e inquired of him what it all meant; but Simon Burden, without
answering, continued to move on with parted gums, staring at the cavalry
on his own private account with a concern that people often show about
temporal phenomena when such matters can affect them but a short time
longer. 'You'll walk into the millpond!' said Anne. 'What are they
doing? You were a soldier many years ago, and ought to know.'

'Don't ask me, Mis'ess Anne,' said the military relic, depositing his
body against the wall one limb at a time. 'I were only in the foot, ye
know, and never had a clear understanding of horses. Ay, I be a old man,
and of no judgment now.' Some additional pressure, however, caused him
to search further in his worm-eaten magazine of ideas, and he found that
he did know in a dim irresponsible way. The soldiers must have come
there to camp: those men they had seen first were the markers: they had
come on before the rest to measure out the ground. He who had
accompanied them was the quartermaster. 'And so you see they have got
all the lines marked out by the time the regiment have come up,' he
added. 'And then they will--well-a-deary! who'd ha' supposed that
Overcombe would see such a day as this!'

'And then they will--'

'Then-- Ah, it's gone from me again!' said Simon. 'O, and then they will
raise their tents, you know, and picket their horses. That was it; so it
was.'

By this time the column of horse had ascended into full view, and they
formed a lively spectacle as they rode along the high ground in marching
order, backed by the pale blue sky, and lit by the southerly sun. Their
uniform was bright and attractive; white buckskin pantaloons,
three-quarter boots, scarlet shakos set off with lace, mustachios waxed
to a needle point; and above all, those richly ornamented blue jackets
mantled with the historic pelisse--that fascination to women, and
encumbrance to the wearers themselves.

''Tis the York Hussars!' said Simon Burden, brightening like a dying
ember fanned. 'Foreigners to a man, and enrolled long since my time. But
as good hearty comrades, they say, as you'll find in the King's service.'

'Here are more and different ones,' said Mrs. Garland.

Other troops had, during the last few minutes, been ascending the down at
a remoter point, and now drew near. These were of different weight and
build from the others; lighter men, in helmet hats, with white plumes.

'I don't know which I like best,