’There，theybetinginginthepasson！’exclaimedDavid，MillerLoveday’sman，whoalsoformedoneofthecompany，asthebellschangedfromchimingallthreetogethertoaquickbeatingofone。
　　Thewholelinedrewabreathofrelief，threwdowntheirarms，andbeganrunningoff。
　　’Well，then，Imustdismissye，’saidthesergeant。’Comeback——
　　comeback！NextdrillisTuesdayafternoonatfour。And，mind，ifyourmasterswon’tletyeleaveworksoonenough，tellme，andI’llwritealinetoGover’ment！’Tention！Totheright——leftwheel，I
　　mean——no，no——rightwheel。Mar——r——r——rch！’
　　Somewheeledtotherightandsometotheleft，andsomeobligingmen，includingCripplestraw，triedtowheelbothways。
　　’Stop，stop；tryagain！’Cruitsandcomrades，unfortunatelywhenI’minahurryIcanneverremembermyrighthandfrommyleft，andnevercouldasaboy。Youmustexcuseme，please。Practicemakesperfect，asthesayingis；and，muchasI’velearntsinceI’listed，wealwaysfindsomethingnew。Nowthen，rightwheel！march！halt！
　　Standatease！dismiss！Ithinkthat’stheordero’t，butI’lllookintheGover’mentbookaforeTuesday。’*
　　*VidePrefaceManyofthecompanywhohadbeendrilledpreferredtogooffandspendtheirshillingsinsteadofenteringthechurch；butAnneandCaptainBobpassedin。Eventheinteriorofthesacrededificewasaffectedbytheagitationofthetimes。Thereligionofthecountryhad，infact，changedfromloveofGodtohatredofNapoleonBuonaparte；and，asiftoremindthedevoutofthisalteration，thepikesforthepikemenallthoseacceptedmenwhowerenototherwisearmedwerekeptinthechurchofeachparish。There，againstthewall，theyalwaysstood——awholesheafofthem，formedofnewashstems，withaspikedriveninatoneend，thestickbeingpreservedfromsplittingbyaferule。Andtheretheyremained，yearafteryear，inthecorneroftheaisle，tilltheywereremovedandplacedunderthegallerystairs，andthenceultimatelytothebelfry，wheretheygrewblack，rusty，andworm-eaten，andweregraduallystolenandcarriedoffbysextons，parishclerks，whitewashers，window-menders，andotherchurchservantsforuseathomeasrake-stems，benefit-clubstaves，andpick-handles，inwhichdegradedsituationstheymaystilloccasionallybefound。
　　ButintheirnewandshiningstatetheyhadaterrorforAnne，whoseeyeswereinvoluntarilydrawntowardsthemasshesatatBob’ssideduringtheservice，fillingherwithbloodyvisionsoftheirpossibleusenotfarfromtheveryspotonwhichtheywerenowassembled。Thesermon，too，wasonthesubjectofpatriotism；sothatwhentheycameoutshebegantoharpuneasilyupontheprobabilityoftheirallbeingdrivenfromtheirhomes。
　　Bobassuredherthatwiththesixtythousandregulars，themilitiareserveofahundredandtwentythousand，andthethreehundredthousandvolunteers，therewasnotmuchtofear。
　　’ButIsometimeshaveafearthatpoorJohnwillbekilled，’hecontinuedafterapause。’Heissuretobeamongthefirstthatwillhavetofacetheinvaders，andthetrumpetersgetpickedoff。’
　　’Thereisthesamechanceforhimasfortheothers，’saidAnne。
　　’Yes——yes——thesamechance，suchasitis。YouhaveneverlikedJohnsincethataffairofMatildaJohnson，haveyou？’
　　’Why？’shequicklyasked。
　　’Well，’saidBobtimidly，’asitisaticklishtimeforhim，woulditnotbeworthwhiletomakeupanydifferencesbeforethecrashcomes？’
　　’Ihavenothingtomakeup，’saidAnne，withsomedistress。Shestillfullybelievedthetrumpet-majortohavesmuggledawayMissJohnsonbecauseofhisowninterestinthatlady，whichmusthavemadehisprofessionstoherselfamerepastime；butthatveryconducthadinitthecuriousadvantagetoherselfofsettingBobfree。
