Johncontinuedhissadandheavypacetillwalkingseemedtoooldandworn-outawayofshowingsorrowsonew，andheleanthimselfagainsttheforkofanapple-treelikealog。Therethetrumpet-majorremainedforaconsiderabletime，hisfaceturnedtowardsthehouse，whoseancient，many-chimneyedoutlineroseagainstthedarkenedsky，andjustshutoutfromhisviewthecampabove。Butfaintnoisescomingthencefromhorsesrestlessatthepickets，andfromvisitorstakingtheirleave，recalleditsexistence，andremindedhimthat，inconsequenceofMatilda’sarrival，hehadobtainedleaveforthenight——afactwhich，owingtothestartlingemotionsthatfollowedhisentry，hehadnotyetmentionedtohisfriends。
Whileabstractedlyconsideringhowhecouldbestusethatprivilegeunderthenewcircumstanceswhichhadarisen，heheardFarmerDerrimandriveuptothefrontdoorandholdaconversationwithhisfather。TheoldmanhadatlastapparentlybroughtthetinboxofprivatepapersthathewishedthemillertotakechargeofduringDerriman’sabsence；anditbeingacalmnight，Johncouldhear，thoughhelittleheeded，UncleBenjy’sreiteratedsupplicationstoLovedaytokeepitsafefromfireandthieves。ThenUncleBenjyleft，andJohn’sfatherwentupstairstodeposittheboxinaplaceofsecurity，thewholeproceedingreachingJohn’spreoccupiedcomprehensionmerelyasvoicesduringsleep。
ThenextthingwastheappearanceofalightinthebedroomwhichhadbeenassignedtoMatildaJohnson。Thiseffectuallyarousedthetrumpet-major，andwithastealthinessunusualinhimhewentindoors。Nolightwasinthelowerrooms，hisfather，Mrs。Garland，andAnnehavinggoneoutonthebridgetolookatthenewmoon。
Johnwentupstairsontip-toe，andalongtheunevenpassagetillhecametoherdoor。Itwasstandingajar，abandofcandlelightshiningacrossthepassageanduptheoppositewall。Assoonasheenteredtheradiancehesawher。Shewasstandingbeforethelooking-glass，apparentlylostinthought，herfingersbeingclaspedbehindherheadinabstraction，andthelightfallingfulluponherface。
’Imustspeaktoyou，’saidthetrumpet-major。
Shestarted，turnedandgrewpalerthanbefore；andthen，asifmovedbyasuddenimpulse，sheswungthedoorwideopen，and，comingout，saidquitecollectedlyandwithapparentpleasantness，’Oyes；
youaremyBob’sbrother！Ididn’t，foramoment，recognizeyou。’
’Butyoudonow？’
’AsBob’sbrother。’
’Youhavenotseenmebefore？’
’Ihavenot，’sheanswered，withafaceasimpassibleasTalleyrand’s。
’GoodGod！’
’Ihavenot！’sherepeated。
’Noranyofthe——thDragoons？CaptainJolly，forinstance？’
’No。’
’Youmistake。I’llremindyouofparticulars，’hesaiddrily。Andhedidremindheratsomelength。
’Never！’shesaiddesperately。
Butshehadmiscalculatedherstayingpowers，andheradversary’scharacter。Fiveminutesafterthatshewasintears，andtheconversationhadresolveditselfintowords，which，onthesoldier’spart，wereofthenatureofcommands，temperedbypity，andwereamereseriesofentreatiesonhers。
Thewholescenedidnotlasttenminutes。Whenitwasover，thetrumpet-majorwalkedfromthedoorwaywheretheyhadbeenstanding，andbrushedmoisturefromhiseyes。Reachingadarklumber-room，hestoodstilltheretocalmhimself，andthendescendedbyaFlemish-
laddertothebakehouse，insteadofbythefrontstairs。Hefoundthattheothers，includingBob，hadgatheredintheparlourduringhisabsenceandlightedthecandles。
MissJohnson，havingsentdownsometimebeforeJohnre-enteredthehousetosaythatshewouldprefertokeepherroomthatevening，wasnotexpectedtojointhem，andonthisaccountBobshowedlessthanhiscustomaryliveliness。Themillerwishingtokeepuphisson’sspirits，expressedhisregretthat，itbeingSundaynight，theycouldhavenosongstomaketheeveningcheerful；whenMrs。
