heart comes back
to its old anchorage. I hope my return to faithfulness will make no
difference to you. But as you showed by your looks at our parting
that you should not accept my offer to give her up--made in too much
haste, as I have since found--I feel that you won't mind that I have
returned to the path of honour. I dare not write to Anne as yet, and
please do not let her know a word about the other young woman, or
there will be the devil to pay. I shall come home and make all things
right, please God. In the meantime I should take it as a kindness,
John, if you would keep a brotherly eye upon Anne, and guide her mind
back to me. I shall die of sorrow if anybody sets her against me, for
my hopes are getting bound up in her again quite strong. Hoping you
are jovial, as times go, I am,--Your affectionate brother,

ROBERT.'

When the cold daylight fell upon John's face, as he dressed himself next
morning, the incipient yesterday's wrinkle in his forehead had become
permanently graven there. He had resolved, for the sake of that only
brother whom he had nursed as a baby, instructed as a child, and
protected and loved always, to pause in his procedure for the present,
and at least do nothing to hinder Bob's restoration to favour, if a
genuine, even though temporarily smothered, love for Anne should still
hold possession of him. But having arranged to take her to see the
excavated figure of the king, he started for Overcombe during the day, as
if nothing had occurred to check the smooth course of his love.

XXXVIII. A DELICATE SITUATION

'I am ready to go,' said Anne, as soon as he arrived.

He paused as if taken aback by her readiness, and replied with much
uncertainty, 'Would it--wouldn't it be better to put it off till there is
less sun?'

The very slightest symptom of surprise arose in her as she rejoined, 'But
the weather may change; or had we better not go at all?'

'O no!--it was only a thought. We will start at once.'

And along the vale they went, John keeping himself about a yard from her
right hand. When the third field had been crossed they came upon half-a-
dozen little boys at play.

'Why don't he clasp her to his side, like a man?' said the biggest and
rudest boy.

'Why don't he clasp her to his side, like a man?' echoed all the rude
smaller boys in a chorus.

The trumpet-major turned, and, after some running, succeeded in smacking
t