end　of　the　promenade　they　surveyed　the　quivering　waters　in　silence
  for　some　time；　until　a　long　dark　line　shot　from　behind　the
  promontory　of　the　Nothe；　and　swept　forward　into　the　harbour。
  'What　boat　is　that？'　said　Anne。
  'It　seems　to　be　some　frigate　lying　in　the　Roads；'　said　Bob
  carelessly；　as　he　brought　Anne　round　with　a　gentle　pressure　of　his
  arm　and　bent　his　steps　towards　the　homeward　end　of　the　town。
  Meanwhile；　Miss　Johnson；　having　finished　her　duties　for　that
  evening；　rapidly　changed　her　dress；　and　went　out　likewise。　　The
  prominent　position　which　Anne　and　Captain　Bob　had　occupied　side　by
  side　in　the　theatre；　left　her　no　alternative　but　to　suppose　that　the
  situation　was　arranged　by　Bob　as　a　species　of　defiance　to　herself；
  and　her　heart；　such　as　it　was；　became　proportionately　embittered
  against　him。　　In　spite　of　the　rise　in　her　fortunes；　Miss　Johnson
  still　rememberedand　always　would　rememberher　humiliating
  departure　from　Overcombe；　and　it　had　been　to　her　even　a　more
  grievous　thing　that　Bob　had　acquiesced　in　his　brother's　ruling　than
  that　John　had　determined　it。　　At　the　time　of　setting　out　she　was
  sustained　by　a　firm　faith　that　Bob　would　follow　her；　and　nullify　his
  brother's　scheme；　but　though　she　waited　Bob　never　came。
  She　passed　along　by　the　houses　facing　the　sea；　and　scanned　the
  shore；　the　footway；　and　the　open　road　close　to　her；　which；
  illuminated　by　the　slanting　moon　to　a　great　brightness；　sparkled
  with　minute　facets　of　crystallized　salts　from　the　water　sprinkled
  there　during　the　day。　　The　promenaders　at　the　further　edge　appeared
  in　dark　profiles；　and　beyond　them　was　the　grey　sea；　parted　into　two
  masses　by　the　tapering　braid　of　moonlight　across　the　waves。
  Two　forms　crossed　this　line　at　a　startling　nearness　to　her；　she
  marked　them　at　once　as　Anne　and　Bob　Loveday。　　They　were　walking
  slowly；　and　in　the　earnestness　of　their　discourse　were　oblivious　of
  the　presence　of　any　human　beings　save　themselves。　　Matilda　stood
  motionless　till　they　had　passed。
  'How　I　love　them！'　she　said；　treading　the　initial　step　of　her　walk
  onwards　with　a　vehemence　that　walking　did　not　demand。
  'So　do　Iespecially　one；'　said　a　voice　at　her　elbow；　and　a　man
  wheeled　round　her；　and　looked　in　her　face；　which　had　been　fully
  exposed　to　the　moon。
  'Youwho　are　you？'　she　asked。
  'Don't　you　remember；　ma'am？　　We　walked　some　way　together　towards
  Overcombe　earlier　in　the　summer。'　　Matilda　looked　more　closely；　and
  perceived　that　the　speaker　was　Derriman；　in　plain　clothes。　　He
  continued；　'You　are　one　of　the　ladies　of　the　theatre；　I　know。　　May　I
  ask　why　you　said　in　such　a　queer　way　that　you　loved　that　couple？'
  'In　a　queer　way？'
  'Well；　as　if　you　hated　them。'
  'I　don't　mind　your　knowing　that　I　have　good　reason　to　hate　them。
  You　do　too；　it　seems？'
  'That　man；'　said　Festus　savagely；　'came　to　me　one　night　about　that
  very　woman；　insulted　me　before　I　could　put　myself　on　my　guard；　and
  ran　away　before　I　could　come　up　with　him　and　avenge　myself。　　The
  woman　tricks　me　at　every　turn！　　I　want　to　part　'em。'
