’Ono——Iamnotsurethatweought。Ididnotpromise，andtherewillbenotroubleinkeepingaway。’
　　Anneapparentlydidnotfeelcertainofherownopinion，and，insteadofsupportingorcontradicting，lookedthoughtfullydown，andabstractedlybroughtherhandstogetheronherbosom，tillherfingersmettiptotip。
　　Asthedayadvancedtheyoungwomanandhermotherbecameawarethatgreatpreparationswereinprogressinthemiller’swingofthehouse。ThepartitioningbetweentheLovedaysandtheGarlandswasnotverythorough，consistinginmanycasesofasimplescrewingupofthedoorsinthedividingwalls；andthuswhenthemillbegananynewperformancestheyproclaimedthemselvesatonceinthemoreprivatedwelling。ThesmellofMillerLoveday’spipecamedownMrs。
　　Garland’schimneyofaneveningwiththegreatestregularity。Everytimethathepokedhisfiretheyknewfromthevehemenceordeliberatenessoftheblowstheprecisestateofhismind；andwhenhewoundhisclockonSundaynightsthewhirrofthatmonitorremindedthewidowtowindhers。ThistransitofnoiseswasmostperfectwhereLoveday’slobbyadjoinedMrs。Garland’spantry；andAnne，whowasoccupiedforsometimeinthelatterapartment，enjoyedtheprivilegeofhearingthevisitorsarriveandofcatchingstraysoundsandwordswithouttheconnectingphrasesthatmadethementertaining，tojudgefromthelaughtertheyevoked。Thearrivalspassedthroughthehouseandwentintothegarden，wheretheyhadteainalargesummer-house，anoccasionalblinkofbrightcolour，throughthefoliage，beingallthatwasvisibleoftheassemblyfromMrs。Garland’swindows。Whenitgrewdusktheyallcouldbeheardcomingindoorstofinishtheeveningintheparlour。
　　Thentherewasanintensifiedcontinuationoftheabove-mentionedsignsofenjoyment，talkingsandhaw-haws，runningsupstairsandrunningsdown，aslammingofdoorsandaclinkingofcupsandglasses；tilltheproudestadjoiningtenantwithoutfriendsonhisownsideofthepartitionmighthavebeentemptedtowishforentrancetothatmerrydwelling，ifonlytoknowthecauseofthesefluctuationsofhilarity，andtoseeiftheguestswerereallysonumerous，andtheobservationssoveryamusingastheyseemed。
　　ThestagnationoflifeontheGarlandsideoftheparty-wallbegantohaveaverygloomyeffectbythecontrast。When，abouthalf-pastnineo’clock，oneofthesetantalizingburstsofgaietyhadresoundedforalongertimethanusual，Annesaid，’Ibelieve，mother，thatyouarewishingyouhadgone。’
　　’Iowntofeelingthatitwouldhavebeenverycheerfulifwehadjoinedin，’saidMrs。Garland，inahankeringtone。’Iwasrathertooniceinlisteningtoyouandnotgoing。Theparsonnevercallsuponusexceptinhisspiritualcapacity。OldDerrimanishardlygenteel；andthere’snobodylefttospeakto。Lonelypeoplemustacceptwhatcompanytheycanget。’
　　’Ordowithoutitaltogether。’
　　’That’snotnatural，Anne；andIamsurprisedtohearayoungwomanlikeyousaysuchathing。Naturewillnotbestifledinthatway……’Songandpowerfulchorusheardthroughpartition。’I
　　declaretheroomontheothersideofthewallseemsquiteaparadisecomparedwiththis。’
　　’Mother，youarequiteagirl，’saidAnneinslightlysuperioraccents。’Goinandjointhembyallmeans。’
　　’Ono——notnow，’saidhermother，resignedlyshakingherhead。’Itistoolatenow。Weoughttohavetakenadvantageoftheinvitation。Theywouldlookhardatmeasapoormortalwhohadnorealbusinessthere，andthemillerwouldsay，withhisbroadsmile，“Ah，youbeobligedtocomeround。“’
　　WhilethesociableandunaspiringMrs。Garlandcontinuedthustopasstheeveningintwoplaces，herbodyinherownhouseandhermindinthemiller’s，somebodyknockedatthedoor，anddirectlyaftertheelderLovedayhimselfwasadmittedtotheroom。Hewasdressedinasuitbetweengrandandgay，whichheusedforsuchoccasionsasthepresent，andhisbluecoat，yellowandredwaistcoatwiththethreelowerbuttonsunfastened，steel-buckledshoesandspeckledstockings，becamehimverywellinMrs。MarthaGarland’seyes。
