,' said Bob tenderly.

'Yes,' she replied. 'I saw a man I did not like the look of, and he was
inclined to follow me. But, worse than that, I am troubled about the
French. O Bob! I am afraid you will be killed, and my mother, and John,
and your father, and all of us hunted down!'

'Now I have told you, dear little heart, that it cannot be. We shall
drive 'em into the sea after a battle or two, even if they land, which I
don't believe they will. We've got ninety sail of the line, and though
it is rather unfortunate that we should have declared war against Spain
at this ticklish time, there's enough for all.' And Bob went into
elaborate statistics of the navy, army, militia, and volunteers, to
prolong the time of holding her. When he had done speaking he drew
rather a heavy sigh.

'What's the matter, Bob?'

'I haven't been yet to offer myself as a sea-fencible, and I ought to
have done it long ago.'

'You are only one. Surely they can do without you?'

Bob shook his head. She arose from her restful position, her eye
catching his with a shamefaced expression of having given way at last.
Loveday drew from his pocket a paper, and said, as they slowly walked on,
'Here's something to make us brave and patriotic. I bought it in
Budmouth. Isn't it a stirring picture?'

It was a hieroglyphic profile of Napoleon. The hat represented a maimed
French eagle; the face was ingeniously made up of human carcases, knotted
and writhing together in such directions as to form a physiognomy; a
band, or stock, shaped to resemble the English Channel, encircled his
throat, and seemed to choke him; his epaulette was a hand tearing a
cobweb that represented the treaty of peace with England; and his ear was
a woman crouching over a dying child. {225}

'It is dreadful!' said Anne. 'I don't like to see it.'

She had recovered from her emotion, and walked along beside him with a
grave, subdued face. Bob did not like to assume the privileges of an
accepted lover and draw her hand through his arm; for, conscious that she
naturally belonged to a politer grade than his own, he feared lest her
exhibition of tenderness were an impulse which cooler moments might
regret. A perfect Paul-and-Virginia life had not absolutely set in for
him as yet, and it was not to be hastened by force. When they had passed
over the bridge into the mill-front they saw the miller standing at the
door with a face of concern.

'Since you have been gone,'