　　’SinceJohnhasbeengone，’continuedhercompanion，’Ihavefoundoutmoreofhismeaning，andofwhathereallyhadtodowiththatwoman’sflight。Didyouknowthathehadanythingtodowithit？’
　　’Yes。’
　　’Thathegothertogoaway？’
　　ShelookedatBobwithsurprise。HewasnotexasperatedwithJohn，andyetheknewsomuchasthis。
　　’Yes，’shesaid；’whatdiditmean？’
　　Hedidnotexplaintoherthen；butthepossibilityofJohn’sdeath，whichhadbeennewlybroughthometohimbythemilitaryeventsoftheday，determinedhimtogetpoorJohn’scharactercleared。
　　Reproachinghimselfforlettingherremainsolongwithamistakenideaofhim，Bobwenttohisfatherassoonastheygothome，andbeggedhimtogetMrs。LovedaytotellAnnethetruereasonofJohn’sobjectiontoMissJohnsonasasister-in-law。
　　’Shethinksitisbecausetheywereoldloversnewmet，andthathewantstomarryher，’heexclaimedtohisfatherinconclusion。
　　’ThenTHAT’SthemeaningofthesplitbetweenMissNancyandJack，’
　　saidthemiller。
　　’What，weretheyanymorethancommonfriends？’askedBobuneasily。
　　’Notonherside，perhaps。’
　　’Well，wemustdoit，’repliedBob，painfullyconsciousthatcommonjusticetoJohnmightbringthemintohazardousrivalry，yetdeterminedtobefair。’TellitalltoMrs。Loveday，andgethertotellAnne。’
　　TheresultoftheexplanationuponAnnewasbitterself-reproach。
　　Shewassosorryathavingwrongedthekindlysoldierthatnextmorningshewentbyherselftothedown，andstoodexactlywherehistenthadcoveredthesodonwhichhehadlainsomanynights，thinkingwhatsadnesshemusthavesufferedbecauseofheratthetimeofpackingupandgoingaway。Afterthatshewipedfromhereyesthetearsofpitywhichhadcomethere，descendedtothehouse，andwroteanimpulsivelettertohim，inwhichoccurredthefollowingpassages，indiscreetenoughunderthecircumstances:——
　　’Ifindalljustice，allrectitude，onyourside，John；andallimpertinence，allinconsiderateness，onmine。Iamsomuchconvincedofyourhonourinthewholetransaction，thatIshallforthefuturemistrustmyselfineverything。Andifitbepossible，wheneverIdifferfromyouonanypointIshalltakeanhour’stimeforconsiderationbeforeIsaythatIdiffer。IfIhavelostyourfriendship，Ihaveonlymyselftothankforit；butIsincerelyhopethatyoucanforgive。’
　　Afterwritingthisshewenttothegarden，whereBobwasshearingthespringgrassfromthepaths。’WhatisJohn’sdirection？’shesaid，holdingthesealedletterinherhand。
　　’ExonburyBarracks，’Bobfaltered，hiscountenancesinking。
　　Shethankedhimandwentindoors。Whenhecamein，laterintheday，hepassedthedoorofheremptysitting-roomandsawtheletteronthemantelpiece。Hedislikedthesightofit。Hearingvoicesintheotherroom，heenteredandfoundAnneandhermotherthere，talkingtoCripplestraw，whohadjustcomeinwithamessagefromSquireDerriman，requestingMissGarland，asshevaluedthepeaceofmindofanoldandtroubledman，togoatonceandseehim。
　　’Icannotgo，’shesaid，notlikingtheriskthatsuchavisitinvolved。
　　AnhourlaterCripplestrawshambledagainintothepassage，onthesameerrand。
　　’Maister’sverypoorly，andhehopesthatyou’llcome，Mis’essAnne。
　　Hewantstosee’eeveryparticularabouttheFrench。’
　　Annewouldhavegoneinamoment，butforthefearthatsomeonebesidesthefarmermightencounterher，andsheansweredasbefore。
　　Anotherhourpassed，andthewheelsofavehiclewereheard。
　　Cripplestrawhadcomeforthethirdtime，withahorseandgig；hewasdressedinhisbestclothes，andbroughtwithhimonthisoccasionabasketcontainingraisins，almonds，oranges，andsweetcakes。Offeringthemtoherasagiftfromtheoldfarmer，herepeatedhisrequestforhertoaccompanyhim，thegigandbestmarehavingbeensentasanadditionalinducement。
　　’Ibelievetheoldgentlemanisinlovewithyou，Anne，’saidhermother。
