We will start at once.'
And along the vale they went, John keeping himself about a yard from
her right hand. When the third field had been crossed they came
upon half-a-dozen little boys at play.
'Why don't he clasp her to his side, like a man?' said the biggest
and rudest boy.
'Why don't he clasp her to his side, like a man?' echoed all the
rude smaller boys in a chorus.
The trumpet-major turned, and, after some running, succeeded in
smacking two of them with his switch, returning to Anne breathless.
'I am ashamed they should have insulted you so,' he said, blushing
for her.
'They said no harm, poor boys,' she replied reproachfully.
Poor John was dumb with perception. The gentle hint upon which he
would have eagerly spoken only one short day ago was now like fire
to his wound.
They presently came to some stepping-stones across a brook. John
crossed first without turning his head, and Anne, just lifting the
skirt of her dress, crossed behind him. When they had reached the
other side a village girl and a young shepherd approached the brink
to cross. Anne stopped and watched them. The shepherd took a hand
of the young girl in each of his own, and walked backward over the
stones, facing her, and keeping her upright by his grasp, both of
them laughing as they went.
'What are you staying for, Miss Garland?' asked John.
'I was only thinking how happy they are,' she said quietly; and
withdrawing her eyes from the tender pair, she turned and followed
him, not knowing that the seeming sound of a passing bumble-bee was
a suppressed groan from John.
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