第10章

Annelookedthoughtfulandreticent，forherreasonwasalmosttoosillyaonetoconfess。’Well，Iwantedtoavoidapersonwhoisverybusytryingtomeetme——that’sall，’shesaid。

Hermotherglancedoutofthewindow。’Andthereheis，Isuppose，’

shesaid，asJohnLoveday，tiredoflookingforAnneatthestile，passedthehouseonhiswaytohisfather’sdoor。Hecouldnothelpcastinghiseyestowardstheirwindow，and，seeingthem，hesmiled。

Anne’sreluctancetomentionFestuswassuchthatshedidnotcorrecthermother’serror，andthedamewenton:’Well，youarequiteright，mydear。Befriendlywithhim，butnomoreatpresent。

Ihaveheardofyourotheraffair，andthinkitisaverywisechoice。Iamsureyouhavemybestwishesinit，andIonlyhopeitwillcometoapoint。’

’What’sthat？’saidtheastonishedAnne。

’YouandMr。FestusDerriman，dear。Youneednotmindme；Ihaveknownitforseveraldays。OldGrannySeamorecalledhereSaturday，andtoldmeshesawhimcominghomewithyouacrossParkCloselastweek，whenyouwentforthenewspaper；soIthoughtI’dsendyouagainto-day，andgiveyouanotherchance。’

’Thenyoudidn’twantthepaper——anditwasonlyforthat！’

’He’saveryfineyoungfellow；helooksathoroughwoman’sprotector。’

’Hemaylookit，’saidAnne。

’HehasgivenupthefreeholdfarmhisfatherheldatPitstock，andlivesinindependenceonwhatthelandbringshim。AndwhenFarmerDerrimandies，he’llhavealltheoldman’s，forcertain。He’llbeworthtenthousandpounds，ifapenny，inmoney，besidessixteenhorses，cartandhack，afifty-cowdairy，andatleastfivehundredsheep。’

Anneturnedaway，andinsteadofinforminghermotherthatshehadbeenrunninglikeadoetoescapetheinterestingheir-presumptivealludedto，merelysaid’Mother，Idon’tlikethisatall。’

Afterthis，AnnewouldonnoaccountwalkinthedirectionofthehallforfearofanotherencounterwithyoungDerriman。Inthecourseofafewdaysitwastoldinthevillagethattheoldfarmerhadactuallygoneforaweek’sholidayandchangeofairtotheRoyalwatering-placenearathand，attheinstanceofhisnephewFestus。ThiswasawonderfulthingtohearofUncleBenjy，whohadnotsleptoutsidethewallsofOxwellHallformanyalongyearbefore；andAnnewellimaginedwhatextraordinarypressuremusthavebeenputuponhimtoinducehimtotakesuchastep。Shepicturedhisunhappinessatthebustlingwatering-place，andhopednoharmwouldcometohim。

Shespentmuchofhertimeindoorsorinthegarden，hearinglittleofthecampmovementsbeyondtheperiodicalTa-ta-ta-taaofthetrumpeterssoundingtheirvariousingeniouscallsforwatch-setting，stables，feed，boot-and-saddle，parade，andsoon，whichmadeherthinkhowcleverherfriendthetrumpet-majormustbetoteachhispupilstoplaythoseprettylittletunessowell。

OnthethirdmorningafterUncleBenjy’sdeparture，shewasdisturbedasusualwhiledressingbythetrampofthetroopsdowntheslopetothemill-pond，andduringthenowfamiliarstampingandsplashingwhichfollowedtheresoundedupontheglassofthewindowaslightsmack，whichmighthavebeencausedbyawhiporswitch。

Shelistenedmoreparticularly，anditwasrepeated。

AsJohnLovedaywastheonlydragoonlikelytobeawarethatshesleptinthatparticularapartment，sheimaginedthesignaltocomefromhim，thoughwonderingthatheshouldventureuponsuchafreakoffamiliarity。

Wrappingherselfupinaredcloak，shewenttothewindow，gentlydrewupacornerofthecurtain，andpeepedout，asshehaddonemanytimesbefore。Nobodywhowasnotquiteclosebeneathherwindowcouldseeherface；butasithappened，somebodywasclose。

ThesoldierswhoseflounderingAnnehadheardwerenotLoveday’sdragoons，butatroopoftheYorkHussars，quiteobliviousofherexistence。Theyhadpassedonoutofthewater，andinsteadofthemtheresatFestusDerrimanaloneonhishorse，andinplainclothes，thewaterreachinguptotheanimal’sbelly，andFestus’heelselevatedoverthesaddletokeepthemoutofthestream，whichthreatenedtowashriderandhorseintothedeepmill-headjustbelow。Itwasplainlyhewhohadstruckherlattice，forinamomenthelookedup，andtheireyesmet。Festuslaughedloudly，andslappedherwindowagain；andjustatthatmomentthedragoonsbeganprancingdowntheslopeinrevieworder。Shecouldnotbutwaitaminuteortwotoseethempass。Whiledoingsoshewassuddenlyledtodrawback，dropthecornerofthecurtain，andblushprivatelyinherroom。ShehadnotonlybeenseenbyFestusDerriman，butbyJohnLoveday，who，ridingalongwithhistrumpetslungupbehindhim，hadlookedoverhisshoulderatthephenomenonofDerrimanbeneathAnne’sbedroomwindowandseemedquiteastoundedatthesight。

