'No, not now, Bob. I cannot tell 'ee,' John answered, and with truth, for Loveday did not know the name of any actress in the world.
When his brother had gone, Captain Bob hastened off in a state of great animation to Anne, whom he found on the top of a neighbouring hillock which the daylight had scarcely as yet deserted.
'You have been a long time coming, sir,' said she, in sprightly tones of reproach.
'Yes, dearest; and you'll be glad to hear why. I've found out the whole mystery--yes--why he's queer, and everything.'
Anne looked startled.
'He's up to the gunnel in love. We must try to help him on in it, or I fear he'll go melancholy-mad like.'
'We help him?' she asked faintly.
'He's lost his heart to one of the play-actresses at Budmouth, and I think she slights him.'
'O, I am so glad!' she exclaimed.
'Glad that his venture don't prosper?'
'O no; glad he's so sensible. How long is it since that alarm of the French?'
'Six weeks, honey. Why do you ask?'
'Men can forget in six weeks, can't they, Bob?'
The impression that John had really kissed her still remained.
'Well, some men might,' observed Bob judicially. '_I_ couldn't.
Perhaps John might. I couldn't forget YOU in twenty times as long.
Do you know, Anne, I half thought it was you John cared about; and it was a weight off my heart when he said he didn't.'
'Did he say he didn't?'
'Yes. He assured me himself that the only person in the hold of his heart was this lovely play-actress, and nobody else.'
'How I should like to see her!'
'Yes. So should I.'
'I would rather it had been one of our own neighbours' girls, whose birth and breeding we know of; but still, if that is his taste, I hope it will end well for him. How very quick he has been. I certainly wish we could see her.'
'I don't know so much as her name. He is very close, and wouldn't tell a thing about her.'
'Couldn't we get him to go to the theatre with us? and then we could watch him, and easily find out the right one. Then we would learn if she is a good young woman; and if she is, could we not ask her here, and so make it smoother for him. He has been very gay lately; that means budding love. and sometimes between his gaieties he has had melancholy moments; that means there's difficulty.'
Bob thought her plan a good one, and resolved to put it in practice on the first available evening. Anne was very curious as to whether John did really cherish a new passion, the story having quite surprised her. Possibly it was true; six weeks had passed since John had shown a single symptom of the old attachment, and what could not that space of time effect in the heart of a soldier whose very profession it was to leave girls behind him?
After this John Loveday did not come to see them for nearly a month, a neglect which was set down by Bob as an additional proof that his brother's affections were no longer exclusively centred in his old home. When at last he did arrive, and the theatre-going was mentioned to him, the flush of consciousness which Anne expected to see upon his face was unaccountably absent.
'Yes, Bob; I should very well like to go to the theatre,' he replied heartily. 'Who is going besides?'
'Only Anne,' Bob told him, and then it seemed to occur to the trumpet-major that something had been expected of him. He rose and said privately to Bob with some confusion, 'O yes, of course we'll go. As I am connected with one of the--in short I can get you in for nothing, you know. At least let me manage everything.'
'Yes, yes. I wonder you didn't propose to take us before, Jack, and let us have a good look at her.'
'I ought to have. You shall go on a King's night. You won't want me to point her out, Bob; I have my reasons at present for asking it?'
'We'll be content with guessing,' said his brother.
When the gallant John was gone, Anne observed. 'Bob, how he is changed. I watched him. He showed no feeling, even when you burst upon him suddenly with the subject nearest his heart.'
'It must be because his suit don't fay,' said Captain Bob.