  'Then　why　don't　you？　　There's　a　splendid　opportunity。　　Do　you　see
  that　soldier　walking　along？　　He's　a　marine；　he　looks　into　the
  gallery　of　the　theatre　every　night：　　and　he's　in　connexion　with　the
  press…gang　that　came　ashore　just　now　from　the　frigate　lying　in
  Portland　Roads。　　They　are　often　here　for　men。'
  'Yes。　　Our　boatmen　dread　'em。'
  'Well；　we　have　only　to　tell　him　that　Loveday　is　a　seaman　to　be　clear
  of　him　this　very　night。'
  'Done！'　said　Festus。　　'Take　my　arm　and　come　this　way。'　　They　walked
  across　to　the　footway。　　'Fine　night；　sergeant。'
  'It　is；　sir。'
  'Looking　for　hands；　I　suppose？'
  'It　is　not　to　be　known；　sir。　　We　don't　begin　till　half　past　ten。'
  'It　is　a　pity　you　don't　begin　now。　　I　could　show　'ee　excellent
  game。'
  'What；　that　little　nest　of　fellows　at　the　〃Old　Rooms〃　in　Cove　Row？
  I　have　just　heard　of　'em。'
  'Nocome　here。'　　Festus；　with　Miss　Johnson　on　his　arm；　led　the
  sergeant　quickly　along　the　parade；　and　by　the　time　they　reached　the
  Narrows　the　lovers；　who　walked　but　slowly；　were　visible　in　front　of
  them。　　'There's　your　man；'　he　said。
  'That　buck　in　pantaloons　and　half…bootsa　looking　like　a　squire？'
  'Twelve　months　ago　he　was　mate　of　the　brig　Pewit；　but　his　father　has
  made　money；　and　keeps　him　at　home。'
  'Faith；　now　you　tell　of　it；　there's　a　hint　of　sea　legs　about　him。
  What's　the　young　beau's　name？'
  'Don't　tell！'　whispered　Matilda；　impulsively　clutching　Festus's　arm。
  But　Festus　had　already　said；　'Robert　Loveday；　son　of　the　miller　at
  Overcombe。　　You　may　find　several　likely　fellows　in　that
  neighbourhood。'
  The　marine　said　that　he　would　bear　it　in　mind；　and　they　left　him。
  'I　wish　you　had　not　told；'　said　Matilda　tearfully。　　'She's　the
  worst！'
  'Dash　my　eyes　now；　listen　to　that！　　Why；　you　chicken…hearted　old
  stager；　you　was　as　well　agreed　as　I。　　Come　now；　hasn't　he　used　you
  badly？'
  Matilda's　acrimony　returned。　　'I　was　down　on　my　luck；　or　he　wouldn't
  have　had　the　chance！'　she　said。
  'Well；　then；　let　things　be。'
  XXXI。　　MIDNIGHT　VISITORS
  Miss　Garland　and　Loveday　walked　leisurely　to　the　inn　and　called　for
  horse…and…gig。　　While　the　hostler　was　bringing　it　round；　the
  landlord；　who　knew　Bob　and　his　family　well；　spoke　to　him　quietly　in
  the　passage。
  'Is　this　then　because　you　want　to　throw　dust　in　the　eyes　of　the
  Black　Diamond　chaps？'　（with　an　admiring　glance　at　Bob's　costume）。
  'The　Black　Diamond？'　said　Bob；　and　Anne　turned　pale。
  'She　hove　in　sight　just　after　dark；　and　at　nine　o'clock　a　boat
  having　more　than　a　dozen　marines　on　board；　with　cloaks　on；　rowed
  into　harbour。'
  Bob　reflected。　　'Then　there'll　be　a　press　to…night；　depend　upon　it；'
  he　said。
  'They　won't　know　you；　will　they；　Bob？'　said　Anne　anxiously。
  'They　certainly　won't　know　him　for　a　seaman　now；'　remarked　the
  landlord；　laughing；　and　again　surveying　Bob　up　and　down。　　'But　if　I
  was　you　two；　I　should　drive　home…along　straight　and　quiet；　and　be
  very　busy　in　the　mill　all　to…morrow；　Mr。　Loveday。'
  They　drove　away；　and　when　they　had　got　onward　out　of　the　town；　Anne
  strained　her　eyes　wistfully　towards　Portland。　　Its　dark　contour；
