Toexplainthemiller’ssuddenproposalitisonlynecessarytogobacktothatmomentwhenAnne，Festus，andMrs。Garlandweretalkingtogetheronthedown。JohnLovedayhadfallenbehindsoasnottointerferewithameetinginwhichhewasdecidedlysuperfluous；andhisfather，whoguessedthetrumpet-major’ssecret，watchedhisfaceashestood。John’sfacewassad，andhiseyesfollowedMrs。
　　Garland’sencouragingmannertoFestusinawaywhichplainlysaidthateverypartingofherlipswastribulationtohim。Themillerlovedhissonasmuchasanymillerorprivategentlemancoulddo，andhewaspainedtoseeJohn’sgloomatsuchatrivialcircumstance。SowhatdidheresolvebuttohelpJohnthereandthenbyprecipitatingamatterwhich，hadhehimselfbeentheonlypersonconcerned，hewouldhavedelayedforanothersixmonths。
　　Hehadlonglikedthesocietyofhisimpulsive，tractableneighbour，Mrs。Garland；hadmentallytakenherupandponderedherinconnexionwiththequestionwhetheritwouldnotbeforthehappinessofbothifsheweretosharehishome，eventhoughshewasalittlehissuperiorinantecedentsandknowledge。Infacthelovedher；nottragically，buttoaverycreditableextentforhisyears；thatis，nexttohissons，BobandJohn，thoughheknewverywellofthatploughed-groundappearancenearthecornersofheroncehandsomeeyes，andthatthelittledepressioninherrightcheekwasnotthelingeringdimpleitwaspoeticallyassumedtobe，butaresultoftheabstractionofsomeworn-outnethermillstoneswithinthecheekbyRootle，theBudmouthman，wholivedbysuchpracticesontheheadsoftheelderly。Butwhatofthat，whenhehadlosttwotoeachoneofhers，andexceededherinagebysomeeightyears！
　　TodoJohnaservice，then，hequickenedhisdesigns，andputthequestiontoherwhiletheywerestandingundertheeyesoftheyoungerpair。
　　Mrs。Garland，thoughshehadbeeninterestedinthemillerforalongtime，andhadforamomentnowandthenthoughtonthisquestionasfaras，’Supposeheshould，’Ifhewereto，’andsoon，hadneverthoughtmuchfurther；andshewasreallytakenbysurprisewhenthequestioncame。Sheansweredwithoutaffectationthatshewouldthinkovertheproposal；andthustheyparted。
　　Hermother’sinfirmityofpurposesetAnnethinking，andshewassuddenlyfilledwithaconvictionthatinsuchacasesheoughttohavesomepurposeherself。Mrs。Garland’scomplacencyatthemiller’sofferhad，intruth，amazedher。Whilehermotherhadheldupherhead，andrecommendedFestus，ithadseemedaveryprettythingtorebel；butthepressurebeingremovedanawfulsenseofherownresponsibilitytookpossessionofhermind。Astherewasnolongeranybodytobewiseorambitiousforher，surelysheshouldbewiseandambitiousforherself，discountenancehermother’sattachment，andencourageFestusinhisaddresses，forherownandhermother’sgood。TherehadbeenatimewhenaLovedaythrilledherownheart；butthatwaslongago，beforeshehadthoughtofpositionordifferences。Towakeintocolddaylightlikethis，whenandbecausehermotherhadgoneintothelandofromance，wasdreadfulandnewtoher，andlikeanincreaseofyearswithoutlivingthem。
　　Butitwaseasiertothinkthatsheoughttomarrytheyeomanthantotakestepsfordoingit；andshewentonlivingjustasbefore，onlywithalittlemorethoughtfulnessinhereyes。
　　Twodaysafterthevisittothecamp，whenshewasagaininthegarden，SoldierLovedaysaidtoher，atadistanceoffiverowsofbeansandaparsley-bed——
　　’Youhaveheardthenews，MissGarland？’
　　’No，’saidAnne，withoutlookingupfromabookshewasreading。
　　’TheKingiscomingto-morrow。’
　　’TheKing？’Shelookedupthen。
　　’Yes；toGloucesterLodge；andhewillpassthisway。Hecan’tarrivetilllongpastthemiddleofthenight，ifwhattheysayistrue，thatheistimedtochangehorsesatWoodyatesInn——betweenMidandSouthWessex——attwelveo’clock，’continuedLoveday，encouragedbyherinteresttocutofftheparsley-bedfromthedistancebetweenthem。
