第2章

’Then——Ah，it’sgonefrommeagain！’saidSimon。’O，andthentheywillraisetheirtents，youknow，andpickettheirhorses。Thatwasit；soitwas。’

Bythistimethecolumnofhorsehadascendedintofullview，andtheyformedalivelyspectacleastheyrodealongthehighgroundinmarchingorder，backedbythepalebluesky，andlitbythesoutherlysun。Theiruniformwasbrightandattractive；whitebuckskinpantaloons，three-quarterboots，scarletshakossetoffwithlace，mustachioswaxedtoaneedlepoint；andaboveall，thoserichlyornamentedbluejacketsmantledwiththehistoricpelisse——

thatfascinationtowomen，andencumbrancetothewearersthemselves。

’’TistheYorkHussars！’saidSimonBurden，brighteninglikeadyingemberfanned。’Foreignerstoaman，andenrolledlongsincemytime。Butasgoodheartycomrades，theysay，asyou’llfindintheKing’sservice。’

’Herearemoreanddifferentones，’saidMrs。Garland。

Othertroopshad，duringthelastfewminutes，beenascendingthedownataremoterpoint，andnowdrewnear。Thesewereofdifferentweightandbuildfromtheothers；lightermen，inhelmethats，withwhiteplumes。

’Idon’tknowwhichIlikebest，’saidAnne。’These，Ithink，afterall。’

Simon，whohadbeenlookinghardatthelatter，nowsaidthattheywerethe——thDragoons。

’AllEnglishmenthey，’saidtheoldman。’TheylayatBudmouthbarracksafewyearsago。’

’Theydid。Irememberit，’saidMrs。Garland。

’Andlotsofthechapsabouthere’listedatthetime，’saidSimon。

’Icancalltomindthattherewas——ah，’tisgonefrommeagain！

However，allthat’soflittleaccountnow。’

Thedragoonspassedinfrontofthelookers-onastheothershaddone，andtheirgayplumes，whichhadhunglazilyduringtheascent，swungtonorthwardastheyreachedthetop，showingthatonthesummitafreshbreezeblew。’Butlookacrossthere，’saidAnne。

Therehadentereduponthedownfromanotherdirectionseveralbattalionsoffoot，inwhitekerseymerebreechesandclothgaiters。

Theyseemedtobewearyfromalongmarch，theoriginalblackoftheirgaitersandbootsbeingwhity-brownwithdust。Presentlycameregimentalwaggons，andtheprivatecanteencartswhichfollowedattheendofaconvoy。

Thespaceinfrontofthemill-pondwasnowoccupiedbynearlyalltheinhabitantsofthevillage，whohadturnedoutinalarm，andremainedforpleasure，theireyeslightedupwithinterestinwhattheysaw；fortrappingsandregimentals，warhorsesandmen，intownsanattraction，wereherealmostasublimity。

Thetroopsfiledtotheirlines，dismounted，andinquicktimetookofftheiraccoutrements，rolleduptheirsheep-skins，picketedandunbittedtheirhorses，andmadereadytoerectthetentsassoonastheycouldbetakenfromthewaggonsandbroughtforward。Whenthiswasdone，atagivensignalthecanvasesflewupfromthesod；andthencefortheverymanhadaplaceinwhichtolayhishead。

Thoughnobodyseemedtobelookingonbutthefewatthewindowandinthevillagestreet，therewere，asamatteroffact，manyeyesconverginguponthatmilitaryarrivalinitshighandconspicuousposition，nottomentiontheglancesofbirdsandotherwildcreatures。Menindistantgardens，womeninorchardsandatcottage-doors，shepherdsonremotehills，turnip-hoersinblue-greenenclosuresmilesaway，captainswithspy-glassesoutatsea，wereregardingthepicturekeenly。Thosethreeorfourthousandmenofonemachine-likemovement，someofthemswashbucklersbynature；

others，doubtless，ofaquietshop-keepingdispositionwhohadinadvertentlygotintouniform——allofthemhadarrivedfromnobodyknewwhere，andhencewerematterofgreatcuriosity。Theyseemedtothemereeyetobelongtoadifferentorderofbeingsfromthosewhoinhabitedthevalleysbelow。Apparentlyunconsciousandcarelessofwhatalltheworldwasdoingelsewhere，theyremainedpicturesquelyengrossedinthebusinessofmakingthemselvesahabitationontheisolatedspotwhichtheyhadchosen。

Mrs。Garlandwasofafestiveandsanguineturnofmind，awomansoonsetupandsoonsetdown，andthecomingoftheregimentsquiteexcitedher。Shethoughttherewasreasonforputtingonherbestcap，thoughtthatperhapstherewasnot；thatshewouldhurryonthedinnerandgooutintheafternoon；thenthatshewould，afterall，donothingunusual，norshowanysillyexcitementswhatever，sincetheywereunbecominginamotherandawidow。Thuscircumscribingherintentionstillshewastoneddowntoanordinarypersonofforty，Mrs。Garlandaccompaniedherdaughterdownstairstodine，saying，’PresentlywewillcallonMillerLoveday，andhearwhathethinksofitall。’