  lying　like　a　whale　on　the　sea；　was　just　perceptible　in　the　gloom　as
  the　background　to　half…a…dozen　ships'　lights　nearer　at　hand。
  'They　can't　make　you　go；　now　you　are　a　gentleman　tradesman；　can
  they？'　she　asked。
  'If　they　want　me　they　can　have　me；　dearest。　　I　have　often　said　I
  ought　to　volunteer。'
  'And　not　care　about　me　at　all？'
  'It　is　just　that　that　keeps　me　at　home。　　I　won't　leave　you　if　I　can
  help　it。'
  'It　cannot　make　such　a　vast　difference　to　the　country　whether　one
  man　goes　or　stays！　　But　if　you　want　to　go　you　had　better；　and　not
  mind　us　at　all！'
  Bob　put　a　period　to　her　speech　by　a　mark　of　affection　to　which
  history　affords　many　parallels　in　every　age。　　She　said　no　more　about
  the　Black　Diamond；　but　whenever　they　ascended　a　hill　she　turned　her
  head　to　look　at　the　lights　in　Portland　Roads；　and　the　grey　expanse
  of　intervening　sea。
  Though　Captain　Bob　had　stated　that　he　did　not　wish　to　volunteer；　and
  would　not　leave　her　if　he　could　help　it；　the　remark　required　some
  qualification。　　That　Anne　was　charming　and　loving　enough　to　chain
  him　anywhere　was　true；　but　he　had　begun　to　find　the　mill…work
  terribly　irksome　at　times。　　Often　during　the　last　month；　when
  standing　among　the　rumbling　cogs　in　his　new　miller's　suit；　which　ill
  became　him；　he　had　yawned；　thought　wistfully　of　the　old　pea…jacket；
  and　the　waters　of　the　deep　blue　sea。　　His　dread　of　displeasing　his
  father　by　showing　anything　of　this　change　of　sentiment　was　great；
  yet　he　might　have　braved　it　but　for　knowing　that　his　marriage　with
  Anne；　which　he　hoped　might　take　place　the　next　year；　was　dependent
  entirely　upon　his　adherence　to　the　mill　business。　　Even　were　his
  father　indifferent；　Mrs。　Loveday　would　never　intrust　her　only
  daughter　to　the　hands　of　a　husband　who　would　be　away　from　home
  five…sixths　of　his　time。
  But　though；　apart　from　Anne；　he　was　not　averse　to　seafaring　in
  itself；　to　be　smuggled　thither　by　the　machinery　of　a　press…gang　was
  intolerable；　and　the　process　of　seizing；　stunning；　pinioning；　and
  carrying　off　unwilling　hands　was　one　which　Bob　as　a　man　had　always
  determined　to　hold　out　against　to　the　utmost　of　his　power。　　Hence；
  as　they　went　towards　home；　he　frequently　listened　for　sounds　behind
  him；　but　hearing　none　he　assured　his　sweetheart　that　they　were　safe
  for　that　night　at　least。　　The　mill　was　still　going　when　they
  arrived；　though　old　Mr。　Loveday　was　not　to　be　seen；　he　had　retired
  as　soon　as　he　heard　the　horse's　hoofs　in　the　lane；　leaving　Bob　to
  watch　the　grinding　till　three　o'clock；　when　the　elder　would　rise；
  and　Bob　withdraw　to　beda　frequent　arrangement　between　them　since
  Bob　had　taken　the　place　of　grinder。
  Having　reached　the　privacy　of　her　own　room；　Anne　threw　open　the
  window；　for　she　had　not　the　slightest　intention　of　going　to　bed　just
  yet。　　The　tale　of　the　Black　Diamond　had　disturbed　her　by　a　slow；
  insidious　process　that　was　worse　than　sudden　fright。　　Her　window
  looked　into　the　court　before　the　house；　now　wrapped　in　the　shadow　of
  the　trees　and　the　hill；　and　she　leaned　upon　its　sill　listening
  intently。　　She　could