　　MillerLovedaycameroundthecornerofthehouse。
　　’HaveyeheardabouttheKingcoming，MissMaidyAnne？’hesaid。
　　Annesaidthatshehadjustheardofit；andthetrumpet-major，whohardlywelcomedhisfatheratsuchamoment，explainedwhatheknewofthematter。
　　’Andyouwillgowithyourregimenttomeet’en，Isuppose？’saidoldLoveday。
　　YoungLovedaysaidthatthemenoftheGermanLegionweretoperformthatduty。Andturninghalffromhisfather，andhalftowardsAnne，headded，inatentativetone，thathethoughthemightgetleaveforthenight，ifanybodywouldliketobetakentothetopoftheRidgewayoverwhichtheroyalpartymustpass。
　　Anne，knowingbythistimeofthebuddinghopeinthegallantdragoon’smind，andnotwishingtoencourageit，said，’Idon’twanttogo。’
　　ThemillerlookeddisappointedaswellasJohn。
　　’Yourmothermightliketo？’
　　’Yes，Iamgoingindoors，andI’llaskherifyouwishmeto，’saidshe。
　　Shewentindoorsandrathercoldlytoldhermotheroftheproposal。
　　Mrs。Garland，thoughshehaddeterminednottoanswerthemiller’squestiononmatrimonyjustyet，wasquitereadyforthisjaunt，andinspiteofAnneshesailedoffatoncetothegardentohearmoreaboutit。Whenshere-entered，shesaid——
　　’Anne，IhavenotseentheKingortheKing’shorsesforthesemanyyears；andIamgoing。’
　　’Ah，itiswelltobeyou，mother，’saidAnne，inanelderlytone。
　　’Thenyouwon’tcomewithus？’saidMrs。Garland，ratherrebuffed。
　　’Ihaveverydifferentthingstothinkof，’saidherdaughterwithvirtuousemphasis，’thangoingtoseesightsatthattimeofnight。’
　　Mrs。Garlandwassorry，butresolvedtoadheretothearrangement。
　　Thenightcameon；andithavinggoneabroadthattheKingwouldpassbytheroad，manyofthevillagerswentouttoseetheprocession。WhenthetwoLovedaysandMrs。Garlandweregone，Anneboltedthedoorforsecurity，andsatdowntothinkagainonhergraveresponsibilitiesinthechoiceofahusband，nowthathernaturalguardiancouldnolongerbetrusted。
　　Aknockcametothedoor。
　　Anne’sinstinctwasatoncetobesilent，thatthecomermightthinkthefamilyhadretired。
　　Theknockingperson，however，wasnottobeeasilypersuaded。Hehadinfactseenraysoflightoverthetopoftheshutter，and，unabletogetananswer，wentontothedoorofthemill，whichwasstillgoing，themillersometimesgrindingallnightwhenbusy。ThegrinderaccompaniedthestrangertoMrs。Garland’sdoor。
　　’Thedaughteriscertainlyathome，sir，’saidthegrinder。’I’llgoroundtot’otherside，andseeifshe’sthere，MasterDerriman。’
　　’IwanttotakeherouttoseetheKing，’saidFestus。
　　Annehadstartedatthesoundofthevoice。Noopportunitycouldhavebeenbetterforcarryingouthernewconvictionsonthedisposalofherhand。ButinhermortaldislikeofFestus，Anneforgotherprinciples，andherideaofkeepingherselfabovetheLovedays。Tossingonherhatandblowingoutthecandle，sheslippedoutatthebackdoor，andhastilyfollowedinthedirectionthathermotherandtheresthadtaken。Sheovertookthemastheywerebeginningtoclimbthehill。
　　’What！youhavealteredyourmindafterall？’saidthewidow。’Howcameyoutodothat，mydear？’
　　’IthoughtImightaswellcome，’saidAnne。
　　’Tobesureyoudid，’saidthemillerheartily。’Agooddealbetterthanbidingathomethere。’
　　Johnsaidnothing，thoughshecouldalmostseethroughthegloomhowgladhewasthatshehadalteredhermind。Whentheyreachedtheridgeoverwhichthehighwaystretchedtheyfoundmanyoftheirneighbourswhohadgottherebeforethemidlingonthegrassborderbetweentheroadwayandthehedge，enjoyingasortofmidnightpicnic，whichitwaseasytodo，theairbeingstillanddry。Somecarriageswerealsostandingnear，thoughmostpeopleofthedistrictwhopossessedfourwheels，oreventwo，haddrivenintothetowntoawaittheKingthere。Fromthisheightcouldbeseeninthedistancethepositionofthewatering-place，anadditionalnumberoflanterns，lamps，andcandleshavingbeenlightedto-nightbytheloyalburgherstogracetheroyalentry，ifitshouldoccurbeforedawn。
