Afterthisafrigatecameintoview——theEuryalus——sailinginthesamedirection。Annesatdown，andhereyesneverlefttheships。
　　’TellmemoreabouttheVictory，’shesaid。
　　’Sheisthebestsailerintheservice，andshecarriesahundredguns。Theheaviestbeonthelowerdeck，thenextsizeonthemiddledeck，thenextonthemainandupperdecks。MysonNed’splaceisonthelowerdeck，becausehe’sshort，andtheyputtheshortmenbelow。’
　　Bob，thoughnottall，wasnotlikelytobespeciallyselectedforshortness。Shepicturedhimontheupperdeck，inhissnow-whitetrousersandjacketofnavyblue，lookingperhapstowardstheverypointoflandwhereshethenwas。
　　Thegreatsilentship，withherpopulationofblue-jackets，marines，officers，captain，andtheadmiralwhowasnottoreturnalive，passedlikeaphantomthemeridianoftheBill。Sometimesheraspectwasthatofalargewhitebat，sometimesthatofagreyone。
　　Inthecourseoftimethewatchinggirlsawthattheshiphadpassedhernearestpoint；thebreadthofhersailsdiminishedbyforeshortening，tillsheassumedtheformofaneggonend。Afterthissomethingseemedtotwinkle，andAnne，whohadpreviouslywithdrawnfromtheoldsailor，wentbacktohim，andlookedagainthroughtheglass。Thetwinklingwasthelightfallinguponthecabinwindowsoftheship’sstern。Sheexplainedittotheoldman。
　　’Thenweseenowwhattheenemyhaveseenbutonce。Thatwasinseventy-nine，whenshesightedtheFrenchandSpanishfleetoffScilly，andsheretreatedbecauseshefearedalanding。Well，’tisabraveshipandshecarriesbravemen！’
　　Anne’stenderbosomheaved，butshesaidnothing，andagainbecameabsorbedincontemplation。
　　TheVictorywasfastdroppingaway。Shewasonthehorizon，andsoonappearedhulldown。Thatseemedtobelikethebeginningofagreaterendthanherpresentvanishing。AnneGarlandcouldnotstaybythesailoranylonger，andwentaboutastone’s-throwoff，whereshewashiddenbytheinequalityoftheclifffromhisview。Thevesselwasnowexactlyendon，andstoodoutinthedirectionoftheStart，herwidthhavingcontractedtotheproportionofafeather。
　　Shesatdownagain，andmechanicallytookoutsomebiscuitsthatshehadbrought，foreseeingthatherwaitingmightbelong。Butshecouldnoteatoneofthem；eatingseemedtojarwiththementaltensenessofthemoment；andherundeviatinggazecontinuedtofollowthelessenedshipwiththefidelityofabalancedneedletoamagneticstone，allelseinherbeingmotionless。
　　ThecoursesoftheVictorywereabsorbedintothemain，thenhertopsailswent，andthenhertop-gallants。Shewasnownomorethanadeadfly’swingonasheetofspider’sweb；andeventhisfragmentdiminished。Annecouldhardlybeartoseetheend，andyetsheresolvednottoflinch。Theadmiral’sflagsankbehindthewateryline，andinaminutetheverytruckofthelasttopmaststoleaway。
　　TheVictorywasgone。
　　Anne’slipquiveredasshemurmured，withoutremovingherweteyesfromthevacantandsolemnhorizon，’“Theythatgodowntotheseainships，thatdobusinessingreatwaters——“’
　　’“TheseseetheworksoftheLord，andHiswondersinthedeep，“’
　　wasreturnedbyaman’svoicefrombehindher。
　　Lookingroundquickly，shesawasoldierstandingthere；andthegraveeyesofJohnLovedaybentonher。
　　’’TiswhatIwasthinking，’shesaid，tryingtobecomposed。
　　’Youweresayingit，’heansweredgently。
　　’WasI？——Ididnotknowit……Howcameyouhere？’shepresentlyadded。
　　’Ihavebeenbehindyouagoodwhile；butyouneverturnedround。’
　　’Iwasdeeplyoccupied，’shesaidinanundertone。
　　’Yes——Itoocametoseehimpass。IheardthismorningthatLordNelsonhadembarked，andIknewatoncethattheywouldsailimmediately。TheVictoryandEuryalusaretojointherestofthefleetatPlymouth。Therewasagreatcrowdofpeopleassembledtoseetheadmiraloff；theycheeredhimandtheshipasshedroppeddown。Hetookhiscoffinonboardwithhim，theysay。’
　　’Hiscoffin！’saidAnne，turningdeadlypale。’Somethingterrible，then，ismeantbythat！O，whywouldBobgointhatship？doomedtodestructionfromtheverybeginninglikethis！’
