’Yes，yes，’saidLoveday；andtheydescendedintothegarden。
Heretheyturnedoversundryflatstonesandkilledtheslugsshelteredbeneaththemfromthecomingheatoftheday，talkingofslugsinalltheirbranches——ofthebrownandtheblack，ofthetoughandthetender，ofthereasonwhythereweresomanyinthegardenthatyear，ofthecomingtimewhenthegrass-walksharbouringthemweretobetakenupandgravellaid，andoftherelativelyexterminatorymeritsofapairofscissorsandtheheeloftheshoe。
Atlastthemillersaid，’Well，really，Bob，I’mhungry；wemustbeginwithouther。’
Theywereabouttogoin，whenDavidappearedwithhasteinhismotions，hiseyeswiderverticallythancrosswise，andhischeeksnearlyallgone。
’Maister，I’vebeentocallher；andas’adidn’tspeakIrapped，andas’adidn’tanswerIkicked，andnotbeinglatchedthedooropened，and——she’sgone！’
Bobwentofflikeaswallowtowardsthehouse，andthemillerfollowedliketheratherheavymanthathewas。ThatMissMatildawasnotinherroom，orascrapofanythingbelongingtoher，wassoonapparent。Theysearchedeveryplaceinwhichshecouldpossiblyhideorsqueezeherself，everyplaceinwhichshecouldnot，butfoundnothingatall。
CaptainBobwasquitewildwithastonishmentandgrief。Whenhewasquitesurethatshewasnowhereinhisfather’shouse，heranintoMrs。Garland’s，andtellingthemthestorysohastilythattheyhardlyunderstoodtheparticulars，hewentontowardsComfort’shouse，intendingtoraisethealarmthere，andalsoatMitchell’s，Beach’s，Cripplestraw’s，theparson’s，theclerk’s，thecampofdragoons，ofhussars，andsoonthroughthewholecounty。Buthepaused，andthoughtitwouldbehardlyexpedienttopublishhisdiscomfitureinsuchaway。IfMatildahadleftthehouseforanyfreakishreasonhewouldnotcaretolookforher，andifherdeedhadatragicintentshewouldkeepalooffromcampandvillage。
InhistroublehethoughtofAnne。Shewasanicegirlandcouldbetrusted。Toherhewent，andfoundherinastateofexcitementandanxietywhichequalledhisown。
’’Tissolonelytocruiseforherallbymyself！’saidBobdisconsolately，hisforeheadallinwrinkles，’andI’vethoughtyouwouldcomewithmeandcheertheway？’
’Whereshallwesearch？’saidAnne。
’O，intheholesofrivers，youknow，anddownwells，andinquarries，andovercliffs，andlikethat。YoureyesmightcatchtheloomofanybitofashawlorbonnetthatIshouldoverlook，anditwoulddomearealservice。Pleasedocome！’
SoAnnetookpityuponhim，andputonherhatandwent，themillerandDavidhavinggoneoffinanotherdirection。Theyexaminedtheditchesoffields，BobgoingroundbyonefenceandAnnebytheother，tilltheymetattheoppositeside。Thentheypeepedunderculverts，intoouthouses，anddownoldwellsandquarries，tillthetheoryofatragicalendhadnearlyspentitsforceinBob’smind，andhebegantothinkthatMatildahadsimplyrunaway。However，theystillwalkedon，thoughbythistimethesunwashotandAnnewouldgladlyhavesatdown。
’Now，didn’tyouthinkhighlyofher，MissGarland？’heinquired，asthesearchbegantolanguish。
’Oyes，’saidAnne，’veryhighly。’
’Shewasreallybeautiful；nononsenseaboutherlooks，wasthere？’
’None。Herbeautywasthoroughlyripe——nottooyoung。Weshouldallhavegottoloveher。Whatcanhavepossessedhertogoaway？’
’Idon’tknow，and，uponmylife，IshallsoonbedrovetosayI
don’tcare！’repliedthematedespairingly。’Letmepilotyedownoverthosestones，’headded，asAnnebegantodescendaruggedquarry。Hesteppedforward，leaptdown，andturnedtoher。
Shegavehimherhandandsprangdown。Beforeherelinquishedhishold，CaptainBobraisedherfingerstohislipsandkissedthem。
’O，CaptainLoveday！’criedAnne，snatchingawayherhandingenuinedismay，whileatearroseunexpectedlytoeacheye。’Ineverheardofsuchathing！Iwon’tgoaninchfurtherwithyou，sir；itistoobarefaced！’Andsheturnedandranoff。
