’Yes，yes，’saidLoveday；andtheydescendedintothegarden。
　　Heretheyturnedoversundryflatstonesandkilledtheslugsshelteredbeneaththemfromthecomingheatoftheday，talkingofslugsinalltheirbranches——ofthebrownandtheblack，ofthetoughandthetender，ofthereasonwhythereweresomanyinthegardenthatyear，ofthecomingtimewhenthegrass-walksharbouringthemweretobetakenupandgravellaid，andoftherelativelyexterminatorymeritsofapairofscissorsandtheheeloftheshoe。
　　Atlastthemillersaid，’Well，really，Bob，I’mhungry；wemustbeginwithouther。’
　　Theywereabouttogoin，whenDavidappearedwithhasteinhismotions，hiseyeswiderverticallythancrosswise，andhischeeksnearlyallgone。
　　’Maister，I’vebeentocallher；andas’adidn’tspeakIrapped，andas’adidn’tanswerIkicked，andnotbeinglatchedthedooropened，and——she’sgone！’
　　Bobwentofflikeaswallowtowardsthehouse，andthemillerfollowedliketheratherheavymanthathewas。ThatMissMatildawasnotinherroom，orascrapofanythingbelongingtoher，wassoonapparent。Theysearchedeveryplaceinwhichshecouldpossiblyhideorsqueezeherself，everyplaceinwhichshecouldnot，butfoundnothingatall。
　　CaptainBobwasquitewildwithastonishmentandgrief。Whenhewasquitesurethatshewasnowhereinhisfather’shouse，heranintoMrs。Garland’s，andtellingthemthestorysohastilythattheyhardlyunderstoodtheparticulars，hewentontowardsComfort’shouse，intendingtoraisethealarmthere，andalsoatMitchell’s，Beach’s，Cripplestraw’s，theparson’s，theclerk’s，thecampofdragoons，ofhussars，andsoonthroughthewholecounty。Buthepaused，andthoughtitwouldbehardlyexpedienttopublishhisdiscomfitureinsuchaway。IfMatildahadleftthehouseforanyfreakishreasonhewouldnotcaretolookforher，andifherdeedhadatragicintentshewouldkeepalooffromcampandvillage。
　　InhistroublehethoughtofAnne。Shewasanicegirlandcouldbetrusted。Toherhewent，andfoundherinastateofexcitementandanxietywhichequalledhisown。
　　’’Tissolonelytocruiseforherallbymyself！’saidBobdisconsolately，hisforeheadallinwrinkles，’andI’vethoughtyouwouldcomewithmeandcheertheway？’
　　’Whereshallwesearch？’saidAnne。
　　’O，intheholesofrivers，youknow，anddownwells，andinquarries，andovercliffs，andlikethat。YoureyesmightcatchtheloomofanybitofashawlorbonnetthatIshouldoverlook，anditwoulddomearealservice。Pleasedocome！’
　　SoAnnetookpityuponhim，andputonherhatandwent，themillerandDavidhavinggoneoffinanotherdirection。Theyexaminedtheditchesoffields，BobgoingroundbyonefenceandAnnebytheother，tilltheymetattheoppositeside。Thentheypeepedunderculverts，intoouthouses，anddownoldwellsandquarries，tillthetheoryofatragicalendhadnearlyspentitsforceinBob’smind，andhebegantothinkthatMatildahadsimplyrunaway。However，theystillwalkedon，thoughbythistimethesunwashotandAnnewouldgladlyhavesatdown。
　　’Now，didn’tyouthinkhighlyofher，MissGarland？’heinquired，asthesearchbegantolanguish。
　　’Oyes，’saidAnne，’veryhighly。’
　　’Shewasreallybeautiful；nononsenseaboutherlooks，wasthere？’
　　’None。Herbeautywasthoroughlyripe——nottooyoung。Weshouldallhavegottoloveher。Whatcanhavepossessedhertogoaway？’
　　’Idon’tknow，and，uponmylife，IshallsoonbedrovetosayI
　　don’tcare！’repliedthematedespairingly。’Letmepilotyedownoverthosestones，’headded，asAnnebegantodescendaruggedquarry。Hesteppedforward，leaptdown，andturnedtoher。
　　Shegavehimherhandandsprangdown。Beforeherelinquishedhishold，CaptainBobraisedherfingerstohislipsandkissedthem。
　　’O，CaptainLoveday！’criedAnne，snatchingawayherhandingenuinedismay，whileatearroseunexpectedlytoeacheye。’Ineverheardofsuchathing！Iwon’tgoaninchfurtherwithyou，sir；itistoobarefaced！’Andsheturnedandranoff。
