"O, Nancy, is that you? I was just sighing over you, here's the things that were ordered for your wedding. Poor girl! I fear you have not often been to church since." Nancy was silent for a short time. "I'm sick of my life and sick of myself, Mrs Chopper: but what can I do?--a wretch like me! I wish I could run away, as poor Peter must directly, and go to where I never was known; I should be so happy." "Peter must go, do you say, Nancy? Is that certain?" "Most certain, Mrs Chopper, and he must be off directly I have been with the marines, and the fellow has told me everything; he is only waiting now for me to go back, to come and take him." "But tell me, Nancy, has Peter been guilty?" "I believe from my heart that he has done nothing; but still murder was committed, and Peter will be apprehended, unless you give him the means of running away. Where is he now?" "Asleep, fast asleep: I didn't like to wake him, poor fellow!" "Then he must be innocent, Mrs Chopper: they say the guilty never sleep. But what will he do--he has no money?" "He has saved me a mint of money, and he shall not want it," replied Mrs Chopper. "What shall I do without him? I can't bear to part with him." "But you must, Mrs Chopper; and, if you love him, you will give him the means, and let him be off directly. I wish I was going too," continued Nancy, bursting into tears. "Go with him, Nancy, and look after him, and take care of my poor Peter," said Mrs Chopper, whimpering; "go, my child, go, and lead a good life. I should better part with him, if I thought you were with him, and away from this horrid place." "Will you let me go with him, Mrs Chopper--will you, indeed?" cried Nancy, falling on her knees. "Oh! I will watch him as a mother would her son, as a sister would her brother! Give us but the means to quit this place, and the good and the wicked both will bless you." "That you shall have, my poor girl, it has often pained my heart to look at you; for I felt that you are too good for what you are, and you will be again a good honest girl. You both shall go. Poor Peter! I wish I were young enough, I would go with you; but I can't. How I shall be cheated again when he is gone! but go he must. Here Nancy, take the money; take all I have in the house:" and Mrs Chopper put upwards of 20 pounds into Nancy's hand as she was kneeling before her. Nancy fell forward with her face in the lap of the good old woman, suffocated with emotion and tears. "Come, come, Nancy," said Mrs Chopper, after a pause, and wiping her eyes with her apron, "you mustn't take on so, my poor girl. Recollect poor Peter; there's no time to lose." "That is true," replied Nancy, rising up. "Mrs Chopper you have done a deed this night for which you will have your reward in heaven. May the God of mercy bless you! and, as soon as I dare, night and morning will I pray for you."