Furness had certainly much improved in his appearance since he had (much against his will) been serving his Majesty. Being a tall man, he had, by drilling, become perfectly erect, and the punishment awarded to drunkenness, as well as the difficulty of procuring liquor, had kept him from his former intemperance, and his health had in consequence improved. He had been more than once brought up to the gangway upon his first embarkation, but latterly had conducted himself properly, and was in expectation of being made a corporal, for which situation his education certainly qualified him. On the whole, he was now a fine-looking marine, although just as unprincipled a scoundrel as ever. "Well, my pretty lass, didn't I see you looking out of a window just now?" "To be sure you did, and you might have heard me too," replied Nancy; "and when I saw such a handsome fellow as you, didn't I put on my bonnet in a hurry, and come after you? What ship do you belong to?" "The _Mars_, at the Nore." "Well, I should like to go on board of a man-of-war. Will you take me?" "To be sure I will; come, have a drink of beer." "Here's to the jollies," said Nancy, putting the pewter pot to her lips. "When do you go on board again?" "Not till to-morrow; we've caught our bird, and now we'll amuse ourselves a little. Do you belong to this place?" "Yes, bred and born here; but we hardly ever see a man-of-war; they stay at the Nore, or go higher up." Nancy did all she could to make Furness believe she had taken a fancy to him, and knew too well how to succeed. Before an hour had passed, Furness had, as he thought, made every arrangement with her, and congratulated himself on his good fortune. In the mean time the beer and brandy went round; even the unfortunate captive was persuaded to drink with them, and drown reflection. At last, Furness said to Nancy, "Who was that lad that was looking out of the window with you? Was it your brother?" "My brother! bless you, no. You mean that scamp, Peter, who goes in the bumboat with old Mother Chopper." "Does he?--well, I have either seen him before, or some one like him." "He's not of our town," replied Nancy; "he came here about two years ago, nobody knows where from, and has been with Mrs Chopper ever since." "Two years ago," muttered Furness, "that's just the time. Come, girl, take some more beer." Nancy drank a little, and put down the pot. "Where does Mrs Chopper live?" inquired Furness. "Where you saw me looking out of the window," replied Nancy. "And the boy lives with her? I will call upon Mrs Chopper by-and-bye." "Yes, to be sure he does; but why are you talking so about the boy? Why don't you talk to me, and tell me what a pretty girl I am, for I like to be told that."