　　’Yourservant，ma’am，’saidthemiller，adoptingasamatterofproprietytheraisedstandardofpolitenessrequiredbyhishighercostume。’Now，beggingyourpardon，Ican’thaethis。’Tisunnaturalthatyoutwoladiesshouldbebidinghereandweunderthesameroofmakingmerrywithoutye。Yourhusband，poorman——lovelypictersthata’wouldmaketobesure——wouldhavebeeninwithuslongagoifhehadbeeninyourplace。Icantakenonayfromye，uponmyhonour。YouandmaidyAnnemustcomein，ifitbeonlyforhalf-an-hour。Johnandhisfriendshavegotpassestilltwelveo’clockto-night，and，savingafewofourownvillagefolk，thelowestvisitorpresentisaverygenteelGermancorporal。Ifyoushouldhaeanymisgivingsonthescoreofrespectability，ma’am，we’llpackofftheunderbredonesintothebackkitchen。’
　　WidowGarlandandAnnelookedyesateachotherafterthisappeal。
　　’We’llfollowyouinafewminutes，’saidtheelder，smiling；andsherosewithAnnetogoupstairs。
　　’No，I’llwaitforye，’saidthemillerdoggedly；’orperhapsyou’llalteryourmindagain。’
　　Whilethemotheranddaughterwereupstairsdressing，andsayinglaughinglytoeachother，’Well，wemustgonow，’asiftheyhadn’twishedtogoalltheevening，otherstepswereheardinthepassage；
　　andthemillercriedfrombelow，’Yourpardon，Mrs。Garland；butmysonJohnhascometohelpfetchye。ShallIaskhimintillyebeready？’
　　’Certainly；Ishallbedowninaminute，’screamedAnne’smotherinaslantingvoicetowardsthestaircase。
　　Whenshedescended，theoutlineofthetrumpet-majorappearedhalf-waydownthepassage。’ThisisJohn，’saidthemillersimply。
　　’John，youcanmindMrs。MarthaGarlandverywell？’
　　’Verywell，indeed，’saidthedragoon，cominginalittlefurther。
　　’Ishouldhavecalledtoseeherlasttime，butIwasonlyhomeaweek。Howisyourlittlegirl，ma’am？’
　　Mrs。GarlandsaidAnnewasquitewell。’Sheisgrown-upnow。Shewillbedowninamoment。’
　　Therewasaslightnoiseofmilitaryheelswithoutthedoor，atwhichthetrumpet-majorwentandputhisheadoutside，andsaid，’Allright——cominginaminute，’whenvoicesinthedarknessreplied，’Nohurry。’
　　’Morefriends？’saidMrs。Garland。
　　’O，itisonlyBuckandJonescometofetchme，’saidthesoldier。
　　’ShallIask’eminaminute，MrsGarland，ma’am？’
　　’Oyes，’saidthelady；andthetwointerestingformsofTrumpeterBuckandSaddler-sergeantJonesthencameforwardinthemostfriendlymanner；whereuponotherstepswereheardwithout，anditwasdiscoveredthatSergeant-master-tailorBrettandFarrier-
　　extraordinaryJohnsonwereoutside，havingcometofetchMessrs。
　　BuckandJones，asBuckandJoneshadcometofetchthetrumpet-major。
　　AsthereseemedapossibilityofMrs。Garland’ssmallpassagebeingchokedupwithhumanfigurespersonallyunknowntoher，shewasrelievedtohearAnnecomingdownstairs。
　　’Here’smylittlegirl，’saidMrs。Garland，andthetrumpet-majorlookedwithasortofaweuponthemuslinapparitionwhocameforward，andstoodquitedumbbeforeher。Annerecognizedhimasthetroopershehadseenfromherwindow，andwelcomedhimkindly。
　　Therewassomethinginhishonestfacewhichmadeherfeelinstantlyathomewithhim。
　　AtthisfranknessofmannerLoveday——whowasnotaladies’man——
　　blushed，andmadesomealterationinhisbodilyposture，beganasentencewhichhadnoend，andshowedquiteaboy’sembarrassment。
　　Recoveringhimself，hepolitelyofferedhisarm，whichAnnetookwithaveryprettygrace。Heconductedherthroughhiscomrades，whogluedthemselvesperpendicularlytothewalltoletherpass，andthentheywentoutofthedoor，hermotherfollowingwiththemiller，andsupportedbythebodyoftroopers，thelatterwalkingwiththeusualcavalrygait，asiftheirthighswererathertoolongforthem。Thustheycrossedthethresholdofthemill-houseandupthepassage，thepavingofwhichwaswornintoagutterbytheebbandflowoffeetthathadbeengoingonthereeversinceTudortimes。
　　IV。WHOWEREPRESENTATTHEMILLER’SLITTLEENTERTAINMENT
