‘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?’