"I have only got half-a-crown," said she. The man flushed slightly. Rosalind fancied he was angry, and had supposed she was offering beyond her bargain, which might have implied liberality, or benevolence, or something equally offensive. But it wasn't that at all. "I have no change," said he. "Never mind about the sixpence. Send me stamps. I'll give you my card." And then he recollected he had no card, and said so. "It doesn't matter being very exact," said she. "I have no money at all. Except twopence." Rosalind hesitated. This man must be very hard up, only he certainly did not give that impression. Still, "no money at all, except twopence!" Would it be safe to try to get the half-crown into his pocket? That was what she wanted to do, but felt she might easily blunder over it. If she was to achieve it, she must be quick, for the public within hearing was already feeling in its pocket, in order to oblige with change for half-a-crown. She _was_ quick. "_You_ send it _me_ in stamps," she said, pressing the coin on him. "Take it, and I'll get my card for the address. It will be one-and-eleven exactly, because of the postage. It ought to be a penny for stationery, too.... Oh, well! never mind, then...." She had got the card, and the man, demurring to the stationery suggestion, and, indeed, hesitating whether to take the coin at all, looked at the card with a little surprise on his face. He read it: +------------------------------------+ | | | MRS. NIGHTINGALE. | | | | MISS ROSALIND NIGHTINGALE. | | | | | | KRAKATOA, GLENMOIRA ROAD, | | | | SHEPHERD'S BUSH, W. | | | +------------------------------------+ "I'm not Mrs. Nightingale," said the girl. "That's my mother." "Oh no!" said he. "It wasn't that. It was only that I knew the name once--years ago." The link in the dialogue here was that she had thought the surprise was due to his crediting her with matrimony and a visiting-card daughter. She was just thinking could she legitimately inquire into the previous Nightingale, when he said some more of his own accord, and saved her the trouble. "Rosalind Nightingale was the name," said he. "Do you know any relation----" "Only my mother," answered the girl, surprised. "She's Rosalind, too, like me. I mean, _I'm_ Rosalind. I am always called Sally, though." The man was going to answer when, as luck would have it, the card slipped from his fingers and fluttered down. In pursuing it he missed the half-crown, which the young lady released, fancying he was about to take hold of it, and stooped to search for it where it had rolled under the seat. "How idiotic of me!" said he.