下载辰思小说免费APP
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；theshotbestills
