Oneafternoonitwasrainingintorrents。Suchleavesastherewereontreesatthistimeofyear——thoseofthelaurelandotherevergreens——staggeredbeneaththehardblowsofthedropswhichfelluponthem，andafterwardscouldbeseentricklingdownthestemsbeneathandsilentlyenteringtheground。Thesurfaceofthemill-pondleaptupinathousandspirtsunderthesamedownfall，andcluckedlikeahenintherat-holesalongthebanksasitundulatedunderthewind。Theonlydryspotvisiblefromthefrontwindowsofthemill-housewastheinsideofasmallshed，ontheoppositesideofthecourtyard。WhileMrs。Lovedaywasnoticingthethreadsofraindescendingacrossitsinteriorshade，FestusDerrimanwalkedupandentereditforshelter，which，owingtothelumberwithin，itbutscantilyaffordedtoamanwhowouldhavebeenamatchforoneofFrederickWilliam’sPatagonians。
Itwasanexcellentopportunityforhelpingonherscheme。Annewasinthebackroom，andbyaskinghimintilltherainwasovershewouldbringhimfacetofacewithherdaughter，whom，asthedayswenton，sheincreasinglywishedtomarryotherthanaLoveday，nowthattheromanceofherownalliancewiththemillethadinsomerespectswornoff。Shewasbetterprovidedforthanbefore；shewasnotunhappy；buttheplainfactwasthatshehadmarriedbeneathher。ShebeckonedtoFestusthroughthewindow-pane；heinstantlycompliedwithhersignal，havinginfactplacedhimselfthereonpurposetobenoticed；forheknewthatMissGarlandwouldnotbeout-of-doorsonsuchaday。
’Goodafternoon，Mrs。Loveday，’saidFestusonentering。’Therenow——ifIdidn’tthinkthat’showitwouldbe！’Hisvoicehadsuddenlywarmedtoanger，forhehadseenadoorcloseinthebackpartoftheroom，alithefigurehavingpreviouslyslippedthrough。
Mrs。Lovedayturned，observedthatAnnewasgone，andsaid，’Whatisit？’asifshedidnotknow。
’O，nothing，nothing！’saidFestuscrossly。’Youknowwellenoughwhatitis，ma’am；onlyyoumakepretenceotherwise。ButI’llbringhertobookyet。Youshalldropyourhaughtyairs，mycharmer！ShelittlethinksIhavekeptanaccountof’emall。’
’Butyoumusttreatherpolitely，sir，’saidMrs。Loveday，secretlypleasedatthesesignsofuncontrollableaffection。
’Don’ttellmeofpolitenessorgenerosity，ma’am！Sheismorethanamatchforme。Sheregularlygetsoverme。Ihavepassedbythishousefive-and-fiftytimessincelastMartinmas，andthisisallmyrewardfor’t！’
’Butyouwillstaytilltherainisover，sir？’
’No。Idon’tmindrain。I’moffagain。She’sgotsomebodyelseinhereye！’Andtheyeomanwentout，slammingthedoor。
Meanwhiletheslipperyobjectofhishopeshadgonealongthedarkpassage，passedthetrapwhichopenedonthewheel，andthroughthedoorintothemill，whereshewasmetbyBob，wholookedupfromtheflour-shootinquiringlyandsaid，’Youwantme，MissGarland？’
’Ono，’saidshe。’Ionlywanttobeallowedtostandhereafewminutes。’
Helookedathertoknowifshemeantit，andfindingthatshedid，returnedtohispost。Whenthemillhadrumbledonalittlelongerhecameback。
’Bob，’shesaid，whenshesawhimmove，’rememberthatyouareatwork，andhavenotimetostandclosetome。’
Hebowedandwenttohisoriginalpostagain，AnnewatchingfromthewindowtillFestusshouldleave。Themillrumbledonasbefore，andatlastBobcametoherforthethirdtime。’Now，Bob——’shebegan。
’Onmyhonour，’tisonlytoaskaquestion。WillyouwalkwithmetochurchnextSundayafternoon？’
’PerhapsIwill，’shesaid。Butatthismomenttheyeomanleftthehouse，andAnne，toescapefurtherparley，returnedtothedwellingbythewayshehadcome。
Sundayafternoonarrived，andthefamilywasstandingatthedoorwaitingforthechurchbellstobegin。Fromthatsideofthehousetheycouldseesouthwardacrossapaddocktotherisinggroundfurtherahead，wheretheregrewalargeelm-tree，beneathwhoseboughsfootpathscrossedindifferentdirections，likemeridiansatthepole。Thetreewasold，andinsummerthegrassbeneathitwasquitetroddenawaybythefeetofthemanytrystersandidlerswhohauntedthespot。Thetreeformedaconspicuousobjectinthesurroundinglandscape。
