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’Butshehadnomoney。’
’Yes，shehad；Itookparticularcareofthat。’Johndidnotadd，ashemighthavedone，thathehadgivenher，inhispity，allthemoneyhepossessed，andatpresenthadonlyeighteen-penceintheworld。’Well，itisover，Bob；sosityedown，andtalkwithmeofoldtimes，’headded。
’Ah，Jack，itiswellenoughforyoutospeaklikethat，’saidthedisquietedsailor；’butIcan’thelpfeelingthatitisacruelthingyouhavedone。Afterall，shewouldhavebeensnugenoughforme。WouldIhadneverfoundoutthisabouther！John，whydidyouinterfere？Youhadnorighttooverhaulmyaffairslikethis。Whydidn’tyoutellmefairlyallyouknew，andletmedoasIchose？
Youhaveturnedheroutofthehouse，andit’sashame！Ifshehadonlycometome！Whydidn’tshe？’
’Becausesheknewitwasbesttodootherwise。’
’Well，Ishallgoafterher，’saidBobfirmly。
’Youcandoasyoulike，’saidJohn；’butIwouldadviseyoustronglytoleavematterswheretheyare。’
’Iwon’tleavematterswheretheyare，’saidBobimpetuously。’Youhavemadememiserable，andallfornothing。Itellyoushewasgoodenoughforme；andaslongasIknewnothingaboutwhatyousayofherhistory，whatdifferencewouldithavemadetome？Neverwasthereayoungwomanwhowasbettercompany；andshelovedamerrysongasIdomyself。Yes，I’llfollowher。’
’O，Bob，’saidJohn；’Ihardlyexpectedthis！’
’That’sbecauseyoudidn’tknowyourman。CanIaskyoutodomeonekindness？Idon’tsupposeIcan。CanIaskyounottosayawordagainsthertoanyofthemathome？’
’Certainly。TheveryreasonwhyIgothertogooffsilently，asshehasdone，wasbecausenothingshouldbesaidagainstherhere，andnoscandalshouldbeheardof。’
’Thatmaybe；butI’moffafterher。MarrythatgirlIwill。’
’You’llbesorry。’
’Thatweshallsee，’repliedRobertwithdetermination；andhewentawayrapidlytowardsthemill。Thetrumpet-majorhadnohearttofollow——nogoodcouldpossiblycomeoffurtheropposition；andthereonthedownheremainedlikeagravenimagetillBobhadvanishedfromhissightintothemill。
Bobenteredhisfather’sonlytoleavewordthathewasgoingonarenewedsearchforMatilda，andtopackupafewnecessariesforhisjourney。Tenminuteslaterhecameoutagainwithabundleinhishand，andJohnsawhimgodiagonallyacrossthelowerfieldstowardsthehigh-road。
’AndthisisallthegoodIhavedone！’saidJohn，musinglyreadjustinghisstockwhereitcuthisneck，anddescendingtowardsthemill。
MeanwhileAnneGarlandhadgonehome，and，beingwearywithherrambleinsearchofMatilda，satsilentinacorneroftheroom。
HermotherwaspassingthetimeingivingutterancetoeveryconceivablesurmiseonthecauseofMissJohnson’sdisappearancethatthehumanmindcouldframe，towhichAnnereturnedmonosyllabicanswers，theresult，notofindifference，butofintensepreoccupation。PresentlyLoveday，thefather，cametothedoor；hermothervanishedwithhim，andtheyremainedclosetedtogetheralongtime。Annewentintothegardenandseatedherselfbeneaththebranchingtreewhoseboughshadshelteredherduringsomanyhoursofherresidencehere。Herattentionwasfixedmoreuponthemiller’swingoftheirregularbuildingbeforeherthanuponthatoccupiedbyhermother，forshecouldnothelpexpectingeverymomenttoseesomeonerunoutwithawildfaceandannouncesomeawfulclearingupofthemystery。
Everysoundsetheronthealert，andhearingthetreadofahorseinthelaneshelookedroundeagerly。GazingatheroverthehedgewasFestusDerriman，mountedonsuchanincrediblytallanimalthathecouldseetoherveryfeetoverthethickandbroadthornfence。
Shenosoonerrecognizedhimthanshewithdrewherglance；butashiseyeswerefixedsteadilyuponherthiswasafutilemanoeuvre。
’Isawyoulookround！’heexclaimedcrossly。’WhathaveIdonetomakeyoubehavelikethat？Come，MissGarland，befair。’Tisnousetoturnyourbackup
