Anne’sconvictionofherlossincreasedwiththedarkeningoftheearlywintertime。Bobwasnotacautiousmanwhowouldavoidneedlessexposure，andahundredandfiftyoftheVictory’screwhadbeendisabledorslain。AnybodywhohadlookedintoherroomatthistimewouldhaveseenthatherfavouritereadingwastheofficefortheBurialoftheDeadatSea，beginning’Wethereforecommithisbodytothedeep。’InthesefirstdaysofDecemberseveralofthevictoriousfleetcameintoport；butnottheVictory。Manysupposedthatthatnobleship，disabledbythebattle，hadgonetothebottominthesubsequenttempestuousweather；andthebeliefwasperseveredintillitwastoldinthetownandportthatshehadbeenseenpassinguptheChannel。TwodayslatertheVictoryarrivedatPortsmouth。
ThenlettersfromsurvivorsbegantoappearinthepublicprintswhichJohnsoregularlybroughttoAnne；butthoughhewatchedthemailswithunceasingvigilancetherewasneveraletterfromBob。
ItsometimescrossedJohn’smindthathisbrothermightstillbealiveandwell，andthatinhiswishtoabidebyhisexpressedintentionofgivingupAnneandhomelifehewasdeliberatelylaxinwriting。Ifso，Bobwascarryingouttheideatoothoughtlesslybyhalf，ascouldbeseenbywatchingtheeffectsofsuspenseuponthefairfaceofthevictim，andtheanxietyoftherestofthefamily。
ItwasacleardayinDecember。Thefirstslightsnowoftheseasonhadbeensiftedovertheearth，andonesideoftheapple-treebranchesinthemiller’sgardenwastouchedwithwhite，thoughafewleaveswerestilllingeringonthetopsoftheyoungertrees。A
shortsailoroftheRoyalNavy，whowasnotBob，noranythinglikehim，crossedthemillcourtandcametothedoor。Themillerhastenedoutandbroughthimintotheroom，whereJohn，Mrs。
Loveday，andAnneGarlandwereallpresent。
’I’mfromaboardtheVictory，’saidthesailor。’Myname’sJimCornick。Andyourladisaliveandwell。’
Theybreathedratherthanspoketheirthankfulnessandrelief，themiller’seyesbeingmoistasheturnedasidetocalmhimself；whileAnne，havingfirstjumpedupwildlyfromherseat，sankbackagainunderthealmostinsupportablejoythattrembledthroughherlimbstoherutmostfinger。
’I’vecomefromSpitheadtoPos’ham，’thesailorcontinued，’andnowIamgoingontofatheratBudmouth。’
’Ah！——Iknowyourfather，’criedthetrumpet-major，’oldJamesCornick。’
ItwasthemanwhohadbroughtAnneinhislerretfromPortlandBill。
’AndBobhasn’tgotascratch？’saidthemiller。
’Notascratch，’saidCornick。
Lovedaythenbustledofftodrawthevisitorsomethingtodrink。
AnneGarland，withaglowingblushonherface，hadgonetothebackpartoftheroom，whereshewastheveryembodimentofsweetcontentassheslightlyswayedherselfwithoutspeaking。Alittletideofhappinessseemedtoebbandflowthroughherinlisteningtothesailor’swords，movingherfigurewithit。TheseamanandJohnwentonconversing。
’Bobhadagooddealtodowithbarricadingthehawse-holesaforewewereinaction，andtheAdm’landCap’nbothwereverymuchpleasedathow’twasdone。WhentheAdm’lwentupthequarter-deckladder，Cap’nHardysaidawordortwotoBob，butwhatitwasIdon’tknow，forIwasquarteredatagunsomewaysoff。However，BobsawtheAdm’lstaggerwhen’awaswownded，andwasoneofthemenwhocarriedhimtothecockpit。AfterthatheandsomeotherladsjumpedaboardtheFrenchship，andIbelievetheywasinherwhenshestruckherflag。What’adidnextIcan’tsay，forthewindhaddropped，andthesmokewaslikeacloud。But’agotagooddealtalkedabout；andtheysaythere’spromotioninstorefor’n。’
AtthispointinthestoryJimCornickstoppedtodrink，andalowunconscioushummingcamefromAnneinherdistantcorner；thefaintmelodycontinuedmoreorlesswhentheconversationbetweenthesailorandtheLovedayswasrenewed。
’WeheardaforethattheVictorywasnearknockedtopieces，’saidthemiller。
