s that happen, in Heaven's name?'

John described in detail, and they walked on, lost in conjecture.

As soon as they entered the house the returned officer of the navy was
welcomed with acclamation by his father and David, with mild approval by
Mrs. Loveday, and by Anne not at all--that discreet maiden having
carefully retired to her own room some time earlier in the evening. Bob
did not dare to ask for her in any positive manner; he just inquired
about her health, and that was all.

'Why, what's the matter with thy face, my son?' said the miller, staring.
'David, show a light here.' And a candle was thrust against Bob's cheek,
where there appeared a jagged streak like the geological remains of a
lobster.

'O--that's where that rascally Frenchman's grenade busted and hit me from
the Redoubtable, you know, as I told 'ee in my letter.'

'Not a word!'

'What, didn't I tell 'ee? Ah, no; I meant to, but I forgot it.'

'And here's a sort of dint in yer forehead too; what do that mean, my
dear boy?' said the miller, putting his finger in a chasm in Bob's skull.

'That was done in the Indies. Yes, that was rather a troublesome chop--a
cutlass did it. I should have told 'ee, but I found 'twould make my
letter so long that I put it off, and put it off; and at last thought it
wasn't worth while.'

John soon rose to take his departure.

'It's all up with me and her, you see,' said Bob to him outside the door.
'She's not even going to see me.'

'Wait a little,' said the trumpet-major. It was easy enough on the night
of the arrival, in the midst of excitement, when blood was warm, for Anne
to be resolute in her avoidance of Bob Loveday. But in the morning
determination is apt to grow invertebrate; rules of pugnacity are less
easily acted up to, and a feeling of live and let live takes possession
of the gentle soul. Anne had not meant even to sit down to the same
breakfast-table with Bob; but when the rest were assembled, and had got
some way through the substantial repast which was served at this hour in
the miller's house, Anne entered. She came silently as a phantom, her
eyes cast down, her cheeks pale. It was a good long walk from the door
to the table, and Bob made a full inspection of her as she came up to a
chair at the remotest corner, in the direct rays of the morning light,
where she dumbly sat herself down.

It was altogether different from how she had expected. Here was she, who
had done nothing,