Herestretchthedowns，highandbreezyandgreen，absolutelyunchangedsincethoseeventfuldays。Aploughhasneverdisturbedtheturf，andthesodthatwasuppermostthenisuppermostnow。Herestoodthecamp；herearedistincttracesofthebanksthrownupforthehorsesofthecavalry，andspotswherethemidden-heapslayarestilltobeobserved。Atnight，whenIwalkacrossthelonelyplace，itisimpossibletoavoidhearing，amidthescouringsofthewindoverthegrass-bentsandthistles，theoldtrumpetandbuglecalls，therattleofthehalters；tohelpseeingrowsofspectraltentsandtheimpedimentaofthesoldiery。Fromwithinthecanvasescomegutturalsyllablesofforeigntongues，andbrokensongsofthefatherland；fortheyweremainlyregimentsoftheKing’sGermanLegionthatsleptroundthetent-poleshereaboutatthattime。
Itwasnearlyninetyyearsago。TheBritishuniformoftheperiod，withitsimmenseepaulettes，queercocked-hat，breeches，gaiters，ponderouscartridge-box，buckledshoes，andwhatnot，wouldlookstrangeandbarbarousnow。Ideashavechanged；inventionhasfollowedinvention。Soldiersweremonumentalobjectsthen。A
divinitystillhedgedkingshereandthere；andwarwasconsideredagloriousthing。
Secludedoldmanor-housesandhamletslieintheravinesandhollowsamongthesehills，whereastrangerhadhardlyeverbeenseentilltheKingchosetotakethebathsyearlyatthesea-sidewatering-
placeafewmilestothesouth；asaconsequenceofwhichbattalionsdescendedinacloudupontheopencountryaround。Isitnecessarytoaddthattheechoesofmanycharacteristictales，datingfromthatpicturesquetime，stilllingerabouthereinmoreorlessfragmentaryform，tobecaughtbytheattentiveear？SomeofthemIhaverepeated；mostofthemIhaveforgotten；oneIhaveneverrepeated，andassuredlycanneverforget。
Phyllistoldmethestorywithherownlips。Shewasthenanoldladyofseventy-five，andherauditoraladoffifteen。Sheenjoinedsilenceastohershareintheincident，tillsheshouldbe’dead，buried，andforgotten。’Herlifewasprolongedtwelveyearsafterthedayofhernarration，andshehasnowbeendeadnearlytwenty。
Theoblivionwhichinhermodestyandhumilityshecourtedforherselfhasonlypartiallyfallenonher，withtheunfortunateresultofinflictinganinjusticeuponhermemory；sincesuchfragmentsofherstoryasgotabroadatthetime，andhavebeenkeptaliveeversince，arepreciselythosewhicharemostunfavourabletohercharacter。
ItallbeganwiththearrivaloftheYorkHussars，oneoftheforeignregimentsabovealludedto。Beforethatdayscarcelyasoulhadbeenseennearherfather’shouseforweeks。Whenanoiselikethebrushingskirtofavisitorwasheardonthedoorstep，itprovedtobeascuddingleaf；whenacarriageseemedtobenearingthedoor，itwasherfathergrindinghissickleonthestoneinthegardenforhisfavouriterelaxationoftrimmingthebox-treeborderstotheplots。
Asoundlikeluggagethrowndownfromthecoachwasagunfarawayatsea；andwhatlookedlikeatallmanbythegateatduskwasayewbushcutintoaquaintandattenuatedshape。Thereisnosuchsolitudeincountryplacesnowastherewasinthoseolddays。
YetallthewhileKingGeorgeandhiscourtwereathisfavouritesea-sideresort，notmorethanfivemilesoff。
Thedaughter’sseclusionwasgreat，butbeyondtheseclusionofthegirllaytheseclusionofthefather。Ifhersocialconditionwastwilight，hiswasdarkness。Yetheenjoyedhisdarkness，whilehertwilightoppressedher。Dr。Grovehadbeenaprofessionalmanwhosetasteforlonelymeditationovermetaphysicalquestionshaddiminishedhispracticetillitnolongerpaidhimtokeepitgoing；
afterwhichhehadrelinquisheditandhiredatanominalrentthesmall，dilapidated，halffarmhalfmanor-houseofthisobscureinlandnook，tomakeasufficiencyofanincomewhichinatownwouldhavebeeninadequatefortheirmaintenance。Hestayedinhisgardenthegreaterpartoftheday，growingmoreandmoreirritablewiththelapseoftime，andtheincreasingperceptionthathehadwastedhislifeinthepursuitofillusions。Hesawhisfriendslessandlessfrequently。Phyllisbecamesoshythatifshemetastrangeranywhereinhershortramblesshefeltashamedathisgaze，walkedawkwardly，andblushedtohershoulders。
YetPhylliswasdiscoveredevenherebyanadmirer，andherhandmostunexpectedlyaskedinmarriage。
TheKing，asaforesaid，wasattheneighbouringtown，wherehehadtakenuphisabodeatGloucesterLodgeandhispresenceinthetownnaturallybroughtmanycountypeoplethither。Amongtheseidlers——
