Theyearchangedfromgreentogold，andfromgoldtogrey，butlittlechangecameoverthehouseofLoveday。DuringthelasttwelvemonthsBobhadbeenoccasionallyheardofasupholdinghiscountry’shonourinDenmark，theWestIndies，Gibraltar，Malta，andotherplacesabouttheglobe，tillthefamilyreceivedashortletterstatingthathehadarrivedagainatPortsmouth。AtPortsmouthBobseemeddisposedtoremain，forthoughsometimeelapsedwithoutfurtherintelligence，thegallantseamanneverappearedatOvercombe。ThenonasuddenJohnlearntthatBob’slong-talked-ofpromotionforsignalservicesrenderedwastobeanaccomplishedfact。Thetrumpet-majoratoncewalkedofftoOvercombe，andreachedthevillageintheearlyafternoon。Notoneofthefamilywasinthehouseatthemoment，andJohnstrolledonwardsoverthehilltowardsCasterbridge，withoutmuchthoughtofdirectiontill，liftinghiseyes，hebeheldAnneGarlandwanderingaboutwithalittlebasketuponherarm。
AtfirstJohnblushedwithdelightatthesweetvision；but，recalledbyhisconscience，theblushofdelightwasatoncemangledandslain。Helookedforameansofretreat。Butthefieldwasopen，andasoldierwasaconspicuousobject:therewasnoescapingher。
’Itwaskindofyoutocome，’shesaid，withaninvitingsmile。
’Itwasquitebyaccident，’heanswered，withanindifferentlaugh。
’Ithoughtyouwasathome。’
Anneblushedandsaidnothing，andtheyrambledontogether。Inthemiddleofthefieldroseafragmentofstonewallintheformofagable，knownasFaringdonRuin；andwhentheyhadreacheditJohnpausedandpolitelyaskedherifshewerenotalittletiredwithwalkingsofar。Noparticularreplywasreturnedbytheyounglady，buttheybothstopped，andAnneseatedherselfonastone，whichhadfallenfromtheruintotheground。
’Achurchoncestoodhere，’observedJohninamatter-of-facttone。
’Yes，Ihaveoftenshapeditoutinmymind，’shereturned。’HerewhereIsitmusthavebeenthealtar。’
’True；thisstandingbitofwallwasthechancelend。’
Annehadbeenaddingupherlittlestudiesofthetrumpet-major’scharacter，andwassurprisedtofindhowthebrightnessofthatcharacterincreasedinhereyeswitheachexamination。Akindlyandgentlesensationwasagainarousedinher。Herewasaneglectedheroicman，who，lovinghertodistraction，deliberatelydoomedhimselftopensiveshadetoavoideventheappearanceofstandinginabrother’sway。
’Ifthealtarstoodhere，hundredsofpeoplehavebeenmademanandwifejustthere，inpasttimes，’shesaid，withcalmdeliberateness，throwingalittlestoneonaspotaboutayardwestward。
Johnannihilatedanothertenderburstandreplied，’Yes，thisfieldusedtobeavillage。Mygrandfathercouldcalltomindwhentherewerehouseshere。Butthesquirepulled’emdown，becausepoorfolkwereaneyesoretohim。’
’Doyouknow，John，whatyouonceaskedmetodo？’shecontinued，notacceptingthedigression，andturninghereyesuponhim。
’Inwhatsortofway？’
’Inthematterofmyfuturelife，andyours。’
’IamafraidIdon’t。’
’JohnLoveday！’
Heturnedhisbackuponherforamoment，thatshemightnotseehisface。’Ah——Idoremember，’hesaidatlast，inadry，small，repressedvoice。
’Well——needIsaymore？Isn’titsufficient？’
’Itwouldbesufficient，’answeredtheunhappyman。’But——’
Shelookedupwithareproachfulsmile，andshookherhead。’Thatsummer，’shewenton，’youaskedmetentimesifyouaskedmeonce。
Iamoldernow；muchmoreofawoman，youknow；andmyopinionischangedaboutsomepeople；especiallyaboutone。’
’OAnne，Anne！’heburstoutas，rackedbetweenhonouranddesire，hesnatchedupherhand。Thenextmomentitfellheavilytoherlap。Hehadabsolutelyrelinquishedithalf-waytohislips。
’Ihavebeenthinkinglately，’hesaid，withpreternaturallysuddencalmness，’thatmenofthemilitaryprofessionoughtnottom——oughttobelikeSt。Paul，Imean。’
