s. This announcement was answered by a salute from the
Castle of the adjoining Isle, and the ships in the neighbouring
anchorage. All the bells in the town began ringing. The King and his
family had arrived.

XII. HOW EVERYBODY GREAT AND SMALL CLIMBED TO THE TOP OF THE DOWNS

As the days went on, echoes of the life and bustle of the town reached
the ears of the quiet people in Overcombe hollow--exciting and moving
those unimportant natives as a ground-swell moves the weeds in a cave.
Travelling-carriages of all kinds and colours climbed and descended the
road that led towards the seaside borough. Some contained those
personages of the King's suite who had not kept pace with him in his
journey from Windsor; others were the coaches of aristocracy, big and
little, whom news of the King's arrival drew thither for their own
pleasure: so that the highway, as seen from the hills about Overcombe,
appeared like an ant-walk--a constant succession of dark spots creeping
along its surface at nearly uniform rates of progress, and all in one
direction.

The traffic and intelligence between camp and town passed in a measure
over the villagers' heads. It being summer time the miller was much
occupied with business, and the trumpet-major was too constantly engaged
in marching between the camp and Gloucester Lodge with the rest of the
dragoons to bring his friends any news for some days.

At last he sent a message that there was to be a review on the downs by
the King, and that it was fixed for the day following. This information
soon spread through the village and country round, and next morning the
whole population of Overcombe--except two or three very old men and
women, a few babies and their nurses, a cripple, and Corporal
Tullidge--ascended the slope with the crowds from afar, and awaited the
events of the day.

The miller wore his best coat on this occasion, which meant a good deal.
An Overcombe man in those days would have a best coat, and keep it as a
best coat half his life. The miller's had seen five and twenty summers
chiefly through the chinks of a clothes-box, and was not at all shabby as
yet, though getting singular. But that could not be helped; common coats
and best coats were distinct species, and never interchangeable. Living
so near the scene of the review he walked up the hill, accompanied by
Mrs. Garland and Anne as usual.

It was a clear day, with little wind stirring, and the view from the