will
fix it.'

On examination it was found that the day appointed was the one nearly
expired; at which the miller jumped up and said, 'Then he'll be here
before bedtime. I didn't gather till now that he was coming afore
Saturday. Why, he may drop in this very minute!'

He had scarcely spoken when footsteps were heard coming along the front,
and they presently halted at the door. Loveday pushed through the
neighbours and rushed out; and, seeing in the passage a form which
obscured the declining light, the miller seized hold of him, saying, 'O
my dear Bob; then you are come!'

'Scrounch it all, miller, don't quite pull my poor shoulder out of joint!
Whatever is the matter?' said the new-comer, trying to release himself
from Loveday's grasp of affection. It was Uncle Benjy.

'Thought 'twas my son!' faltered the miller, sinking back upon the toes
of the neighbours who had closely followed him into the entry. 'Well,
come in, Mr. Derriman, and make yerself at home. Why, you haven't been
here for years! Whatever has made you come now, sir, of all times in the
world?'

'Is he in there with ye?' whispered the farmer with misgiving.

'Who?'

'My nephew, after that maid that he's so mighty smit with?'

'O no; he never calls here.'

Farmer Derriman breathed a breath of relief. 'Well, I've called to tell
ye,' he said, 'that there's more news of the French. We shall have 'em
here this month as sure as a gun. The gunboats be all ready--near two
thousand of 'em--and the whole army is at Boulogne. And, miller, I know
ye to be an honest man.'

Loveday did not say nay.

'Neighbour Loveday, I know ye to be an honest man,' repeated the old
squireen. 'Can I speak to ye alone?'

As the house was full, Loveday took him into the garden, all the while
upon tenter-hooks, not lest Buonaparte should appear in their midst, but
lest Bob should come whilst he was not there to receive him. When they
had got into a corner Uncle Benjy said, 'Miller, what with the French,
and what with my nephew Festus, I assure ye my life is nothing but
wherrit from morning to night. Miller Loveday, you are an honest man.'

Loveday nodded.

'Well, I've come to ask a favour--to ask if you will take charge of my
few poor title-deeds and documents and suchlike, while I am away from
home next week, lest anything should befall me, and they should be stole
away by Boney or Festus, and I should have nothing left in the wide
world? I can trust n