manyofwhomprofessedtohaveconnectionsandinterestswiththeCourt——wasoneHumphreyGould，abachelor；apersonageneitheryoungnorold；neithergood-lookingnorpositivelyplain。Toosteady-goingtobe’abuck’asfastandunmarriedmenwerethencalled，hewasanapproximatelyfashionablemanofamildtype。Thisbachelorofthirtyfoundhiswaytothevillageonthedown：beheldPhyllis；
madeherfather’sacquaintanceinordertomakehers；andbysomemeansorothershesufficientlyinflamedhishearttoleadhiminthatdirectionalmostdaily；tillhebecameengagedtomarryher。
Ashewasofanoldlocalfamily，someofwhosememberswereheldinrespectinthecounty，Phyllis，inbringinghimtoherfeet，hadaccomplishedwhatwasconsideredabrilliantmoveforoneinherconstrainedposition。HowshehaddoneitwasnotquiteknowntoPhyllisherself。Inthosedaysunequalmarriageswereregardedratherasaviolationofthelawsofnaturethanasamereinfringementofconvention，themoremodernview，andhencewhenPhyllis，ofthewatering-placebourgeoisie，waschosenbysuchagentlemanlyfellow，itwasasifsheweregoingtobetakentoheaven，thoughperhapstheuninformedwouldhaveseennogreatdifferenceintherespectivepositionsofthepair，thesaidGouldbeingaspoorasacrow。
Thispecuniaryconditionwashisexcuse——probablyatrueone——forpostponingtheirunion，andasthewinterdrewnearer，andtheKingdepartedfortheseason，Mr。HumphreyGouldsetoutforBath，promisingtoreturntoPhyllisinafewweeks。Thewinterarrived，thedateofhispromisepassed，yetGouldpostponedhiscoming，onthegroundthathecouldnotveryeasilyleavehisfatherinthecityoftheirsojourn，theelderhavingnootherrelativenearhim。
Phyllis，thoughlonelyintheextreme，wascontent。Themanwhohadaskedherinmarriagewasadesirablehusbandforherinmanyways；
herfatherhighlyapprovedofhissuit；butthisneglectofherwasawkward，ifnotpainful，forPhyllis。Lovehiminthetruesenseofthewordsheassuredmesheneverdid，butshehadagenuineregardforhim；admiredacertainmethodicalanddoggedwayinwhichhesometimestookhispleasure；valuedhisknowledgeofwhattheCourtwasdoing，haddone，orwasabouttodo；andshewasnotwithoutafeelingofpridethathehadchosenherwhenhemighthaveexercisedamoreambitiouschoice。
Buthedidnotcome；andthespringdeveloped。Hisletterswereregularthoughformal；anditisnottobewonderedthattheuncertaintyofherposition，linkedwiththefactthattherewasnotmuchpassioninherthoughtsofHumphrey，bredanindescribabledrearinessintheheartofPhyllisGrove。Thespringwassoonsummer，andthesummerbroughttheKing；butstillnoHumphreyGould。
Allthiswhiletheengagementbyletterwasmaintainedintact。
Atthispointoftimeagoldenradianceflashedinuponthelivesofpeoplehere，andchargedallyouthfulthoughtwithemotionalinterest。ThisradiancewastheaforesaidYorkHussars。
ThepresentgenerationhasprobablybutaverydimnotionofthecelebratedYorkHussarsofninetyyearsago。TheywereoneoftheregimentsoftheKing’sGermanLegion，andthoughtheysomewhatdegeneratedlaterontheirbrilliantuniform，theirsplendidhorses，andaboveall，theirforeignairandmustachiosrareappendagesthen，drewcrowdsofadmirersofbothsexeswherevertheywent。
Thesewithotherregimentshadcometoencamponthedownsandpastures，becauseofthepresenceoftheKingintheneighbouringtown。
Thespotwashighandairy，andtheviewextensive，commandingtheIsleofPortlandinfront，andreachingtoSt。Aldhelm’sHeadeastward，andalmosttotheStartonthewest。
Phyllis，thoughnotpreciselyagirlofthevillage，wasasinterestedasanyoftheminthismilitaryinvestment。Herfather’shomestoodsomewhatapart，andonthehighestpointofgroundtowhichthelaneascended，sothatitwasalmostlevelwiththetopofthechurchtowerinthelowerpartoftheparish。Immediatelyfromtheoutsideofthegarden-wallthegrassspreadawaytoagreatdistance，anditwascrossedbyapathwhichcameclosetothewall。
EversinceherchildhoodithadbeenPhyllis’spleasuretoclamberupthisfenceandsitonthetop——afeatnotsodifficultasitmayseem，thewallsinthisdistrictbeingbuiltofrubble，withoutmortar，sothattherewereplentyofcrevicesforsmalltoes。
