d his news. His conversation with
Bob on the down made Bob's manner, too, remarkably cool, notwithstanding
that he had after all followed his brother's advice, which it was as yet
too soon after the event for him to rightly value. John did not know why
the sailor had come back, never supposing that it was because he had
thought better of going, and said to him privately, 'You didn't overtake
her?'

'I didn't try to,' said Bob.

'And you are not going to?'

'No; I shall let her drift.'

'I am glad indeed, Bob; you have been wise,' said John heartily.

Bob, however, still loved Matilda too well to be other than dissatisfied
with John and the event that he had precipitated, which the elder brother
only too promptly perceived; and it made his stay that evening of short
duration. Before leaving he said with some hesitation to his father,
including Anne and her mother by his glance, 'Do you think to come up and
see us off?'

The miller answered for them all, and said that of course they would
come. 'But you'll step down again between now and then?' he inquired.

'I'll try to.' He added after a pause, 'In case I should not, remember
that Revalley will sound at half past five; we shall leave about eight.
Next summer, perhaps, we shall come and camp here again.'

'I hope so,' said his father and Mrs. Loveday.

There was something in John's manner which indicated to Anne that he
scarcely intended to come down again; but the others did not notice it,
and she said nothing. He departed a few minutes later, in the dusk of
the August evening, leaving Anne still in doubt as to the meaning of his
private meeting with Miss Johnson.

John Loveday had been going to tell them that on the last night, by an
especial privilege, it would be in his power to come and stay with them
until eleven o'clock, but at the moment of leaving he abandoned the
intention. Anne's attitude had chilled him, and made him anxious to be
off. He utilized the spare hours of that last night in another way.

This was by coming down from the outskirts of the camp in the evening,
and seating himself near the brink of the mill-pond as soon as it was
quite dark; where he watched the lights in the different windows till one
appeared in Anne's bedroom, and she herself came forward to shut the
casement, with the candle in her hand. The light shone out upon the
broad and deep mill-head, illuminating to a distinct individuality every
moth and gnat that ent