’Knockedtopieces？You’dsaysoifsobeyoucouldseeher！Gad，hersidesbebatteredlikeanoldpennypiece；theshotbestillstickinginherwales，andhersailsbelikesomanyclap-nets:wehaverunallthewayhomeunderjurytopmasts；andasforherdecks，youmayswabwi’hotwater，andyoumayswabwi’cold，butthere’stheblood-stains，andtherethey’llbide……TheCap’nhadanarrowescape，likemanyo’therest——ashotshavedhisanklelikearazor。Youshouldhaveseenthatman’sfaceintheheto’battle，hisfeatureswereasifthey’dbeencastinsteel。’
’WeratherexpectedaletterfromBobbeforethis。’
’Well，’saidJimCornick，withasmileoftoleration，’youmustmakeallowances。Thetrutho’tis，he’sengagedjustnowatPortsmouth，likeagoodmanyoftherestfromourship……’Tisaveryniceyoungwomanthathe’sacourtingof，andImakenodoubtthatshe’llbeanexcellentwifeforhim。’
’Ah！’saidMrs。Loveday，inawarningtone。
’Courting——wife？’saidthemiller。
TheyinstinctivelylookedtowardsAnne。Annehadstartedasifshakenbyaninvisiblehand，andathickmistofdoubtseemedtoobscuretheintelligenceofhereyes。Thiswasbutfortwoorthreemoments。Verypale，shearoseandwentrightuptotheseaman。
Johngentlytriedtointercepther，butshepassedhimby。
’DoyouspeakofRobertLovedayascourtingawife？’sheasked，withouttheleastbetrayalofemotion。
’Ididn’tseeyou，miss，’repliedCornick，turning。’Yes，yourbrotherhev’hiseyeonawife，andhedeservesone。Ihopeyoudon’tmind？’
’Notintheleast，’shesaid，withastagelaugh。’Iaminterested，naturally。Andwhatisshe？’
’Averyniceyoungmaster-baker’sdaughter，honey。Averywisechoiceoftheyoungman’s。’
’Isshefairordark？’
’Herhairisratherlight。’
’Ilikelighthair；andhername？’
’HernameisCaroline。Butcanitbethatmystoryhurtsye？Ifso——’
’Yes，yes，’saidJohn，interposinganxiously。’Wedon’tcareformorejustatthismoment。’
’WeDOcareformore！’saidAnnevehemently。’Tellitall，sailor。
Thatisaveryprettyname，Caroline。Whenaretheygoingtobemarried？’
’Idon’tknowashowthedayissettled，’answeredJim，evennowscarcelyconsciousofthedevastationhewascausinginonefairbreast。’Butfromtheratethecourtingisscuddingalongat，I
shouldsayitwon’tbelongfirst。’
’Ifyouseehimwhenyougoback，givehimmybestwishes，’shelightlysaid，asshemovedaway。’And，’sheadded，withsolemnbitterness，’saythatIamgladtohearheismakingsuchgooduseofthefirstdaysofhisescapefromtheValleyoftheShadowofDeath！’Shewentaway，expressingindifferencebyaudiblysinginginthedistance——
’Shallwegodancetheround，theround，theround，Shallwegodancetheround？’
’Yoursisterislivelyatthenews，’observedJimCornick。
’Yes，’murmuredJohngloomily，ashegnawedhislowerlipandkepthiseyesfixedonthefire。
’Well，’continuedthemanfromtheVictory，’Iwon’tsaythatyourbrother’sintendedha’n’tgotsomeballast，whichisveryluckyfor’n，ashemighthavepickedupwithagirlwithoutasinglecoppernail。Tobesuretherewasatimewehadwhenwegotintoport！Itwasopenhouseforusall！’AndaftermentallyregardingthesceneforafewsecondsJimemptiedhiscupandrosetogo。
Themillerwassayingsomelastwordstohimoutsidethehouse，Anne’svoicehadhardlyceasedsingingupstairs，Johnwasstandingbythefireplace，andMrs。Lovedaywascrossingtheroomtojoinherdaughter，whosemannerhadgivenhersomeuneasiness，whenanoisecamefromabovetheceiling，asofsomeheavybodyfalling。Mrs。
Lovedayrushedtothestaircase，saying，’Ah，Ifearedsomething！’
andshewasfollowedbyJohn。
WhentheyenteredAnne’sroom，whichtheybothdidalmostatonemoment，theyfoundherlyinginsensibleuponthefloor。Thetrumpet-major，hislipstightlyclosed，liftedherinhisarms，andlaidheruponthebed；afterwhichhewentbacktothedoortogiveroomtohermother，whowasbendingoverthegirlwithsomehartshorn。
PresentlyMrs。Lovedaylookedupandsaidtohim，’Sheisonlyinafaint，John，andhercolouriscomingback。Nowleavehertome；I
willbedownstairsinafewminutes，andtellyouhowsheis。’