Shewassittinguphereoneday，listlesslysurveyingthepasturewithout，whenherattentionwasarrestedbyasolitaryfigurewalkingalongthepath。ItwasoneoftherenownedGermanHussars，andhemovedonwardwithhiseyesontheground，andwiththemannerofonewhowishedtoescapecompany。Hisheadwouldprobablyhavebeenbentlikehiseyesbutforhisstiffneck-gear。Onnearerviewsheperceivedthathisfacewasmarkedwithdeepsadness。Withoutobservingher，headvancedbythefootpathtillitbroughthimalmostimmediatelyunderthewall。
Phylliswasmuchsurprisedtoseeafine，tallsoldierinsuchamoodasthis。Hertheoryofthemilitary，andoftheYorkHussarsinparticularderivedentirelyfromhearsay，forshehadnevertalkedtoasoldierinherlife，wasthattheirheartswereasgayastheiraccoutrements。
AtthismomenttheHussarliftedhiseyesandnoticedheronherperch，thewhitemuslinneckerchiefwhichcoveredhershouldersandneckwhereleftbarebyherlowgown，andherwhiteraimentingeneral，showingconspicuouslyinthebrightsunlightofthissummerday。Heblushedalittleatthesuddennessoftheencounter，andwithouthaltingamomentfromhispacepassedon。
Allthatdaytheforeigner’sfacehauntedPhyllis；itsaspectwassostriking，sohandsome，andhiseyesweresoblue，andsad，andabstracted。Itwasperhapsonlynaturalthatonsomefollowingdayatthesamehoursheshouldlookoverthatwallagain，andwaittillhehadpassedasecondtime。Onthisoccasionhewasreadingaletter，andatthesightofherhismannerwasthatofonewhohadhalfexpectedorhopedtodiscoverher。Healmoststopped，smiled，andmadeacourteoussalute。Theendofthemeetingwasthattheyexchangedafewwords。Sheaskedhimwhathewasreading，andhereadilyinformedherthathewasre-perusinglettersfromhismotherinGermany；hedidnotgetthemoften，hesaid，andwasforcedtoreadtheoldonesagreatmanytimes。Thiswasallthatpassedatthepresentinterview，butothersofthesamekindfollowed。
PhyllisusedtosaythathisEnglish，thoughnotgood，wasquiteintelligibletoher，sothattheiracquaintancewasneverhinderedbydifficultiesofspeech。Wheneverthesubjectbecametoodelicate，subtle，ortender，forsuchwordsofEnglishaswereathiscommand，theeyesnodoubthelpedoutthetongue，and——thoughthiswaslateron——thelipshelpedouttheeyes。Inshortthisacquaintance，unguardedlymade，andrashenoughonherpart，developedandripened。
LikeDesdemona，shepitiedhim，andlearnthishistory。
HisnamewasMatthausTina，andSaarbruckhisnativetown，wherehismotherwasstillliving。Hisagewastwenty-two，andhehadalreadyrisentothegradeofcorporal，thoughhehadnotlongbeeninthearmy。Phyllisusedtoassertthatnosuchrefinedorwell-educatedyoungmancouldhavebeenfoundintheranksofthepurelyEnglishregiments，someoftheseforeignsoldiershavingratherthegracefulmannerandpresenceofournativeofficersthanofourrankandfile。
ShebydegreeslearntfromherforeignfriendacircumstanceabouthimselfandhiscomradeswhichPhylliswouldleasthaveexpectedoftheYorkHussars。Sofarfrombeingasgayasitsuniform，theregimentwaspervadedbyadreadfulmelancholy，achronichome-
sickness，whichdepressedmanyofthementosuchanextentthattheycouldhardlyattendtotheirdrill。Theworstsufferersweretheyoungersoldierswhohadnotbeenoverherelong。TheyhatedEnglandandEnglishlife；theytooknointerestwhateverinKingGeorgeandhisislandkingdom，andtheyonlywishedtobeoutofitandnevertoseeitanymore。Theirbodieswerehere，buttheirheartsandmindswerealwaysfarawayintheirdearfatherland，ofwhich——bravemenandstoicalastheywereinmanyways——theywouldspeakwithtearsintheireyes。Oneoftheworstofthesufferersfromthishome-woe，ashecalleditinhisowntongue，wasMatthausTina，whosedreamymusingnaturefeltthegloomofexilestillmoreintenselyfromthefactthathehadleftalonelymotherathomewithnobodytocheerher。
ThoughPhyllis，touchedbyallthis，andinterestedinhishistory，didnotdisdainhersoldier’sacquaintance，shedeclinedaccordingtoherownaccount，atleasttopermittheyoungmantooverstepthelineofmerefriendshipforalongwhile——aslong，indeed，assheconsideredherselflikelytobecomethepossessionofanother；thoughitisprobablethatshehadlostherhearttoMatthausbeforeshewasherselfaware。Thestonewallofnecessitymadeanythinglikeintimacydifficult；andhehadneverventuredtocome，ortoasktocome，insidethegarden，sothatalltheirconversationhadbeenovertlyconductedacrossthisboundary。