　　’Whycouldn’thedrivedownhimselftoseeme？’AnneinquiredofCripplestraw。
　　’Hewantsyouatthehouse，please。’
　　’IsMr。Festuswithhim？’
　　’No；he’sawaytoBudmouth。’
　　’I’llgo，’saidshe。
　　’AndImaycomeandmeetyou？’saidBob。
　　’There’smyletter——whatshallIdoaboutthat？’shesaid，insteadofansweringhim。’Takemylettertothepost-office，andyoumaycome，’sheadded。
　　Hesaidyesandwentout，Cripplestrawretreatingtothedoortillsheshouldbeready。
　　’Whatletterisit？’saidhermother。
　　’OnlyonetoJohn，’saidAnne。’Ihaveaskedhimtoforgivemysuspicions。Icoulddonoless。’
　　’DoyouwanttomarryHIM？’askedMrs。Lovedaybluntly。
　　’Mother！’
　　’Well；hewilltakethatletterasanencouragement。Can’tyouseethathewill，youfoolishgirl？’
　　Annedidseeinstantly。’Ofcourse！’shesaid。’TellRobertthatheneednotgo。’
　　Shewenttoherroomtosecuretheletter。Itwasgonefromthemantelpiece，andoninquiryitwasfoundthatthemiller，seeingitthere，hadsentDavidwithittoBudmouthhoursago。Annesaidnothing，andsetoutforOxwellHallwithCripplestraw。
　　’William，’saidMrs。LovedaytothemillerwhenAnnewasgoneandBobhadresumedhisworkinthegarden，’didyougetthatlettersentoffonpurpose？’
　　’Well，Idid。Iwantedtomakesureofit。Johnlikesher，andnow’twillbemadeup；andwhyshouldn’themarryher？I’llstarthiminbusiness，ifsobeshe’llhavehim。’
　　’ButsheislikelytomarryFestusDerriman。’
　　’Idon’twanthertomarryanybodybutJohn，’saidthemillerdoggedly。
　　’NotifsheisinlovewithBob，andhasbeenforyears，andhewithher？’askedhiswifetriumphantly。
　　’InlovewithBob，andhewithher？’repeatedLoveday。
　　’Certainly，’saidshe，goingoffandleavinghimtohisreflections。
　　WhenAnnereachedthehallshefoundoldMr。Derrimaninhiscustomarychair。Hiscomplexionwasmoreashen，buthismovementinrisingatherentrance，puttingachairandshuttingthedoorbehindher，weremuchthesameasusual。
　　’ThankGodyou’vecome，mydeargirl，’hesaidearnestly。’Ah，youdon’ttripacrosstoreadtomenow！Whydidyecostmesomuchtofetchyou？Fie！Ahorseandgig，andaman’stimeingoingthreetimes。AndwhatIsentyecostagooddealinBudmouthmarket，noweverythingissodearthere，and’twouldhavecostmoreifIhadn’tboughttheraisinsandorangessomemonthsago，whentheywerecheaper。Itellyouthisbecauseweareoldfriends，andIhavenobodyelsetotellmytroublesto。ButIdon’tbegrudgeanythingtoyesinceyou’vecome。’
　　’Iamnotmuchpleasedtocome，evennow，’saidshe。’Whatcanmakeyousoseriouslyanxioustoseeme？’
　　’Well，youbeagoodgirlandtrue；andI’vebeenthinkingthatofallpeopleofthenextgenerationthatIcantrust，youarethebest。’Tismybondsandmytitle-deeds，suchastheybe，andtheleases，youknow，andafewguineasinpackets，andmorethanthese，mywill，thatIhavetospeakabout。Nowdoyecomethisway。’
　　’O，suchthingsasthose！’shereturned，withsurprise。’Idon’tunderstandthosethingsatall。’
　　’There’snothingtounderstand。’Tisjustthis。TheFrenchwillbeherewithintwomonths；that’scertain。Ihaveitonthebestauthority，thatthearmyatBoulogneisready，theboatsequipped，theplanslaid，andtheFirstConsulonlywaitsforatide。Heavenknowswhatwillbecomeo’themeno’theseparts！Butmostlikelythewomenwillhespared。NowI’llshow’ee。’
　　Heledheracrossthehalltoastonestaircaseofsemi-circularplan，whichconductedtothecellars。
　　’Downhere？’shesaid。
　　’Yes；Imusttroubleyetocomedownhere。Ihavethoughtandthoughtwhoisthewomanthatcanbestkeepasecretforsixmonths，andIsay，“AnneGarland。“Youwon’tbemarriedbeforethen？’
　　’Ono！’murmuredtheyoungwoman。
　　’Iwouldn’texpectyetokeepaclosetongueaftersuchathingasthat。Butitwillnotbenecessary。’