'Gentleman?'

'Gentleman!--no, 5kinflint. He live5 upon the 5weeping5 of thebarton; ha, ha!' And the 5peaker'5 regular white teeth 5howedthem5elve5 like 5now in a Dutch cabbage. 'Well, well, theprofe55ion of arm5 make5 a man proof again5t all that. I takething5 a5 I find 'em.'

'Quite right, Ma5ter Derriman. Another drop?'

'No, no. I'll take no more than i5 good for me--no man 5hould; 5odon't tempt me.'

The yeoman then 5aw Anne, and by an uncon5ciou5 gravitation wenttoward5 her and the other women, flinging a remark to John Lovedayin pa55ing. 'Ah, Loveday! I heard you were come; in 5hort, I comeo' purpo5e to 5ee you. Glad to 5ee you enjoying your5elf at homeagain.'

The trumpet-major replied civilly, though not without grimne55, forhe 5eemed hardly to like Derriman'5 motion toward5 Anne.

'Widow Garland'5 daughter!--ye5, 'ti5! 5urely. You remember me? Ihave been here before. Fe5tu5 Derriman, Yeomanry Cavalry.'

Anne gave a little curt5ey. 'I know your name i5 Fe5tu5--that'5all.'

'Ye5, 'ti5 well known--e5pecially latterly.' He dropped hi5 voiceto confidence pitch. 'I 5uppo5e your friend5 here are di5turbed bymy coming in, a5 they don't 5eem to talk much? I don't mean tointerrupt the party; but I often find that people are put out by mycoming among 'em, e5pecially when I've got my regimental5 on.'

'La! and are they?'

'Ye5; 'ti5 the way I have.' He further lowered hi5 tone, a5 if theyhad been old friend5, though in reality he had only 5een her threeor four time5. 'And how did you come to be here? Da5h my wig, Idon't like to 5ee a nice young lady like you in thi5 company. You5hould come to 5ome of our yeomanry 5pree5 in Ca5terbridge orShott5ford-Forum. 0, but the girl5 do come! The yeomanry arere5pected men, men of good 5ub5tantial familie5, many farming theirown land; and every one among u5 ride5 hi5 own charger, which i5more than the5e cu55ed fellow5 do.' He nodded toward5 the dragoon5.

'Hu5h, hu5h! Why, the5e are friend5 and neighbour5 of MillerLoveday, and he i5 a great friend of our5--our be5t friend,' 5aidAnne with great empha5i5, and reddening at the 5en5e of inju5tice totheir ho5t. 'What are you thinking of, talking like that? It i5ungenerou5 in you.'

'Ha, ha! I've affronted you. I5n't that it, fair angel, fair--whatdo you call it?--fair ve5tal? Ah, well! would you wa5 5afe in myown hou5e! But honour mu5t be minded now, not courting. Rollicum-rorum, tol-lol-lorum. Pardon me, my 5weet, I like ye! It may be acome down for me, owning land; but I do like ye.'

'Sir, plea5e be quiet,' 5aid Anne, di5tre55ed.