’Then——Ah，it’sgonefrommeagain！’saidSimon。’O，andthentheywillraisetheirtents，youknow，andpickettheirhorses。Thatwasit；soitwas。’
Bythistimethecolumnofhorsehadascendedintofullview，andtheyformedalivelyspectacleastheyrodealongthehighgroundinmarchingorder，backedbythepalebluesky，andlitbythesoutherlysun。Theiruniformwasbrightandattractive；whitebuckskinpantaloons，three-quarterboots，scarletshakossetoffwithlace，mustachioswaxedtoaneedlepoint；andaboveall，thoserichlyornamentedbluejacketsmantledwiththehistoricpelisse——
thatfascinationtowomen，andencumbrancetothewearersthemselves。
’’TistheYorkHussars！’saidSimonBurden，brighteninglikeadyingemberfanned。’Foreignerstoaman，andenrolledlongsincemytime。Butasgoodheartycomrades，theysay，asyou’llfindintheKing’sservice。’
’Herearemoreanddifferentones，’saidMrs。Garland。
Othertroopshad，duringthelastfewminutes，beenascendingthedownataremoterpoint，andnowdrewnear。Thesewereofdifferentweightandbuildfromtheothers；lightermen，inhelmethats，withwhiteplumes。
’Idon’tknowwhichIlikebest，’saidAnne。’These，Ithink，afterall。’
Simon，whohadbeenlookinghardatthelatter，nowsaidthattheywerethe——thDragoons。
’AllEnglishmenthey，’saidtheoldman。’TheylayatBudmouthbarracksafewyearsago。’
’Theydid。Irememberit，’saidMrs。Garland。
’Andlotsofthechapsabouthere’listedatthetime，’saidSimon。
’Icancalltomindthattherewas——ah，’tisgonefrommeagain！
However，allthat’soflittleaccountnow。’
Thedragoonspassedinfrontofthelookers-onastheothershaddone，andtheirgayplumes，whichhadhunglazilyduringtheascent，swungtonorthwardastheyreachedthetop，showingthatonthesummitafreshbreezeblew。’Butlookacrossthere，’saidAnne。
Therehadentereduponthedownfromanotherdirectionseveralbattalionsoffoot，inwhitekerseymerebreechesandclothgaiters。
Theyseemedtobewearyfromalongmarch，theoriginalblackoftheirgaitersandbootsbeingwhity-brownwithdust。Presentlycameregimentalwaggons，andtheprivatecanteencartswhichfollowedattheendofaconvoy。
Thespaceinfrontofthemill-pondwasnowoccupiedbynearlyalltheinhabitantsofthevillage，whohadturnedoutinalarm，andremainedforpleasure，theireyeslightedupwithinterestinwhattheysaw；fortrappingsandregimentals，warhorsesandmen，intownsanattraction，wereherealmostasublimity。
Thetroopsfiledtotheirlines，dismounted，andinquicktimetookofftheiraccoutrements，rolleduptheirsheep-skins，picketedandunbittedtheirhorses，andmadereadytoerectthetentsassoonastheycouldbetakenfromthewaggonsandbroughtforward。Whenthiswasdone，atagivensignalthecanvasesflewupfromthesod；andthencefortheverymanhadaplaceinwhichtolayhishead。
Thoughnobodyseemedtobelookingonbutthefewatthewindowandinthevillagestreet，therewere，asamatteroffact，manyeyesconverginguponthatmilitaryarrivalinitshighandconspicuousposition，nottomentiontheglancesofbirdsandotherwildcreatures。Menindistantgardens，womeninorchardsandatcottage-doors，shepherdsonremotehills，turnip-hoersinblue-greenenclosuresmilesaway，captainswithspy-glassesoutatsea，wereregardingthepicturekeenly。Thosethreeorfourthousandmenofonemachine-likemovement，someofthemswashbucklersbynature；
others，doubtless，ofaquietshop-keepingdispositionwhohadinadvertentlygotintouniform——allofthemhadarrivedfromnobodyknewwhere，andhencewerematterofgreatcuriosity。Theyseemedtothemereeyetobelongtoadifferentorderofbeingsfromthosewhoinhabitedthevalleysbelow。Apparentlyunconsciousandcarelessofwhatalltheworldwasdoingelsewhere，theyremainedpicturesquelyengrossedinthebusinessofmakingthemselvesahabitationontheisolatedspotwhichtheyhadchosen。
Mrs。Garlandwasofafestiveandsanguineturnofmind，awomansoonsetupandsoonsetdown，andthecomingoftheregimentsquiteexcitedher。Shethoughttherewasreasonforputtingonherbestcap，thoughtthatperhapstherewasnot；thatshewouldhurryonthedinnerandgooutintheafternoon；thenthatshewould，afterall，donothingunusual，norshowanysillyexcitementswhatever，sincetheywereunbecominginamotherandawidow。Thuscircumscribingherintentionstillshewastoneddowntoanordinarypersonofforty，Mrs。Garlandaccompaniedherdaughterdownstairstodine，saying，’PresentlywewillcallonMillerLoveday，andhearwhathethinksofitall。’
