下载辰思小说免费APP
Annefaintlyreplied’Yes，’andallowedthemillertotakeherforwardonhisarmtothetrackway，soastobeclosetotheflankoftheapproachingcolumn。Itcameup，manypeopleoneachsidegraspingthehandsofthetroopersinbiddingthemfarewell；andassoonasJohnLovedaysawthemembersofhisfather’shousehold，hestretcheddownhishandacrosshisrightpistolforthesameperformance。Themillergavehis，thenMrs。Lovedaygavehers，andthenthehandofthetrumpet-majorwasextendedtowardsAnne。Butasthehorsedidnotabsolutelystop，itwasasomewhatawkwardperformanceforayoungwomantoundertake，and，moreonthataccountthanonanyother，Annedrewback，andthegallanttrooperpassedbywithoutreceivingheradieu。Anne’sheartreproachedherforamoment；andthenshethoughtthat，afterall，hewasnotgoingofftoimmediatebattle，andthatshewouldinallprobabilityseehimagainatnodistantdate，whenshehopedthatthemysteryofhisconductwouldbeexplained。Herthoughtswereinterruptedbyavoiceatherelbow:’Thankheaven，he’sgone！Nowthere’sachanceforme。’
Sheturned，andFestusDerrimanwasstandingbyher。
’There’snochanceforyou，’shesaidindignantly。
’Whynot？’
’Becausethere’sanotherleft！’
Thewordshadslippedoutquiteunintentionally，andsheblushedquickly。Shewouldhavegivenanythingtobeabletorecallthem；
buthehadheard，andsaid，’Who？’
Annewentforwardtothemillertoavoidreplying，andFestuscaughthernomore。
’HasanybodybeenhangingaboutOvercombeMillexceptLoveday’ssonthesoldier？’heaskedofacomrade。
’Hissonthesailor，’wasthereply。
’O——hissonthesailor，’saidFestusslowly。’Damnhissonthesailor！’
AtthisparticularmomenttheobjectofFestusDerriman’sfulminationwasassuredlynotdangerousasarival。Bob，afterabstractedlywatchingthesoldiersfromthefrontofthehousetilltheywereoutofsight，hadgonewithindoorsandseatedhimselfinthemill-parlour，wherehisfatherfoundhim，hiselbowsrestingonthetableandhisforeheadonhishands，hiseyesbeingfixeduponadocumentthatlayopenbeforehim。
’Whatartperusing，Bob，withsuchalongface？’
Bobsighed，andthenMrs。LovedayandAnneentered。’’Tisonlyastate-paperthatIfondlythoughtIshouldhaveausefor，’hesaidgloomily。And，lookingdownasbefore，heclearedhisvoice，asifmovedinwardlytogoon，andbegantoreadinfeelingtonesfromwhatprovedtobehisnullifiedmarriagelicence:——
’“TimothyTitusPhilemon，bypermissionBishopofBristol:Toourwell-belovedRobertLoveday，oftheparishofOvercombe，Bachelor；
andMatildaJohnson，ofthesameparish，Spinster。Greeting。“’
HereAnnesighed，butcontrivedtokeepdownhersightoamerenothing。
’Beautifullanguage，isn’tit！’saidBob。’Iwasnevergreetedlikethatafore！’
’Yes；Ihaveoftenthoughtitveryexcellentlanguagemyself，’saidMrs。Loveday。
’Cometothat，theoldgentlemanwillgreettheelikeitagainanydayforacoupleofguineas，’saidthemiller。
’That’snotthepoint，father！Younevercouldseetherealmeaningofthesethings……Well，thenhegoeson:“Whereasyeare，asitisalleged，determinedtoenterintotheholyestateofmatrimony——“ButwhyshouldIreadon？Itallmeansnothingnow——
nothing，andthesplendidwordsareallwasteduponair。ItseemsasifIhadbeenhailedbysomevenerablehoaryprophet，andhadturnedaway，putthehelmhardup，andwouldn’thear。’
Nobodyreplied，feelingprobablythatsympathycouldnotmeetthecase，andBobwentonreadingtherestofittohimself，occasionallyheavingabreathlikethewindinaship’sshrouds。
’Iwouldn’tsetmymindsomuchuponher，ifIwasthee，’saidhisfatheratlast。
’Whynot？’
’Well，folkmightcalltheeafool，andsaythybrainswereturningtowater。’
Bobwasapparentlymuchstruckbythisthought，and，insteadofcontinuingthediscoursefurther，hecarefullyfoldedupthelicence，wentout，andwalkedupanddownthegarden。Itwasstartlinglyaptwhathisfatherhadsaid；and，worsethanthat，whatpeoplewouldcallhimmightbetrue，andtheliquefactionofhisbrainsturnouttobenofable。Bydegreeshebecamemuchconcerned，andthemoreheexaminedhimself
