'But only as far as Lewes Crescent,' said Nan, with a gentle laugh. 'You know I am going to stop there for the mutton bones. I want to know what has happened to you since the last time I saw you--that's a good while ago now.' 'Two things, Miss, has happened that I'm proud of;' said Sal, as the two set out to face the brisk westerly wind. 'I was taking a turn through Surrey, and when I was at ----, they told me that a great poet lived close by there--Mr. ----' 'Of course every one knows Mr. ----,' said Nan. 'I didn't,' said Sal, rather shamefacedly. 'You see, Miss, the two I showed you are enough company for me; and I haven't got money to buy books wi'. Well, I was passing near the old gentleman's house, and he came out, and he spoke to me as we went along the road. He said he had seen me reading the afternoon before, on the common; and he began to speak about poetry; and then he asked me if I had read any of Mr. ----'s, without saying he was himself. I was sorry to say no, Miss, for he was such a kind old gentleman; but he said he would send me them; and most like they're waiting for me now at Goring, where I gave him an address. Lor', the questions he asked me!--about Shakespeare and Burns--you know, Miss, I had them in my bag; and then about myself. I shouldn't wonder if he wrote a poem about me.' 'Well, that's modest,' said Nan, with another quiet laugh. Sal did not at all like that gentle reproof. 'It isn't my pride, Miss; it's what he said to me that I go by,' she retorted. 'I didn't ask him.' 'If he does, all England will hear about you then,' said Nan. 'And now, what was the other thing?' Sal again grew shamefaced a little. She opened the inner side of her wallet, took out a soiled, weather-beaten copy of the _Globe_ Shakespeare, and from it extracted a letter. 'Perhaps you would like to read it yourself, Miss,' she suggested. Nan took it, and had little difficulty in deciphering its contents, though the language was occasionally a trifle hyperbolical. It contained nothing less than an offer of marriage addressed to Sal by a sailor in one of Her Majesty's ironclads, who said that he was tired of the sea, and that, if Sal would give up her wandering life, so would he, and he would retire into the coastguard. He pointed out the sacrifices he was ready to make for her; for it appeared that he was a petty officer. No matter; he was willing to become simple A.B. again; for he had his 'feelin's;' and if so be as she would become his wife, then they would have a good weather-proof cottage, a bit of garden, and three-and-fourpence a day. It was a most business-like, sensible offer. 'And I'm sure I could do something for him,' Nan eagerly said. 'I think I could get him promotion. The Senior Naval Lord of the Admiralty is a friend of mine. And wouldn't it be better for you?'