Annelookedthoughtfulandreticent，forherreasonwasalmosttoosillyaonetoconfess。’Well，Iwantedtoavoidapersonwhoisverybusytryingtomeetme——that’sall，’shesaid。
　　Hermotherglancedoutofthewindow。’Andthereheis，Isuppose，’
　　shesaid，asJohnLoveday，tiredoflookingforAnneatthestile，passedthehouseonhiswaytohisfather’sdoor。Hecouldnothelpcastinghiseyestowardstheirwindow，and，seeingthem，hesmiled。
　　Anne’sreluctancetomentionFestuswassuchthatshedidnotcorrecthermother’serror，andthedamewenton:’Well，youarequiteright，mydear。Befriendlywithhim，butnomoreatpresent。
　　Ihaveheardofyourotheraffair，andthinkitisaverywisechoice。Iamsureyouhavemybestwishesinit，andIonlyhopeitwillcometoapoint。’
　　’What’sthat？’saidtheastonishedAnne。
　　’YouandMr。FestusDerriman，dear。Youneednotmindme；Ihaveknownitforseveraldays。OldGrannySeamorecalledhereSaturday，andtoldmeshesawhimcominghomewithyouacrossParkCloselastweek，whenyouwentforthenewspaper；soIthoughtI’dsendyouagainto-day，andgiveyouanotherchance。’
　　’Thenyoudidn’twantthepaper——anditwasonlyforthat！’
　　’He’saveryfineyoungfellow；helooksathoroughwoman’sprotector。’
　　’Hemaylookit，’saidAnne。
　　’HehasgivenupthefreeholdfarmhisfatherheldatPitstock，andlivesinindependenceonwhatthelandbringshim。AndwhenFarmerDerrimandies，he’llhavealltheoldman’s，forcertain。He’llbeworthtenthousandpounds，ifapenny，inmoney，besidessixteenhorses，cartandhack，afifty-cowdairy，andatleastfivehundredsheep。’
　　Anneturnedaway，andinsteadofinforminghermotherthatshehadbeenrunninglikeadoetoescapetheinterestingheir-presumptivealludedto，merelysaid’Mother，Idon’tlikethisatall。’
　　Afterthis，AnnewouldonnoaccountwalkinthedirectionofthehallforfearofanotherencounterwithyoungDerriman。Inthecourseofafewdaysitwastoldinthevillagethattheoldfarmerhadactuallygoneforaweek’sholidayandchangeofairtotheRoyalwatering-placenearathand，attheinstanceofhisnephewFestus。ThiswasawonderfulthingtohearofUncleBenjy，whohadnotsleptoutsidethewallsofOxwellHallformanyalongyearbefore；andAnnewellimaginedwhatextraordinarypressuremusthavebeenputuponhimtoinducehimtotakesuchastep。Shepicturedhisunhappinessatthebustlingwatering-place，andhopednoharmwouldcometohim。
　　Shespentmuchofhertimeindoorsorinthegarden，hearinglittleofthecampmovementsbeyondtheperiodicalTa-ta-ta-taaofthetrumpeterssoundingtheirvariousingeniouscallsforwatch-setting，stables，feed，boot-and-saddle，parade，andsoon，whichmadeherthinkhowcleverherfriendthetrumpet-majormustbetoteachhispupilstoplaythoseprettylittletunessowell。
　　OnthethirdmorningafterUncleBenjy’sdeparture，shewasdisturbedasusualwhiledressingbythetrampofthetroopsdowntheslopetothemill-pond，andduringthenowfamiliarstampingandsplashingwhichfollowedtheresoundedupontheglassofthewindowaslightsmack，whichmighthavebeencausedbyawhiporswitch。
　　Shelistenedmoreparticularly，anditwasrepeated。
　　AsJohnLovedaywastheonlydragoonlikelytobeawarethatshesleptinthatparticularapartment，sheimaginedthesignaltocomefromhim，thoughwonderingthatheshouldventureuponsuchafreakoffamiliarity。
　　Wrappingherselfupinaredcloak，shewenttothewindow，gentlydrewupacornerofthecurtain，andpeepedout，asshehaddonemanytimesbefore。Nobodywhowasnotquiteclosebeneathherwindowcouldseeherface；butasithappened，somebodywasclose。
　　ThesoldierswhoseflounderingAnnehadheardwerenotLoveday’sdragoons，butatroopoftheYorkHussars，quiteobliviousofherexistence。Theyhadpassedonoutofthewater，andinsteadofthemtheresatFestusDerrimanaloneonhishorse，andinplainclothes，thewaterreachinguptotheanimal’sbelly，andFestus’heelselevatedoverthesaddletokeepthemoutofthestream，whichthreatenedtowashriderandhorseintothedeepmill-headjustbelow。Itwasplainlyhewhohadstruckherlattice，forinamomenthelookedup，andtheireyesmet。Festuslaughedloudly，andslappedherwindowagain；andjustatthatmomentthedragoonsbeganprancingdowntheslopeinrevieworder。Shecouldnotbutwaitaminuteortwotoseethempass。Whiledoingsoshewassuddenlyledtodrawback，dropthecornerofthecurtain，andblushprivatelyinherroom。ShehadnotonlybeenseenbyFestusDerriman，butbyJohnLoveday，who，ridingalongwithhistrumpetslungupbehindhim，hadlookedoverhisshoulderatthephenomenonofDerrimanbeneathAnne’sbedroomwindowandseemedquiteastoundedatthesight。