MillerLovedaywastherepresentativeofanancientfamilyofcorn-grinderswhosehistoryislostinthemistsofantiquity。HisancestrallinewascontemporaneouswiththatofDeRos，Howard，andDeLaZouche；but，owingtosometriflingdeficiencyinthepossessionsofthehouseofLoveday，theindividualnamesandintermarriagesofitsmemberswerenotrecordedduringtheMiddleAges，andthustheirprivatelivesinanygivencenturywereuncertain。Butitwasknownthatthefamilyhadformedmatrimonialallianceswithfarmersnotsoverysmall，andoncewithagentleman-
tanner，whohadformanyyearspurchasedaftertheirdeaththehorsesofthemostaristocraticpersonsinthecounty——fierysteedsthatearlierintheircareerhadbeenvaluedatmanyhundredguineas。
ItwasalsoascertainedthatMr。Loveday’sgreat-grandparentshadbeeneightinnumber，andhisgreat-great-grandparentssixteen，everyoneofwhomreachedtoyearsofdiscretion:ateverystagebackwardshissiresandgammersthusdoubledanddoubledtilltheybecameavastbodyofGothicladiesandgentlemenoftherankknownasceorlsorvilleins，fullofimportancetothecountryatlarge，andramifyingthroughouttheunwrittenhistoryofEngland。Hisimmediatefatherhadgreatlyimprovedthevalueoftheirresidencebybuildinganewchimney，andsettingupanadditionalpairofmillstones。
OvercombeMillpresentedatoneendtheappearanceofahard-workedhouseslippingintotheriver，andattheotherofanidle，genteelplace，half-cloakedwithcreepersatthistimeoftheyear，andhavingnovisibleconnexionwithflour。Ithadhipsinsteadofgables，givingitaround-shoulderedlook，fourchimneyswithnosmokecomingoutofthem，twozigzagcracksinthewall，severalopenwindows，withalooking-glasshereandthereinside，showingitswarpedbacktothepasser-by；snowydimitycurtainswavinginthedraught；twomilldoors，oneabovetheother，theupperenablingapersontostepoutuponnothingataheightoftenfeetfromtheground；agapingarchvomitingtheriver，andalean，long-nosedfellowlookingoutfromthemilldoorway，whowasthehiredgrinder，exceptwhenabulgingfifteenstonemanoccupiedthesameplace，namely，themillerhimself。
Behindthemilldoor，andinvisibletothemerewayfarerwhodidnotvisitthefamily，werechalkedadditionandsubtractionsums，manyofthemoriginallydonewrong，andthefigureshalfrubbedoutandcorrected，noughtsbeingturnedintonines，andonesintotwos。
Thesewerethemiller’sprivatecalculations。Therewerealsochalkedinthesameplacerowsandrowsofstrokeslikeopenpalings，representingthecalculationsofthegrinder，whoinhisyouthfulcipheringstudieshadnotgonesofarasArabicfigures。
Inthecourtinfrontweretwoworn-outmillstones，madeusefulagainbybeingletinlevelwiththeground。Herepeoplestoodtosmokeandconsiderthingsinmuddyweather；andcatssleptonthecleansurfaceswhenitwashot。Inthelargestubbard-treeatthecornerofthegardenwaserectedapoleoflarchfir，whichthemillerhadboughtwithothersatasaleofsmalltimberinDamer’sWoodoneChristmasweek。Itrosefromtheupperboughsofthetreetoabouttheheightofafisherman’smast，andonthetopwasavaneintheformofasailorwithhisarmstretchedout。Whenthesunshoneuponthisfigureitcouldbeseenthatthegreaterpartofhiscountenancewasgone，andthepaintwashedfromhisbodysofarastorevealthathehadbeenasoldierinredbeforehebecameasailorinblue。Theimagehad，infact，beenJohn，oneofourcomingcharacters，andwasthenturnedintoRobert，anotherofthem。
Thisrevolvingpieceofstatuarycouldnot，however，bereliedonasavane，owingtotheneighbouringhill，whichformedvariablecurrentsinthewind。
Theleafyandquieterwingofthemill-housewasthepartoccupiedbyMrs。Garlandandherdaughter，whomadeupinsummer-timeforthenarrownessoftheirquartersbyoverflowingintothegardenonstoolsandchairs。Theparlourordining-roomhadastonefloor——afactwhichthewidowsoughttodisguisebydoublecarpeting，lestthestandingofAnneandherselfshouldbeloweredinthepubliceye。Herenowthemid-daymealwentlightlyandmincinglyon，asitdoeswherethereisnogreedycarnivorousmantokeepthedishesabout，andwashangingontheclosewhensomebodyenteredthepassageasfarasthechinkoftheparlourdoor，andtapped。ThisproceedingwasprobablyadoptedtokindlyavoidgivingtroubletoSusan，theneighbour’spinkdaughter，whohelpedatMrs。Garland’sinthemornings，butwasatthatmomentparticularlyoccupiedinstandingonthewater-buttandgazingatthesoldiers，withaninhalingpositionofthemouthandcirculareyes。
