Toexplainthemiller’ssuddenproposalitisonlynecessarytogobacktothatmomentwhenAnne，Festus，andMrs。Garlandweretalkingtogetheronthedown。JohnLovedayhadfallenbehindsoasnottointerferewithameetinginwhichhewasdecidedlysuperfluous；andhisfather，whoguessedthetrumpet-major’ssecret，watchedhisfaceashestood。John’sfacewassad，andhiseyesfollowedMrs。
Garland’sencouragingmannertoFestusinawaywhichplainlysaidthateverypartingofherlipswastribulationtohim。Themillerlovedhissonasmuchasanymillerorprivategentlemancoulddo，andhewaspainedtoseeJohn’sgloomatsuchatrivialcircumstance。SowhatdidheresolvebuttohelpJohnthereandthenbyprecipitatingamatterwhich，hadhehimselfbeentheonlypersonconcerned，hewouldhavedelayedforanothersixmonths。
Hehadlonglikedthesocietyofhisimpulsive，tractableneighbour，Mrs。Garland；hadmentallytakenherupandponderedherinconnexionwiththequestionwhetheritwouldnotbeforthehappinessofbothifsheweretosharehishome，eventhoughshewasalittlehissuperiorinantecedentsandknowledge。Infacthelovedher；nottragically，buttoaverycreditableextentforhisyears；thatis，nexttohissons，BobandJohn，thoughheknewverywellofthatploughed-groundappearancenearthecornersofheroncehandsomeeyes，andthatthelittledepressioninherrightcheekwasnotthelingeringdimpleitwaspoeticallyassumedtobe，butaresultoftheabstractionofsomeworn-outnethermillstoneswithinthecheekbyRootle，theBudmouthman，wholivedbysuchpracticesontheheadsoftheelderly。Butwhatofthat，whenhehadlosttwotoeachoneofhers，andexceededherinagebysomeeightyears！
TodoJohnaservice，then，hequickenedhisdesigns，andputthequestiontoherwhiletheywerestandingundertheeyesoftheyoungerpair。
Mrs。Garland，thoughshehadbeeninterestedinthemillerforalongtime，andhadforamomentnowandthenthoughtonthisquestionasfaras，’Supposeheshould，’Ifhewereto，’andsoon，hadneverthoughtmuchfurther；andshewasreallytakenbysurprisewhenthequestioncame。Sheansweredwithoutaffectationthatshewouldthinkovertheproposal；andthustheyparted。
Hermother’sinfirmityofpurposesetAnnethinking，andshewassuddenlyfilledwithaconvictionthatinsuchacasesheoughttohavesomepurposeherself。Mrs。Garland’scomplacencyatthemiller’sofferhad，intruth，amazedher。Whilehermotherhadheldupherhead，andrecommendedFestus，ithadseemedaveryprettythingtorebel；butthepressurebeingremovedanawfulsenseofherownresponsibilitytookpossessionofhermind。Astherewasnolongeranybodytobewiseorambitiousforher，surelysheshouldbewiseandambitiousforherself，discountenancehermother’sattachment，andencourageFestusinhisaddresses，forherownandhermother’sgood。TherehadbeenatimewhenaLovedaythrilledherownheart；butthatwaslongago，beforeshehadthoughtofpositionordifferences。Towakeintocolddaylightlikethis，whenandbecausehermotherhadgoneintothelandofromance，wasdreadfulandnewtoher，andlikeanincreaseofyearswithoutlivingthem。
Butitwaseasiertothinkthatsheoughttomarrytheyeomanthantotakestepsfordoingit；andshewentonlivingjustasbefore，onlywithalittlemorethoughtfulnessinhereyes。
Twodaysafterthevisittothecamp，whenshewasagaininthegarden，SoldierLovedaysaidtoher，atadistanceoffiverowsofbeansandaparsley-bed——
’Youhaveheardthenews，MissGarland？’
’No，’saidAnne，withoutlookingupfromabookshewasreading。
’TheKingiscomingto-morrow。’
’TheKing？’Shelookedupthen。
’Yes；toGloucesterLodge；andhewillpassthisway。Hecan’tarrivetilllongpastthemiddleofthenight，ifwhattheysayistrue，thatheistimedtochangehorsesatWoodyatesInn——betweenMidandSouthWessex——attwelveo’clock，’continuedLoveday，encouragedbyherinteresttocutofftheparsley-bedfromthedistancebetweenthem。
