’Chok’itall，Iwassure！’saidDavid。’I’dsoonerseechurchesfallthangooddrinkwasted；buthowwasItoknowbetter？’
’Well，well；whatwithonethingandanotherthisdaywillcostmeaprettypenny！’saidLoveday，bustlingofftothecellar，whichhefoundtobeseveralinchesdeepinstagnantliquor。’John，howcanIwelcome’ee？’hecontinuedhopelessly，onhisreturntotheroom。
’Onlygoandseewhathe’sdone！’
’I’veladledupadrapwi’aspoon，trumpet-major，’saidDavid。
’’Tisn’tbaddrinking，thoughitdotastealittleofthefloor，that’strue。’
Johnsaidthathedidnotrequireanythingatall；andthentheyallsatdowntosupper，andwereverytemperatelygaywithadropofmildelder-winewhichMrs。Lovedayfoundinthebottomofajar。
Thetrumpet-major，adheringtotheparthemeanttoplay，gavehumorousaccountsofhisadventuressincehehadlastsatthere。Hetoldthemthattheseasonwastobeaverylivelyone——thattheroyalfamilywascoming，asusual，andmanyotherinterestingthings；sothatwhenheleftthemtoreturntobarracksfewwouldhavesupposedtheBritisharmytocontainalighter-heartedman。
Annewastheonlyonewhodoubtedtherealityofthisbehaviour。
Whenshehadgoneuptoherbedroomshestoodforsometimelookingatthewickofthecandleasifitwereapainfulobject，theexpressionofherfacebeingshapedbytheconvictionthatJohn’safternoonwordswhenhehelpedheroutofthewayofChampionwerenotinaccordancewithhiswordsto-night，andthatthedimly-realizedkissduringherfaintnesswasnoimaginaryone。ButintheblissfulcircumstancesofhavingBobathandagainshetookoptimistviews，andpersuadedherselfthatJohnwouldsoonbegintoseeherinthelightofasister。
Tocursoryview，JohnLovedayseemedtoaccomplishthiswithamazingease。WheneverhecamefrombarrackstoOvercombe，whichwasonceortwiceaweek，herelatednewsofallsortstoherandBobwithinfinitezest，andmadethetimeashappyaoneashadeverbeenknownatthemill，saveforhimselfalone。HesaidnothingofFestus，exceptsofarastoinformAnnethathehadexpectedtoseehimandbeendisappointed。OntheeveningaftertheKing’sarrivalathisseasideresidenceJohnappearedagain，stayingtosupperanddescribingtheroyalentry，themanytastefulilluminationsandtransparencieswhichhadbeenexhibited，thequantitiesoftallowcandlesburntforthatpurpose，andtheswarmsofaristocracywhohadfollowedtheKingthither。
WhensupperwasoverBobwentoutsidethehousetoshuttheshutters，whichhad，aswasoftenthecase，beenleftopensometimeafterlightswerekindledwithin。Johnstillsatatthetablewhenhisbrotherapproachedthewindow，thoughtheothershadrisenandretired。BobwasstruckbyseeingthroughthepanehowJohn’sfacehadchanged。Throughoutthesupper-timehehadbeentalkingtoAnneinthegaytonehabitualwithhimnow，whichgavegreaterstrangenesstothegloomofhispresentappearance。Heremainedinthoughtforamoment，tookaletterfromhisbreast-pocket，openedit，and，withatendersmileathisweakness，kissedthewritingbeforerestoringittoitsplace。TheletterwasonethatAnnehadwrittentohimatExonbury。
Bobstoodperplexed；andthenasuspicioncrossedhismindthatJohn，frombrotherlygoodness，mightbefeigningasatisfactionwithrecenteventswhichhedidnotfeel。Bobnowmadeanoisewiththeshutters，atwhichthetrumpet-majorroseandwentout，Bobatoncefollowinghim。
’Jack，’saidthesailoringenuously，’I’mterriblysorrythatI’vedonewrong。’
’How？’askedhisbrother。
’IncourtingourlittleAnne。Well，yousee，John，shewasinthesamehousewithme，andsomehoworotherImademyselfherbeau。
ButIhavebeenthinkingthatperhapsyouhadthefirstclaimonher，andifso，Jack，I’llmakewayfor’ee。I——Idon’tcareforhermuch，youknow——notsoverymuch，andcangiveherupverywell。
Itisnothingseriousbetweenusatall。Yes，John，youtrytogether；Icanlookelsewhere。’BobneverknewhowmuchhelovedAnnetillhefoundhimselfmakingthisspeechofrenunciation。
