g his father by showing anything
of this change of sentiment was great; yet he might have braved it but
for knowing that his marriage with Anne, which he hoped might take place
the next year, was dependent entirely upon his adherence to the mill
business. Even were his father indifferent, Mrs. Loveday would never
intrust her only daughter to the hands of a husband who would be away
from home five-sixths of his time.

But though, apart from Anne, he was not averse to seafaring in itself, to
be smuggled thither by the machinery of a press-gang was intolerable; and
the process of seizing, stunning, pinioning, and carrying off unwilling
hands was one which Bob as a man had always determined to hold out
against to the utmost of his power. Hence, as they went towards home, he
frequently listened for sounds behind him, but hearing none he assured
his sweetheart that they were safe for that night at least. The mill was
still going when they arrived, though old Mr. Loveday was not to be seen;
he had retired as soon as he heard the horse's hoofs in the lane, leaving
Bob to watch the grinding till three o'clock; when the elder would rise,
and Bob withdraw to bed--a frequent arrangement between them since Bob
had taken the place of grinder.

Having reached the privacy of her own room, Anne threw open the window,
for she had not the slightest intention of going to bed just yet. The
tale of the Black Diamond had disturbed her by a slow, insidious process
that was worse than sudden fright. Her window looked into the court
before the house, now wrapped in the shadow of the trees and the hill;
and she leaned upon its sill listening intently. She could have heard
any strange sound distinctly enough in one direction; but in the other
all low noises were absorbed in the patter of the mill, and the rush of
water down the race.

However, what she heard came from the hitherto silent side, and was
intelligible in a moment as being the footsteps of men. She tried to
think they were some late stragglers from Budmouth. Alas! no; the tramp
was too regular for that of villagers. She hastily turned, extinguished
the candle, and listened again. As they were on the main road there was,
after all, every probability that the party would pass the bridge which
gave access to the mill court without turning in upon it, or even
noticing that such an entrance existed. In this again she was
disappointed: they crossed into the front without a pause