Whiletheylooked，afootsoldierinreduniformandwhitebreechescamealongoneofthepaths，andstoppingbeneaththeelm，tookfromhispocketapaper，whichheproceededtonailupbythefourcornerstothetrunk。Hedrewback，lookedatit，andwentonhisway。Bobgothisglassfromindoorsandlevelleditattheplacard，butafterlookingforalongtimehecouldmakeoutnothingbutalionandaunicornatthetop。Anne，whowasreadyforchurch，movedawayfromthedoor，thoughitwasyetearly，andshowedherintentionofgoingbywayoftheelm。Thepaperhadbeensoimpressivelynailedupthatshewascurioustoreaditevenatthistheologicaltime。Bobtooktheopportunityoffollowing，andremindedherofherpromise。
’Thenwalkbehindmenotatallclose，’shesaid。
’Yes，’hereplied，immediatelydroppingbehind。
Theludicroushumilityofhismannerledhertoaddplayfullyoverhershoulder，’Itservesyouright，youknow。’
’Ideserveanything，butImusttakethelibertytosaythatIhopemybehaviouraboutMatil——，inforgettingyouawhile，willnotmakeyewishtokeepmeALWAYSbehind？’
Sherepliedconfidentially，’WhyIamsoearnestnottobeseenwithyouisthatImayappeartopeopletobeindependentofyou。
KnowingwhatIdoofyourweaknessesIcandonootherwise。Youmustbeschooledinto——’
’O，Anne，’sighedBob，’youhitmehard——toohard！IfeverIdowinyouIamsureIshallhavefairlyearnedyou。’
’Youarenotwhatyouonceseemedtobe，’shereturnedsoftly。’I
don’tquiteliketoletmyselfloveyou。’Thelastwordswerenotveryaudible，andasBobwasbehindhecaughtnothingofthem，nordidheseehowsentimentalshehadbecomeallofasudden。Theywalkedtherestofthewayinsilence，andcomingtothetreereadasfollows:——
TheFrencharenowassemblingthelargestforcethateverwaspreparedtoinvadethisKingdom，withtheprofessedpurposeofeffectingourcompleteRuinandDestruction。
Theydonotdisguisetheirintentions，astheyhaveoftendonetootherCountries；butopenlyboastthattheywillcomeoverinsuchNumbersascannotberesisted。
WherevertheFrenchhavelatelyappearedtheyhavesparedneitherRichnorPoor，OldnorYoung；butlikeaDestructivePestilencehavelaidwasteanddestroyedeveryThingthatbeforewasfairandflourishing。
Onthisoccasionnoman’sserviceiscompelled，butyouareinvitedvoluntarilytocomeforwardindefenceofeverythingthatisdeartoyou，byenteringyourNamesontheListswhicharesenttotheTything-manofeveryParish，andengagingtoacteitherasASSOCIATEDVOLUNTEERSBEARINGARMS，ASPIONEERSANDLABOURERS，orasDRIVERSOFWAGGONS。
AsAssociatedVolunteersyouwillbecalledoutonlyonceaweek，unlesstheactualLandingoftheEnemyshouldrenderyourfurtherServicesnecessary。
AsPioneersorLabourersyouwillbeemployedinBreakingupRoadstohindertheEnemy’sadvance。
ThosewhohavePickaxes，Spades，Shovels，Bill-hooks，orotherWorkingImplements，aredesiredtomentionthemtotheConstableorTything-manoftheirParish，inorderthattheymaybeenteredontheListsoppositetheirHomes，tobeusedifnecessary……
ItisthoughtdesirabletogiveyouthisExplanation，thatyoumaynotbeignorantoftheDutiestowhichyoumaybecalled。ButiftheloveoftrueLibertyandhonestFamehasnotceasedtoanimatetheHeartsofEnglishmen，Pay，thoughnecessary，willbetheleastPartofyourReward。YouwillfindyourbestRecompenseinhavingdoneyourDutytoyourKingandCountrybydrivingbackordestroyingyouroldandimplacableEnemy，enviousofyourFreedomandHappiness，andthereforeseekingtodestroythem；inhavingprotectedyourWivesandChildrenfromDeath，orworsethanDeath，whichwillfollowtheSuccessofsuchInveterateFoes。
ROUSE，therefore，anduniteasonemaninthebestofCauses！
UnitedwemaydefytheWorldtoconquerus；butVictorywillneverbelongtothosewhoareslothfulandunprepared
VidePreface。
’Imustgoandjoinatonce！’saidBob。
Anneturnedtohim，alltheplayfulnessgonefromherface。’IwishwelivedinthenorthofEngland，Bob，soastobefurtherawayfromwherehe’llland！’shemurmureduneasily。
’WherewearewouldbeParadisetome，ifyouwouldonlymakeitso。’
’Itisnotrighttotalksolightlyatsuchaserioustime，’shethoughtfullyreturned，goingontowardsthechurch。
