“Ay, that they are, Dick,” she assented, with a note of sadness in her voice. “But what I would offer you would stand the stress of all weather--fair or foul, Nell.” “I believe you, Dick, with all my heart. I know what you had to offer me; but it 's too late now, too late, Dick.” “Too late? What do you mean, girl?” The look that came into his face frightened her. She threw herself back on the settee and laughed loudly for a minute or two. “That's what I mean,” she cried, tilting up her toes until they were on a level with his knees. “What else could I mean than that I'm already sufficiently shod? Even Nell Gwyn can't wear more than one pair of shoes at a time, Dick. It's rather a pity, but 't is an ill that must be borne. Now tell us all about yourself, Dick. Tell us how you fought with pirates and buccaneers--never mind telling how you made a fortune in pieces of eight: there's no romance about making a fortune--tell us about the pirates, and above all, tell us what the Spanish Main is.” “The Spanish Main--why, it's the Spanish Main, to be sure--south of the Indies--a good place for trade, and a good place for pirates. But you, Nell; I wonder if you meant anything by saying that I had come back too late? I thought, you know, when I met your mother----” “Oh, I want to hear about the fighting--the buccaneers! I do n't want to hear about my mother; I hear enough about her. You fought the pirates? Well, next to being a pirate yourself, that's the best thing.” “Well, if you must know, I got about me a few score of lads--most of them were stout Irish lads who were sold to the plantations by Cromwell.” “The monster!” “Ay, we made up a brave crew, I can tell you. Our plan was to do no pirating on our own behalf, but only to attack the pirates when they had a deck-load of spoil. Taking from thieves is n't stealing, is it, Nell?” “No; that's business.” “A bit irregular, it may be, as I said just now; but bless you, Nelly, it was like sermon-preaching compared to some sorts of business that thrive mightily at the Indies. Anyhow, here I am to-day, sound and hearty, Nell, with a pretty nice fortune made already, and more to come--here I am, ready and willing to buy you the best pair of shoes in London town, and every other article of attire you may need for the next dozen--ay, the next fifty years.” “Dick--Dick!” “Is n't it true that you were always my sweetheart, Nell? Didn't you say that you would never marry another? Well, you've kept your word so far--your mother told me that.” “Ah, that's the worst of it.” “The worst of it! That's the best of it, Nelly; for though a fine lady, living in a mansion like this--why, it might be a palace--the King himself might come here-----” “The King--you've heard that--that the King?” She grasped him fiercely by the sleeve, and was eagerly peering into his face. He burst out laughing, but suddenly checked himself.