He grumbled when I answered no, and the stranger, who had not passed on, but was listening to what was said, turned pleasantly to me.
"You have no change, mam'zelle ?" he asked, speaking rather slowly, as if English was not his ordinary speech.

"Very well! are you going to Southampton ?" "Yes, by the next train," I answered, deciding upon that course without hesitation.
"So am I, mam'zelle," he said, raising his hand to his oil-skin cap; "I will pay this sixpence, and you can give it me again, when you buy your ticket in the office." I smiled quickly, gladly; and he smiled back upon me, but gravely, as if his face was not used to a smile.

I passed on into the station, where a train was standing, and people hurrying about the platform, choosing their carriages.

At the ticket-office they changed my Australian gold-piece without a word; and I sought out my seaman friend to return the sixpence he had paid to me.

He had done me a greater kindness than he could ever know, and I thanked him heartily.