　　Whenthegroupenteredthepresenceofthecompanyalullintheconversationwascausedbythesightofnewvisitors，andofcoursebythecharmofAnne’sappearance；untiltheoldmen，whohaddaughtersoftheirown，perceivingthatshewasonlyahalf-formedgirl，resumedtheirtalesandtoss-pottingwithunconcern。
　　MillerLovedayhadfraternizedwithhalfthesoldiersinthecampsincetheirarrival，andtheeffectofthisuponhispartywasstriking——bothchromaticallyandotherwise。Thoseamongtheguestswhofirstattractedtheeyewerethesergeantsandsergeant-majorsofLoveday’sregiment，fineheartymen，whosatfacingthecandles，entirelyresignedtophysicalcomfort。Thentherewereothernon-commissionedofficers，aGerman，twoHungarians，andaSwede，fromtheforeignhussars——youngmenwithalookofsadnessontheirfaces，asiftheydidnotmuchlikeservingsofarfromhome。AllofthemspokeEnglishfairlywell。OldagewasrepresentedbySimonBurdenthepensioner，andtheshadysideoffiftybyCorporalTullidge，hisfriendandneighbour，whowashardofhearing，andsatwithhishatonoveraredcottonhandkerchiefthatwaswoundseveraltimesroundhishead。Thesetwoveteranswereemployedaswatchersattheneighbouringbeacon，whichhadlatelybeenerectedbytheLord-Lieutenantforfiringwheneverthedescentonthecoastshouldbemade。Theylivedinalittlehutonthehill，closebytheheapoffaggots；butto-nighttheyhadfounddeputiestowatchintheirstead。
　　OnalowerplaneofexperienceandqualificationscameneighbourJamesComfort，oftheVolunteers，asoldierbycourtesy，butablacksmithbyrights；alsoWilliamTremlettandAnthonyCripplestraw，ofthelocalforces。Thetwolattermenofwarweredressedmerelyasvillagers，andlookedupontheregularsfromahumblepositioninthebackground。Theremainderofthepartywasmadeupofaneighbouringdairymanortwo，andtheirwives，invitedbythemiller，asAnnewasgladtosee，thatsheandhermothershouldnotbetheonlywomenthere。
　　TheelderLovedayapologizedinawhispertoMrs。Garlandforthepresenceoftheinferiorvillagers。’Butastheyarelearningtobebravedefendersoftheirhomeandcountry，ma’am，asfastastheycanmasterthedrill，andhaveworkedformeoffandonthesemanyyears，I’veasked’emin，andthoughtyou’dexcuseit。’
　　’Certainly，MillerLoveday，’saidthewidow。
　　’AndthesameofoldBurdenandTullidge。TheyhaveservedwellandlongintheFoot，andevennowhaveahardtimeofitupatthebeaconinwetweather。SoaftergivingthemamealinthekitchenI
　　justasked’emintohearthesinging。Theyfaithfullypromisethatassoonaseverthegunboatsappearinview，andtheyhavefiredthebeacon，torundownherefirst，incaseweshouldn’tseeit。’Tisworthwhiletobefriendlywith’em，yousee，thoughtheirtempersbequeer。’
　　’Quiteworthwhile，miller，’saidshe。
　　Annewasratherembarrassedbythepresenceoftheregularmilitaryinsuchforce，andatfirstconfinedherwordstothedairymen’swivesshewasacquaintedwith，andtothetwooldsoldiersoftheparish。
　　’Whydidn’tyespeaktomeafore，chiel？’saidoneofthese，CorporalTullidge，theelderlymanwiththehat，whileshewastalkingtooldSimonBurden。’Imetyeinthelaneyesterday，’headdedreproachfully，’butyedidn’tnoticemeatall。’
　　’Iamverysorryforit，’shesaid；but，beingafraidtoshoutinsuchacompany，theeffectofherremarkuponthecorporalwasasifshehadnotspokenatall。
　　’Youwascomingalongwithyerheadfullofsomehighnotionsorothernodoubt，’continuedtheuncompromisingcorporalinthesameloudvoice。’Ah，’tistheyoungbucksthatgetallthenoticenowadays，andoldfolksarequiteforgot！IcanmindwellenoughhowyoungBobLovedayusedtolieinwaitforye。’
　　Anneblusheddeeply，andstoppedhistooexcursivediscoursebyhastilysayingthatshealwaysrespectedoldfolkslikehim。Thecorporalthoughtsheinquiredwhyhealwayskepthishaton，andansweredthatitwasbecausehisheadwasinjuredatValenciennes，inJuly，Ninety-three。’Weweretryingtobombdownthetower，andapieceoftheshellstruckme。Iwasnomorenorlessthanadeadmanfortwodays。Ifithadn’tabeenforthatandmysmashedarmI
　　shouldhavecomehomenonetheworseformyfive-and-twentyyears’
　　service。’