s,' said one of the others.

'My wig, and we will!' said Festus. 'What a trick of the old man!'

'Get some big stones,' said the yeomen, searching under the wall.

'No; forbear, forbear,' said Festus, beginning to be frightened at the
spirit he had raised. 'I forget; we should drive him into fits, for he's
subject to 'em, and then perhaps 'twould be manslaughter. Comrades, we
must march! No, we'll lie in the barn. I'll see into this, take my word
for 't. Our honour is at stake. Now let's back to see my beauty home.'

'We can't, as we hav'n't got our hats,' said one of his
fellow-troopers--in domestic life Jacob Noakes, of Muckleford Farm.

'No more we can,' said Festus, in a melancholy tone. 'But I must go to
her and tell her the reason. She pulls me in spite of all.'

'She's gone. I saw her flee across park while we were knocking at the
door,' said another of the yeomanry.

'Gone!' said Festus, grinding his teeth and putting himself into a rigid
shape. 'Then 'tis my enemy--he has tempted her away with him! But I am
a rich man, and he's poor, and rides the King's horse while I ride my
own. Could I but find that fellow, that regular, that common man, I
would--'

'Yes?' said the trumpet-major, coming up behind him.

'I,'--said Festus, starting round,--'I would seize him by the hand and
say, "Guard her; if you are my friend, guard her from all harm!"'

'A good speech. And I will, too,' said Loveday heartily.

'And now for shelter,' said Festus to his companions.

They then unceremoniously left Loveday, without wishing him good-night,
and proceeded towards the barn. He crossed the park and ascended the
down to the camp, grieved that he had given Anne cause of complaint, and
fancying that she held him of slight account beside his wealthier rival.

X. THE MATCH-MAKING VIRTUES OF A DOUBLE GARDEN

Anne was so flurried by the military incidents attending her return home
that she was almost afraid to venture alone outside her mother's
premises. Moreover, the numerous soldiers, regular and otherwise, that
haunted Overcombe and its neighbourhood, were getting better acquainted
with the villagers, and the result was that they were always standing at
garden gates, walking in the orchards, or sitting gossiping just within
cottage doors, with the bowls of their tobacco-pipes thrust outside for
politeness' sake, that they might not defile the air of the household.
Being gentlemen of a gallant and mo