’Fie，John；pretendingreligion！’shesaidsternly。’Itisn’tthatatall。IT’SBOB！’
’Yes！’criedthemiserabletrumpet-major。’Ihavehadaletterfromhimto-day。’Hepulledoutasheetofpaperfromhisbreast。
’That’sit！He’spromoted——he’salieutenant，andappointedtoasloopthatonlycruisesonourowncoast，sothathe’llbeathomeonleavehalfhistime——he’llbeagentlemansomeday，andworthyofyou！’
Hethrewtheletterintoherlap，anddrewbacktotheothersideofthegable-wall。Annejumpedupfromherseat，flungawaytheletterwithoutlookingatit，andwenthastilyon。Johndidnotattempttoovertakeher。Pickinguptheletter，hefollowedinherwakeatadistanceofahundredyards。
But，thoughAnnehadwithdrawnfromhispresencethusprecipitately，sheneverthoughtmorehighlyofhiminherlifethanshedidfiveminutesafterwards，whentheexcitementofthemomenthadpassed。
Shesawitallquiteclearly；andhisself-sacrificeimpressedhersomuchthattheeffectwasjustthereverseofwhathehadbeenaimingtoproduce。ThemorehepleadedforBob，themoreherperversegenerositypleadedforJohn。To-daythecrisishadcome——
withwhatresultsshehadnotforeseen。
Assoonasthetrumpet-majorreachedthenearestpen-and-inkheflunghimselfintoaseatandwrotewildlytoBob:——
’DEARROBERT，——IwritethesefewlinestoletyouknowthatifyouwantAnneGarlandyoumustcomeatonce——youmustcomeinstantly，andpost-haste——ORSHEWILLBEGONE！Somebodyelsewantsher，andshewantshim！Itisyourlastchance，intheopinionof——
’Yourfaithfulbrotherandwell-wisher，’JOHN。
’P。S——Gladtohearofyourpromotion。TellmethedayandI’llmeetthecoach。’
XXXIX。BOBLOVEDAYSTRUTSUPANDDOWN
Onenight，aboutaweeklater，twomenwerewalkinginthedarkalongtheturnpikeroadtowardsOvercombe，oneofthemwithabaginhishand。
’Now，’saidthetallerofthetwo，thesquarenessofwhoseshoulderssignifiedthatheworeepaulettes，’nowyoumustdothebestyoucanforyourself，Bob。IhavedoneallIcan；butth’hastthyworkcutout，Icantellthee。’
’Iwouldn’thaverunsuchariskfortheworld，’saidtheother，inatoneofingenuouscontrition。’Butthou’stsee，Jack，Ididn’tthinktherewasanydanger，knowingyouwastakingcareofher，andkeepingmyplacewarmforme。Ididn’thurrymyself，that’strue；
but，thinksI，ifIgetthispromotionIampromisedIshallnaturallyhaveleave，andthenI’llgoandsee’emall。Gad，I
shouldn’thavebeenherenowbutforyourletter！’
’Youlittlethinkwhatrisksyou’verun，’saidhisbrother。
’However，trytomakeupforlosttime。’
’Allright。Andwhateveryoudo，Jack，don’tsayawordaboutthisothergirl。Hangthegirl！——Iwasagreatfool，Iknow；still，itisovernow，andIamcometomysenses。IsupposeAnnenevercaughtacapfulofwindfromthatquarter？’
’Sheknowsallaboutit，’saidJohnseriously。
’Knows？ByGeorge，then，I’mruined！’saidBob，standingstock-stillintheroadasifhemeanttoremainthereallnight。
’That’swhatImeantbysayingitwouldbeahardbattlefor’ee，’
returnedJohn，withthesamequietnessasbefore。
Bobsighedandmovedon。’Idon’tdeservethatwoman！’hecriedpassionately，thumpinghisthreeupperribswithhisfist。
’I’vethoughtasmuchmyself，’observedJohn，withadrynesswhichwasalmostbitter。’Butitdependsonhowthou’stbehaveinfuture。’
’John，’saidBob，takinghisbrother’shand，’I’llbeanewman。I
solemnlyswearbythateternalmilestonestaringatmetherethatI’llneverlookatanotherwomanwiththethoughtofmarryingherwhilstthatdarlingisfree——no，notifshebeamermaidenoflight！
It’saluckythingthatI’mslippedinonthequarterdeck！itmayhelpmewithher——hey？’
’Itmaywithhermother；Idon’tthinkitwillmakemuchdifferencewithAnne。Still，itisagoodthing；andIhopethatsomedayyou’llcommandabigship。’
