‘Why, this,’ he said, smacking his breast-pocket. ‘A lock of hair that Matilda gave me.’
Anne sank back with parted lips.
‘I am going to give it to Jack—he’ll jump for joy to get it! And it will show him how willing I am to give her up to him, fine piece as she is.’
‘Will you see her to-day, Bob?’ Anne asked with an uncertain smile.
‘O no—unless it is by accident.’
On reaching the outskirts of the town he went straight to the barracks, and was lucky enough to find John in his room, at the left-hand corner of the quadrangle. John was glad to see him; but to Bob’s surprise he showed no immediate contrition, and thus afforded no room for the brotherly speech of forgiveness which Bob had been going to deliver. As the trumpet-major did not open the subject, Bob felt it desirable to begin himself.
‘I have brought ye something that you will value, Jack,’ he said, as they sat at the window, overlooking the large square barrack-yard. ‘I have got no further use for it, and you should have had it before if it had entered my head.’
‘Thank you, Bob; what is it?’ said John, looking absently at an awkward squad of young men who were drilling in the enclosure.
‘’Tis a young woman’s lock of hair.’
‘Ah!’ said John, quite recovering from his abstraction, and slightly flushing. Could Bob and Anne have quarrelled? Bob drew the paper from his pocket, and opened it.