l, was hardly enough to
bring a serious blush to the face of coyness. Neighbours' minds had
become so saturated by the abundance of showy military and regal incident
lately vouchsafed to them, that the wedding of middle-aged civilians was
of small account, excepting in so far that it solved the question whether
or not Mrs. Garland would consider herself too genteel to mate with a
grinder of corn.

In the evening, Loveday's heart was made glad by seeing the baked and
boiled in rapid process of consumption by the kitchenful of people
assembled for that purpose. Three-quarters of an hour were sufficient to
banish for ever his fears as to spoilt food. The provisions being the
cause of the assembly, and not its consequence, it had been determined to
get all that would not keep consumed on that day, even if highways and
hedges had to be searched for operators. And, in addition to the poor
and needy, every cottager's daughter known to the miller was invited, and
told to bring her lover from camp--an expedient which, for letting
daylight into the inside of full platters, was among the most happy ever
known.

While Mr. and Mrs. Loveday, Anne, and Bob were standing in the parlour,
discussing the progress of the entertainment in the next room, John, who
had not been down all day, entered the house and looked in upon them
through the open door.

'How's this, John? Why didn't you come before?'

'Had to see the captain, and--other duties,' said the trumpet-major, in a
tone which showed no great zeal for explanations.

'Well, come in, however,' continued the miller, as his son remained with
his hand on the door-post, surveying them reflectively.

'I cannot stay long,' said John, advancing. 'The Route is come, and we
are going away.'

'Going away! Where to?'

'To Exonbury.'

'When?'

'Friday morning.'

'All of you?'

'Yes; some to-morrow and some next day. The King goes next week.'

'I am sorry for this,' said the miller, not expressing half his sorrow by
the simple utterance. 'I wish you could have been here to-day, since
this is the case,' he added, looking at the horizon through the window.

Mrs. Loveday also expressed her regret, which seemed to remind the
trumpet-major of the event of the day, and he went to her and tried to
say something befitting the occasion. Anne had not said that she was
either sorry or glad, but John Loveday fancied that she had looked rather
relieved than otherwise when she hear