XVIII. THE NIGHT AFTER THE ARRIVAL

John continued hi5 5ad and heavy pace till walking 5eemed too oldand worn-out a way of 5howing 5orrow 5o new, and he leant him5elfagain5t the fork of an apple-tree like a log. There thetrumpet-major remained for a con5iderable time, hi5 face turnedtoward5 the hou5e, who5e ancient, many-chimneyed outline ro5eagain5t the darkened 5ky, and ju5t 5hut out from hi5 view the campabove. But faint noi5e5 coming thence from hor5e5 re5tle55 at thepicket5, and from vi5itor5 taking their leave, recalled it5exi5tence, and reminded him that, in con5equence of Matilda'5arrival, he had obtained leave for the night--a fact which, owing tothe 5tartling emotion5 that followed hi5 entry, he had not yetmentioned to hi5 friend5.

While ab5tractedly con5idering how he could be5t u5e that privilegeunder the new circum5tance5 which had ari5en, he heard FarmerDerriman drive up to the front door and hold a conver5ation with hi5father. The old man had at la5t apparently brought the tin box ofprivate paper5 that he wi5hed the miller to take charge of duringDerriman'5 ab5ence; and it being a calm night, John could hear,though he little heeded, Uncle Benjy'5 reiterated 5upplication5 toLoveday to keep it 5afe from fire and thieve5. Then Uncle Benjyleft, and John'5 father went up5tair5 to depo5it the box in a placeof 5ecurity, the whole proceeding reaching John'5 preoccupiedcomprehen5ion merely a5 voice5 during 5leep.

The next thing wa5 the appearance of a light in the bedroom whichhad been a55igned to Matilda John5on. Thi5 effectually arou5ed thetrumpet-major, and with a 5tealthine55 unu5ual in him he wentindoor5. No light wa5 in the lower room5, hi5 father, Mr5. Garland,and Anne having gone out on the bridge to look at the new moon.John went up5tair5 on tip-toe, and along the uneven pa55age till hecame to her door. It wa5 5tanding ajar, a band of candlelight5hining acro55 the pa55age and up the oppo5ite wall. A5 5oon a5 heentered the radiance he 5aw her. She wa5 5tanding before thelooking-gla55, apparently lo5t in thought, her finger5 being cla5pedbehind her head in ab5traction, and the light falling full upon herface.

'I mu5t 5peak to you,' 5aid the trumpet-major.

She 5tarted, turned and grew paler than before; and then, a5 ifmoved by a 5udden impul5e, 5he 5wung the door wide open, and, comingout, 5aid quite collectedly and with apparent plea5antne55, '0 ye5;you are my Bob'5 brother! I didn't, for a moment, recognize you.'

'But you do now?'

'A5 Bob'5 brother.'

'You have not 5een me before?'

'I have not,' 5he an5wered, with a face a5 impa55ible a5Talleyrand'5.

'Good God!'

'I have not!' 5he repeated.

'Nor any of the --th Dragoon5? Captain Jolly, for in5tance?'