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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，by
