Theyearchangedfromgreentogold，andfromgoldtogrey，butlittlechangecameoverthehouseofLoveday。DuringthelasttwelvemonthsBobhadbeenoccasionallyheardofasupholdinghiscountry’shonourinDenmark，theWestIndies，Gibraltar，Malta，andotherplacesabouttheglobe，tillthefamilyreceivedashortletterstatingthathehadarrivedagainatPortsmouth。AtPortsmouthBobseemeddisposedtoremain，forthoughsometimeelapsedwithoutfurtherintelligence，thegallantseamanneverappearedatOvercombe。ThenonasuddenJohnlearntthatBob’slong-talked-ofpromotionforsignalservicesrenderedwastobeanaccomplishedfact。Thetrumpet-majoratoncewalkedofftoOvercombe，andreachedthevillageintheearlyafternoon。Notoneofthefamilywasinthehouseatthemoment，andJohnstrolledonwardsoverthehilltowardsCasterbridge，withoutmuchthoughtofdirectiontill，liftinghiseyes，hebeheldAnneGarlandwanderingaboutwithalittlebasketuponherarm。
　　AtfirstJohnblushedwithdelightatthesweetvision；but，recalledbyhisconscience，theblushofdelightwasatoncemangledandslain。Helookedforameansofretreat。Butthefieldwasopen，andasoldierwasaconspicuousobject:therewasnoescapingher。
　　’Itwaskindofyoutocome，’shesaid，withaninvitingsmile。
　　’Itwasquitebyaccident，’heanswered，withanindifferentlaugh。
　　’Ithoughtyouwasathome。’
　　Anneblushedandsaidnothing，andtheyrambledontogether。Inthemiddleofthefieldroseafragmentofstonewallintheformofagable，knownasFaringdonRuin；andwhentheyhadreacheditJohnpausedandpolitelyaskedherifshewerenotalittletiredwithwalkingsofar。Noparticularreplywasreturnedbytheyounglady，buttheybothstopped，andAnneseatedherselfonastone，whichhadfallenfromtheruintotheground。
　　’Achurchoncestoodhere，’observedJohninamatter-of-facttone。
　　’Yes，Ihaveoftenshapeditoutinmymind，’shereturned。’HerewhereIsitmusthavebeenthealtar。’
　　’True；thisstandingbitofwallwasthechancelend。’
　　Annehadbeenaddingupherlittlestudiesofthetrumpet-major’scharacter，andwassurprisedtofindhowthebrightnessofthatcharacterincreasedinhereyeswitheachexamination。Akindlyandgentlesensationwasagainarousedinher。Herewasaneglectedheroicman，who，lovinghertodistraction，deliberatelydoomedhimselftopensiveshadetoavoideventheappearanceofstandinginabrother’sway。
　　’Ifthealtarstoodhere，hundredsofpeoplehavebeenmademanandwifejustthere，inpasttimes，’shesaid，withcalmdeliberateness，throwingalittlestoneonaspotaboutayardwestward。
　　Johnannihilatedanothertenderburstandreplied，’Yes，thisfieldusedtobeavillage。Mygrandfathercouldcalltomindwhentherewerehouseshere。Butthesquirepulled’emdown，becausepoorfolkwereaneyesoretohim。’
　　’Doyouknow，John，whatyouonceaskedmetodo？’shecontinued，notacceptingthedigression，andturninghereyesuponhim。
　　’Inwhatsortofway？’
　　’Inthematterofmyfuturelife，andyours。’
　　’IamafraidIdon’t。’
　　’JohnLoveday！’
　　Heturnedhisbackuponherforamoment，thatshemightnotseehisface。’Ah——Idoremember，’hesaidatlast，inadry，small，repressedvoice。
　　’Well——needIsaymore？Isn’titsufficient？’
　　’Itwouldbesufficient，’answeredtheunhappyman。’But——’
　　Shelookedupwithareproachfulsmile，andshookherhead。’Thatsummer，’shewenton，’youaskedmetentimesifyouaskedmeonce。
　　Iamoldernow；muchmoreofawoman，youknow；andmyopinionischangedaboutsomepeople；especiallyaboutone。’
　　’OAnne，Anne！’heburstoutas，rackedbetweenhonouranddesire，hesnatchedupherhand。Thenextmomentitfellheavilytoherlap。Hehadabsolutelyrelinquishedithalf-waytohislips。
　　’Ihavebeenthinkinglately，’hesaid，withpreternaturallysuddencalmness，’thatmenofthemilitaryprofessionoughtnottom——oughttobelikeSt。Paul，Imean。’