Garlandproposedthattheyshouldsingpsalmswhich，bychoosinglivelytunesandnotthinkingofthewords，wouldbealmostasgoodasballads。
Thistheydid，thetrumpet-majorappearingtojoininwiththerest；
butasamatteroffactnosoundcamefromhismovinglips。HismindwasinsuchastatethathederivednopleasureevenfromAnneGarland’spresence，thoughheheldacornerofthesamebookwithher，andwastreatedinawinsomewaywhichitwasnotherusualpracticetoindulgein。Shesawthathismindwasclouded，and，farfromguessingthereasonwhy，wasdoingherbesttoclearit。
AtlengththeGarlandsfoundthatitwasthehourforthemtoleave，andJohnLovedayatthesametimewishedhisfatherandBobgood-night，andwentasfarasMrs。Garland’sdoorwithher。
Hehadsaidnotawordtoshowthathewasfreetoremainoutofcamp，forthereasonthattherewaspainfulworktobedone，whichitwouldbebesttodoinsecretandalone。Helingerednearthehousetillitsreflectedwindow-lightsceasedtoglimmeruponthemill-pond，andallwithinthedwellingwasdarkandstill。Thenheenteredthegardenandwaitedtheretillthebackdooropened，andawoman’sfiguretimorouslycameforward。JohnLovedayatoncewentuptoher，andtheybegantotalkinlowyetdissentienttones。
Theyhadconversedabouttenminutes，andwerepartingasiftheyhadcometosomepainfularrangement，MissJohnsonsobbingbitterly，whenaheadstealthilyaroseabovethedensehedgerow，andinamomentashoutburstfromitsowner。
’Thieves！thieves！——mytinbox！——thieves！thieves！’
Matildavanishedintothehouse，andJohnLovedayhastenedtothehedge。’Forheaven’ssake，holdyourtongue，Mr。Derriman！’heexclaimed。
’Mytinbox！’saidUncleBenjy。’O，onlythetrumpet-major！’
’Yourboxissafeenough，Iassureyou。Itwasonly’——herethetrumpet-majorgaveventtoanartificiallaugh——’onlyaslybitofcourting，youknow。’
’Ha，ha，Isee！’saidtherelievedoldsquireen。’CourtingMissAnne！Thenyou’veoustedmynephew，trumpet-major！Well，somuchthebetter。Asformyself，thetruthon’tisthatIhaven’tbeenabletogotobedeasy，forthinkingthatpossiblyyourfathermightnottakecareofwhatIputunderhischarge；andatlastIthoughtIwouldjuststepoverandseeifallwassafeherebeforeIturnedin。AndwhenIsawyourtwoshapesmypoornervesmagnifiedyetohousebreakers，andBoneys，andIdon’tknowwhatall。’
’Youhavealarmedthehouse，’saidthetrumpet-major，hearingtheclickingofflintandsteelinhisfather’sbedroom，followedinamomentbytheriseofalightinthewindowofthesameapartment。
’Youhavegotmeintodifficulty，’headdedgloomily，ashisfatheropenedthecasement。
’Iamsorryforthat，’saidUncleBenjy。’Butstepback；I’llputitallrightagain。’
’What，forheaven’ssake，isthematter？’saidthemiller，histassellednightcapappearingintheopening。
’Nothing，nothing！’saidthefarmer。’Iwasuneasyaboutmyfewbondsanddocuments，andIwalkedthisway，miller，beforegoingtobed，asIstartfromhometo-morrowmorning。WhenIcamedownbyyourgarden-hedge，IthoughtIsawthieves，butitturnedouttobe——
tobe——’
Herealumpofearthfromthetrumpet-major’shandstruckUncleBenjyinthebackasareminder。
’Tobe——theboughofacherry-treea-wavinginthewind。
Good-night。’
’Nothievesareliketotrymyhouse，’saidMillerLoveday。’Nowdon’tyoucomealarminguslikethisagain，farmer，oryoushallkeepyourboxyourself，beggingyourpardonforsayingso。
Good-nightt’ye！’
’Miller，willyejustlook，sinceIamhere——justlookandseeiftheboxisallright？there’sagoodman！Iamold，youknow，andmypoorremainsarenotwhatmyoriginalselfwas。Lookandseeifitiswhereyouputit，there’sagood，kindman。’
’Verywell，’saidthemillergood-humouredly。
’NeighbourLoveday！onsecondthoughtsIwilltakemyboxhomeagain，afterall，ifyoudon’tmind。Youwon’tdeemitillofme？
