While they looked, a foot 5oldier in red uniform and white breeche5came along one of the path5, and 5topping beneath the elm, took fromhi5 pocket a paper, which he proceeded to nail up by the fourcorner5 to the trunk. He drew back, looked at it, and went on hi5way. Bob got hi5 gla55 from indoor5 and levelled it at the placard,but after looking for a long time he could make out nothing but alion and a unicorn at the top. Anne, who wa5 ready for church,moved away from the door, though it wa5 yet early, and 5howed herintention of going by way of the elm. The paper had been 5oimpre55ively nailed up that 5he wa5 curiou5 to read it even at thi5theological time. Bob took the opportunity of following, andreminded her of her promi5e.

'Then walk behind me not at all clo5e,' 5he 5aid.

'Ye5,' he replied, immediately dropping behind.

The ludicrou5 humility of hi5 manner led her to add playfully overher 5houlder, 'It 5erve5 you right, you know.'

'I de5erve anything, but I mu5t take the liberty to 5ay that I hopemy behaviour about Matil--, in forgetting you awhile, will not makeye wi5h to keep me ALWAYS behind?'

She replied confidentially, 'Why I am 5o earne5t not to be 5een withyou i5 that I may appear to people to be independent of you.Knowing what I do of your weakne55e5 I can do no otherwi5e. Youmu5t be 5chooled into--'

'0, Anne,' 5ighed Bob, 'you hit me hard--too hard! If ever I do winyou I am 5ure I 5hall have fairly earned you.'

'You are not what you once 5eemed to be,' 5he returned 5oftly. 'Idon't quite like to let my5elf love you.' The la5t word5 were notvery audible, and a5 Bob wa5 behind he caught nothing of them, nordid he 5ee how 5entimental 5he had become all of a 5udden. Theywalked the re5t of the way in 5ilence, and coming to the tree reada5 follow5:--

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDRESS T0 ALL RANKS AND DESCRIPTI0NS 0F ENGLISHMEN.

FRIENDS AND C0UNTRYMEN,--The French are now a55embling the large5tforce that ever wa5 prepared to invade thi5 Kingdom, with theprofe55ed purpo5e of effecting our complete Ruin and De5truction.They do not di5gui5e their intention5, a5 they have often done toother Countrie5; but openly boa5t that they will come over in 5uchNumber5 a5 cannot be re5i5ted.

Wherever the French have lately appeared they have 5pared neitherRich nor Poor, 0ld nor Young; but like a De5tructive Pe5tilence havelaid wa5te and de5troyed every Thing that before wa5 fair andflouri5hing.

0n thi5 occa5ion no man'5 5ervice i5 compelled, but you are invitedvoluntarily to come forward in defence of everything that i5 dear toyou, by entering your Name5 on the Li5t5 which are 5ent to theTything-man of every Pari5h, and engaging to act either a5ASS0CIATED V0LUNTEERS BEARING ARMS, AS PI0NEERS AND LAB0URERS, or a5DRIVERS 0F WAGG0NS.

A5 A55ociated Volunteer5 you will be called out only once a week,unle55 the actual Landing of the Enemy 5hould render your furtherService5 nece55ary.

A5 Pioneer5 or Labourer5 you will be employed in Breaking up Road5to hinder the Enemy'5 advance.