Therewasaflutterinthelittledining-room——thesensitivenessofhabitualsolitudemakesheartsbeatforpreternaturallysmallreasons——andaguessingastowhothevisitormightbe。Itwassomemilitarygentlemanfromthecampperhaps？No；thatwasimpossible。
Itwastheparson？No；hewouldnotcomeatdinner-time。Itwasthewell-informedmanwhotravelledwithdraperyandthebestBirminghamearrings？Notatall；histimewasnottillThursdayatthree。Beforetheycouldthinkfurtherthevisitormovedforwardanotherstep，andthedinersgotaglimpseofhimthroughthesamefriendlychinkthathadaffordedhimaviewoftheGarlanddinner-table。
’O！ItisonlyLoveday。’
Thisapproximationtonobodywasthemillerabovementioned，ahalemanoffifty-fiveorsixty——haleallthrough，asmanywereinthosedays，andnotmerelyveneeredwithpurplebyexhilaratingvictualsanddrinks，thoughthelatterwerenotatalldespisedbyhim。Hisfacewasindeedratherpalethanotherwise，forhehadjustcomefromthemill。Itwascapableofimmensechangesofexpression:
mobilitywasitsessence，arolloffleshformingabuttresstohisnoseoneachside，andadeepravinelyingbetweenhislowerlipandthetumulusrepresentedbyhischin。Thesefleshylumpsmovedstealthily，asifoftheirownaccord，wheneverhisfancywastickled。
Hiseyeshavinglightedonthetable-cloth，plates，andviands，hefoundhimselfinapositionwhichhadasensibleawkwardnessforamodestmanwhoalwayslikedtoenteronlyatseasonabletimesthepresenceofagirlofsuchpleasantlysoftwaysasAnneGarland，shewhocouldmakeapplesseemlikepeaches，andthrowoverhershillingstheglamourofguineaswhenshepaidhimforflour。
’Dinnerisover，neighbourLoveday；pleasecomein，’saidthewidow，seeinghiscase。Themillersaidsomethingaboutcominginpresently；butAnnepressedhimtostay，withatendermotionofherlipasitplayedonthevergeofasolicitoussmilewithoutquitelapsingintoone——herhabitualmannerwhenspeaking。
Lovedaytookoffhislow-crownedhatandadvanced。Hehadnotcomeaboutpigsorfowlsthistime。’Youhavebeenlookingout，liketheresto’us，nodoubt，Mrs。Garland，atthemampusofsoldiersthathavecomeuponthedown？Well，oneofthehorseregimentsisthe——
thDragoons，mysonJohn’sregiment，youknow。’
Theannouncement，thoughitinterestedthem，didnotcreatesuchaneffectasthefatherofJohnhadseemedtoanticipate；butAnne，wholikedtosaypleasantthings，replied，’Thedragoonslookednicerthanthefoot，ortheGermancavalryeither。’
’Theyareahandsomebodyofmen，’saidthemillerinadisinterestedvoice。’Faith！Ididn’tknowtheywerecoming，thoughitmaybeinthenewspaperallthetime。ButoldDerrimankeepsitsolongthatweneverknowthingstilltheybeineverybody’smouth。’
ThisDerrimanwasasquireenlivingnear，whowaschieflydistinguishedinthepresentwarliketimebyhavinganephewintheyeomanry。
’Weweretoldthattheyeomanrywentalongtheturnpikeroadyesterday，’saidAnne；’andtheysaythattheywereaprettysight，andquitesoldierly。’
’Ah！well——theybenotregulars，’saidMillerLoveday，keepingbackharshercriticismasuncalledfor。Butinflamedbythearrivalofthedragoons，whichhadbeentheexcitingcauseofhiscall，hismindwouldnotgotoyeomanry。’Johnhasnotbeenhomethesefiveyears，’hesaid。
’Andwhatrankdoesheholdnow？’saidthewidow。
’He’strumpet-major，ma’am；andagoodmusician。’Themiller，whowasagoodfather，wentontoexplainthatJohnhadseensomeservice，too。Hehadenlistedwhentheregimentwaslyinginthisneighbourhood，morethanelevenyearsbefore，whichputhisfatheroutoftemperwithhim，ashehadwishedhimtofollowonatthemill。Butastheladhadenlistedseriously，andashehadoftensaidthathewouldbeasoldier，themillerhadthoughtthathewouldletJacktakehischanceintheprofessionofhischoice。
Lovedayhadtwosons，andthesecondwasnowbroughtintotheconversationbyaremarkofAnne’sthatneitherofthemseemedtocareforthemiller’sbusiness。
’No，’saidLovedayinalessbuoyanttone。’Robert，yousee，mustneedsgotosea。’