Anne’sconvictionofherlossincreasedwiththedarkeningoftheearlywintertime。Bobwasnotacautiousmanwhowouldavoidneedlessexposure，andahundredandfiftyoftheVictory’screwhadbeendisabledorslain。AnybodywhohadlookedintoherroomatthistimewouldhaveseenthatherfavouritereadingwastheofficefortheBurialoftheDeadatSea，beginning’Wethereforecommithisbodytothedeep。’InthesefirstdaysofDecemberseveralofthevictoriousfleetcameintoport；butnottheVictory。Manysupposedthatthatnobleship，disabledbythebattle，hadgonetothebottominthesubsequenttempestuousweather；andthebeliefwasperseveredintillitwastoldinthetownandportthatshehadbeenseenpassinguptheChannel。TwodayslatertheVictoryarrivedatPortsmouth。
　　ThenlettersfromsurvivorsbegantoappearinthepublicprintswhichJohnsoregularlybroughttoAnne；butthoughhewatchedthemailswithunceasingvigilancetherewasneveraletterfromBob。
　　ItsometimescrossedJohn’smindthathisbrothermightstillbealiveandwell，andthatinhiswishtoabidebyhisexpressedintentionofgivingupAnneandhomelifehewasdeliberatelylaxinwriting。Ifso，Bobwascarryingouttheideatoothoughtlesslybyhalf，ascouldbeseenbywatchingtheeffectsofsuspenseuponthefairfaceofthevictim，andtheanxietyoftherestofthefamily。
　　ItwasacleardayinDecember。Thefirstslightsnowoftheseasonhadbeensiftedovertheearth，andonesideoftheapple-treebranchesinthemiller’sgardenwastouchedwithwhite，thoughafewleaveswerestilllingeringonthetopsoftheyoungertrees。A
　　shortsailoroftheRoyalNavy，whowasnotBob，noranythinglikehim，crossedthemillcourtandcametothedoor。Themillerhastenedoutandbroughthimintotheroom，whereJohn，Mrs。
　　Loveday，andAnneGarlandwereallpresent。
　　’I’mfromaboardtheVictory，’saidthesailor。’Myname’sJimCornick。Andyourladisaliveandwell。’
　　Theybreathedratherthanspoketheirthankfulnessandrelief，themiller’seyesbeingmoistasheturnedasidetocalmhimself；whileAnne，havingfirstjumpedupwildlyfromherseat，sankbackagainunderthealmostinsupportablejoythattrembledthroughherlimbstoherutmostfinger。
　　’I’vecomefromSpitheadtoPos’ham，’thesailorcontinued，’andnowIamgoingontofatheratBudmouth。’
　　’Ah！——Iknowyourfather，’criedthetrumpet-major，’oldJamesCornick。’
　　ItwasthemanwhohadbroughtAnneinhislerretfromPortlandBill。
　　’AndBobhasn’tgotascratch？’saidthemiller。
　　’Notascratch，’saidCornick。
　　Lovedaythenbustledofftodrawthevisitorsomethingtodrink。
　　AnneGarland，withaglowingblushonherface，hadgonetothebackpartoftheroom，whereshewastheveryembodimentofsweetcontentassheslightlyswayedherselfwithoutspeaking。Alittletideofhappinessseemedtoebbandflowthroughherinlisteningtothesailor’swords，movingherfigurewithit。TheseamanandJohnwentonconversing。
　　’Bobhadagooddealtodowithbarricadingthehawse-holesaforewewereinaction，andtheAdm’landCap’nbothwereverymuchpleasedathow’twasdone。WhentheAdm’lwentupthequarter-deckladder，Cap’nHardysaidawordortwotoBob，butwhatitwasIdon’tknow，forIwasquarteredatagunsomewaysoff。However，BobsawtheAdm’lstaggerwhen’awaswownded，andwasoneofthemenwhocarriedhimtothecockpit。AfterthatheandsomeotherladsjumpedaboardtheFrenchship，andIbelievetheywasinherwhenshestruckherflag。What’adidnextIcan’tsay，forthewindhaddropped，andthesmokewaslikeacloud。But’agotagooddealtalkedabout；andtheysaythere’spromotioninstorefor’n。’
　　AtthispointinthestoryJimCornickstoppedtodrink，andalowunconscioushummingcamefromAnneinherdistantcorner；thefaintmelodycontinuedmoreorlesswhentheconversationbetweenthesailorandtheLovedayswasrenewed。
　　’WeheardaforethattheVictorywasnearknockedtopieces，’saidthemiller。