Ondrawingnear，theysawthroughtheboughsofaclumpofinterveningtrees，stillleafless，butburstingintobudsofamberhue，aglitteringwhichseemedtobereflectedfrompointsofsteel。
Inafewmomentstheyheardabovethetenderchimingofthechurchbellstheloudvoiceofamangivingwordsofcommand，atwhichallthemetallicpointssuddenlyshiftedlikethebristlesofaporcupine，andglistenedanew。
’’Tisthedrilling，’saidLoveday。’Theydrillnowbetweentheservices，youknow，becausetheycan’tgetthementogethersoreadilyintheweek。ItmakesmefeelthatIoughttobedoingmorethanIam！’
Whentheyhadpassedroundthebeltoftrees，thecompanyofrecruitsbecamevisible，consistingoftheable-bodiedinhabitantsofthehamletsthereabout，moreorlessknowntoBobandAnne。Theywereassembledonthegreenplotoutsidethechurchyard-gate，dressedintheircommonclothes，andthesergeantwhohadbeenputtingthemthroughtheirdrillwasthemanwhonaileduptheproclamation。Hewasnowengagedinuntyingacanvasmoney-bag，fromwhichhedrewforthahandfulofshillings，givingonetoeachmaninpaymentforhisattendance。
’Men，Idismissedyetoosoon——parade，paradeagain，Isay，’hecried。’Mywatchisfast，Ifind。There’sanothertwentyminutesaforetheworshipofGodcommences。Nowallofyouthatha’n’tgotfirelocks，fallinatthelowerend。Eyesrightanddress！’
Aseverymanwasanxioustoseehowthereststood，thoseattheendofthelinepressedforwardforthatpurpose，tillthelineassumedtheformofabow。
’Lookatyenow！Why，youareallacrookingin！Dress，dress！’
Theydressedforthwith；butimpelledbythesamemotivetheysoonresumedtheirformerfigure，andsotheyweredespairinglypermittedtoremain。
’Now，Ihopeyou’llhavealittlepatience，’saidthesergeant，ashestoodinthecentreofthearc，’andpaystrictattentiontothewordofcommand，justexactlyasIgiveitouttoye；andifI
shouldgowrong，Ishallbemuchobligedtoanyfriendwho’llputmerightagain，forIhaveonlybeeninthearmythreeweeksmyself，andweareallliabletomistakes。’
’Sowebe，sowebe，’saidthelineheartily。
’’Tention，thewhole，then。Poisefawlocks！Verywelldone！’
’Please，whatmustwedothathaven’tgotnofirelocks！’saidthelowerendofthelineinahelplessvoice。
’Now，waseversuchaquestion！Why，youmustdonothingatall，butthinkHOWyou’dpoise’emIFyouhad’em。Youmiddlemen，thatarearmedwithhurdle-sticksandcabbage-stumpsjusttomake-believe，mustofcourseuse’emasiftheyweretherealthing。
Nowthen，cockfawlocks！Present！Fire！Pretendto，Imean，andthesametimethrowyerimaginationintothefieldo’battle。Verygood——verygoodindeed；exceptthatsomeofyouwereaLITTLEtoosoon，andtherestaLITTLEtoolate。’
’Please，sergeant，canIfallout，asIammaster-playerinthechoir，andmybass-violstringswon’tstandatthistimeo’year，unlesstheybescrewedupalittlebeforethepassoncomesin？’
’Howcanyouthinkofsuchtriflesaschurchgoingatsuchatimeasthis，whenyourownnativecountryisonthepointofinvasion？’
saidthesergeantsternly。’And，asyouknow，thedrillendsthreeminutesaforechurchbegins，andthat’sthelaw，anditwantsaquarterofanhouryet。Now，atthewordPRIME，shakethepowdersupposingyou’vegotitintothepriming-pan，threelastfingersbehindtherammer；thenshutyourpans，drawingyourrightarmnimble-liketowardsyourbody。Ioughttohavetoldyebeforethis，thatatHANDYOURKATRIDGE，seizeitandbringitwithaquickmotiontoyourmouth，bitethetopwelloff，anddon’tswallersomuchofthepowderastomakeyehawkandspetinsteadofattendingtoyourdrill。What’sthatmana-sayingofintherearrank？’
’Please，sir，’tisAnthonyCripplestraw，wantingtoknowhowhe’stobiteoffhiskatridge，whenhehaven’tatoothleftin’shead？’
’Man！Why，what’syourgeniusforwar？Holdituptoyourright-handman’smouth，tobesure，andlethimnipitoffforye。
Well，whathaveyoutosay，PrivateTremlett？Don’tyeunderstandEnglish？’
’Askyerpardon，sergeant；butwhatmustweinfantryoftheawkwardsquaddoifBoneycomesaforewegetourfirelocks？’
’Takeapike，liketherestoftheincapables。You’llfindastoreofthemreadyinthecornerofthechurchtower。Nowthen——
Shoulder——r——r——r——’