veday!' cried Anne, snatching away her hand in genuine
dismay, while a tear rose unexpectedly to each eye. 'I never heard of
such a thing! I won't go an inch further with you, sir; it is too
barefaced!' And she turned and ran off.

'Upon my life I didn't mean it!' said the repentant captain, hastening
after. 'I do love her best--indeed I do--and I don't love you at all! I
am not so fickle as that! I merely just for the moment admired you as a
sweet little craft, and that's how I came to do it. You know, Miss
Garland,' he continued earnestly, and still running after, ''tis like
this: when you come ashore after having been shut up in a ship for
eighteen months, women-folks seem so new and nice that you can't help
liking them, one and all in a body; and so your heart is apt to get
scattered and to yaw a bit; but of course I think of poor Matilda most,
and shall always stick to her.' He heaved a sigh of tremendous
magnitude, to show beyond the possibility of doubt that his heart was
still in the place that honour required.

'I am glad to hear that--of course I am very glad!' said she, with quick
petulance, keeping her face turned from him. 'And I hope we shall find
her, and that the wedding will not be put off, and that you'll both be
happy. But I won't look for her any more! No; I don't care to look for
her--and my head aches. I am going home!'

'And so am I,' said Robert promptly.

'No, no; go on looking for her, of course--all the afternoon, and all
night. I am sure you will, if you love her.'

'O yes; I mean to. Still, I ought to convoy you home first?'

'No, you ought not; and I shall not accept your company. Good-morning,
sir!' And she went off over one of the stone stiles with which the spot
abounded, leaving the friendly sailor standing in the field.

He sighed again, and, observing the camp not far off, thought he would go
to his brother John and ask him his opinion on the sorrowful case. On
reaching the tents he found that John was not at liberty just at that
time, being engaged in practising the trumpeters; and leaving word that
he wished the trumpet-major to come down to the mill as soon as possible,
Bob went back again.

''Tis no good looking for her,' he said gloomily. 'She liked me well
enough, but when she came here and saw the house, and the place, and the
old horse, and the plain furniture, she was disappointed to find us all
so homely, and felt she didn't care to marry into such