatcameupfromthemill-tail。
　　Standingontheworn-outmill-stoneinlaidinthegravel，hetalkedwithhisfatheronvariousimprovementsofthepremises，andontheproposedarrangementsforhispermanentresidencethere，withanenjoymentthatwashalfbaseduponthisprospectofthefuture，andhalfonthepenetratingwarmthofthesuntohisbackandshoulders。
　　Thenthedifferenttroopsofhorsesbegantheirmorningscrambledowntothemill-pond，and，aftermakingitverymuddyroundtheedge，ascendedtheslopeagain。Thebustleofthecampgrewmoreandmoreaudible，andpresentlyDavidcametosaythatbreakfastwasready。
　　’IsMissJohnsondownstairs？’saidthemiller；andBoblistenedfortheanswer，lookingatabluesentinelaloftonthedown。
　　’Notyet，maister，’saidtheexcellentDavid。
　　’We’llwaittillshe’sdown，’saidLoveday。’Whensheis，letusknow。’
　　Davidwentindoorsagain，andLovedayandBobcontinuedtheirmorningsurveybyascendingintothemysteriousquiveringrecessesofthemill，andholdingadiscussionoverasecondpairofburr-stones，whichhadtobere-dressedbeforetheycouldbeusedagain。Thisandsimilarthingsoccupiednearlytwentyminutes，and，lookingfromthewindow，theelderofthetwowasremindedofthetimeofdaybyseeingMrs。Garland’stable-clothflutteringfromherbackdoorovertheheadsofaflockofpigeonsthathadalightedforthecrumbs。
　　’IsupposeDavidcan’tfindus，’hesaid，withasenseofhungerthatwasnotaltogetherstrangetoBob。Heputouthisheadandshouted。
　　’Theladyisnotdownyet，’saidhismaninreply。
　　’Nohurry，nohurry，’saidthemiller，withcheerfulemptiness。
　　’Bob，topassthetimewe’lllookintothegarden。’
　　’She’llgetupsoonerthanthis，youknow，whenshe’ssignedarticlesandgotaberthhere，’Bobobservedapologetically。