Small independent girl briefly meets disheartened sailor, 24 (5,6)
I believe the answer is:
silas marner
'small' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'independent girl briefly meets disheartened sailor 24' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'independent' could be 'i' and 'i' is found in the answer.
'girl' could be 'marne' and 'marne' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).
(Other definitions for silas marner that I've seen before include "George Eliot novel" , "Eliot book and character - siren alarms (anag)" , "Book by George Eliot" .)