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。