d daughters of
their own, perceiving that she was only a half-formed girl, resumed their
tales and toss-potting with unconcern.

Miller Loveday had fraternized with half the soldiers in the camp since
their arrival, and the effect of this upon his party was striking--both
chromatically and otherwise. Those among the guests who first attracted
the eye were the sergeants and sergeant-majors of Loveday's regiment,
fine hearty men, who sat facing the candles, entirely resigned to
physical comfort. Then there were other non-commissioned officers, a
German, two Hungarians, and a Swede, from the foreign hussars--young men
with a look of sadness on their faces, as if they did not much like
serving so far from home. All of them spoke English fairly well. Old
age was represented by Simon Burden the pensioner, and the shady side of
fifty by Corporal Tullidge, his friend and neighbour, who was hard of
hearing, and sat with his hat on over a red cotton handkerchief that was
wound several times round his head. These two veterans were employed as
watchers at the neighbouring beacon, which had lately been erected by the
Lord-Lieutenant for firing whenever the descent on the coast should be
made. They lived in a little hut on the hill, close by the heap of
faggots; but to-night they had found deputies to watch in their stead.

On a lower plane of experience and qualifications came neighbour James
Comfort, of the Volunteers, a soldier by courtesy, but a blacksmith by
rights; also William Tremlett and Anthony Cripplestraw, of the local
forces. The two latter men of war were dressed merely as villagers, and
looked upon the regulars from a humble position in the background. The
remainder of the party was made up of a neighbouring dairyman or two, and
their wives, invited by the miller, as Anne was glad to see, that she and
her mother should not be the only women there.

The elder Loveday apologized in a whisper to Mrs. Garland for the
presence of the inferior villagers. 'But as they are learning to be
brave defenders of their home and country, ma'am, as fast as they can
master the drill, and have worked for me off and on these many years,
I've asked 'em in, and thought you'd excuse it.'

'Certainly, Miller Loveday,' said the widow.

'And the same of old Burden and Tullidge. They have served well and long
in the Foot, and even now have a hard time of it up at the beacon in wet
weather. So after giving them a meal in the kitche