’UponmylifeIdidn’tmeanit！’saidtherepentantcaptain，hasteningafter。’Idoloveherbest——indeedIdo——andIdon’tloveyouatall！Iamnotsofickleasthat！Imerelyjustforthemomentadmiredyouasasweetlittlecraft，andthat’showIcametodoit。Youknow，MissGarland，’hecontinuedearnestly，andstillrunningafter，’’tislikethis:whenyoucomeashoreafterhavingbeenshutupinashipforeighteenmonths，women-folksseemsonewandnicethatyoucan’thelplikingthem，oneandallinabody；andsoyourheartisapttogetscatteredandtoyawabit；butofcourseIthinkofpoorMatildamost，andshallalwayssticktoher。’
Heheavedasighoftremendousmagnitude，toshowbeyondthepossibilityofdoubtthathisheartwasstillintheplacethathonourrequired。
’Iamgladtohearthat——ofcourseIamveryglad！’saidshe，withquickpetulance，keepingherfaceturnedfromhim。’AndIhopeweshallfindher，andthattheweddingwillnotbeputoff，andthatyou’llbothbehappy。ButIwon’tlookforheranymore！No；I
don’tcaretolookforher——andmyheadaches。Iamgoinghome！’
’AndsoamI，’saidRobertpromptly。
’No，no；goonlookingforher，ofcourse——alltheafternoon，andallnight。Iamsureyouwill，ifyouloveher。’
’Oyes；Imeanto。Still，Ioughttoconvoyyouhomefirst？’
’No，yououghtnot；andIshallnotacceptyourcompany。
Good-morning，sir！’Andshewentoffoveroneofthestonestileswithwhichthespotabounded，leavingthefriendlysailorstandinginthefield。
Hesighedagain，and，observingthecampnotfaroff，thoughthewouldgotohisbrotherJohnandaskhimhisopiniononthesorrowfulcase。OnreachingthetentshefoundthatJohnwasnotatlibertyjustatthattime，beingengagedinpractisingthetrumpeters；andleavingwordthathewishedthetrumpet-majortocomedowntothemillassoonaspossible，Bobwentbackagain。
’’Tisnogoodlookingforher，’hesaidgloomily。’Shelikedmewellenough，butwhenshecamehereandsawthehouse，andtheplace，andtheoldhorse，andtheplainfurniture，shewasdisappointedtofindusallsohomely，andfeltshedidn’tcaretomarryintosuchafamily！’
HisfatherandDavidhadreturnedwithnonews。
’Yes，’tisasI’vebeenthinking，father，’Bobsaid。’Weweren’tgoodenoughforher，andshewentawayinscorn！’
’Well，thatcan’tbehelped，’saidthemiller。’Whatwebe，webe，andhavebeenforgenerations。Tomymindsheseemedgladenoughtogetholdofus！’
’Yes，yes——forthemoment——becauseoftheflowers，andbirds，andwhat’sprettyintheplace，’saidBobtragically。’Butyoudon’tknow，father——howshouldyouknow，whohavehardlybeenoutofOvercombeinyourlife？——youdon’tknowwhatdelicatefeelingsareinarealrefinedwoman’smind。Anylittlevulgaractionunreavestheirnerveslikeamarline-spike。NowIwonderifyoudidanythingtodisgusther？’
’Faith！notthatIknowof，’saidLoveday，reflecting。’Ididn’tsayasinglethingthatIshouldnaturallyhavesaid，onpurposetogivenooffence。’
’Youwasalwaysveryhomely，youknow，father。’
’Yes；soIwas，’saidthemillermeekly。
’Iwonderwhatitcouldhavebeen，’Bobcontinued，wanderingaboutrestlessly。’Youdidn’tgodrinkingoutofthebigmugwithyourmouthfull，orwipeyourlipswithyoursleeve？’
’ThatI’llswearIdidn’t！’saidthemillerfirmly。’ThinksI，there’snoknowingwhatImaydotoshockher，soI’lltakemysolidvictualsinthebakehouse，andonlyacrumbandadropinhercompanyformanners。’
’Youcoulddonomorethanthat，certainly，’saidBobgently。
’Ifmymannersbegoodenoughforwell-brought-uppeopleliketheGarlands，theybegoodenoughforher，’continuedthemiller，withasenseofinjustice。
’That’strue。ThenitmusthavebeenDavid。David，comehere！Howdidyoubehavebeforethatlady？Now，mindyouspeakthetruth！’
’Yes，Mr。CaptainRobert，’saidDavidearnestly。’Iassureyeshewasservedlikearoyalqueen。Thebestsilverspoonswezputdown，andyerpoorgrandfer’ssilvertanket，asyouseed，andthefeathercushionforhertositon——’
