John Loveday, being
obliged to return to camp, was unable to accompany them, but Widow
Garland thought proper to fall in with the procession. When she had
put on her bonnet she called to her daughter. Anne said from
upstairs that she was coming in a minute; and her mother walked on
without her.
What was Anne doing? Having hastily unlocked a receptacle for
emotional objects of small size, she took thence the little folded
paper with which we have already become acquainted, and, striking a
light from her private tinder-box, she held the paper, and curl of
hair it contained, in the candle till they were burnt. Then she put
on her hat and followed her mother and the rest of them across the
moist grey fields, cheerfully singing in an undertone as she went,
to assure herself of her indifference to circumstances.
XV. 'CAPTAIN' BOB LOVEDAY OF THE MERCHANT SERVICE
While Loveday and his neighbours were thus rambling forth, full of
expectancy, some of them, including Anne in the rear, heard the
crackling of light wheels along the curved lane to which the path
was the chord. At once Anne thought, 'Perhaps that's he, and we are
missing him.' But recent events were not of a kind to induce her to
say anything; and the others of the company did not reflect on the
sound.
Had they gone across to the hedge which hid the lane, and looked
through it, they would have seen a light cart driven by a boy,
beside whom was seated a seafaring man, apparently of good standing
in the merchant service, with his feet outside on the shaft.
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