MillerLovedaywastherepresentativeofanancientfamilyofcorn-grinderswhosehistoryislostinthemistsofantiquity。HisancestrallinewascontemporaneouswiththatofDeRos，Howard，andDeLaZouche；but，owingtosometriflingdeficiencyinthepossessionsofthehouseofLoveday，theindividualnamesandintermarriagesofitsmemberswerenotrecordedduringtheMiddleAges，andthustheirprivatelivesinanygivencenturywereuncertain。Butitwasknownthatthefamilyhadformedmatrimonialallianceswithfarmersnotsoverysmall，andoncewithagentleman-

tanner，whohadformanyyearspurchasedaftertheirdeaththehorsesofthemostaristocraticpersonsinthecounty——fierysteedsthatearlierintheircareerhadbeenvaluedatmanyhundredguineas。

ItwasalsoascertainedthatMr。Loveday’sgreat-grandparentshadbeeneightinnumber，andhisgreat-great-grandparentssixteen，everyoneofwhomreachedtoyearsofdiscretion:ateverystagebackwardshissiresandgammersthusdoubledanddoubledtilltheybecameavastbodyofGothicladiesandgentlemenoftherankknownasceorlsorvilleins，fullofimportancetothecountryatlarge，andramifyingthroughouttheunwrittenhistoryofEngland。Hisimmediatefatherhadgreatlyimprovedthevalueoftheirresidencebybuildinganewchimney，andsettingupanadditionalpairofmillstones。

OvercombeMillpresentedatoneendtheappearanceofahard-workedhouseslippingintotheriver，andattheotherofanidle，genteelplace，half-cloakedwithcreepersatthistimeoftheyear，andhavingnovisibleconnexionwithflour。Ithadhipsinsteadofgables，givingitaround-shoulderedlook，fourchimneyswithnosmokecomingoutofthem，twozigzagcracksinthewall，severalopenwindows，withalooking-glasshereandthereinside，showingitswarpedbacktothepasser-by；snowydimitycurtainswavinginthedraught；twomilldoors，oneabovetheother，theupperenablingapersontostepoutuponnothingataheightoftenfeetfromtheground；agapingarchvomitingtheriver，andalean，long-nosedfellowlookingoutfromthemilldoorway，whowasthehiredgrinder，exceptwhenabulgingfifteenstonemanoccupiedthesameplace，namely，themillerhimself。

Behindthemilldoor，andinvisibletothemerewayfarerwhodidnotvisitthefamily，werechalkedadditionandsubtractionsums，manyofthemoriginallydonewrong，andthefigureshalfrubbedoutandcorrected，noughtsbeingturnedintonines，andonesintotwos。

Thesewerethemiller’sprivatecalculations。Therewerealsochalkedinthesameplacerowsandrowsofstrokeslikeopenpalings，representingthecalculationsofthegrinder，whoinhisyouthfulcipheringstudieshadnotgonesofarasArabicfigures。

Inthecourtinfrontweretwoworn-outmillstones，madeusefulagainbybeingletinlevelwiththeground。Herepeoplestoodtosmokeandconsiderthingsinmuddyweather；andcatssleptonthecleansurfaceswhenitwashot。Inthelargestubbard-treeatthecornerofthegardenwaserectedapoleoflarchfir，whichthemillerhadboughtwithothersatasaleofsmalltimberinDamer’sWoodoneChristmasweek。Itrosefromtheupperboughsofthetreetoabouttheheightofafisherman’smast，andonthetopwasavaneintheformofasailorwithhisarmstretchedout。Whenthesunshoneuponthisfigureitcouldbeseenthatthegreaterpartofhiscountenancewasgone，andthepaintwashedfromhisbodysofarastorevealthathehadbeenasoldierinredbeforehebecameasailorinblue。Theimagehad，infact，beenJohn，oneofourcomingcharacters，andwasthenturnedintoRobert，anotherofthem。

Thisrevolvingpieceofstatuarycouldnot，however，bereliedonasavane，owingtotheneighbouringhill，whichformedvariablecurrentsinthewind。

Theleafyandquieterwingofthemill-housewasthepartoccupiedbyMrs。Garlandandherdaughter，whomadeupinsummer-timeforthenarrownessoftheirquartersbyoverflowingintothegardenonstoolsandchairs。Theparlourordining-roomhadastonefloor——afactwhichthewidowsoughttodisguisebydoublecarpeting，lestthestandingofAnneandherselfshouldbeloweredinthepubliceye。Herenowthemid-daymealwentlightlyandmincinglyon，asitdoeswherethereisnogreedycarnivorousmantokeepthedishesabout，andwashangingontheclosewhensomebodyenteredthepassageasfarasthechinkoftheparlourdoor，andtapped。ThisproceedingwasprobablyadoptedtokindlyavoidgivingtroubletoSusan，theneighbour’spinkdaughter，whohelpedatMrs。Garland’sinthemornings，butwasatthatmomentparticularlyoccupiedinstandingonthewater-buttandgazingatthesoldiers，withaninhalingpositionofthemouthandcirculareyes。

