d signified to
her that he had thrown the flower.

What should she do? To throw it away would seem stupid, and to keep it
was awkward. She held it between her finger and thumb, twirled it round
on its axis and twirled it back again, regarding and yet not examining
it. Just then she saw the trumpet-major coming back.

'I can't find David anywhere,' he said; and his heart was not sorry as he
said it.

Anne was still holding out the sweet-william as if about to drop it, and,
scarcely knowing what she did under the distressing sense that she was
watched, she offered the flower to Loveday.

His face brightened with pleasure as he took it. 'Thank you, indeed,' he
said.

Then Anne saw what a misleading blunder she had committed towards Loveday
in playing to the yeoman. Perhaps she had sown the seeds of a quarrel.

'It was not my sweet-william,' she said hastily; 'it was lying on the
ground. I don't mean anything by giving it to you.'

'But I'll keep it all the same,' said the innocent soldier, as if he knew
a good deal about womankind; and he put the flower carefully inside his
jacket, between his white waistcoat and his heart.

Festus, seeing this, enlarged himself wrathfully, got hot in the face,
rose to his feet, and glared down upon them like a turnip-lantern.

'Let us go away,' said Anne timorously.

'I'll see you safe to your own door, depend upon me,' said Loveday.
'But--I had near forgot--there's father's letter, that he's so anxiously
waiting for! Will you come with me to the post-office? Then I'll take
you straight home.'

Anne, expecting Festus to pounce down every minute, was glad to be off
anywhere; so she accepted the suggestion, and they went along the parade
together.

Loveday set this down as a proof of Anne's relenting. Thus in joyful
spirits he entered the office, paid the postage, and received the letter.

'It is from Bob, after all!' he said. 'Father told me to read it at
once, in case of bad news. Ask your pardon for keeping you a moment.' He
broke the seal and read, Anne standing silently by.

'He is coming home _to be married_,' said the trumpet-major, without
looking up.

Anne did not answer. The blood swept impetuously up her face at his
words, and as suddenly went away again, leaving her rather paler than
before. She disguised her agitation and then overcame it, Loveday
observing nothing of this emotional performance.

'As far as I can understand he will be here Satu