d to accomplish this with amazing
ease. Whenever he came from barracks to Overcombe, which was once or
twice a week, he related news of all sorts to her and Bob with infinite
zest, and made the time as happy a one as had ever been known at the
mill, save for himself alone. He said nothing of Festus, except so far
as to inform Anne that he had expected to see him and been disappointed.
On the evening after the King's arrival at his seaside residence John
appeared again, staying to supper and describing the royal entry, the
many tasteful illuminations and transparencies which had been exhibited,
the quantities of tallow candles burnt for that purpose, and the swarms
of aristocracy who had followed the King thither.

When supper was over Bob went outside the house to shut the shutters,
which had, as was often the case, been left open some time after lights
were kindled within. John still sat at the table when his brother
approached the window, though the others had risen and retired. Bob was
struck by seeing through the pane how John's face had changed. Throughout
the supper-time he had been talking to Anne in the gay tone habitual with
him now, which gave greater strangeness to the gloom of his present
appearance. He remained in thought for a moment, took a letter from his
breast-pocket, opened it, and, with a tender smile at his weakness,
kissed the writing before restoring it to its place. The letter was one
that Anne had written to him at Exonbury.

Bob stood perplexed; and then a suspicion crossed his mind that John,
from brotherly goodness, might be feigning a satisfaction with recent
events which he did not feel. Bob now made a noise with the shutters, at
which the trumpet-major rose and went out, Bob at once following him.

'Jack,' said the sailor ingenuously, 'I'm terribly sorry that I've done
wrong.'

'How?' asked his brother.

'In courting our little Anne. Well, you see, John, she was in the same
house with me, and somehow or other I made myself her beau. But I have
been thinking that perhaps you had the first claim on her, and if so,
Jack, I'll make way for 'ee. I--I don't care for her much, you know--not
so very much, and can give her up very well. It is nothing serious
between us at all. Yes, John, you try to get her; I can look elsewhere.'
Bob never knew how much he loved Anne till he found himself making this
speech of renunciation.

'O Bob, you are mistaken!' said the trumpet-major, who