in the coastguard
houses you would have a very comfortable home, and a garden to look
after; and your husband might get promotion.'

'If ever I marry,' said Sal, shaking her head, 'it won't be one of the
man-of-war's men. They've just as little spirit or independence as the
day labourers. They've had it all crushed out of them by the hard
usage of the officers.'

'Oh, how can you say so!' said Nan, warmly. 'The officers are English
gentlemen. In former days there may have been cruelty, but I am
certain that exists no longer. I know several officers: kinder-hearted
men don't exist. Why, there is a captain in the navy----'

She stopped in great embarrassment. But Singing Sal, not heeding,
said, laconically--

'It ain't the captain, Miss. He's too great a gentleman to interfere.
It's the first lieutenant, who can make the ship a hell upon earth if
he has a mind to. Ah! Miss, it's little you know of the discipline
that goes on on board a man-o'-war. There's no human being could stand
it who wasn't brought up to it. The merchantmen can't stand it, and
won't stand it; that's where the officers find a difficulty when the
Reserves are called out. You wouldn't find a man-o'-war's man marching
up to the First Lord of the Admiralty with a lump of salt beef in his
hand and asking him if it was fit to eat. And this Lord, Miss, being a
civilian like, he never thought of having the man clapped in irons:
"Throw it overboard," says he. "I will see that no more o' that kind
of stuff is issued to Her Majesty's fleet." That was the story I
heard, Miss; the men were laughing about it at Beachy Head. And then,
in the merchantmen Jack has a better chance, if he is a smart
fellow----'

And so forth. They had once more got on to the subject of sailors and
officers, regarded from their different points of view; and it was not
until they had reached Brighton that the sight of Lewes Crescent
reminded Nan that she had now to part from her companion and go in
search of mutton bones for the thrushes and blackbirds.

CHAPTER XIX.

BREAKING DOWN.

Not only was she successful in this work of charity, but she must needs
also institute a similar system of outdoor relief at her own end of the
town; so that it was nearly dusk when she re-entered the house in
Brunswick Terrace. She did not think of asking if there were any
visitors; she went upstairs; perceived that the drawing-room door was
an inch or two open, and was j