　　Shewasquitevexedattheconjunctionofincidents，andwentnomoretothewindowtillthedragoonshadriddenfarawayandshehadheardFestus’shorselaboriouslywadeontodryland。WhenshelookedouttherewasnobodyleftbutMillerLoveday，whousuallystoodinthegardenatthistimeofthemorningtosayawordortwotothesoldiers，ofwhomhealreadyknewsomany，andwasinafairwayofknowingmanymore，fromtheliberalitywithwhichhehandedroundmugsofcheeringliquorwheneverpartiesofthemwalkedthatway。
　　IntheafternoonofthisdayAnnewalkedtoachristeningpartyataneighbour’sintheadjoiningparishofSpringham，intendingtowalkhomeagainbeforeitgotdark；buttherewasaslightfallofraintowardsevening，andshewaspressedbythepeopleofthehousetostayoverthenight。Withsomehesitationsheacceptedtheirhospitality；butatteno’clock，whentheywerethinkingofgoingtobed，theywerestartledbyasmartrapatthedoor，andonitbeingunboltedaman’sformwasseenintheshadowsoutside。
　　’IsMissGarlandhere？’thevisitorinquired，atwhichAnnesuspendedherbreath。
　　’Yes，’saidAnne’sentertainer，warily。
　　’Hermotherisveryanxioustoknowwhat’sbecomeofher。Shepromisedtocomehome。’TohergreatreliefAnnerecognizedthevoiceasJohnLoveday’s，andnotFestusDerriman’s。
　　’Yes，Idid，Mr。Loveday，’saidshe，comingforward；’butitrained，andIthoughtmymotherwouldguesswhereIwas。’
　　Lovedaysaidwithdiffidencethatithadnotrainedanythingtospeakofatthecamp，oratthemill，sothathermotherwasratheralarmed。
　　’Andsheaskedyoutocomeforme？’Anneinquired。
　　Thiswasaquestionwhichthetrumpet-majorhadbeendreadingduringthewholeofhiswalkthither。’Well，shedidn’texactlyaskme，’
　　hesaidratherlamely，butstillinamannertoshowthatMrs。
　　Garlandhadindirectlysignifiedsuchtobeherwish。InrealityMrs。Garlandhadnotaddressedhimatallonthesubject。Shehadmerelyspokentohisfatheronfindingthatherdaughterdidnotreturn，andreceivedanassurancefromthemillerthatthepreciousgirlwasdoubtlessquitesafe。Johnheardofthisinquiry，and，havingapassthatevening，resolvedtorelieveMrs。Garland’smindonhisownresponsibility。EversincehismorningviewofFestusunderherwindowhehadbeenonthornsofanxiety，andhisthrillinghopenowwasthatshewouldwalkbackwithhim。
　　Heshiftedhisfootnervouslyashemadetheboldrequest。Annefeltatoncethatshewouldgo。Therewasnobodyintheworldwhosecareshewouldmorereadilybeunderthanthetrumpet-major’sinacaselikethepresent。Hewastheirnearestneighbour’sson，andshehadlikedhissingle-mindedingenuousnessfromthefirstmomentofhisreturnhome。
　　Whentheyhadstartedontheirwalk，Annesaidinapracticalway，toshowthattherewasnosentimentwhateverinheracceptanceofhiscompany，’Motherwasmuchalarmedaboutme，perhaps？’
　　’Yes；shewasuneasy，’hesaid；andthenwascompelledbyconsciencetomakeacleanbreastofit。’Iknowshewasuneasy，becausemyfathersaidso。ButIdidnotseehermyself。Thetruthis，shedoesn’tknowIamcome。’
　　Annenowsawhowthematterstood；butshewasnotoffendedwithhim。Whatwomancouldhavebeen？Theywalkedoninsilence，therespectfultrumpet-majorkeepingayardoffonherrightaspreciselyasifthatmeasurehadbeenfixedbetweenthem。Shehadagreatfeelingofcivilitytowardhimthisevening，andspokeagain。
　　’Ioftenhearyourtrumpetersblowingthecalls。Theydoitbeautifully，Ithink。’
　　’Prettyfair；theymightdobetter，’saidhe，asonetoowell-manneredtomakemuchofanaccomplishmentinwhichhehadahand。
　　’Andyoutaughtthemhowtodoit？’
　　’Yes，Itaughtthem。’
　　’Itmustrequirewonderfulpracticetogetthemintothewayofbeginningandfinishingsoexactlyatonetime。Itislikeonethroatdoingitall。Howcameyoutobeatrumpeter，Mr。Loveday？’
