now I hope you are satisfied, sir?' said the trumpet-major.

'Quite, quite!' said Derriman; and, leaning on his walking-stick, he
pursued his lonely way.

That night Anne lay awake in her bed, musing on the traits of the new
friend who had come to her neighbour's house. She would not be critical,
it was ungenerous and wrong; but she could not help thinking of what
interested her. And were there, she silently asked, in Miss Johnson's
mind and person such rare qualities as placed that lady altogether beyond
comparison with herself? O yes, there must be; for had not Captain Bob
singled out Matilda from among all other women, herself included? Of
course, with his world-wide experience, he knew best.

When the moon had set, and only the summer stars threw their light into
the great damp garden, she fancied that she heard voices in that
direction. Perhaps they were the voices of Bob and Matilda taking a
lover's walk before retiring. If so, how sleepy they would be next day,
and how absurd it was of Matilda to pretend she was tired! Ruminating in
this way, and saying to herself that she hoped they would be happy, Anne
fell asleep.

XIX. MISS JOHNSON'S BEHAVIOUR CAUSES NO LITTLE SURPRISE

Partly from the excitement of having his Matilda under the paternal roof,
Bob rose next morning as early as his father and the grinder, and, when
the big wheel began to patter and the little ones to mumble in response,
went to sun himself outside the mill-front, among the fowls of brown and
speckled kinds which haunted that spot, and the ducks that came up from
the mill-tail.

Standing on the worn-out mill-stone inlaid in the gravel, he talked with
his father on various improvements of the premises, and on the proposed
arrangements for his permanent residence there, with an enjoyment that
was half based upon this prospect of the future, and half on the
penetrating warmth of the sun to his back and shoulders. Then the
different troops of horses began their morning scramble down to the mill-
pond, and, after making it very muddy round the edge, ascended the slope
again. The bustle of the camp grew more and more audible, and presently
David came to say that breakfast was ready.

'Is Miss Johnson downstairs?' said the miller; and Bob listened for the
answer, looking at a blue sentinel aloft on the down.

'Not yet, maister,' said the excellent David.

'We'll wait till she's down,' said Loveday. 'When she is, let us know