Thepresenttaleisfoundedmorelargelyontestimony——oralandwritten——thananyotherinthisseries。Theexternalincidentswhichdirectitscoursearemostlyanunexaggeratedreproductionoftherecollectionsofoldpersonswellknowntotheauthorinchildhood，butnowlongdead，whowereeye-witnessesofthosescenes。Ifwhollytranscribedtheirrecollectionswouldhavefilledavolumethricethelengthof’TheTrumpet-Major。’
Downtothemiddleofthiscentury，andlater，therewerenotwanting，intheneighbourhoodoftheplacesmoreorlessclearlyindicatedherein，casualrelicsofthecircumstancesamidwhichtheactionmoves——ourpreparationsfordefenceagainstthethreatenedinvasionofEnglandbyBuonaparte。Anouthousedoorriddledwithbullet-holes，whichhadbeenextemporizedbyasolitarymanasatargetforfirelockpracticewhenthelandingwashourlyexpected，aheapofbricksandclodsonabeacon-hill，whichhadformedthechimneyandwallsofthehutoccupiedbythebeacon-keeper，worm-eatenshaftsandironheadsofpikesfortheuseofthosewhohadnobetterweapons，ridgesonthedownthrownupduringtheencampment，fragmentsofvolunteeruniform，andothersuchlingeringremains，broughttomyimaginationinearlychildhoodthestateofaffairsatthedateofthewarmorevividlythanvolumesofhistorycouldhavedone。
Thosewhohaveattemptedtoconstructacoherentnarrativeofpasttimesfromthefragmentaryinformationfurnishedbysurvivors，areawareofthedifficultyofascertainingthetruesequenceofeventsindiscriminatelyrecalled。Forthispurposethenewspapersofthedatewereindispensable。OfotherdocumentsconsultedImaymention，forthesatisfactionofthosewholoveatruestory，thatthe’AddresstoallRanksandDescriptionsofEnglishmen’wastranscribedfromanoriginalcopyinalocalmuseum；thatthehieroglyphicportraitofNapoleonexistedasaprintdowntothepresentdayinanoldwoman’scottagenear’Overcombe；’thattheparticularsoftheKing’sdoingsathisfavouritewatering-placewereaugmentedbydetailsfromrecordsofthetime。ThedrillingsceneofthelocalmilitiareceivedsomeadditionsfromanaccountgiveninsograveaworkasGifford’s’HistoryoftheWarsoftheFrenchRevolution’London，1817。ButonreferencetotheHistoryIfindIwasmistakeninsupposingtheaccounttobeadvancedasauthentic，ortorefertoruralEngland。However，itdoesinalargedegreeaccordwiththelocaltraditionsofsuchscenesthatI
haveheardrecounted，timeswithoutnumber，andthesystemofdrillwastestedbyreferencetotheArmyRegulationsof1801，andothermilitaryhandbooks。AlmostthewholenarrativeofthesupposedlandingoftheFrenchintheBayisfromoralrelationasaforesaid。
Otherproofsoftheveracityofthischroniclehaveescapedmyrecollection。
Inthedaysofhigh-waistedandmuslin-gownedwomen，whenthevastamountofsoldieringgoingoninthecountrywasacauseofmuchtremblingtothesex，therelivedinavillageneartheWessexcoasttwoladiesofgoodreport，thoughunfortunatelyoflimitedmeans。
TheelderwasaMrs。MarthaGarland，alandscape-painter’swidow，andtheotherwasheronlydaughterAnne。
Annewasfair，veryfair，inapoeticalsense；butincomplexionshewasofthatparticulartintbetweenblondeandbrunettewhichisinconvenientlyleftwithoutaname。Hereyeswerehonestandinquiring，hermouthcleanlycutandyetnotclassical，themiddlepointofherupperlipscarcelydescendingsofarasitshouldhavedonebyrights，sothatatthemerestpleasantthought，nottomentionasmile，portionsoftwoorthreewhiteteethwereuncoveredwhethershewouldornot。Somepeoplesaidthatthiswasveryattractive。Shewasgracefulandslender，and，thoughbutlittleabovefivefeetinheight，coulddrawherselfuptolooktall。Inhermanner，inhercomingsandgoings，inher’I’lldothis，’or’I’lldothat，’shecombineddignitywithsweetnessasnoothergirlcoulddo；andanyimpressionablestrangeryouthswhopassedbywereledtoyearnforawindfallofspeechfromher，andtoseeatthesametimethattheywouldnotgetit。Inshort，beneathallthatwascharmingandsimpleinthisyoungwomantherelurkedarealfirmness，unperceivedatfirst，asthespeckofcolourlurksunperceivedintheheartofthepalestparsleyflower。
Sheworeawhitehandkerchieftocoverherwhiteneck，andacaponherheadwithapinkribbonroundit，tiedinabowatthefront。
Shehadagreatvarietyofthesecap-ribbons，theyoungmenbeingfondofsendingthemtoheraspresentsuntiltheyfelldefinitelyinlovewithaspecialsweetheartelsewhere，whentheyleftoffdoingso。Betweentheborderofhercapandherforeheadwererangedarowofroundbrowncurls，likeswallows’nestsundereaves。
