t slimy wheel within. On the other side of
the mill-pond was an open place called the Cross, because it was three-
quarters of one, two lanes and a cattle-drive meeting there. It was the
general rendezvous and arena of the surrounding village. Behind this a
steep slope rose high into the sky, merging in a wide and open down, now
littered with sheep newly shorn. The upland by its height completely
sheltered the mill and village from north winds, making summers of
springs, reducing winters to autumn temperatures, and permitting myrtle
to flourish in the open air.

The heaviness of noon pervaded the scene, and under its influence the
sheep had ceased to feed. Nobody was standing at the Cross, the few
inhabitants being indoors at their dinner. No human being was on the
down, and no human eye or interest but Anne's seemed to be concerned with
it. The bees still worked on, and the butterflies did not rest from
roving, their smallness seeming to shield them from the stagnating effect
that this turning moment of day had on larger creatures. Otherwise all
was still.

The girl glanced at the down and the sheep for no particular reason; the
steep margin of turf and daisies rising above the roofs, chimneys, apple-
trees, and church tower of the hamlet around her, bounded the view from
her position, and it was necessary to look somewhere when she raised her
head. While thus engaged in working and stopping her attention was
attracted by the sudden rising and running away of the sheep squatted on
the down; and there succeeded sounds of a heavy tramping over the hard
sod which the sheep had quitted, the tramp being accompanied by a
metallic jingle. Turning her eyes further she beheld two cavalry
soldiers on bulky grey chargers, armed and accoutred throughout,
ascending the down at a point to the left where the incline was
comparatively easy. The burnished chains, buckles, and plates of their
trappings shone like little looking-glasses, and the blue, red, and white
about them was unsubdued by weather or wear.

The two troopers rode proudly on, as if nothing less than crowns and
empires ever concerned their magnificent minds. They reached that part
of the down which lay just in front of her, where they came to a halt. In
another minute there appeared behind them a group containing some half-
dozen more of the same sort. These came on, halted, and dismounted
likewise.

Two of the soldiers then walked some distance onward