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degenerated later on) their brilliant uniforms, their splendid horses, and, above all, their foreign air and mustaches (rare appendages then), drew crowds of admirers of both sexes wherever they went. These with other regiments had come to encamp on the downs and pastures, because of the presence of the king in the neighboring town.

Ths spot was high and airy, and the view extensive, commanding the Isle of Portland in front, and reaching to St. Aldhelm’s Head eastward, and almost to the Start on the west.

Phyllis, though not precisely a girl of the village, was aa interested as any of them in this military investment. Her father’a home stood somewhat apart, aud on the highest point of ground to which the lana ascended, so that it was almost level with the top of the church-tower in the lower part of the parish. Immediately from the outside of the garden- wall the grass apread away to a great distance, and it was crossed by a path which came close to the wail. Ever since her childhood it had been Phyilis's plessure to clamber up this fence and sit on the top—a feat not so difficult as it may seem, the walls in this district being built of rubble, without mortar, so that there were plenty of crevices for small toes.

She was sitting up here one day, listlessly surveying the pasture without, when her attention was arreated by a solitary figure walking along the path. It was one of the renowned German Hussars, and he moved onward with his eyes on the ground, and with the manner of one who wished to escape company. His head would probably have been bent like his eyes but for his stiff neck-gear. On nearer view she perceived that his face waa marked with deep sadness, Without observing her, he advanced by the foot-path till it brought him almost immediately under the wall.