They now entered the pretty little town of Yarmouth, and had a fine view of the opposite shore of Dorsetshire, with the projecting point of land on which Hurst Castle is erected, stretching far into the sea, and the little town of Lymington in the distance. Mrs. Merton pointed this out to her daughter, and also told her that it was supposed that formerly the Isle of Wight was united to the mainland at this part. “Indeed,” continued she, “the sea at one place is, I believe, only one mile across; and it is said there is a lane in the Isle of Wight leading directly down to this point, which is abruptly cut off by the sea, and which is supposed formerly to have been carried on at the other side.” “I think, my dear,” said Mr. Merton, laughing, “you must not attach too much importance to that lane, as it may have merely led down to the beach. Besides, even if the Isle of Wight was once attached to the mainland, it must have been a long time ago; as the Romans, who took possession of the Isle of Wight, in the reign of the Emperor Claudius, in the year 45, describe it as an island. However,” he continued, “after all, it is very possible that the Isle of Wight was, at some distant period, united to the mainland, as the soil of which it is composed, being of a chalky nature, is easily soluble in water; and, indeed, the very name of the strait which separates the island from the mainland, and which is called the Solent or Solvent sea, seems to express that it has dissolved the soil which connected it with the mainland.” “Is that an old name?” asked Mrs. Merton. “I thought the Solent sea had been, comparatively, a modern appellation.” “It was the common name of the strait before the time of the Venerable Bede,” said Mr. Merton. Agnes, who began to get a little tired with this conversation, was glad when the carriage stopped at a curious old house, that looked more like an ancient manor-house than an inn; and which in fact was the very house in which Charles II. was entertained in the year 1671, by the gallant admiral, Sir Robert Holme.