Shelivedwithherwidowedmotherinaportionofanancientbuildingformerlyamanor-house，butnowamill，which，beingtoolargeforhisownrequirements，themillerhadfounditconvenienttodivideandappropriateinparttothesehighlyrespectabletenants。InthisdwellingMrs。Garland’sandAnne’searsweresoothedmorning，noon，andnightbythemusicofthemill，thewheelsandcogsofwhich，beingofwood，producednotesthatmighthaveborneintheirmindsaremoteresemblancetothewoodentonesofthestoppeddiapasoninanorgan。Occasionally，whenthemillerwasbolting，therewasaddedtothesecontinuoussoundsthecheerfulclickingofthehopper，whichdidnotdeprivethemofrestexceptwhenitwaskeptgoingallnight；andoverandaboveallthistheyhadthepleasureofknowingthattherecreptinthrougheverycrevice，door，andwindowoftheirdwelling，howevertightlyclosed，asubtlemistofsuperfineflourfromthegrindingroom，quiteinvisible，butmakingitspresenceknowninthecourseoftimebygivingapallidandghostlylooktothebestfurniture。Themillerfrequentlyapologizedtohistenantsfortheintrusionofthisinsidiousdryfog；butthewidowwasofafriendlyandthankfulnature，andshesaidthatshedidnotminditatall，beingasitwas，notnastydirt，buttheblessedstaffoflife。
Bygood-humourofthissort，andinotherways，Mrs。Garlandacknowledgedherfriendshipforherneighbour，withwhomAnneandherselfassociatedtoanextentwhichshenevercouldhaveanticipatedwhen，temptedbythelownessoftherent，theyfirstremovedthitherafterherhusband’sdeathfromalargerhouseattheotherendofthevillage。Thosewhohavelivedinremoteplaceswherethereiswhatiscallednosocietywillcomprehendthegraduallevellingofdistinctionsthatwentoninthiscaseatsomesacrificeofgentilityonthepartofonehousehold。ThewidowwassometimessorrytofindwithwhatreadinessAnnecaughtupsomedialect-wordoraccentfromthemillerandhisfriends；buthewassogoodandtrue-heartedaman，andshesoeasy-minded，unambitiousawoman，thatshewouldnotmakelifeasolitudeforfastidiousreasons。Morethanall，shehadgoodgroundforthinkingthatthemillersecretlyadmiredher，andthisaddedapiquancytothesituation。
Onafinesummermorning，whentheleaveswerewarmunderthesun，andthemoreindustriousbeesabroad，divingintoeveryblueandredcupthatcouldpossiblybeconsideredaflower，Annewassittingatthebackwindowofhermother’sportionofthehouse，measuringoutlengthsofworstedforafringedrugthatshewasmaking，whichlay，aboutthree-quartersfinished，besideher。Thework，thoughchromaticallybrilliant，wastedious:ahearth-rugwasathingwhichnobodyworkedatfrommorningtonight；itwastakenupandputdown；itwasinthechair，onthefloor，acrossthehand-rail，underthebed，kickedhere，kickedthere，rolledawayinthecloset，broughtoutagain，andsoonmorecapriciouslyperhapsthananyotherhome-madearticle。Nobodywasexpectedtofinisharugwithinacalculableperiod，andthewoolsofthebeginningbecamefadedandhistoricalbeforetheendwasreached。Asenseofthisinherentnatureofworsted-workratherthanidlenessledAnnetolookratherfrequentlyfromtheopencasement。
Immediatelybeforeherwasthelarge，smoothmillpond，over-full，andintrudingintothehedgeandintotheroad。Thewater，withitsflowingleavesandspotsoffroth，wasstealingaway，likeTime，underthedarkarch，totumbleoverthegreatslimywheelwithin。
Ontheothersideofthemill-pondwasanopenplacecalledtheCross，becauseitwasthree-quartersofone，twolanesandacattle-drivemeetingthere。Itwasthegeneralrendezvousandarenaofthesurroundingvillage。Behindthisasteepsloperosehighintothesky，merginginawideandopendown，nowlitteredwithsheepnewlyshorn。Theuplandbyitsheightcompletelyshelteredthemillandvillagefromnorthwinds，makingsummersofsprings，reducingwinterstoautumntemperatures，andpermittingmyrtletoflourishintheopenair。
Theheavinessofnoonpervadedthescene，andunderitsinfluencethesheephadceasedtofeed。NobodywasstandingattheCross，thefewinhabitantsbeingindoorsattheirdinner。Nohumanbeingwasonthedown，andnohumaneyeorinterestbutAnne’sseemedtobeconcernedwithit。Thebeesstillworkedon，andthebutterfliesdidnotrestfromroving，theirsmallnessseemingtoshieldthemfromthestagnatingeffectthatthisturningmomentofdayhadonlargercreatures。Otherwiseallwasstill。
Thegirlglancedatthedownandthesheepfornoparticularreason；