　　’Well，ItooktoitnaturallywhenIwasalittleboy，’saidhe，betrayedintoquiteagushingstatebyherdelightfulinterest。’I
　　usedtomaketrumpetsofpaper，eldersticks，eltrotstems，andevenstinging-nettlestalks，youknow。Thenfathersetmetokeepthebirdsoffthatlittlebarley-groundofhis，andgavemeanoldhorntofrighten’emwith。Ilearnttoblowthathornsothatyoucouldhearmeformilesandmiles。Thenheboughtmeaclarionet，andwhenIcouldplaythatIborrowedaserpent，andIlearnedtoplayatolerablebass。SowhenI’listedIwaspickedoutfortrainingastrumpeteratonce。’
　　’Ofcourseyouwere。’
　　’Sometimes，however，IwishIhadneverjoinedthearmy。Myfathergavemeaveryfaireducation，andyourfathershowedmehowtodrawhorses——onaslate，Imean。Yes，IoughttohavedonemorethanI
　　have。’
　　’What，didyouknowmyfather？’sheaskedwithnewinterest。
　　’Oyes，foryears。Youwerealittlemiteofathingthen；andyouusedtocrywhenwebigboyslookedatyou，andmadepig’seyesatyou，whichwedidsometimes。ManyandmanyatimehaveIstoodbyyourpoorfatherwhileheworked。Ah，youdon’tremembermuchabouthim；butIdo！’
　　Anneremainedthoughtful；andthemoonbrokefrombehindtheclouds，lightingupthewetfoliagewithatwinklingbrightness，andlendingtoeachofthetrumpet-major’sbuttonsandspursalittlerayofitsown。TheyhadcometoOxwellparkgate，andhesaid，’Doyoulikegoingacross，orroundbythelane？’
　　’Wemayaswellgobythenearestroad，’saidAnne。
　　Theyenteredthepark，followingthehalf-obliterateddrivetilltheycamealmostoppositethehall，whentheyenteredafootpathleadingontothevillage。Whilehereabouttheyheardashout，orchorusofexclamation，apparentlyfromwithinthewallsofthedarkbuildingsnearthem。
　　’Whatwasthat？’saidAnne。
　　’Idon’tknow，’saidhercompanion。’I’llgoandsee。’
　　Hewentroundtheinterveningswampofwatercressandbrooklimewhichhadoncebeenthefish-pond，crossedbyaculvertthetricklingbrookthatstillflowedthatway，andadvancedtothewallofthehouse。Boisterousnoiseswereresoundingfromwithin，andhewastemptedtogoroundthecorner，wherethelowwindowswere，andlookthroughachinkintotheroomwhencethesoundsproceeded。
　　Itwastheroominwhichtheownerdined——traditionallycalledthegreatparlour——andwithinitsataboutadozenyoungmenoftheyeomanrycavalry，oneofthembeingFestus。Theyweredrinking，laughing，singing，thumpingtheirfistsonthetables，andenjoyingthemselvesintheveryperfectionofconfusion。Thecandles，blownbythebreezefromthepartlyopenedwindow，hadgutteredintocoffinhandlesandshrouds，and，chokedbytheirlongblackwicksforwantofsnuffing，gaveoutasmokyyellowlight。Oneoftheyoungmenmightpossiblyhavebeeninamaudlinstate，forhehadhisarmroundtheneckofhisnextneighbour。Anotherwasmakinganincoherentspeechtowhichnobodywaslistening。Someoftheirfaceswerered，someweresallow；someweresleepy，somewideawake。
　　TheonlyoneamongthemwhoappearedinhisusualframeofmindwasFestus，whosehuge，burlyformroseattheheadofthetable，enjoyingwithasereneandtriumphantaspectthedifferencebetweenhisownconditionandthatofhisneighbours。Whilethetrumpet-majorlooked，ayoungwoman，nieceofAnthonyCripplestraw，andoneofUncleBenjy’sservants，wascalledinbyoneofthecrew，andmuchagainstherwillafiddlewasplacedinherhands，fromwhichtheymadeherproducediscordantscreeches。
　　TheabsenceofUncleBenjyhad，infact，beencontrivedbyyoungDerrimanthathemightmakeuseofthehallonhisownaccount。
　　Cripplestrawhadbeenleftincharge，andFestushadfoundnodifficultyinforcingfromthatdependentthekeysofwhateverherequired。JohnLovedayturnedhiseyesfromthescenetotheneighbouringmoonlitpath，whereAnnestillstoodwaiting。Thenhelookedintotheroom，thenatAnneagain。ItwasanopportunityofadvancinghisowncausewithherbyexposingFestus，forwhomhebegantoentertainhostilefeelingsofnomeanforce。
　　’No；Ican’tdoit，’hesaid。’’Tisunderhand。Letthingstaketheirchance。’
　　Hemovedaway，andthenperceivedthatAnne，tiredofwaiting，hadcrossedthestream，andalmostcomeupwithhim。
　　’Whatisthenoiseabout？’shesaid。
　　’There’scompanyinthehouse，’saidLoveday。