she
wears the prettiest cap-ribbons you ever saw. Well, well, 'tis weakness!
She has little, and I have much; but I do adore that girl, in spite of
myself!'

'Let's go on,' said Anne.

'Prithee stand by an old man till he's got into his house!' implored
Uncle Benjy. 'I only ask ye to bide within call. Stand back under the
trees, and I'll do my poor best to give no trouble.'

'I'll stand by you for half-an-hour, sir,' said Loveday. 'After that I
must bolt to camp.'

'Very well; bide back there under the trees,' said Uncle Benjy. 'I don't
want to spite 'em?'

'You'll wait a few minutes, just to see if he gets in?' said the trumpet-
major to Anne as they retired from the old man.

'I want to get home,' said Anne anxiously.

When they had quite receded behind the tree-trunks and he stood alone,
Uncle Benjy, to their surprise, set up a loud shout, altogether beyond
the imagined power of his lungs.

'Man a-lost! man a-lost!' he cried, repeating the exclamation several
times; and then ran and hid himself behind a corner of the building. Soon
the door opened, and Festus and his guests came tumbling out upon the
green.

''Tis our duty to help folks in distress,' said Festus. 'Man a-lost,
where are you?'

''Twas across there,' said one of his friends.

'No! 'twas here,' said another.

Meanwhile Uncle Benjy, coming from his hiding-place, had scampered with
the quickness of a boy up to the door they had quitted, and slipped in.
In a moment the door flew together, and Anne heard him bolting and
barring it inside. The revellers, however, did not notice this, and came
on towards the spot where the trumpet-major and Anne were standing.

'Here's succour at hand, friends,' said Festus. 'We are all king's men;
do not fear us.'

'Thank you,' said Loveday; 'so are we.' He explained in two words that
they were not the distressed traveller who had cried out, and turned to
go on.

''Tis she! my life, 'tis she said Festus, now first recognizing Anne.
'Fair Anne, I will not part from you till I see you safe at your own dear
door.'

'She's in my hands,' said Loveday civilly, though not without firmness,
'so it is not required, thank you.'

'Man, had I but my sword--'

'Come,' said Loveday, 'I don't want to quarrel. Let's put it to her.
Whichever of us she likes best, he shall take her home. Miss Anne,
which?'

Anne would much rather have gone home alone, but seeing the remainder of
the yeomanry party stagg