Shewasquitevexedattheconjunctionofincidents，andwentnomoretothewindowtillthedragoonshadriddenfarawayandshehadheardFestus’shorselaboriouslywadeontodryland。WhenshelookedouttherewasnobodyleftbutMillerLoveday，whousuallystoodinthegardenatthistimeofthemorningtosayawordortwotothesoldiers，ofwhomhealreadyknewsomany，andwasinafairwayofknowingmanymore，fromtheliberalitywithwhichhehandedroundmugsofcheeringliquorwheneverpartiesofthemwalkedthatway。

IntheafternoonofthisdayAnnewalkedtoachristeningpartyataneighbour’sintheadjoiningparishofSpringham，intendingtowalkhomeagainbeforeitgotdark；buttherewasaslightfallofraintowardsevening，andshewaspressedbythepeopleofthehousetostayoverthenight。Withsomehesitationsheacceptedtheirhospitality；butatteno’clock，whentheywerethinkingofgoingtobed，theywerestartledbyasmartrapatthedoor，andonitbeingunboltedaman’sformwasseenintheshadowsoutside。

’IsMissGarlandhere？’thevisitorinquired，atwhichAnnesuspendedherbreath。

’Yes，’saidAnne’sentertainer，warily。

’Hermotherisveryanxioustoknowwhat’sbecomeofher。Shepromisedtocomehome。’TohergreatreliefAnnerecognizedthevoiceasJohnLoveday’s，andnotFestusDerriman’s。

’Yes，Idid，Mr。Loveday，’saidshe，comingforward；’butitrained，andIthoughtmymotherwouldguesswhereIwas。’

Lovedaysaidwithdiffidencethatithadnotrainedanythingtospeakofatthecamp，oratthemill，sothathermotherwasratheralarmed。

’Andsheaskedyoutocomeforme？’Anneinquired。

Thiswasaquestionwhichthetrumpet-majorhadbeendreadingduringthewholeofhiswalkthither。’Well，shedidn’texactlyaskme，’

hesaidratherlamely，butstillinamannertoshowthatMrs。

Garlandhadindirectlysignifiedsuchtobeherwish。InrealityMrs。Garlandhadnotaddressedhimatallonthesubject。Shehadmerelyspokentohisfatheronfindingthatherdaughterdidnotreturn，andreceivedanassurancefromthemillerthatthepreciousgirlwasdoubtlessquitesafe。Johnheardofthisinquiry，and，havingapassthatevening，resolvedtorelieveMrs。Garland’smindonhisownresponsibility。EversincehismorningviewofFestusunderherwindowhehadbeenonthornsofanxiety，andhisthrillinghopenowwasthatshewouldwalkbackwithhim。

Heshiftedhisfootnervouslyashemadetheboldrequest。Annefeltatoncethatshewouldgo。Therewasnobodyintheworldwhosecareshewouldmorereadilybeunderthanthetrumpet-major’sinacaselikethepresent。Hewastheirnearestneighbour’sson，andshehadlikedhissingle-mindedingenuousnessfromthefirstmomentofhisreturnhome。

Whentheyhadstartedontheirwalk，Annesaidinapracticalway，toshowthattherewasnosentimentwhateverinheracceptanceofhiscompany，’Motherwasmuchalarmedaboutme，perhaps？’

’Yes；shewasuneasy，’hesaid；andthenwascompelledbyconsciencetomakeacleanbreastofit。’Iknowshewasuneasy，becausemyfathersaidso。ButIdidnotseehermyself。Thetruthis，shedoesn’tknowIamcome。’

Annenowsawhowthematterstood；butshewasnotoffendedwithhim。Whatwomancouldhavebeen？Theywalkedoninsilence，therespectfultrumpet-majorkeepingayardoffonherrightaspreciselyasifthatmeasurehadbeenfixedbetweenthem。Shehadagreatfeelingofcivilitytowardhimthisevening，andspokeagain。

’Ioftenhearyourtrumpetersblowingthecalls。Theydoitbeautifully，Ithink。’

’Prettyfair；theymightdobetter，’saidhe，asonetoowell-manneredtomakemuchofanaccomplishmentinwhichhehadahand。

’Andyoutaughtthemhowtodoit？’

’Yes，Itaughtthem。’

’Itmustrequirewonderfulpracticetogetthemintothewayofbeginningandfinishingsoexactlyatonetime。Itislikeonethroatdoingitall。Howcameyoutobeatrumpeter，Mr。Loveday？’

