for me,' said Festus, in a mollified tone.
'Well, though, to speak the truth, I have a good many faults, some people
will praise me, I suppose. 'Twas praise?'

'It was.'

'Well, I am not much at farming, and I am not much in company, and I am
not much at figures, but perhaps I must own, since it is forced upon me,
that I can show as fine a soldier's figure on the Esplanade as any man of
the cavalry.'

'You can,' said Anne; for though her flesh crept in mortal terror of his
irascibility, she could not resist the fearful pleasure of leading him
on. 'You look very well; and some say, you are--'

'What? Well, they say I am good-looking. I don't make myself, so 'tis
no praise. Hullo! what are you looking across there for?'

'Only at a bird that I saw fly out of that tree,' said Anne.

'What? Only at a bird, do you say?' he heaved out in a voice of thunder.
'I see your shoulders a-shaking, young madam. Now don't you provoke me
with that laughing! By God, it won't do!'

'Then go away!' said Anne, changed from mirthfulness to irritation by his
rough manner. 'I don't want your company, you great bragging thing! You
are so touchy there's no bearing with you. Go away!'

'No, no, Anne; I am wrong to speak to you so. I give you free liberty to
say what you will to me. Say I am not a bit of a soldier, or anything!
Abuse me--do now, there's a dear. I'm scum, I'm froth, I'm dirt before
the besom--yes!'

'I have nothing to say, sir. Stay where you are till I am out of this
field.'

'Well, there's such command in your looks that I ha'n't heart to go
against you. You will come this way to-morrow at the same time? Now,
don't be uncivil.'

She was too generous not to forgive him, but the short little lip
murmured that she did not think it at all likely she should come that way
to-morrow.

'Then Sunday?' he said.

'Not Sunday,' said she.

'Then Monday--Tuesday--Wednesday, surely?' he went on experimentally.

She answered that she should probably not see him on either day, and,
cutting short the argument, went through the wicket into the other field.
Festus paused, looking after her; and when he could no longer see her
slight figure he swept away his deliberations, began singing, and turned
off in the other direction.

VIII. ANNE MAKES A CIRCUIT OF THE CAMP

When Anne was crossing the last field, she saw approaching her an old
woman with wrinkled cheeks, who surveyed the earth and its inhabitan