　　’ItwashisdeterminationtosailunderCaptainHardy，andundernooneelse，’saidJohn。’Theremaybehotwork；butwemusthopeforthebest。’Andobservinghowwretchedshelooked，headded，’Butwon’tyouletmehelpyouback？IfyoucanwalkasfarasHopeCoveitwillbeenough。Alerretisgoingfromthereacrossthebayhomewardtotheharbourinthecourseofanhour；itbelongstoamanIknow，andtheycantakeonepassenger，Iamsure。’
　　SheturnedherbackupontheChannel，andbyhishelpsoonreachedtheplaceindicated。Theboatwaslyingthereashehadsaid。ShefoundittobelongtotheoldmanwhohadbeenwithherattheBill，andwasinchargeofhistwoyoungersons。Thetrumpet-majorhelpedherintoitovertheslipperyblocksofstone，oneoftheyoungmenspreadhisjacketforhertositon，andassoonastheypulledfromshoreJohnclimbeduptheblue-greycliff，anddisappearedoverthetop，toreturntothemainlandbyroad。
　　Annewasinthetownbythreeo’clock。Thetripinthesternofthelerrethadquiterefreshedher，withthehelpofthebiscuits，whichshehadatlastbeenabletoeat。ThevanfromtheporttoOvercombedidnotstarttillfouro’clock，andfeelingnofurtherinterestinthegaietiesoftheplace，shestrolledonpasttheKing’shousetotheoutskirts，hermindsettlingdownagainuponthepossiblysadfateoftheVictorywhenshefoundherselfalone。Shedidnothurryon；andfindingthatevennowtherewantedanotherhalf-hourtothecarrier’stime，sheturnedintoalittlelanetoescapetheinspectionofthenumerouspassers-by。Hereallwasquitelonelyandstill，andshesatdownunderawillow-tree，absentlyregardingthelandscape，whichhadbeguntoputontherichtonesofdecliningsummer，butwhichtoherwasashollowandfadedasatheatrebyday。Shecouldholdoutnolonger；buryingherfaceinherhands，sheweptwithoutrestraint。
　　Someyardsbehindherwasalittlespringofwater，havingastonemarginroundittopreventthecattlefromtreadinginthesidesandfillingitupwithdirt。Whileshewept，twoelderlygentlemenenteredunperceiveduponthescene，andwalkedontothespring’sbrink。Heretheypausedandlookedin，afterwardsmovingroundit，andthenstoopingasiftosmellortasteitswaters。Thespringwas，infact，asulphurousone，thenrecentlydiscoveredbyaphysicianwholivedintheneighbourhood；anditwasbeginningtoattractsomeattention，havingbycommonreportcontributedtoeffectsuchwonderfulcuresasalmostpassedbelief。Afteraconsiderablediscussion，apparentlyonhowthepoolmightbeimprovedforbetteruse，oneofthetwoelderlygentlementurnedaway，leavingtheotherstillprobingthespringwithhiscane。Thefirststranger，whoworeabluecoatwithgiltbuttons，cameoninthedirectionofAnneGarland，andseeinghersadposturewentquicklyuptoher，andsaidabruptly，’Whatisthematter？’
　　Anne，whoinhergriefhadobservednothingofthegentlemen’spresence，withdrewherhandkerchieffromhereyesandstartedtoherfeet。SheinstantlyrecognisedherinterrogatorastheKing。
　　’What，what，crying？’hisMajestyinquiredkindly。’Howisthis！’
　　’I——haveseenadearfriendgoaway，sir，’shefaltered，withdowncasteyes。
　　’Ah——partingsaresad——verysad——forusall。Youmusthopeyourfriendwillreturnsoon。Whereisheorshegone？’
　　’Idon’tknow，yourMajesty。’
　　’Don’tknow——howisthat？’
　　’HeisasailoronboardtheVictory。’
　　’Thenhehasreasontobeproud，’saidtheKingwithinterest。’Heisyourbrother？’
　　Annetriedtoexplainwhathewas，butcouldnot，andblushedwithpainfulheat。
　　’Well，well，well；whatishisname？’
　　InspiteofAnne’sconfusionandlowspirits，herwomanlyshrewdnesstoldheratoncethatnoharmcouldbedonebyrevealingBob’sname；
　　andsheanswered，’HisnameisRobertLoveday，sir。’
　　’Loveday——agoodname。Ishallnotforgetit。Nowdryyourcheeks，anddon’tcryanymore。Loveday——RobertLoveday。’
　　Annecurtseyed，theKingsmiledgood-humouredly，andturnedtorejoinhiscompanion，whowasafterwardsheardtobeDr——，thephysicianinattendanceatGloucesterLodge。Thisgentlemanhadinthemeantimefilledasmallphialwiththemedicinalwater，whichhecarefullyplacedinhispocket；andontheKingcominguptheyretiredtogetheranddisappeared。ThereuponAnne，nowthoroughlyaroused，followedthesamewaywithagingerlytread，justintimetoseethemgetintoacarriagewhichwasinwaitingattheturningofthelane。
