can't do it!'

'What?'

'Tie your cap-ribbon.'

'Why not?'

'Because you are so--Because I am clumsy, and never could tie a bow.'

'You are clumsy indeed,' answered Anne, and went away.

After this she felt injured, for it seemed to show that he rated her
happiness as of meaner value than Bob's; since he had persisted in his
idea of giving Bob another chance when she had implied that it was her
wish to do otherwise. Could Miss Johnson have anything to do with his
firmness? An opportunity of testing him in this direction occurred some
days later. She had been up the village, and met John at the mill-door.

'Have you heard the news? Matilda Johnson is going to be married to
young Derriman.'

Anne stood with her back to the sun, and as he faced her, his features
were searchingly exhibited. There was no change whatever in them, unless
it were that a certain light of interest kindled by her question turned
to complete and blank indifference. 'Well, as times go, it is not a bad
match for her,' he said, with a phlegm which was hardly that of a lover.

John on his part was beginning to find these temptations almost more than
he could bear. But being quartered so near to his father's house it was
unnatural not to visit him, especially when at any moment the regiment
might be ordered abroad, and a separation of years ensue; and as long as
he went there he could not help seeing her.

The year changed from green to gold, and from gold to grey, but little
change came over the house of Loveday. During the last twelve months Bob
had been occasionally heard of as upholding his country's honour in
Denmark, the West Indies, Gibraltar, Malta, and other places about the
globe, till the family received a short letter stating that he had
arrived again at Portsmouth. At Portsmouth Bob seemed disposed to
remain, for though some time elapsed without further intelligence, the
gallant seaman never appeared at Overcombe. Then on a sudden John learnt
that Bob's long-talked-of promotion for signal services rendered was to
be an accomplished fact. The trumpet-major at once walked off to
Overcombe, and reached the village in the early afternoon. Not one of
the family was in the house at the moment, and John strolled onwards over
the hill towards Casterbridge, without much thought of direction till,
lifting his eyes, he beheld Anne Garland wandering about with a little
basket upon her arm.

At first John blushed with delight a