Johnlefttheroom。Whenhegainedthelowerapartmenthisfatherwasstandingbythechimney-piece，thesailorhavinggone。Thetrumpet-majorwentuptothefire，and，graspingtheedgeofthehighchimney-shelf，stoodsilent。
’DidIhearanoisewhenIwentout？’askedtheelder，inatoneofmisgiving。
’Yes，youdid，’saidJohn。’Itwasshe，buthermothersayssheisbetternow。Father，’headdedimpetuously，’Bobisaworthlessblockhead！Iftherehadbeenanygoodinhimhewouldhavebeendrownedyearsago！’
’John，John——nottoofast，’saidthemiller。’That’sahardthingtosayofyourbrother，andyououghttobeashamedofit。’
’Well，hetriesmemorethanIcanbear。GoodGod！whatcanamanbemadeoftogoonashedoes？Whydidn’thecomehome；orifhecouldn’tgetleavewhydidn’thewrite？’Tisscandalousofhimtoserveawomanlikethat！’
’Gently，gently。Thechaphevdonehisdutyasasailor；andthoughtheremighthavebeensomethingbetweenhimandAnne，hermother，intalkingitoverwithme，hassaidmanytimesthatshecouldn’tthinkoftheirmarryingtillBobhadsettleddowninbusinesswithme。
Folksthatgainvictoriesmusthavealittlelibertyallowed’em。
LookattheAdmiralhimself，forthatmatter。’
Johncontinuedlookingattheredcoals，tillhearingMrs。Loveday’sfootonthestaircase，hewenttomeether。
’Sheisbetter，’saidMrs。Loveday；’butshewon’tcomedownagainto-day。’
CouldJohnhaveheardwhatthepoorgirlwasmoaningtoherselfatthatmomentasshelaywrithingonthebed，hewouldhavedoubtedhermother’sassurance。’IfhehadbeendeadIcouldhaveborneit，butthisIcannotbear！’
MeanwhileSailorCornickhadgoneonhiswayasfarastheforkingroads，wherehemetFestusDerrimanonfoot。Thelatter，attractedbytheseaman’sdress，andbyseeinghimcomefromthemill，atonceaccostedhim。Jim，withthegreatestreadiness，fellintoconversation，andtoldthesamestoryasthathehadrelatedatthemill。
’BobLovedaygoingtobemarried？’repeatedFestus。
’Youallseemstruckofaheapwi’that。’
’No；Ineverheardnewsthatpleasedmemore。’
WhenCornickwasgone，Festus，insteadofpassingstraighton，haltedonthelittlebridgeandmeditated。Bob，beingnowinterestedelsewhere，wouldprobablynotresentthesiegeofAnne’sheartbyanother；therecould，atanyrate，benofurtherpossibilityofthatloomingduelwhichhadtroubledtheyeoman’smindeversincehishorse-playonAnneatthehouseonthedown。TomarchintothemillandproposetoMrs。LovedayforAnnebeforeJohn’sinterestcouldreviveinherwas，tothishero’sthinking，excellentdiscretion。
Thedayhadalreadybeguntodarkenwhenheentered，andthecheerfulfireshonereduponthefloorandwalls。Mrs。Lovedayreceivedhimalone，andaskedhimtotakeaseatbythechimney-corner，alittleoftheoldhankeringforhimasason-in-lawhavingpermanentlyremainedwithher。
’Yourservant，Mrs。Loveday，’hesaid，’andIwilltellyouatoncewhatIcomefor。YouwillsaythatItaketimebytheforelockwhenIinformyouthatitistopushonmylong-wished-foralliancewi’
yourdaughter，asIbelievesheisnowafreewomanagain。’
’Thankyou，Mr。Derriman，’saidthemotherplacably。’Butsheisillatpresent。I’llmentionittoherwhensheisbetter。’
’Askhertoalterhercruel，cruelresolvesagainstme，onthescoreof——ofmyconsumingpassionforher。Inshort，’continuedFestus，droppinghisparlourlanguageinhiswarmth，’I’lltelltheewhat，DameLoveday，Iwantthemaid，andmusthaveher。’
Mrs。Lovedayrepliedthatthatwasveryplainspeaking。
’Well，’tis。ButBobhasgivenherup。Henevermeanttomarryher。I’lltellyou，Mrs。Loveday，whatIhavenevertoldasoulbefore。IwasstandinguponBudmouthQuayonthatverydayinlastSeptemberthatBobsetsail，andIheardhimsaytohisbrotherJohnthathegaveyourdaughterup。’
’Thenitwasveryunmannerlyofhimtotriflewithherso，’saidMrs。Lovedaywarmly。’Whodidhegiveherupto？’
Festusrepliedwithhesitation，’HegaveheruptoJohn。’
’ToJohn？Howcouldhegiveheruptoamanalreadyoverheadandearsinlovewiththatactresswoman？’