Ihavenosuspicion，ofcourse；butnowIthinkon’tthere’srivalrybetweenmynephewandyourson；andifFestusshouldtakeitintohisheadtosetyourhouseonfireinhisenmity，’twouldbebadformydeedsanddocuments。Nooffence，miller，butI’lltakethebox，ifyoudon’tmind。’
’Faith！Idon’tmind，’saidLoveday。’Butyournephewhadbetterthinktwicebeforeheletshisenmitytakethatcolour。’Recedingfromthewindow，hetookthecandletoabackpartoftheroomandsoonreappearedwiththetinbox。
’Iwon’ttroubleyetodress，’saidDerrimanconsiderately；’letendownbyanythingyouhaveathand。’
Theboxwasloweredbyacord，andtheoldmanclaspeditinhisarms。’Thankye！’hesaidwithheartfeltgratitude。’Good-night！’
Themillerrepliedandclosedthewindow，andthelightwentout。
’There，nowIhopeyouaresatisfied，sir？’saidthetrumpet-major。
’Quite，quite！’saidDerriman；and，leaningonhiswalking-stick，hepursuedhislonelyway。
ThatnightAnnelayawakeinherbed，musingonthetraitsofthenewfriendwhohadcometoherneighbour’shouse。Shewouldnotbecritical，itwasungenerousandwrong；butshecouldnothelpthinkingofwhatinterestedher。Andwerethere，shesilentlyasked，inMissJohnson’smindandpersonsuchrarequalitiesasplacedthatladyaltogetherbeyondcomparisonwithherself？Oyes，theremustbe；forhadnotCaptainBobsingledoutMatildafromamongallotherwomen，herselfincluded？Ofcourse，withhisworld-wideexperience，heknewbest。
Whenthemoonhadset，andonlythesummerstarsthrewtheirlightintothegreatdampgarden，shefanciedthatsheheardvoicesinthatdirection。PerhapstheywerethevoicesofBobandMatildatakingalover’swalkbeforeretiring。Ifso，howsleepytheywouldbenextday，andhowabsurditwasofMatildatopretendshewastired！Ruminatinginthisway，andsayingtoherselfthatshehopedtheywouldbehappy，Annefellasleep。
PartlyfromtheexcitementofhavinghisMatildaunderthepaternalroof，Bobrosenextmorningasearlyashisfatherandthegrinder，and，whenthebigwheelbegantopatterandthelittleonestomumbleinresponse，wenttosunhimselfoutsidethemill-front，amongthefowlsofbrownandspeckledkindswhichhauntedthatspot，andtheducksthatcameupfromthemill-tail。
Standingontheworn-outmill-stoneinlaidinthegravel，hetalkedwithhisfatheronvariousimprovementsofthepremises，andontheproposedarrangementsforhispermanentresidencethere，withanenjoymentthatwashalfbaseduponthisprospectofthefuture，andhalfonthepenetratingwarmthofthesuntohisbackandshoulders。
Thenthedifferenttroopsofhorsesbegantheirmorningscrambledowntothemill-pond，and，aftermakingitverymuddyroundtheedge，ascendedtheslopeagain。Thebustleofthecampgrewmoreandmoreaudible，andpresentlyDavidcametosaythatbreakfastwasready。
’IsMissJohnsondownstairs？’saidthemiller；andBoblistenedfortheanswer，lookingatabluesentinelaloftonthedown。
’Notyet，maister，’saidtheexcellentDavid。
’We’llwaittillshe’sdown，’saidLoveday。’Whensheis，letusknow。’
Davidwentindoorsagain，andLovedayandBobcontinuedtheirmorningsurveybyascendingintothemysteriousquiveringrecessesofthemill，andholdingadiscussionoverasecondpairofburr-stones，whichhadtobere-dressedbeforetheycouldbeusedagain。Thisandsimilarthingsoccupiednearlytwentyminutes，and，lookingfromthewindow，theelderofthetwowasremindedofthetimeofdaybyseeingMrs。Garland’stable-clothflutteringfromherbackdoorovertheheadsofaflockofpigeonsthathadalightedforthecrumbs。
’IsupposeDavidcan’tfindus，’hesaid，withasenseofhungerthatwasnotaltogetherstrangetoBob。Heputouthisheadandshouted。
’Theladyisnotdownyet，’saidhismaninreply。
’Nohurry，nohurry，’saidthemiller，withcheerfulemptiness。
’Bob，topassthetimewe’lllookintothegarden。’
’She’llgetupsoonerthanthis，youknow，whenshe’ssignedarticlesandgotaberthhere，’Bobobservedapologetically。
