e might have picked up with a girl without a single copper nail. To be
sure there was a time we had when we got into port! It was open house
for us all!' And after mentally regarding the scene for a few seconds
Jim emptied his cup and rose to go.

The miller was saying some last words to him outside the house, Anne's
voice had hardly ceased singing upstairs, John was standing by the
fireplace, and Mrs. Loveday was crossing the room to join her daughter,
whose manner had given her some uneasiness, when a noise came from above
the ceiling, as of some heavy body falling. Mrs. Loveday rushed to the
staircase, saying, 'Ah, I feared something!' and she was followed by
John.

When they entered Anne's room, which they both did almost at one moment,
they found her lying insensible upon the floor. The trumpet-major, his
lips tightly closed, lifted her in his arms, and laid her upon the bed;
after which he went back to the door to give room to her mother, who was
bending over the girl with some hartshorn.

Presently Mrs. Loveday looked up and said to him, 'She is only in a
faint, John, and her colour is coming back. Now leave her to me; I will
be downstairs in a few minutes, and tell you how she is.'

John left the room. When he gained the lower apartment his father was
standing by the chimney-piece, the sailor having gone. The trumpet-major
went up to the fire, and, grasping the edge of the high chimney-shelf,
stood silent.

'Did I hear a noise when I went out?' asked the elder, in a tone of
misgiving.

'Yes, you did,' said John. 'It was she, but her mother says she is
better now. Father,' he added impetuously, 'Bob is a worthless
blockhead! If there had been any good in him he would have been drowned
years ago!'

'John, John--not too fast,' said the miller. 'That's a hard thing to say
of your brother, and you ought to be ashamed of it.'

'Well, he tries me more than I can bear. Good God! what can a man be
made of to go on as he does? Why didn't he come home; or if he couldn't
get leave why didn't he write? 'Tis scandalous of him to serve a woman
like that!'

'Gently, gently. The chap hev done his duty as a sailor; and though
there might have been something between him and Anne, her mother, in
talking it over with me, has said many times that she couldn't think of
their marrying till Bob had settled down in business with me. Folks that
gain victories must have a little liberty allowed 'em. Look at the