MillerLovedaycameroundthecornerofthehouse。
’HaveyeheardabouttheKingcoming，MissMaidyAnne？’hesaid。
Annesaidthatshehadjustheardofit；andthetrumpet-major，whohardlywelcomedhisfatheratsuchamoment，explainedwhatheknewofthematter。
’Andyouwillgowithyourregimenttomeet’en，Isuppose？’saidoldLoveday。
YoungLovedaysaidthatthemenoftheGermanLegionweretoperformthatduty。Andturninghalffromhisfather，andhalftowardsAnne，headded，inatentativetone，thathethoughthemightgetleaveforthenight，ifanybodywouldliketobetakentothetopoftheRidgewayoverwhichtheroyalpartymustpass。
Anne，knowingbythistimeofthebuddinghopeinthegallantdragoon’smind，andnotwishingtoencourageit，said，’Idon’twanttogo。’
ThemillerlookeddisappointedaswellasJohn。
’Yourmothermightliketo？’
’Yes，Iamgoingindoors，andI’llaskherifyouwishmeto，’saidshe。
Shewentindoorsandrathercoldlytoldhermotheroftheproposal。
Mrs。Garland，thoughshehaddeterminednottoanswerthemiller’squestiononmatrimonyjustyet，wasquitereadyforthisjaunt，andinspiteofAnneshesailedoffatoncetothegardentohearmoreaboutit。Whenshere-entered，shesaid——
’Anne，IhavenotseentheKingortheKing’shorsesforthesemanyyears；andIamgoing。’
’Ah，itiswelltobeyou，mother，’saidAnne，inanelderlytone。
’Thenyouwon’tcomewithus？’saidMrs。Garland，ratherrebuffed。
’Ihaveverydifferentthingstothinkof，’saidherdaughterwithvirtuousemphasis，’thangoingtoseesightsatthattimeofnight。’
Mrs。Garlandwassorry，butresolvedtoadheretothearrangement。
Thenightcameon；andithavinggoneabroadthattheKingwouldpassbytheroad，manyofthevillagerswentouttoseetheprocession。WhenthetwoLovedaysandMrs。Garlandweregone，Anneboltedthedoorforsecurity，andsatdowntothinkagainonhergraveresponsibilitiesinthechoiceofahusband，nowthathernaturalguardiancouldnolongerbetrusted。
Aknockcametothedoor。
Anne’sinstinctwasatoncetobesilent，thatthecomermightthinkthefamilyhadretired。
Theknockingperson，however，wasnottobeeasilypersuaded。Hehadinfactseenraysoflightoverthetopoftheshutter，and，unabletogetananswer，wentontothedoorofthemill，whichwasstillgoing，themillersometimesgrindingallnightwhenbusy。ThegrinderaccompaniedthestrangertoMrs。Garland’sdoor。
’Thedaughteriscertainlyathome，sir，’saidthegrinder。’I’llgoroundtot’otherside，andseeifshe’sthere，MasterDerriman。’
’IwanttotakeherouttoseetheKing，’saidFestus。
Annehadstartedatthesoundofthevoice。Noopportunitycouldhavebeenbetterforcarryingouthernewconvictionsonthedisposalofherhand。ButinhermortaldislikeofFestus，Anneforgotherprinciples，andherideaofkeepingherselfabovetheLovedays。Tossingonherhatandblowingoutthecandle，sheslippedoutatthebackdoor，andhastilyfollowedinthedirectionthathermotherandtheresthadtaken。Sheovertookthemastheywerebeginningtoclimbthehill。
’What！youhavealteredyourmindafterall？’saidthewidow。’Howcameyoutodothat，mydear？’
’IthoughtImightaswellcome，’saidAnne。
’Tobesureyoudid，’saidthemillerheartily。’Agooddealbetterthanbidingathomethere。’
Johnsaidnothing，thoughshecouldalmostseethroughthegloomhowgladhewasthatshehadalteredhermind。Whentheyreachedtheridgeoverwhichthehighwaystretchedtheyfoundmanyoftheirneighbourswhohadgottherebeforethemidlingonthegrassborderbetweentheroadwayandthehedge，enjoyingasortofmidnightpicnic，whichitwaseasytodo，theairbeingstillanddry。Somecarriageswerealsostandingnear，thoughmostpeopleofthedistrictwhopossessedfourwheels，oreventwo，haddrivenintothetowntoawaittheKingthere。Fromthisheightcouldbeseeninthedistancethepositionofthewatering-place，anadditionalnumberoflanterns，lamps，andcandleshavingbeenlightedto-nightbytheloyalburgherstogracetheroyalentry，ifitshouldoccurbeforedawn。
