e drive you
out of the path. I can walk among the high grass and giltycups--they
will not yellow my stockings as they will yours. Well, what do you think
of a lot of soldiers coming to the neighbourhood in this way?'

'I think it is very lively, and a great change,' she said with demure
seriousness.

'Perhaps you don't like us warriors as a body?'

Anne smiled without replying.

'Why, you are laughing!' said the yeoman, looking searchingly at her and
blushing like a little fire. 'What do you see to laugh at?'

'Did I laugh?' said Anne, a little scared at his sudden mortification.

'Why, yes; you know you did, you young sneerer,' he said like a cross
baby. 'You are laughing at me--that's who you are laughing at! I should
like to know what you would do without such as me if the French were to
drop in upon ye any night?'

'Would you help to beat them off?' said she.

'Can you ask such a question? What are we for? But you don't think
anything of soldiers.'

O yes, she liked soldiers, she said, especially when they came home from
the wars, covered with glory; though when she thought what doings had won
them that glory she did not like them quite so well. The gallant and
appeased yeoman said he supposed her to mean chopping off heads, blowing
out brains, and that kind of business, and thought it quite right that a
tender-hearted thing like her should feel a little horrified. But as for
him, he should not mind such another Blenheim this summer as the army had
fought a hundred years ago, or whenever it was--dash his wig if he should
mind it at all. 'Hullo! now you are laughing again; yes, I saw you!' And
the choleric Festus turned his blue eyes and flushed face upon her as
though he would read her through. Anne strove valiantly to look calmly
back; but her eyes could not face his, and they fell. 'You did laugh!'
he repeated.

'It was only a tiny little one,' she murmured.

'Ah--I knew you did!' thundered he. 'Now what was it you laughed at?'

'I only--thought that you were--merely in the yeomanry,' she murmured
slily.

'And what of that?'

'And the yeomanry only seem farmers that have lost their senses.'

'Yes, yes! I knew you meant some jeering o' that sort, Mistress Anne.
But I suppose 'tis the way of women, and I take no notice. I'll confess
that some of us are no great things: but I know how to draw a sword,
don't I?--say I don't just to provoke me.'

'I am sure you do,' said Anne sweetly