’OBob，youaremistaken！’saidthetrumpet-major，whowasnotdeceived。’WhenIfirstsawherIadmiredher，andIadmirehernow，andlikeher。IlikehersowellthatIshallbegladtoseeyoumarryher。’
’But，’repliedBob，withhesitation，’IthoughtIsawyoulookingverysad，asifyouwereinlove；Isawyoutakeoutaletter，inshort。That’swhatitwasdisturbedmeandmademecometoyou。’
’O，Iseeyourmistake！’saidJohn，laughingforcedly。
AtthisminuteMrs。Lovedayandthemiller，whoweretakingatwilightwalkinthegarden，strolledroundneartowherethebrothersstood。ShetalkedvolublyoneventsinBudmouth，asmostpeopledidatthistime。’Andtheytellmethatthetheatrehasbeenpaintedupafresh，’shewassaying，’andthattheactorshavecomefortheseason，withthemostlovelyactressesthateverwereseen。’
WhentheyhadpassedbyJohncontinued，’IAMinlove，Bob；but——notwithAnne。’
’Ah！whoisitthen？’saidthematehopefully。
’Oneoftheactressesatthetheatre，’Johnreplied，withaconcoctivelookatthevanishingformsofMr。andMrs。Loveday。
’Sheisaverylovelywoman，youknow。Butwewon’tsayanythingmoreaboutit——itdashesamanso。’
’O，oneoftheactresses！’saidBob，withopenmouth。
’Butdon’tyousayanythingaboutit！’continuedthetrumpet-majorheartily。’Idon’twantitknown。’
’No，no——Iwon’t，ofcourse。MayInotknowhername？’
’No，notnow，Bob。Icannottell’ee，’Johnanswered，andwithtruth，forLovedaydidnotknowthenameofanyactressintheworld。
Whenhisbrotherhadgone，CaptainBobhastenedoffinastateofgreatanimationtoAnne，whomhefoundonthetopofaneighbouringhillockwhichthedaylighthadscarcelyasyetdeserted。
’Youhavebeenalongtimecoming，sir，’saidshe，insprightlytonesofreproach。
’Yes，dearest；andyou’llbegladtohearwhy。I’vefoundoutthewholemystery——yes——whyhe’squeer，andeverything。’
Annelookedstartled。
’He’suptothegunnelinlove！Wemusttrytohelphimoninit，orIfearhe’llgomelancholy-madlike。’
’Wehelphim？’sheaskedfaintly。
’He’slosthishearttooneoftheplay-actressesatBudmouth，andI
thinksheslightshim。’
’O，Iamsoglad！’sheexclaimed。
’Gladthathisventuredon’tprosper？’
’Ono；gladhe’ssosensible。HowlongisitsincethatalarmoftheFrench？’
’Sixweeks，honey。Whydoyouask？’
’Mencanforgetinsixweeks，can’tthey，Bob？’
TheimpressionthatJohnhadreallykissedherstillremained。
’Well，somemenmight，’observedBobjudicially。’_I_couldn’t。
PerhapsJohnmight。Icouldn’tforgetYOUintwentytimesaslong。
Doyouknow，Anne，IhalfthoughtitwasyouJohncaredabout；anditwasaweightoffmyheartwhenhesaidhedidn’t。’
’Didhesayhedidn’t？’
’Yes。Heassuredmehimselfthattheonlypersonintheholdofhisheartwasthislovelyplay-actress，andnobodyelse。’
’HowIshouldliketoseeher！’
’Yes。SoshouldI。’
’Iwouldratherithadbeenoneofourownneighbours’girls，whosebirthandbreedingweknowof；butstill，ifthatishistaste，I
hopeitwillendwellforhim。Howveryquickhehasbeen！I
certainlywishwecouldseeher。’
’Idon’tknowsomuchashername。Heisveryclose，andwouldn’ttellathingabouther。’
’Couldn’twegethimtogotothetheatrewithus？andthenwecouldwatchhim，andeasilyfindouttherightone。Thenwewouldlearnifsheisagoodyoungwoman；andifsheis，couldwenotaskherhere，andsomakeitsmootherforhim？Hehasbeenverygaylately；
thatmeansbuddinglove:andsometimesbetweenhisgaietieshehashadmelancholymoments；thatmeansthere’sdifficulty。’
Bobthoughtherplanagoodone，andresolvedtoputitinpracticeonthefirstavailableevening。AnnewasverycuriousastowhetherJohndidreallycherishanewpassion，thestoryhavingquitesurprisedher。Possiblyitwastrue；sixweekshadpassedsinceJohnhadshownasinglesymptomoftheoldattachment，andwhatcouldnotthatspaceoftimeeffectintheheartofasoldierwhoseveryprofessionitwastoleavegirlsbehindhim？