’Well，ItooktoitnaturallywhenIwasalittleboy，’saidhe，betrayedintoquiteagushingstatebyherdelightfulinterest。’I

usedtomaketrumpetsofpaper，eldersticks，eltrotstems，andevenstinging-nettlestalks，youknow。Thenfathersetmetokeepthebirdsoffthatlittlebarley-groundofhis，andgavemeanoldhorntofrighten’emwith。Ilearnttoblowthathornsothatyoucouldhearmeformilesandmiles。Thenheboughtmeaclarionet，andwhenIcouldplaythatIborrowedaserpent，andIlearnedtoplayatolerablebass。SowhenI’listedIwaspickedoutfortrainingastrumpeteratonce。’

’Ofcourseyouwere。’

’Sometimes，however，IwishIhadneverjoinedthearmy。Myfathergavemeaveryfaireducation，andyourfathershowedmehowtodrawhorses——onaslate，Imean。Yes，IoughttohavedonemorethanI

have。’

’What，didyouknowmyfather？’sheaskedwithnewinterest。

’Oyes，foryears。Youwerealittlemiteofathingthen；andyouusedtocrywhenwebigboyslookedatyou，andmadepig’seyesatyou，whichwedidsometimes。ManyandmanyatimehaveIstoodbyyourpoorfatherwhileheworked。Ah，youdon’tremembermuchabouthim；butIdo！’

Anneremainedthoughtful；andthemoonbrokefrombehindtheclouds，lightingupthewetfoliagewithatwinklingbrightness，andlendingtoeachofthetrumpet-major’sbuttonsandspursalittlerayofitsown。TheyhadcometoOxwellparkgate，andhesaid，’Doyoulikegoingacross，orroundbythelane？’

’Wemayaswellgobythenearestroad，’saidAnne。

Theyenteredthepark，followingthehalf-obliterateddrivetilltheycamealmostoppositethehall，whentheyenteredafootpathleadingontothevillage。Whilehereabouttheyheardashout，orchorusofexclamation，apparentlyfromwithinthewallsofthedarkbuildingsnearthem。

’Whatwasthat？’saidAnne。

’Idon’tknow，’saidhercompanion。’I’llgoandsee。’

Hewentroundtheinterveningswampofwatercressandbrooklimewhichhadoncebeenthefish-pond，crossedbyaculvertthetricklingbrookthatstillflowedthatway，andadvancedtothewallofthehouse。Boisterousnoiseswereresoundingfromwithin，andhewastemptedtogoroundthecorner，wherethelowwindowswere，andlookthroughachinkintotheroomwhencethesoundsproceeded。

Itwastheroominwhichtheownerdined——traditionallycalledthegreatparlour——andwithinitsataboutadozenyoungmenoftheyeomanrycavalry，oneofthembeingFestus。Theyweredrinking，laughing，singing，thumpingtheirfistsonthetables，andenjoyingthemselvesintheveryperfectionofconfusion。Thecandles，blownbythebreezefromthepartlyopenedwindow，hadgutteredintocoffinhandlesandshrouds，and，chokedbytheirlongblackwicksforwantofsnuffing，gaveoutasmokyyellowlight。Oneoftheyoungmenmightpossiblyhavebeeninamaudlinstate，forhehadhisarmroundtheneckofhisnextneighbour。Anotherwasmakinganincoherentspeechtowhichnobodywaslistening。Someoftheirfaceswerered，someweresallow；someweresleepy，somewideawake。

TheonlyoneamongthemwhoappearedinhisusualframeofmindwasFestus，whosehuge，burlyformroseattheheadofthetable，enjoyingwithasereneandtriumphantaspectthedifferencebetweenhisownconditionandthatofhisneighbours。Whilethetrumpet-majorlooked，ayoungwoman，nieceofAnthonyCripplestraw，andoneofUncleBenjy’sservants，wascalledinbyoneofthecrew，andmuchagainstherwillafiddlewasplacedinherhands，fromwhichtheymadeherproducediscordantscreeches。

TheabsenceofUncleBenjyhad，infact，beencontrivedbyyoungDerrimanthathemightmakeuseofthehallonhisownaccount。

Cripplestrawhadbeenleftincharge，andFestushadfoundnodifficultyinforcingfromthatdependentthekeysofwhateverherequired。JohnLovedayturnedhiseyesfromthescenetotheneighbouringmoonlitpath，whereAnnestillstoodwaiting。Thenhelookedintotheroom，thenatAnneagain。ItwasanopportunityofadvancinghisowncausewithherbyexposingFestus，forwhomhebegantoentertainhostilefeelingsofnomeanforce。

’No；Ican’tdoit，’hesaid。’’Tisunderhand。Letthingstaketheirchance。’

Hemovedaway，andthenperceivedthatAnne，tiredofwaiting，hadcrossedthestream，andalmostcomeupwithhim。

’Whatisthenoiseabout？’shesaid。

’There’scompanyinthehouse，’saidLoveday。