They moved on again toward Stonehanger, Nance looking at Jasper a little shyly.
"You are a soldier, are you not?"
"A lieutenant of volunteers. Nearly all the gentry are serving in one way or another."
"You wore a soldier's red-coat that night. If the French land it will be a terrible thing for us all."
"It may be more terrible for the French."
"But Napoleon! Who have we to put against him? And they say the French are such ruffians; think of having them quartered on us, and doing just as they please. I sometimes start awake at night and think I hear the sound of guns."
"Do you?"
"Stonehanger is such a windy old place. It is the sound of the wind in the chimneys."
Jasper looked at her gravely.
"I can promise you and your father an early warning should the French land. All the country folk will be hurried away inland with the cattle and the corn."