‘And you will go with your regiment to meet ‘en, I suppose?’ said old Loveday.
Young Loveday said that the men of the German Legion were to perform that duty. And turning half from his father, and half towards Anne, he added, in a tentative tone, that he thought he might get leave for the night, if anybody would like to be taken to the top of the Ridgeway over which the royal party must pass.
Anne, knowing by this time of the budding hope in the gallant dragoon’s mind, and not wishing to encourage it, said, ‘I don’t want to go.’
The miller looked disappointed as well as John.
‘Your mother might like to?’
‘Yes, I am going indoors, and I’ll ask her if you wish me to,’ said she.
She went indoors and rather coldly told her mother of the proposal. Mrs. Garland, though she had determined not to answer the miller’s question on matrimony just yet, was quite ready for this jaunt, and in spite of Anne she sailed off at once to the garden to hear more about it. When she re-entered, she said—
‘Anne, I have not seen the King or the King’s horses for these many years; and I am going.’
‘Ah, it is well to be you, mother,’ said Anne, in an elderly tone.
‘Then you won’t come with us?’ said Mrs. Garland, rather rebuffed.