Mrs。GarlandtouchedAnne’selbowseveraltimesastheywalked，andtheyoungwomanatlastunderstoodthatthiswasmeantasahinttohertotakethetrumpet-major’sarm，whichitsownerwasrathersuggestingthanofferingtoher。Annewonderedwhatinfatuationwaspossessinghermother，declinedtotakethearm，andcontrivedtogetinfrontwiththemiller，whomostlykeptinthevantoguidetheothers’footsteps。Thetrumpet-majorwasleftwithMrs。
Garland，andAnne’sencouragingpursuitoftheminducedhimtosayafewwordstotheformer。
’Byyourleave，ma’am，I’llspeaktoyouonsomethingthatconcernsmymindverymuchindeed？’
’Certainly。’
’Itismywishtobeallowedtopaymyaddressestoyourdaughter。’
’Ithoughtyoumeantthat，’saidMrs。Garlandsimply。
’Andyou’llnotobject？’
’Ishallleaveittoher。Idon’tthinkshewillagree，evenifI
do。’
Thesoldiersighed，andseemedhelpless。’Well，Icanbutaskher，’
hesaid。
ThespotonwhichtheyhadfinallychosentowaitfortheKingwasbyafieldgate，whencethewhiteroadcouldbeseenforalongdistancenorthwardsbyday，andsomelittledistancenow。Theylingeredandlingered，butnoKingcametobreakthesilenceofthatbeautifulsummernight。Ashalf-hourafterhalf-hourglidedby，andnobodycame，Annebegantogetweary；sheknewwhyhermotherdidnotproposetogoback，andregrettedthereason。Shewouldhaveproposeditherself，butthatMrs。Garlandseemedsocheerful，andaswideawakeasatnoonday，sothatitwasalmostacrueltytodisturbher。
Thetrumpet-majoratlastmadeuphismind，andtriedtodrawAnneintoaprivateconversation。Thefeelingwhichaweekagohadbeenavagueandpiquantaspiration，wasto-dayaltogethertoolivelyforthereasoningofthiswarm-heartedsoldiertoregulate。Soheperseveredinhisintentiontocatchheralone，andatlast，inspiteofhermanoeuvrestothecontrary，hesucceeded。ThemillerandMrs。Garlandhadwalkedaboutfiftyyardsfurtheron，andAnneandhimselfwereleftstandingbythegate。
Butthegallantmusician’ssoulwassomuchdisturbedbytendervibrationsandbythesenseofhispresumptionthathecouldnotbegin；anditmaybequestionedifhewouldeverhavebroachedthesubjectatall，hadnotadistantchurchclockopportunelyassistedhimbystrikingthehourofthree。Thetrumpet-majorheavedabreathofrelief。
’ThatclockstrikesinGsharp，’hesaid。
’Indeed——Gsharp？’saidAnnecivilly。
’Yes。’Tisafine-tonedbell。IusedtonoticethatnotewhenI
wasaboy。’
’Didyou——theverysame？’
’Yes；andsincethenIhadawageraboutthatbellwiththebandmasteroftheNorthWessexMilitia。HesaidthenotewasG；I
saiditwasn’t。WhenwefounditGsharpwedidn’tknowhowtosettleit。’
’Itisnotadeepnoteforaclock。’
’Ono！ThefinesttenorbellabouthereisthebellofPeter’s，Casterbridge——inEflat。Tum-m-m-m——that’sthenote——tum-m-m-m。’
Thetrumpet-majorsoundedfromfardownhisthroatwhatheconsideredtobeEflat，withaparentheticsenseofluxuryunquenchableevenbyhispresentdistraction。
’Shallwegoontowheremymotheris？’saidAnne，lessimpressedbythebeautyofthenotethanthetrumpet-majorhimselfwas。
’Inoneminute，’hesaidtremulously。’Talkingofmusic——Ifearyoudon’tthinktherankofatrumpet-majormuchtocomparewithyourown？’
’Ido。Ithinkatrumpet-majoraveryrespectableman。’
’Iamgladtohearyousaythat。ItisgivenoutbytheKing’scommandthattrumpet-majorsaretobeconsideredrespectable。’
’Indeed！ThenIam，bychance，moreloyalthanIthoughtfor。’
’Igetagooddealayearextratothetrumpeters，becauseofmyposition。’
’That’sverynice。’
’AndIamnotsupposedevertodrinkwiththetrumpeterswhoservebeneathme。’
’Naturally。’