But on this particular summer afternoon he had forgotten all that, for was not Nellie, his own little Nellie, tripping along by his side?--and he never thought of his grievances when she smiled those sunny smiles of hers. He had known her for years; as children they had made mud-pies in the gutter together, and when he was a little older he used to spend the pence he got for holding horses and running errands in sweets for Nellie; and now that they were grown up, and that she was in service and he was wearing a red coat, they "walked out" together, and talked of getting married. "When I get my stripes, Nell, we'll get spliced, thet's what we'll do." Nell nodded her assent. "'Ow long'll thet be, Will?" "Not so very long, neither," he said, his boyish face lighting up with the ambition of a future field-marshal--"a year or two, maybe, maybe less--they're a-wanting good, steady men loike me." Here a loud voice behind them put an end to further confidences. "Ullo, little 'un, where are yer a-going, so 'aughty-like? Yer won't as much as look at a pal!" The two stopped and looked round as Big Bob finished his sentence, Willie with disgust written on every feature, Nellie with unqualified admiration in her brown eyes. Big Bob was accustomed to that sort of thing from the girls he condescended to talk to; he was certainly a very handsome man--fair, curly hair, a fierce moustache, and light-blue eyes that looked down protectingly on womankind in general. So without further ado he ranged up on the other side of Nellie with a "Pleased to meet yer, miss." For the rest of that walk poor Little Willie was decidedly "out of it." He had to dodge lamp-posts and walk on the curb, so that his six-foot rival should not be forced into the hedge on the other side; however, there was one consolatory thought in his mind, namely, that if Nellie managed to impress Big Bob favourably--as he had little doubt she would--the latter perhaps would give up making Willie's barrack-room life a burden to him. Nellie _did_ make a good impression on Big Bob; but, alas, for poor little Willie, it was not a one-sided affair. Next time the two lovers went for a stroll, Nell was distinctly patronizing. "Why don't yer grow, Will? Yer ain't as tall as me by a inch, and yer does look small in a red coat!" This was an awful blow; up till now, Nellie had been the only one person who told him he looked well in his uniform, and now that she should turn on him like this! "Garn!" he answered, "where's the use in bein' a lamp-post?" "But Big Bob--I mean Mr. Jones--'e ain't no lamp-post. 'E's a good sight broader in the shoulders than ever you'll be. Why, 'e'd make two of yer, 'e would!" "Well, 'e don't draw no double pay, no 'ow, and don't yer forget it, neither!"