　　’Fie，John；pretendingreligion！’shesaidsternly。’Itisn’tthatatall。IT’SBOB！’
　　’Yes！’criedthemiserabletrumpet-major。’Ihavehadaletterfromhimto-day。’Hepulledoutasheetofpaperfromhisbreast。
　　’That’sit！He’spromoted——he’salieutenant，andappointedtoasloopthatonlycruisesonourowncoast，sothathe’llbeathomeonleavehalfhistime——he’llbeagentlemansomeday，andworthyofyou！’
　　Hethrewtheletterintoherlap，anddrewbacktotheothersideofthegable-wall。Annejumpedupfromherseat，flungawaytheletterwithoutlookingatit，andwenthastilyon。Johndidnotattempttoovertakeher。Pickinguptheletter，hefollowedinherwakeatadistanceofahundredyards。
　　But，thoughAnnehadwithdrawnfromhispresencethusprecipitately，sheneverthoughtmorehighlyofhiminherlifethanshedidfiveminutesafterwards，whentheexcitementofthemomenthadpassed。
　　Shesawitallquiteclearly；andhisself-sacrificeimpressedhersomuchthattheeffectwasjustthereverseofwhathehadbeenaimingtoproduce。ThemorehepleadedforBob，themoreherperversegenerositypleadedforJohn。To-daythecrisishadcome——
　　withwhatresultsshehadnotforeseen。
　　Assoonasthetrumpet-majorreachedthenearestpen-and-inkheflunghimselfintoaseatandwrotewildlytoBob:——
　　’DEARROBERT，——IwritethesefewlinestoletyouknowthatifyouwantAnneGarlandyoumustcomeatonce——youmustcomeinstantly，andpost-haste——ORSHEWILLBEGONE！Somebodyelsewantsher，andshewantshim！Itisyourlastchance，intheopinionof——
　　’Yourfaithfulbrotherandwell-wisher，’JOHN。
　　’P。S——Gladtohearofyourpromotion。TellmethedayandI’llmeetthecoach。’
　　XXXIX。BOBLOVEDAYSTRUTSUPANDDOWN
　　Onenight，aboutaweeklater，twomenwerewalkinginthedarkalongtheturnpikeroadtowardsOvercombe，oneofthemwithabaginhishand。
　　’Now，’saidthetallerofthetwo，thesquarenessofwhoseshoulderssignifiedthatheworeepaulettes，’nowyoumustdothebestyoucanforyourself，Bob。IhavedoneallIcan；butth’hastthyworkcutout，Icantellthee。’
　　’Iwouldn’thaverunsuchariskfortheworld，’saidtheother，inatoneofingenuouscontrition。’Butthou’stsee，Jack，Ididn’tthinktherewasanydanger，knowingyouwastakingcareofher，andkeepingmyplacewarmforme。Ididn’thurrymyself，that’strue；
　　but，thinksI，ifIgetthispromotionIampromisedIshallnaturallyhaveleave，andthenI’llgoandsee’emall。Gad，I
　　shouldn’thavebeenherenowbutforyourletter！’
　　’Youlittlethinkwhatrisksyou’verun，’saidhisbrother。
　　’However，trytomakeupforlosttime。’
　　’Allright。Andwhateveryoudo，Jack，don’tsayawordaboutthisothergirl。Hangthegirl！——Iwasagreatfool，Iknow；still，itisovernow，andIamcometomysenses。IsupposeAnnenevercaughtacapfulofwindfromthatquarter？’
　　’Sheknowsallaboutit，’saidJohnseriously。
　　’Knows？ByGeorge，then，I’mruined！’saidBob，standingstock-stillintheroadasifhemeanttoremainthereallnight。
　　’That’swhatImeantbysayingitwouldbeahardbattlefor’ee，’
　　returnedJohn，withthesamequietnessasbefore。
　　Bobsighedandmovedon。’Idon’tdeservethatwoman！’hecriedpassionately，thumpinghisthreeupperribswithhisfist。
　　’I’vethoughtasmuchmyself，’observedJohn，withadrynesswhichwasalmostbitter。’Butitdependsonhowthou’stbehaveinfuture。’
　　’John，’saidBob，takinghisbrother’shand，’I’llbeanewman。I
　　solemnlyswearbythateternalmilestonestaringatmetherethatI’llneverlookatanotherwomanwiththethoughtofmarryingherwhilstthatdarlingisfree——no，notifshebeamermaidenoflight！
　　It’saluckythingthatI’mslippedinonthequarterdeck！itmayhelpmewithher——hey？’
　　’Itmaywithhermother；Idon’tthinkitwillmakemuchdifferencewithAnne。Still，itisagoodthing；andIhopethatsomedayyou’llcommandabigship。’