　　’UponmylifeIdidn’tmeanit！’saidtherepentantcaptain，hasteningafter。’Idoloveherbest——indeedIdo——andIdon’tloveyouatall！Iamnotsofickleasthat！Imerelyjustforthemomentadmiredyouasasweetlittlecraft，andthat’showIcametodoit。Youknow，MissGarland，’hecontinuedearnestly，andstillrunningafter，’’tislikethis:whenyoucomeashoreafterhavingbeenshutupinashipforeighteenmonths，women-folksseemsonewandnicethatyoucan’thelplikingthem，oneandallinabody；andsoyourheartisapttogetscatteredandtoyawabit；butofcourseIthinkofpoorMatildamost，andshallalwayssticktoher。’
　　Heheavedasighoftremendousmagnitude，toshowbeyondthepossibilityofdoubtthathisheartwasstillintheplacethathonourrequired。
　　’Iamgladtohearthat——ofcourseIamveryglad！’saidshe，withquickpetulance，keepingherfaceturnedfromhim。’AndIhopeweshallfindher，andthattheweddingwillnotbeputoff，andthatyou’llbothbehappy。ButIwon’tlookforheranymore！No；I
　　don’tcaretolookforher——andmyheadaches。Iamgoinghome！’
　　’AndsoamI，’saidRobertpromptly。
　　’No，no；goonlookingforher，ofcourse——alltheafternoon，andallnight。Iamsureyouwill，ifyouloveher。’
　　’Oyes；Imeanto。Still，Ioughttoconvoyyouhomefirst？’
　　’No，yououghtnot；andIshallnotacceptyourcompany。
　　Good-morning，sir！’Andshewentoffoveroneofthestonestileswithwhichthespotabounded，leavingthefriendlysailorstandinginthefield。
　　Hesighedagain，and，observingthecampnotfaroff，thoughthewouldgotohisbrotherJohnandaskhimhisopiniononthesorrowfulcase。OnreachingthetentshefoundthatJohnwasnotatlibertyjustatthattime，beingengagedinpractisingthetrumpeters；andleavingwordthathewishedthetrumpet-majortocomedowntothemillassoonaspossible，Bobwentbackagain。
　　’’Tisnogoodlookingforher，’hesaidgloomily。’Shelikedmewellenough，butwhenshecamehereandsawthehouse，andtheplace，andtheoldhorse，andtheplainfurniture，shewasdisappointedtofindusallsohomely，andfeltshedidn’tcaretomarryintosuchafamily！’
　　HisfatherandDavidhadreturnedwithnonews。
　　’Yes，’tisasI’vebeenthinking，father，’Bobsaid。’Weweren’tgoodenoughforher，andshewentawayinscorn！’
　　’Well，thatcan’tbehelped，’saidthemiller。’Whatwebe，webe，andhavebeenforgenerations。Tomymindsheseemedgladenoughtogetholdofus！’
　　’Yes，yes——forthemoment——becauseoftheflowers，andbirds，andwhat’sprettyintheplace，’saidBobtragically。’Butyoudon’tknow，father——howshouldyouknow，whohavehardlybeenoutofOvercombeinyourlife？——youdon’tknowwhatdelicatefeelingsareinarealrefinedwoman’smind。Anylittlevulgaractionunreavestheirnerveslikeamarline-spike。NowIwonderifyoudidanythingtodisgusther？’
　　’Faith！notthatIknowof，’saidLoveday，reflecting。’Ididn’tsayasinglethingthatIshouldnaturallyhavesaid，onpurposetogivenooffence。’
　　’Youwasalwaysveryhomely，youknow，father。’
　　’Yes；soIwas，’saidthemillermeekly。
　　’Iwonderwhatitcouldhavebeen，’Bobcontinued，wanderingaboutrestlessly。’Youdidn’tgodrinkingoutofthebigmugwithyourmouthfull，orwipeyourlipswithyoursleeve？’
　　’ThatI’llswearIdidn’t！’saidthemillerfirmly。’ThinksI，there’snoknowingwhatImaydotoshockher，soI’lltakemysolidvictualsinthebakehouse，andonlyacrumbandadropinhercompanyformanners。’
　　’Youcoulddonomorethanthat，certainly，’saidBobgently。
　　’Ifmymannersbegoodenoughforwell-brought-uppeopleliketheGarlands，theybegoodenoughforher，’continuedthemiller，withasenseofinjustice。
　　’That’strue。ThenitmusthavebeenDavid。David，comehere！Howdidyoubehavebeforethatlady？Now，mindyouspeakthetruth！’
　　’Yes，Mr。CaptainRobert，’saidDavidearnestly。’Iassureyeshewasservedlikearoyalqueen。Thebestsilverspoonswezputdown，andyerpoorgrandfer’ssilvertanket，asyouseed，andthefeathercushionforhertositon——’
