Meanwhile, he talked. He gave Dolly details of his voyage home, which had been stormy; got from her a full account of the weeks since she had set foot on American ground; and finally informed her that his having a ship was certain, and in the near future.
"Poor Christina!" said Dolly.
"Hush!" said he, laughing and drawing her with him back into the other room; "you shall not say that again. Would you like to go to Washington? The probability is that you will have to go."
"Anywhere," said Dolly.
They stood silently before the fire for a few minutes; then Mr. Shubrick turned to her with a change of tone.
"Why did you think I would not spoil you?"
She was held fast, she could not run away; he was bending down to look in her face, she could not hide it. Dolly's breath came short. There was so much in the tone of his words that stirred her. Besides, the answer—what came at last was—
"Sandie, you know you wouldn't!"
"Reasons?"
"Oh!—reasons."
"Yes. I want to know the reasons, Dolly."
In her desperation Dolly looked up, one good glance of her brown eyes; then she hid her face. I think Sandie was satisfied, for he asked no more.
"Yes," he said presently. "I love you too well, and you love me too well. We will try to help each other up; not down. Dolly, I would not spoil you for the whole world! and I do not believe I could if I tried."
The lady from whom this story comes, remembers having seen Mrs. Shubrick when she was a beautiful old lady. Then and all her life she wore her cable watch-chain.
THE END.
Typographical errors silently corrected:
Chapter 1: =if they don't know Him= replaced by =if they don't know him=
Chapter 3: ='The sails are said= replaced by =The sails are said=
Chapter 4: =what strange shapes:= replaced by =what strange shapes;=
Chapter 4: =unschoolgirl-like;= replaced by =unschoolgirl-like,=
Chapter 6: =for calculation,= replaced by =for calculation;=
Chapter 10: =all her beauty she= replaced by =all her beauty, she=
Chapter 10: =pay my gardener.= replaced by =pay my gardener."=
Chapter 11: =old-fashioned flowers showed= replaced by =old-fashioned flowers, showed=
Chapter 18: =with it. I should= replaced by =with it, I should=
Chapter 18: =No" said Rupert= replaced by =No," said Rupert=
Chapter 20: =If Lawrence, had= replaced by =If Lawrence had=
Chapter 22: =there by interpreting= replaced by =there, by interpreting=
Chapter 22: =to him, Dolly= replaced by =to Him, Dolly=
Chapter 23: =in thee.—I am= replaced by =in thee.'—I am=
Chapter 25: =and he cometh.= replaced by =and he cometh.'=
Chapter 25: ="Though people do= replaced by ="though people do=
Chapter 26: =ways, of private= replaced by =ways of private=
Chapter 28: =hateth you."= replaced by =hateth you.'"=