Theyearchangedfromgreentogold，andfromgoldtogrey，butlittlechangecameoverthehouseofLoveday。DuringthelasttwelvemonthsBobhadbeenoccasionallyheardofasupholdinghiscountry’shonourinDenmark，theWestIndies，Gibraltar，Malta，andotherplacesabouttheglobe，tillthefamilyreceivedashortletterstatingthathehadarrivedagainatPortsmouth。AtPortsmouthBobseemeddisposedtoremain，forthoughsometimeelapsedwithoutfurtherintelligence，thegallantseamanneverappearedatOvercombe。ThenonasuddenJohnlearntthatBob’slong-talked-ofpromotionforsignalservicesrenderedwastobeanaccomplishedfact。Thetrumpet-majoratoncewalkedofftoOvercombe，andreachedthevillageintheearlyafternoon。Notoneofthefamilywasinthehouseatthemoment，andJohnstrolledonwardsoverthehilltowardsCasterbridge，withoutmuchthoughtofdirectiontill，liftinghiseyes，hebeheldAnneGarlandwanderingaboutwithalittlebasketuponherarm。
AtfirstJohnblushedwithdelightatthesweetvision；but，recalledbyhisconscience，theblushofdelightwasatoncemangledandslain。Helookedforameansofretreat。Butthefieldwasopen，andasoldierwasaconspicuousobject:therewasnoescapingher。
’Itwaskindofyoutocome，’shesaid，withaninvitingsmile。
’Itwasquitebyaccident，’heanswered，withanindifferentlaugh。
’Ithoughtyouwasathome。’