　　Mrs。GarlandtouchedAnne’selbowseveraltimesastheywalked，andtheyoungwomanatlastunderstoodthatthiswasmeantasahinttohertotakethetrumpet-major’sarm，whichitsownerwasrathersuggestingthanofferingtoher。Annewonderedwhatinfatuationwaspossessinghermother，declinedtotakethearm，andcontrivedtogetinfrontwiththemiller，whomostlykeptinthevantoguidetheothers’footsteps。Thetrumpet-majorwasleftwithMrs。
　　Garland，andAnne’sencouragingpursuitoftheminducedhimtosayafewwordstotheformer。
　　’Byyourleave，ma’am，I’llspeaktoyouonsomethingthatconcernsmymindverymuchindeed？’
　　’Certainly。’
　　’Itismywishtobeallowedtopaymyaddressestoyourdaughter。’
　　’Ithoughtyoumeantthat，’saidMrs。Garlandsimply。
　　’Andyou’llnotobject？’
　　’Ishallleaveittoher。Idon’tthinkshewillagree，evenifI
　　do。’
　　Thesoldiersighed，andseemedhelpless。’Well，Icanbutaskher，’
　　hesaid。
　　ThespotonwhichtheyhadfinallychosentowaitfortheKingwasbyafieldgate，whencethewhiteroadcouldbeseenforalongdistancenorthwardsbyday，andsomelittledistancenow。Theylingeredandlingered，butnoKingcametobreakthesilenceofthatbeautifulsummernight。Ashalf-hourafterhalf-hourglidedby，andnobodycame，Annebegantogetweary；sheknewwhyhermotherdidnotproposetogoback，andregrettedthereason。Shewouldhaveproposeditherself，butthatMrs。Garlandseemedsocheerful，andaswideawakeasatnoonday，sothatitwasalmostacrueltytodisturbher。
　　Thetrumpet-majoratlastmadeuphismind，andtriedtodrawAnneintoaprivateconversation。Thefeelingwhichaweekagohadbeenavagueandpiquantaspiration，wasto-dayaltogethertoolivelyforthereasoningofthiswarm-heartedsoldiertoregulate。Soheperseveredinhisintentiontocatchheralone，andatlast，inspiteofhermanoeuvrestothecontrary，hesucceeded。ThemillerandMrs。Garlandhadwalkedaboutfiftyyardsfurtheron，andAnneandhimselfwereleftstandingbythegate。
　　Butthegallantmusician’ssoulwassomuchdisturbedbytendervibrationsandbythesenseofhispresumptionthathecouldnotbegin；anditmaybequestionedifhewouldeverhavebroachedthesubjectatall，hadnotadistantchurchclockopportunelyassistedhimbystrikingthehourofthree。Thetrumpet-majorheavedabreathofrelief。
　　’ThatclockstrikesinGsharp，’hesaid。
　　’Indeed——Gsharp？’saidAnnecivilly。
　　’Yes。’Tisafine-tonedbell。IusedtonoticethatnotewhenI
　　wasaboy。’
　　’Didyou——theverysame？’
　　’Yes；andsincethenIhadawageraboutthatbellwiththebandmasteroftheNorthWessexMilitia。HesaidthenotewasG；I
　　saiditwasn’t。WhenwefounditGsharpwedidn’tknowhowtosettleit。’
　　’Itisnotadeepnoteforaclock。’
　　’Ono！ThefinesttenorbellabouthereisthebellofPeter’s，Casterbridge——inEflat。Tum-m-m-m——that’sthenote——tum-m-m-m。’
　　Thetrumpet-majorsoundedfromfardownhisthroatwhatheconsideredtobeEflat，withaparentheticsenseofluxuryunquenchableevenbyhispresentdistraction。
　　’Shallwegoontowheremymotheris？’saidAnne，lessimpressedbythebeautyofthenotethanthetrumpet-majorhimselfwas。
　　’Inoneminute，’hesaidtremulously。’Talkingofmusic——Ifearyoudon’tthinktherankofatrumpet-majormuchtocomparewithyourown？’
　　’Ido。Ithinkatrumpet-majoraveryrespectableman。’
　　’Iamgladtohearyousaythat。ItisgivenoutbytheKing’scommandthattrumpet-majorsaretobeconsideredrespectable。’
　　’Indeed！ThenIam，bychance，moreloyalthanIthoughtfor。’
　　’Igetagooddealayearextratothetrumpeters，becauseofmyposition。’
　　’That’sverynice。’
　　’AndIamnotsupposedevertodrinkwiththetrumpeterswhoservebeneathme。’
　　’Naturally。’