　　’Knockedtopieces？You’dsaysoifsobeyoucouldseeher！Gad，hersidesbebatteredlikeanoldpennypiece；theshotbestillstickinginherwales，andhersailsbelikesomanyclap-nets:wehaverunallthewayhomeunderjurytopmasts；andasforherdecks，youmayswabwi’hotwater，andyoumayswabwi’cold，butthere’stheblood-stains，andtherethey’llbide……TheCap’nhadanarrowescape，likemanyo’therest——ashotshavedhisanklelikearazor。Youshouldhaveseenthatman’sfaceintheheto’battle，hisfeatureswereasifthey’dbeencastinsteel。’
　　’WeratherexpectedaletterfromBobbeforethis。’
　　’Well，’saidJimCornick，withasmileoftoleration，’youmustmakeallowances。Thetrutho’tis，he’sengagedjustnowatPortsmouth，likeagoodmanyoftherestfromourship……’Tisaveryniceyoungwomanthathe’sacourtingof，andImakenodoubtthatshe’llbeanexcellentwifeforhim。’
　　’Ah！’saidMrs。Loveday，inawarningtone。
　　’Courting——wife？’saidthemiller。
　　TheyinstinctivelylookedtowardsAnne。Annehadstartedasifshakenbyaninvisiblehand，andathickmistofdoubtseemedtoobscuretheintelligenceofhereyes。Thiswasbutfortwoorthreemoments。Verypale，shearoseandwentrightuptotheseaman。
　　Johngentlytriedtointercepther，butshepassedhimby。
　　’DoyouspeakofRobertLovedayascourtingawife？’sheasked，withouttheleastbetrayalofemotion。
　　’Ididn’tseeyou，miss，’repliedCornick，turning。’Yes，yourbrotherhev’hiseyeonawife，andhedeservesone。Ihopeyoudon’tmind？’
　　’Notintheleast，’shesaid，withastagelaugh。’Iaminterested，naturally。Andwhatisshe？’
　　’Averyniceyoungmaster-baker’sdaughter，honey。Averywisechoiceoftheyoungman’s。’
　　’Isshefairordark？’
　　’Herhairisratherlight。’
　　’Ilikelighthair；andhername？’
　　’HernameisCaroline。Butcanitbethatmystoryhurtsye？Ifso——’
　　’Yes，yes，’saidJohn，interposinganxiously。’Wedon’tcareformorejustatthismoment。’
　　’WeDOcareformore！’saidAnnevehemently。’Tellitall，sailor。
　　Thatisaveryprettyname，Caroline。Whenaretheygoingtobemarried？’
　　’Idon’tknowashowthedayissettled，’answeredJim，evennowscarcelyconsciousofthedevastationhewascausinginonefairbreast。’Butfromtheratethecourtingisscuddingalongat，I
　　shouldsayitwon’tbelongfirst。’
　　’Ifyouseehimwhenyougoback，givehimmybestwishes，’shelightlysaid，asshemovedaway。’And，’sheadded，withsolemnbitterness，’saythatIamgladtohearheismakingsuchgooduseofthefirstdaysofhisescapefromtheValleyoftheShadowofDeath！’Shewentaway，expressingindifferencebyaudiblysinginginthedistance——
　　’Shallwegodancetheround，theround，theround，Shallwegodancetheround？’
　　’Yoursisterislivelyatthenews，’observedJimCornick。
　　’Yes，’murmuredJohngloomily，ashegnawedhislowerlipandkepthiseyesfixedonthefire。
　　’Well，’continuedthemanfromtheVictory，’Iwon’tsaythatyourbrother’sintendedha’n’tgotsomeballast，whichisveryluckyfor’n，ashemighthavepickedupwithagirlwithoutasinglecoppernail。Tobesuretherewasatimewehadwhenwegotintoport！Itwasopenhouseforusall！’AndaftermentallyregardingthesceneforafewsecondsJimemptiedhiscupandrosetogo。
　　Themillerwassayingsomelastwordstohimoutsidethehouse，Anne’svoicehadhardlyceasedsingingupstairs，Johnwasstandingbythefireplace，andMrs。Lovedaywascrossingtheroomtojoinherdaughter，whosemannerhadgivenhersomeuneasiness，whenanoisecamefromabovetheceiling，asofsomeheavybodyfalling。Mrs。
　　Lovedayrushedtothestaircase，saying，’Ah，Ifearedsomething！’
　　andshewasfollowedbyJohn。
　　WhentheyenteredAnne’sroom，whichtheybothdidalmostatonemoment，theyfoundherlyinginsensibleuponthefloor。Thetrumpet-major，hislipstightlyclosed，liftedherinhisarms，andlaidheruponthebed；afterwhichhewentbacktothedoortogiveroomtohermother，whowasbendingoverthegirlwithsomehartshorn。
　　PresentlyMrs。Lovedaylookedupandsaidtohim，’Sheisonlyinafaint，John，andhercolouriscomingback。Nowleavehertome；I
　　willbedownstairsinafewminutes，andtellyouhowsheis。’