　　Shequiteforgotthecarrier，andeverythingelseinconnexionwithridinghome。Flyingalongtheroadrapidlyandunconsciously，whensheawoketoasenseofherwhereaboutsshewassoneartoOvercombeastomakethecarriernotworthwaitingfor。ShehadbeenborneupinthishastyspurtattheendofawearydaybyvisionsofBobpromotedtotherankofadmiral，orsomethingequallywonderful，bytheKing’sspecialcommand，thechiefresultofthepromotionbeing，inherarrangementofthepiece，thathewouldstayathomeandgotoseanomore。Butshewasnotagirlwhoindulgedinextravagantfancieslong，andbeforeshereachedhomeshethoughtthattheKinghadprobablyforgottenherbythattime，andhertroubles，andherlover’sname。
　　XXXV。ASAILORENTERS
　　TheremainingfortnightofthemonthofSeptemberpassedaway，withageneraldeclinefromthesummer’sexcitements。Theroyalfamilyleftthewatering-placethefirstweekinOctober，theGermanLegionwiththeirartilleryaboutthesametime。Thedragoonsstillremainedatthebarracksjustoutofthetown，andJohnLovedaybroughttoAnneeverynewspaperthathecouldlayhandson，especiallysuchascontainedanyfragmentofshippingnews。Thisthrewthemmuchtogether；andatthesetimesJohnwasoftenawkwardandconfused，onaccountoftheunwontedstressofconcealinghisgreatloveforher。
　　HerinterestshadgrandlydevelopedfromthelimitsofOvercombeandthetownlifehardby，toanextensivenesstrulyEuropean。DuringthewholemonthofOctober，however，notasinglegrainofinformationreachedher，oranybodyelse，concerningNelsonandhisblockadingsquadronoffCadiz。TherewerethecustomarybadjokesaboutBuonaparte，especiallywhenitwasfoundthatthewholeFrencharmyhadturneditsbackuponBoulogneandsetoutfortheRhine。
　　ThencameaccountsofhismarchthroughGermanyandintoAustria；
　　butnotawordabouttheVictory。
　　AtthebeginningofautumnJohnbroughtnewswhichfearfullydepressedher。TheAustrianGeneralMackhadcapitulatedwithhiswholearmy。Thenwererevivedtheoldmisgivingsastoinvasion。
　　’Insteadofhavingtocopewithhimwearywithwaiting，weshallhavetoencounterThisManfreshfromthefieldsofvictory，’ranthenewspaperarticle。
　　Buttheweekwhichhadledoffwithsuchadrearypipingwastoendinanotherkey。OntheverydaywhenMack’sarmywaspilingarmsatthefeetofitsconqueror，ablowhadbeenstruckbyBobLovedayandhiscomradeswhicheternallyshatteredtheenemy’sforcebysea。
　　FourdaysafterthereceiptoftheAustriannewsCorporalTullidgeranintothemiller’shousetoinformhimthatonthepreviousMonday，ateleveninthemorning，thePickleschooner，LieutenantLapenotiere，hadarrivedatFalmouthwithdespatchesfromthefleet；
　　thatthestage-coachesonthehighwaythroughWessextoLondonwerechalkedwiththewords’GreatVictory！’’GloriousTriumph！’andsoon；andthatallthecountrypeoplewerewildtoknowparticulars。
　　OnFridayafternoonJohnarrivedwithauthenticnewsofthebattleoffCapeTrafalgar，andthedeathofNelson。CaptainHardywasalive，thoughhisescapehadbeennarrowenough，hisshoe-bucklehavingbeencarriedawaybyashot。ItwasfearedthattheVictoryhadbeenthesceneoftheheaviestslaughteramongalltheshipsengaged，butasyetnoreturnsofkilledandwoundedhadbeenissued，beyondaroughlistofthenumbersinsomeoftheships。
　　ThesuspenseofthelittlehouseholdinOvercombeMillwasgreatintheextreme。Johncamethitherdailyformorethanaweek；butnofurtherparticularsreachedEnglandtilltheendofthattime，andthenonlythemeagreintelligencethattherehadbeenagaleimmediatelyafterthebattle，andthatmanyoftheprizeshadbeenlost。Annesaidlittletoallthesethings，andpreservedasuperstratumofcalmnessonhercountenance；butsomeinnervoiceseemedtowhispertoherthatBobwasnomore。MillerLovedaydrovetoPos’hamseveraltimestolearniftheCaptain’ssistershadreceivedanymoredefinitetidingsthantheseflyingreports；butthatfamilyhadheardnothingwhichcouldinanywayrelievethemiller’sanxiety。Whenatlast，attheendofNovember，thereappearedafinalandrevisedlistofkilledandwoundedasissuedbyAdmiralCollingwood，itwasauselesssheettotheLovedays。Totheirgreatpainitcontainednonamesbutthoseofofficers，thefriendsofordinaryseamenandmarinesbeinginthosegoodolddayslefttodiscovertheirlossesasbesttheymight。