Bobshookhishead。’Officersarescarce；butI’mafraidmyluckwon’tcarrymesofarasthat。’
’DidsheevertellyouthatshementionedyournametotheKing？’
Theseamanstoodstillagain。’Never！’hesaid。’Howdidsuchathingasthathappen，inHeaven’sname？’
Johndescribedindetail，andtheywalkedon，lostinconjecture。
AssoonastheyenteredthehousethereturnedofficerofthenavywaswelcomedwithacclamationbyhisfatherandDavid，withmildapprovalbyMrs。Loveday，andbyAnnenotatall——thatdiscreetmaidenhavingcarefullyretiredtoherownroomsometimeearlierintheevening。Bobdidnotdaretoaskforherinanypositivemanner；hejustinquiredaboutherhealth，andthatwasall。
’Why，what’sthematterwiththyface，myson？’saidthemiller，staring。’David，showalighthere。’AndacandlewasthrustagainstBob’scheek，wherethereappearedajaggedstreaklikethegeologicalremainsofalobster。
’O——that’swherethatrascallyFrenchman’sgrenadebustedandhitmefromtheRedoubtable，youknow，asItold’eeinmyletter。’
’Notaword！’
’What，didn’tItell’ee？Ah，no；Imeantto，butIforgotit。’
’Andhere’sasortofdintinyerforeheadtoo；whatdothatmean，mydearboy？’saidthemiller，puttinghisfingerinachasminBob’sskull。
’ThatwasdoneintheIndies。Yes，thatwasratheratroublesomechop——acutlassdidit。Ishouldhavetold’ee，butIfound’twouldmakemylettersolongthatIputitoff，andputitoff；andatlastthoughtitwasn’tworthwhile。’
Johnsoonrosetotakehisdeparture。
’It’sallupwithmeandher，yousee，’saidBobtohimoutsidethedoor。’She’snotevengoingtoseeme。’
’Waitalittle，’saidthetrumpet-major。Itwaseasyenoughonthenightofthearrival，inthemidstofexcitement，whenbloodwaswarm，forAnnetoberesoluteinheravoidanceofBobLoveday。Butinthemorningdeterminationisapttogrowinvertebrate；rulesofpugnacityarelesseasilyactedupto，andafeelingofliveandletlivetakespossessionofthegentlesoul。Annehadnotmeanteventositdowntothesamebreakfast-tablewithBob；butwhentherestwereassembled，andhadgotsomewaythroughthesubstantialrepastwhichwasservedatthishourinthemiller’shouse，Anneentered。
Shecamesilentlyasaphantom，hereyescastdown，hercheekspale。
Itwasagoodlongwalkfromthedoortothetable，andBobmadeafullinspectionofherasshecameuptoachairattheremotestcorner，inthedirectraysofthemorninglight，whereshedumblysatherselfdown。
Itwasaltogetherdifferentfromhowshehadexpected。Herewasshe，whohaddonenothing，feelingalltheembarrassment；andBob，whohaddonethewrong，feelingapparentlyquiteatease。
’You’llspeaktoBob，won’tyou，honey？’saidthemillerafterasilence。TomeetBoblikethisafteranabsenceseemedirregularinhiseyes。
’Ifhewishmeto，’shereplied，soaddressingthemillerthatnopart，scrap，oroutlyingbeamwhateverofherglancepassednearthesubjectofherremark。
’He’salieutenant，youknow，dear，’saidhermotheronthesameside；’andhe’sbeendreadfullywounded。’
’Oh？’saidAnne，turningalittletowardsthefalseone；atwhichBobfeltittobetimeforhimtoputinaspokeforhimself。
’Iamgladtoseeyou，’hesaidcontritely；’andhowdoyoudo？’
’Verywell，thankyou。’
Heextendedhishand。Sheallowedhimtotakehers，butonlytotheextentofaniggardlyinchorso。Atthesamemomentsheglancedupathim，whentheireyesmet，andherswereagainwithdrawn。
Thehitchbetweenthetwoyoungermembersofthehouseholdtendedtomakethebreakfastadullone。Bobwassodepressedbyherunforgivingmannerthathecouldnotthrowthatsparkleintohisstorieswhichtheirsubstancenaturallyrequired；andwhenthemealwasover，andtheywentabouttheirdifferentbusinesses，thepairresembledthetwoDromiosinseldomorneverbeing，thankstoAnne’ssubtlecontrivances，bothinthesameroomatthesametime。