Meanwhile Sailor Cornick had gone on his way as far as the forking roads, where he met Festus Derriman on foot. The latter, attracted by the seaman's dress, and by seeing him come from the mill, at once accosted him. Jim, with the greatest readiness, fell into conversation, and told the same story as that he had related at the mill.
'Bob Loveday going to be married?' repeated Festus.
'You all seem struck of a heap wi' that.'
'No; I never heard news that pleased me more.'
When Cornick was gone, Festus, instead of passing straight on, halted on the little bridge and meditated. Bob, being now interested elsewhere, would probably not resent the siege of Anne's heart by another; there could, at any rate, be no further possibility of that looming duel which had troubled the yeoman's mind ever since his horse-play on Anne at the house on the down. To march into the mill and propose to Mrs. Loveday for Anne before John's interest could revive in her was, to this hero's thinking, excellent discretion.
The day had already begun to darken when he entered, and the cheerful fire shone red upon the floor and walls. Mrs. Loveday received him alone, and asked him to take a seat by the chimney-corner, a little of the old hankering for him as a son-in-law having permanently remained with her.
'Your servant, Mrs. Loveday,' he said, 'and I will tell you at once what I come for. You will say that I take time by the forelock when I inform you that it is to push on my long-wished-for alliance wi' your daughter, as I believe she is now a free woman again.'
'Thank you, Mr. Derriman,' said the mother placably. 'But she is ill at present. I'll mention it to her when she is better.'
'Ask her to alter her cruel, cruel resolves against me, on the score of--of my consuming passion for her. In short,' continued Festus, dropping his parlour language in his warmth, 'I'll tell thee what, Dame Loveday, I want the maid, and must have her.'
Mrs. Loveday replied that that was very plain speaking.
'Well, 'tis. But Bob has given her up. He never meant to marry her. I'll tell you, Mrs. Loveday, what I have never told a soul before. I was standing upon Budmouth Quay on that very day in last September that Bob set sail, and I heard him say to his brother John that he gave your daughter up.'
'Then it was very unmannerly of him to trifle with her so,' said Mrs. Loveday warmly. 'Who did he give her up to?'
Festus replied with hesitation, 'He gave her up to John.'
'To John. How could he give her up to a man already over head and ears in love with that actress woman?'
'O. You surprise me. Which actress is it?'
'That Miss Johnson. Anne tells me that he loves her hopelessly.'
Festus arose. Miss Johnson seemed suddenly to acquire high value as a sweetheart at this announcement. He had himself felt a nameless attractiveness in her, and John had done likewise. John crossed his path in all possible ways.
Before the yeoman had replied somebody opened the door, and the firelight shone upon the uniform of the person they discussed.
Festus nodded on recognizing him, wished Mrs. Loveday good evening, and went out precipitately.
'So Bob told you he meant to break off with my Anne when he went away?' Mrs. Loveday remarked to the trumpet-major. 'I wish I had known of it before.'
John appeared disturbed at the sudden charge. He murmured that he could not deny it, and then hastily turned from her and followed Derriman, whom he saw before him on the bridge.
'Derriman!' he shouted.
Festus started and looked round. 'Well, trumpet-major,' he said blandly.
'When will you have sense enough to mind your own business, and not come here telling things you have heard by sneaking behind people's backs?' demanded John hotly. 'If you can't learn in any other way, I shall have to pull your ears again, as I did the other day!'
'YOU pull my ears. How can you tell that lie, when you know 'twas somebody else pulled 'em?'
'O no, no. I pulled your ears, and thrashed you in a mild way.'
'You'll swear to it. Surely 'twas another man?'
'It was in the parlour at the public-house; you were almost in the dark.. And John added a few details as to the particular blows, which amounted to proof itself.
'Then I heartily ask your pardon for saying 'twas a lie!' cried Festus, advancing with extended hand and a genial smile. 'Sure, if I had known 'TWAS you, I wouldn't have insulted you by denying it.'
'That was why you didn't challenge me, then?'
'That was it. I wouldn't for the world have hurt your nice sense of honour by letting 'ee go unchallenged, if I had known. And now, you see, unfortunately I can't mend the mistake. So long a time has passed since it happened that the heat of my temper is gone off. I couldn't oblige 'ee, try how I might, for I am not a man, trumpet-major, that can butcher in cold blood--no, not I, nor you neither, from what I know of 'ee. So, willy-nilly, we must fain let it pass, eh?'
'We must, I suppose,' said John, smiling grimly. 'Who did you think I was, then, that night when I boxed you all round?'