thesteepmarginofturfanddaisiesrisingabovetheroofs，chimneys，apple-trees，andchurchtowerofthehamletaroundher，boundedtheviewfromherposition，anditwasnecessarytolooksomewherewhensheraisedherhead。Whilethusengagedinworkingandstoppingherattentionwasattractedbythesuddenrisingandrunningawayofthesheepsquattedonthedown；andtheresucceededsoundsofaheavytrampingoverthehardsodwhichthesheephadquitted，thetrampbeingaccompaniedbyametallicjingle。Turninghereyesfurthershebeheldtwocavalrysoldiersonbulkygreychargers，armedandaccoutredthroughout，ascendingthedownatapointtotheleftwheretheinclinewascomparativelyeasy。Theburnishedchains，buckles，andplatesoftheirtrappingsshonelikelittlelooking-glasses，andtheblue，red，andwhiteaboutthemwasunsubduedbyweatherorwear。
Thetwotroopersrodeproudlyon，asifnothinglessthancrownsandempireseverconcernedtheirmagnificentminds。Theyreachedthatpartofthedownwhichlayjustinfrontofher，wheretheycametoahalt。Inanotherminutethereappearedbehindthemagroupcontainingsomehalf-dozenmoreofthesamesort。Thesecameon，halted，anddismountedlikewise。
Twoofthesoldiersthenwalkedsomedistanceonwardtogether，whenonestoodstill，theotheradvancingfurther，andstretchingawhitelineoftapebetweenthem。Twomoreofthemenmarchedtoanotheroutlyingpoint，wheretheymademarksintheground。Thustheywalkedaboutandtookdistances，obviouslyaccordingtosomepreconcertedscheme。
Attheendofthissystematicproceedingonesolitaryhorseman——acommissionedofficer，ifhisuniformcouldbejudgedrightlyatthatdistance——rodeupthedown，wentovertheground，lookedatwhattheothershaddone，andseemedtothinkthatitwasgood。Andthenthegirlheardyetloudertrampsandclankings，andshebeheldrisingfromwheretheothershadrisenawholecolumnofcavalryinmarchingorder。Atadistancebehindthesecameacloudofdustenvelopingmoreandmoretroops，theirarmsandaccoutrementsreflectingthesunthroughthehazeinfaintflashes，stars，andstreaksoflight。Thewholebodyapproachedslowlytowardstheplateauatthetopofthedown。
Annethrewdownherwork，andlettinghereyesremainonthenearingmassesofcavalry，theworstedsgettingentangledastheywould，said，’Mother，mother；comehere！Here’ssuchafinesight！Whatdoesitmean？Whatcantheybegoingtodoupthere？’
Themotherthusinvokedranupstairsandcameforwardtothewindow。
Shewasawomanofsanguinemouthandeye，unheroicmanner，andpleasantgeneralappearance；alittlemoretarnishedastosurface，butnotmuchworseincontourthanthegirlherself。
WidowGarland’sthoughtswerethoseoftheperiod。’CanitbetheFrench，’shesaid，arrangingherselffortheextremestformofconsternation。’Canthatarch-enemyofmankindhavelandedatlast？’Itshouldbestatedthatatthistimethereweretwoarch-enemiesofmankind——Satanasusual，andBuonaparte，whohadsprungupandeclipsedhiselderrivalaltogether。Mrs。Garlandalluded，ofcourse，tothejuniorgentleman。
’Itcannotbehe，’saidAnne。’Ah！there’sSimonBurden，themanwhowatchesatthebeacon。He’llknow！’
Shewavedherhandtoanagedformofthesamecolourastheroad，whohadjustappearedbeyondthemill-pond，andwho，thoughactive，wasbowedtothatdegreewhichalmostreproachesafeelingobserverforstandingupright。Thearrivalofthesoldieryhaddrawnhimoutfromhisdropofdrinkatthe’DukeofYork’asithadattractedAnne。Athercallhecrossedthemill-bridge，andcametowardsthewindow。
Anneinquiredofhimwhatitallmeant；butSimonBurden，withoutanswering，continuedtomoveonwithpartedgums，staringatthecavalryonhisownprivateaccountwithaconcernthatpeopleoftenshowabouttemporalphenomenawhensuchmatterscanaffectthembutashorttimelonger。’You’llwalkintothemillpond！’saidAnne。
’Whataretheydoing？Youwereasoldiermanyyearsago，andoughttoknow。’
’Don’taskme，Mis’essAnne，’saidthemilitaryrelic，depositinghisbodyagainstthewallonelimbatatime。’Iwereonlyinthefoot，yeknow，andneverhadaclearunderstandingofhorses。Ay，I
beaoldman，andofnojudgmentnow。’Someadditionalpressure，however，causedhimtosearchfurtherinhisworm-eatenmagazineofideas，andhefoundthathedidknowinadimirresponsibleway。
Thesoldiersmusthavecometheretocamp:thosementheyhadseenfirstwerethemarkers:theyhadcomeonbeforetheresttomeasureouttheground。Hewhohadaccompaniedthemwasthequartermaster。
’Andsoyouseetheyhavegotallthelinesmarkedoutbythetimetheregimenthavecomeup，’headded。’Andthentheywill——
well-a-deary！who’dha’supposedthatOvercombewouldseesuchadayasthis！’
’Andthentheywill——’