　　’NowI’vegotit！’saidBobdecisively，bringingdownhishanduponthewindow-sill。’Herbedwashard！——andthere’snothingshocksatrueladylikethat。ThebedinthatroomalwayswasashardastheRockofGibraltar！’
　　’No，CaptainBob！Thebedswerechanged——wasn’ttheymaister？Weputthegoosebedinherroom，andtheflockone，thatusedtobethere，inyours。’
　　’Yes，wedid，’corroboratedthemiller。’DavidandIchanged’emwithourownhands，becausetheyweretooheavyforthewomentomove。’
　　’SureIdidn’tknowIhadtheflockbed，’murmuredBob。’Islepton，littlethinkingwhatIwasgoingtowaketo。Well，well，she’sgone；andsearchasIwillIshallneverfindanotherlikeher！Shewastoogoodforme。Shemusthavecarriedherboxwithherownhands，poorgirl。Asfarasthatgoes，Icouldovertakeherevennow，Idaresay；butIwon’tentreatheragainstherwill——notI。’
　　MillerLovedayandDavid，feelingthemselvestoberatheradesecrationinthepresenceofBob’ssacredemotions，managedtoedgeoffbydegrees，theformerburyinghimselfinthemostflouryrecessesofthemill，hisinvariableresourcewhenperturbed，therumblinghavingasoothingeffectuponthenervesofthoseproperlytrainedtoitsmusic。
　　Bobwassoimpatientthat，aftergoinguptoherroomtoassurehimselfoncemorethatshehadnotundressed，buthadonlylaindownontheoutsideofthebed，hewentoutofthehousetomeetJohn，andwaitedonthesunnyslopeofthedowntillhisbrotherappeared。
　　Johnlookedsobraveandshapelyandwarlikethat，eveninBob’spresentdistress，hecouldnotbutfeelanhonestandaffectionateprideatowningsucharelative。YethefanciedthatJohndidnotcomealongwiththesameswingingstephehadshownyesterday；andwhenthetrumpet-majorgotnearerhelookedanxiouslyatthemateandwaitedforhimtospeakfirst。
　　’Youknowourgreattrouble，John？’saidRobert，gazingstoicallyintohisbrother’seyes。
　　’Comeandsitdown，andtellmeallaboutit，’answeredthetrumpet-major，showingnosurprise。
　　Theywenttowardsaslightravine，whereitwaseasiertositdownthanontheflatground，andhereJohnreclinedamongthegrasshoppers，pointingtohisbrothertodothesame。
　　’Butdoyouknowwhatitis？’saidRobert。’Hasanybodytoldye？’
　　’Idoknow，’saidJohn。’She’sgone；andIamthankful！’
　　’What！’saidBob，risingtohiskneesinamazement。
　　’I’matthebottomofit，’saidthetrumpet-majorslowly。
　　’You，John？’
　　’Yes；andifyouwilllistenI’lltellyouall。DoyourememberwhathappenedwhenIcameintotheroomlastnight？Why，sheturnedcolourandnearlyfaintedaway。Thatwasbecausesheknewme。’
　　Bobstaredathisbrotherwithafaceofpainanddistrust。
　　’Foronce，Bob，Imustsaysomethingthatwillhurttheeagooddeal，’continuedJohn。’Shewasnotawomanwhocouldpossiblybeyourwife——andsoshe’sgone。’
　　’Yousentheroff？’
　　’Well，Idid。’
　　’John！——Tellmerightthrough——tellme！’
　　’PerhapsIhadbetter，’saidthetrumpet-major，hisblueeyesrestingonthefardistantsea，thatseemedtoriselikeawallashighasthehilltheysatupon。
　　AndthenhetoldataleofMissJohnsonandthe——thDragoonswhichwrunghisheartasmuchinthetellingasitdidBob’stohear，andwhichshowedthatJohnhadbeentemporarilycrueltobeultimatelykind。EvenBob，excitedashewas，coulddiscernfromJohn’smannerofspeakingwhataterribleundertakingthatnight’sbusinesshadbeenforhim。Tojustifythecoursehehadadoptedthedictatesofdutymusthavebeenimperative；butthetrumpet-major，withabecomingreticencewhichhisbrotheratthetimewasnaturallyunabletoappreciate，scarcelydweltdistinctlyenoughuponthecompellingcauseofhisconduct。Itwould，indeed，havebeenhardforanyman，muchlesssomodestaoneasJohn，todohimselfjusticeinthatremarkablerelation，whenthelistenerwasthelady’slover；anditisnowonderthatRobertrosetohisfeetandputagreaterdistancebetweenhimselfandJohn。
　　’Andwhattimewasit？’heaskedinahard，suppressedvoice。
　　’Itwasjustbeforeoneo’clock。’
　　’Howcouldyouhelphertogoaway？’
　　’Ihadapass。Icarriedherboxtothecoach-office。Shewastofollowatdawn。’