"No--I did not make any answer; I had not time." "I hope you do not live very near," the gallant Heron observed. "Why do you hope that?" Miss Grey said, turning her eyes upon him with an air of cold resolution, which would probably have proved very trying to a less sincere maker of compliments, even though a far more dexterous person than Mr. Heron. "Of course, because I should have the less of your company." "But there is no need of your coming out of your way for me. I don't require any escort, Mr. Heron." "I couldn't think of letting a lady walk home by herself. That would seem very strange to me. Perhaps you think me old-fashioned or colonial?" "I have heard that you are from the colonies. In London people have not time to keep up all these pretty forms and ceremonies. We don't any longer pretend to think that a girl needs to be defended against giants, or robbers, or mad bulls, when crossing two or three streets in open day." "Well, it is hardly open day now; it is almost quite dark." "The lamps are lighted," Miss Gray observed. "Yes, if you call that being lighted! You have such bad gas in London. Why does not somebody stir up people here, and put things to rights? You seem to me the most patient people in all the world. I wish they would give me the ruling of this place for about a twelvemonth." "I wish they would." "Do you?" and he looked at her with a glance of genuine gratitude in his dark eyes, for he thought she meant to express her entire confidence in his governing power, and her wish to see him at the head of affairs. Miss Grey, however, only meant that if he were engaged in directing the municipal government of London he probably would be rather too busy to walk with her. "Yes," he went on, "you should soon see a change. For instance"--they were now at the end of Victoria street, near the Abbey--"I would begin by having a great broad street, like this, running right up from here to the British Museum. You know where the British Museum is, of course?" "Yes; I live near it." "Do you really? I am so glad to hear that. I have been there lately very often. How happy you Londoners are to have such glorious places. In that reading-room I felt inclined to bless England."