　　Johnlefttheroom。Whenhegainedthelowerapartmenthisfatherwasstandingbythechimney-piece，thesailorhavinggone。Thetrumpet-majorwentuptothefire，and，graspingtheedgeofthehighchimney-shelf，stoodsilent。
　　’DidIhearanoisewhenIwentout？’askedtheelder，inatoneofmisgiving。
　　’Yes，youdid，’saidJohn。’Itwasshe，buthermothersayssheisbetternow。Father，’headdedimpetuously，’Bobisaworthlessblockhead！Iftherehadbeenanygoodinhimhewouldhavebeendrownedyearsago！’
　　’John，John——nottoofast，’saidthemiller。’That’sahardthingtosayofyourbrother，andyououghttobeashamedofit。’
　　’Well，hetriesmemorethanIcanbear。GoodGod！whatcanamanbemadeoftogoonashedoes？Whydidn’thecomehome；orifhecouldn’tgetleavewhydidn’thewrite？’Tisscandalousofhimtoserveawomanlikethat！’
　　’Gently，gently。Thechaphevdonehisdutyasasailor；andthoughtheremighthavebeensomethingbetweenhimandAnne，hermother，intalkingitoverwithme，hassaidmanytimesthatshecouldn’tthinkoftheirmarryingtillBobhadsettleddowninbusinesswithme。
　　Folksthatgainvictoriesmusthavealittlelibertyallowed’em。
　　LookattheAdmiralhimself，forthatmatter。’
　　Johncontinuedlookingattheredcoals，tillhearingMrs。Loveday’sfootonthestaircase，hewenttomeether。
　　’Sheisbetter，’saidMrs。Loveday；’butshewon’tcomedownagainto-day。’
　　CouldJohnhaveheardwhatthepoorgirlwasmoaningtoherselfatthatmomentasshelaywrithingonthebed，hewouldhavedoubtedhermother’sassurance。’IfhehadbeendeadIcouldhaveborneit，butthisIcannotbear！’
　　MeanwhileSailorCornickhadgoneonhiswayasfarastheforkingroads，wherehemetFestusDerrimanonfoot。Thelatter，attractedbytheseaman’sdress，andbyseeinghimcomefromthemill，atonceaccostedhim。Jim，withthegreatestreadiness，fellintoconversation，andtoldthesamestoryasthathehadrelatedatthemill。
　　’BobLovedaygoingtobemarried？’repeatedFestus。
　　’Youallseemstruckofaheapwi’that。’
　　’No；Ineverheardnewsthatpleasedmemore。’
　　WhenCornickwasgone，Festus，insteadofpassingstraighton，haltedonthelittlebridgeandmeditated。Bob，beingnowinterestedelsewhere，wouldprobablynotresentthesiegeofAnne’sheartbyanother；therecould，atanyrate，benofurtherpossibilityofthatloomingduelwhichhadtroubledtheyeoman’smindeversincehishorse-playonAnneatthehouseonthedown。TomarchintothemillandproposetoMrs。LovedayforAnnebeforeJohn’sinterestcouldreviveinherwas，tothishero’sthinking，excellentdiscretion。
　　Thedayhadalreadybeguntodarkenwhenheentered，andthecheerfulfireshonereduponthefloorandwalls。Mrs。Lovedayreceivedhimalone，andaskedhimtotakeaseatbythechimney-corner，alittleoftheoldhankeringforhimasason-in-lawhavingpermanentlyremainedwithher。
　　’Yourservant，Mrs。Loveday，’hesaid，’andIwilltellyouatoncewhatIcomefor。YouwillsaythatItaketimebytheforelockwhenIinformyouthatitistopushonmylong-wished-foralliancewi’
　　yourdaughter，asIbelievesheisnowafreewomanagain。’
　　’Thankyou，Mr。Derriman，’saidthemotherplacably。’Butsheisillatpresent。I’llmentionittoherwhensheisbetter。’
　　’Askhertoalterhercruel，cruelresolvesagainstme，onthescoreof——ofmyconsumingpassionforher。Inshort，’continuedFestus，droppinghisparlourlanguageinhiswarmth，’I’lltelltheewhat，DameLoveday，Iwantthemaid，andmusthaveher。’
　　Mrs。Lovedayrepliedthatthatwasveryplainspeaking。
　　’Well，’tis。ButBobhasgivenherup。Henevermeanttomarryher。I’lltellyou，Mrs。Loveday，whatIhavenevertoldasoulbefore。IwasstandinguponBudmouthQuayonthatverydayinlastSeptemberthatBobsetsail，andIheardhimsaytohisbrotherJohnthathegaveyourdaughterup。’
　　’Thenitwasveryunmannerlyofhimtotriflewithherso，’saidMrs。Lovedaywarmly。’Whodidhegiveherupto？’
　　Festusrepliedwithhesitation，’HegaveheruptoJohn。’
　　’ToJohn？Howcouldhegiveheruptoamanalreadyoverheadandearsinlovewiththatactresswoman？’