AfterthisJohnLovedaydidnotcometoseethemfornearlyamonth，aneglectwhichwassetdownbyBobasanadditionalproofthathisbrother’saffectionswerenolongerexclusivelycentredinhisoldhome。Whenatlasthedidarrive，andthetheatre-goingwasmentionedtohim，theflushofconsciousnesswhichAnneexpectedtoseeuponhisfacewasunaccountablyabsent。
’Yes，Bob；Ishouldverywellliketogotothetheatre，’herepliedheartily。’Whoisgoingbesides？’
’OnlyAnne，’Bobtoldhim，andthenitseemedtooccurtothetrumpet-majorthatsomethinghadbeenexpectedofhim。HeroseandsaidprivatelytoBobwithsomeconfusion，’Oyes，ofcoursewe’llgo。AsIamconnectedwithoneofthe——inshortIcangetyouinfornothing，youknow。Atleastletmemanageeverything。’
’Yes，yes。Iwonderyoudidn’tproposetotakeusbefore，Jack，andletushaveagoodlookather。’
’Ioughttohave。YoushallgoonaKing’snight。Youwon’twantmetopointherout，Bob；Ihavemyreasonsatpresentforaskingit？’
’We’llbecontentwithguessing，’saidhisbrother。
WhenthegallantJohnwasgone，Anneobserved，’Bob，howheischanged！Iwatchedhim。Heshowednofeeling，evenwhenyouburstuponhimsuddenlywiththesubjectnearesthisheart。’
’Itmustbebecausehissuitdon’tfay，’saidCaptainBob。
Intwoorthreedaysamessagearrivedaskingthemtoattendatthetheatreonthecomingevening，withtheaddedrequestthattheywoulddressintheirgayestclothes，todojusticetotheplacestaken。Accordingly，inthecourseoftheafternoontheydroveoff，Bobhavingclothedhimselfinasplendidsuit，recentlypurchasedasanattempttobringhimselfnearertoAnne’sstylewhentheyappearedinpublictogether。Asfinishedoffbythisdashingandreallyfashionableattire，hewastheperfectionofabeauinthedog-days；pantaloonsandbootsofthenewestmake；yardsandyardsofmuslinwoundroundhisneck，formingasortofasylumforthelowerpartofhisface；twofancywaistcoats，andcoat-buttonslikecircularshavingglasses。Theabsurdextremeoffemalefashion，whichwastowearmuslindressesinJanuary，wasatthistimeequalledbythatofthemen，whoworeclothesenoughinAugusttomeltthem。NobodywouldhaveguessedfromBob’spresentationnowthathehadeverbeenaloftonadarknightintheAtlantic，orknewthehundredingenuitiesthatcouldbeperformedwitharope’sendandamarline-spikeaswellashismothertongue。
Itwasadayofdays。Anneworehercelebratedcelestialbluepelisse，herLeghornhat，andhermuslindresswiththewaistunderthearms；thelatterbeingdecoratedwithexcellentHonitonlaceboughtofthewomanwhotravelledfromthatplacetoOvercombeanditsneighbourhoodwithabasketfulofherownmanufacture，andacushiononwhichsheworkedbythewayside。Johnmettheloversattheinnoutsidethetown，andafterstablingthehorsetheyenteredthetowntogether，thetrumpet-majorinformingthemthatthewatering-placehadneverbeensofullbefore，thattheCourt，thePrinceofWales，andeverybodyofconsequencewasthere，andthatanatticcouldscarcelybegotformoney。TheKinghadgoneforacruiseinhisyacht，andtheywouldbeintimetoseehimland。
Thendrumsandfifeswereheard，andinaminuteortwotheysawSergeantStanneradvancingalongthestreetwithafirmcountenance，fierypoll，andrigidstaringeyes，infrontofhisrecruiting-party。Thesergeant’sswordwasdrawn，andatintervalsoftwoorthreeinchesalongitsshiningbladewereimpaledflutteringone-poundnotes，toexpressthelavishbountythatwasoffered。Hegaveastern，suppressednodoffriendshiptoourpeople，andpassedby。Nexttheycameuptoawaggon，boweredoverwithleavesandflowers，sothatthemeninsidecouldhardlybeseen。
’CometoseetheKing，hip-hiphurrah！’criedavoicewithin，andturningtheysawthroughtheleavesthenoseandfaceofCripplestraw。ThewaggoncontainedallDerriman’sworkpeople。
’Isyourmasterhere？’saidJohn。
’No，trumpet-major，sir。Butyoungmaisteriscomingtofetchusatnineo’clock，incaseweshouldbetooblindtodrivehome。’
’O！whereishenow？’
’Nevermind，’saidAnneimpatiently，atwhichthetrumpet-majorobedientlymovedon。