Therewasaflutterinthelittledining-room——thesensitivenessofhabitualsolitudemakesheartsbeatforpreternaturallysmallreasons——andaguessingastowhothevisitormightbe。Itwassomemilitarygentlemanfromthecampperhaps？No；thatwasimpossible。

Itwastheparson？No；hewouldnotcomeatdinner-time。Itwasthewell-informedmanwhotravelledwithdraperyandthebestBirminghamearrings？Notatall；histimewasnottillThursdayatthree。Beforetheycouldthinkfurtherthevisitormovedforwardanotherstep，andthedinersgotaglimpseofhimthroughthesamefriendlychinkthathadaffordedhimaviewoftheGarlanddinner-table。

’O！ItisonlyLoveday。’

Thisapproximationtonobodywasthemillerabovementioned，ahalemanoffifty-fiveorsixty——haleallthrough，asmanywereinthosedays，andnotmerelyveneeredwithpurplebyexhilaratingvictualsanddrinks，thoughthelatterwerenotatalldespisedbyhim。Hisfacewasindeedratherpalethanotherwise，forhehadjustcomefromthemill。Itwascapableofimmensechangesofexpression:

mobilitywasitsessence，arolloffleshformingabuttresstohisnoseoneachside，andadeepravinelyingbetweenhislowerlipandthetumulusrepresentedbyhischin。Thesefleshylumpsmovedstealthily，asifoftheirownaccord，wheneverhisfancywastickled。

Hiseyeshavinglightedonthetable-cloth，plates，andviands，hefoundhimselfinapositionwhichhadasensibleawkwardnessforamodestmanwhoalwayslikedtoenteronlyatseasonabletimesthepresenceofagirlofsuchpleasantlysoftwaysasAnneGarland，shewhocouldmakeapplesseemlikepeaches，andthrowoverhershillingstheglamourofguineaswhenshepaidhimforflour。

’Dinnerisover，neighbourLoveday；pleasecomein，’saidthewidow，seeinghiscase。Themillersaidsomethingaboutcominginpresently；butAnnepressedhimtostay，withatendermotionofherlipasitplayedonthevergeofasolicitoussmilewithoutquitelapsingintoone——herhabitualmannerwhenspeaking。

Lovedaytookoffhislow-crownedhatandadvanced。Hehadnotcomeaboutpigsorfowlsthistime。’Youhavebeenlookingout，liketheresto’us，nodoubt，Mrs。Garland，atthemampusofsoldiersthathavecomeuponthedown？Well，oneofthehorseregimentsisthe——

thDragoons，mysonJohn’sregiment，youknow。’

Theannouncement，thoughitinterestedthem，didnotcreatesuchaneffectasthefatherofJohnhadseemedtoanticipate；butAnne，wholikedtosaypleasantthings，replied，’Thedragoonslookednicerthanthefoot，ortheGermancavalryeither。’

’Theyareahandsomebodyofmen，’saidthemillerinadisinterestedvoice。’Faith！Ididn’tknowtheywerecoming，thoughitmaybeinthenewspaperallthetime。ButoldDerrimankeepsitsolongthatweneverknowthingstilltheybeineverybody’smouth。’

ThisDerrimanwasasquireenlivingnear，whowaschieflydistinguishedinthepresentwarliketimebyhavinganephewintheyeomanry。

’Weweretoldthattheyeomanrywentalongtheturnpikeroadyesterday，’saidAnne；’andtheysaythattheywereaprettysight，andquitesoldierly。’

’Ah！well——theybenotregulars，’saidMillerLoveday，keepingbackharshercriticismasuncalledfor。Butinflamedbythearrivalofthedragoons，whichhadbeentheexcitingcauseofhiscall，hismindwouldnotgotoyeomanry。’Johnhasnotbeenhomethesefiveyears，’hesaid。

’Andwhatrankdoesheholdnow？’saidthewidow。

’He’strumpet-major，ma’am；andagoodmusician。’Themiller，whowasagoodfather，wentontoexplainthatJohnhadseensomeservice，too。Hehadenlistedwhentheregimentwaslyinginthisneighbourhood，morethanelevenyearsbefore，whichputhisfatheroutoftemperwithhim，ashehadwishedhimtofollowonatthemill。Butastheladhadenlistedseriously，andashehadoftensaidthathewouldbeasoldier，themillerhadthoughtthathewouldletJacktakehischanceintheprofessionofhischoice。

Lovedayhadtwosons，andthesecondwasnowbroughtintotheconversationbyaremarkofAnne’sthatneitherofthemseemedtocareforthemiller’sbusiness。

’No，’saidLovedayinalessbuoyanttone。’Robert，yousee，mustneedsgotosea。’