’NowI’vegotit！’saidBobdecisively，bringingdownhishanduponthewindow-sill。’Herbedwashard！——andthere’snothingshocksatrueladylikethat。ThebedinthatroomalwayswasashardastheRockofGibraltar！’
’No，CaptainBob！Thebedswerechanged——wasn’ttheymaister？Weputthegoosebedinherroom，andtheflockone，thatusedtobethere，inyours。’
’Yes，wedid，’corroboratedthemiller。’DavidandIchanged’emwithourownhands，becausetheyweretooheavyforthewomentomove。’
’SureIdidn’tknowIhadtheflockbed，’murmuredBob。’Islepton，littlethinkingwhatIwasgoingtowaketo。Well，well，she’sgone；andsearchasIwillIshallneverfindanotherlikeher！Shewastoogoodforme。Shemusthavecarriedherboxwithherownhands，poorgirl。Asfarasthatgoes，Icouldovertakeherevennow，Idaresay；butIwon’tentreatheragainstherwill——notI。’
MillerLovedayandDavid，feelingthemselvestoberatheradesecrationinthepresenceofBob’ssacredemotions，managedtoedgeoffbydegrees，theformerburyinghimselfinthemostflouryrecessesofthemill，hisinvariableresourcewhenperturbed，therumblinghavingasoothingeffectuponthenervesofthoseproperlytrainedtoitsmusic。
Bobwassoimpatientthat，aftergoinguptoherroomtoassurehimselfoncemorethatshehadnotundressed，buthadonlylaindownontheoutsideofthebed，hewentoutofthehousetomeetJohn，andwaitedonthesunnyslopeofthedowntillhisbrotherappeared。
Johnlookedsobraveandshapelyandwarlikethat，eveninBob’spresentdistress，hecouldnotbutfeelanhonestandaffectionateprideatowningsucharelative。YethefanciedthatJohndidnotcomealongwiththesameswingingstephehadshownyesterday；andwhenthetrumpet-majorgotnearerhelookedanxiouslyatthemateandwaitedforhimtospeakfirst。
’Youknowourgreattrouble，John？’saidRobert，gazingstoicallyintohisbrother’seyes。
’Comeandsitdown，andtellmeallaboutit，’answeredthetrumpet-major，showingnosurprise。
Theywenttowardsaslightravine，whereitwaseasiertositdownthanontheflatground，andhereJohnreclinedamongthegrasshoppers，pointingtohisbrothertodothesame。
’Butdoyouknowwhatitis？’saidRobert。’Hasanybodytoldye？’
’Idoknow，’saidJohn。’She’sgone；andIamthankful！’
’What！’saidBob，risingtohiskneesinamazement。
’I’matthebottomofit，’saidthetrumpet-majorslowly。
’You，John？’
’Yes；andifyouwilllistenI’lltellyouall。DoyourememberwhathappenedwhenIcameintotheroomlastnight？Why，sheturnedcolourandnearlyfaintedaway。Thatwasbecausesheknewme。’
Bobstaredathisbrotherwithafaceofpainanddistrust。
’Foronce，Bob，Imustsaysomethingthatwillhurttheeagooddeal，’continuedJohn。’Shewasnotawomanwhocouldpossiblybeyourwife——andsoshe’sgone。’
’Yousentheroff？’
’Well，Idid。’
’John！——Tellmerightthrough——tellme！’
’PerhapsIhadbetter，’saidthetrumpet-major，hisblueeyesrestingonthefardistantsea，thatseemedtoriselikeawallashighasthehilltheysatupon。
AndthenhetoldataleofMissJohnsonandthe——thDragoonswhichwrunghisheartasmuchinthetellingasitdidBob’stohear，andwhichshowedthatJohnhadbeentemporarilycrueltobeultimatelykind。EvenBob，excitedashewas，coulddiscernfromJohn’smannerofspeakingwhataterribleundertakingthatnight’sbusinesshadbeenforhim。Tojustifythecoursehehadadoptedthedictatesofdutymusthavebeenimperative；butthetrumpet-major，withabecomingreticencewhichhisbrotheratthetimewasnaturallyunabletoappreciate，scarcelydweltdistinctlyenoughuponthecompellingcauseofhisconduct。Itwould，indeed，havebeenhardforanyman，muchlesssomodestaoneasJohn，todohimselfjusticeinthatremarkablerelation，whenthelistenerwasthelady’slover；anditisnowonderthatRobertrosetohisfeetandputagreaterdistancebetweenhimselfandJohn。
’Andwhattimewasit？’heaskedinahard，suppressedvoice。
’Itwasjustbeforeoneo’clock。’
’Howcouldyouhelphertogoaway？’
’Ihadapass。Icarriedherboxtothecoach-office。Shewastofollowatdawn。’