　　Bobshookhishead。’Officersarescarce；butI’mafraidmyluckwon’tcarrymesofarasthat。’
　　’DidsheevertellyouthatshementionedyournametotheKing？’
　　Theseamanstoodstillagain。’Never！’hesaid。’Howdidsuchathingasthathappen，inHeaven’sname？’
　　Johndescribedindetail，andtheywalkedon，lostinconjecture。
　　AssoonastheyenteredthehousethereturnedofficerofthenavywaswelcomedwithacclamationbyhisfatherandDavid，withmildapprovalbyMrs。Loveday，andbyAnnenotatall——thatdiscreetmaidenhavingcarefullyretiredtoherownroomsometimeearlierintheevening。Bobdidnotdaretoaskforherinanypositivemanner；hejustinquiredaboutherhealth，andthatwasall。
　　’Why，what’sthematterwiththyface，myson？’saidthemiller，staring。’David，showalighthere。’AndacandlewasthrustagainstBob’scheek，wherethereappearedajaggedstreaklikethegeologicalremainsofalobster。
　　’O——that’swherethatrascallyFrenchman’sgrenadebustedandhitmefromtheRedoubtable，youknow，asItold’eeinmyletter。’
　　’Notaword！’
　　’What，didn’tItell’ee？Ah，no；Imeantto，butIforgotit。’
　　’Andhere’sasortofdintinyerforeheadtoo；whatdothatmean，mydearboy？’saidthemiller，puttinghisfingerinachasminBob’sskull。
　　’ThatwasdoneintheIndies。Yes，thatwasratheratroublesomechop——acutlassdidit。Ishouldhavetold’ee，butIfound’twouldmakemylettersolongthatIputitoff，andputitoff；andatlastthoughtitwasn’tworthwhile。’
　　Johnsoonrosetotakehisdeparture。
　　’It’sallupwithmeandher，yousee，’saidBobtohimoutsidethedoor。’She’snotevengoingtoseeme。’
　　’Waitalittle，’saidthetrumpet-major。Itwaseasyenoughonthenightofthearrival，inthemidstofexcitement，whenbloodwaswarm，forAnnetoberesoluteinheravoidanceofBobLoveday。Butinthemorningdeterminationisapttogrowinvertebrate；rulesofpugnacityarelesseasilyactedupto，andafeelingofliveandletlivetakespossessionofthegentlesoul。Annehadnotmeanteventositdowntothesamebreakfast-tablewithBob；butwhentherestwereassembled，andhadgotsomewaythroughthesubstantialrepastwhichwasservedatthishourinthemiller’shouse，Anneentered。
　　Shecamesilentlyasaphantom，hereyescastdown，hercheekspale。
　　Itwasagoodlongwalkfromthedoortothetable，andBobmadeafullinspectionofherasshecameuptoachairattheremotestcorner，inthedirectraysofthemorninglight，whereshedumblysatherselfdown。
　　Itwasaltogetherdifferentfromhowshehadexpected。Herewasshe，whohaddonenothing，feelingalltheembarrassment；andBob，whohaddonethewrong，feelingapparentlyquiteatease。
　　’You’llspeaktoBob，won’tyou，honey？’saidthemillerafterasilence。TomeetBoblikethisafteranabsenceseemedirregularinhiseyes。
　　’Ifhewishmeto，’shereplied，soaddressingthemillerthatnopart，scrap，oroutlyingbeamwhateverofherglancepassednearthesubjectofherremark。
　　’He’salieutenant，youknow，dear，’saidhermotheronthesameside；’andhe’sbeendreadfullywounded。’
　　’Oh？’saidAnne，turningalittletowardsthefalseone；atwhichBobfeltittobetimeforhimtoputinaspokeforhimself。
　　’Iamgladtoseeyou，’hesaidcontritely；’andhowdoyoudo？’
　　’Verywell，thankyou。’
　　Heextendedhishand。Sheallowedhimtotakehers，butonlytotheextentofaniggardlyinchorso。Atthesamemomentsheglancedupathim，whentheireyesmet，andherswereagainwithdrawn。
　　Thehitchbetweenthetwoyoungermembersofthehouseholdtendedtomakethebreakfastadullone。Bobwassodepressedbyherunforgivingmannerthathecouldnotthrowthatsparkleintohisstorieswhichtheirsubstancenaturallyrequired；andwhenthemealwasover，andtheywentabouttheirdifferentbusinesses，thepairresembledthetwoDromiosinseldomorneverbeing，thankstoAnne’ssubtlecontrivances，bothinthesameroomatthesametime。