Then followed silence. The young officer lay easily on the bank at her feet, holding Dolly's hand; sometimes bringing his eyes to bear upon her face, sometimes letting them rove elsewhere; amused, but waiting.
"I shall have to begin again," said he.
"No, don't," said Dolly. "Mr. Shubrick, where is your house?"
"About fifty miles from Boston, in one of the prettiest New England villages on the coast."
"And how much ground is there round it?"
"About a hundred acres."
"Doesn't it spoil a house to be shut up so?"
"It is not good for it. But there is nobody belonging to me that I would like to see in it; and I could never rent the old place. I am very fond of it, Dolly. It is full of associations to me."
It swept through Dolly, how she would like to put it in order and keep it open for him; and again she was silent, till admonished by a laughing, "Go on."
But Dolly did not know what further to say, and was still silent.
"There is one question you have not asked me," Mr. Shubrick said, "which would be a very pertinent one just now. You have never asked me how long _I_ was going to stay in England."
"No," said Dolly, starting. "How soon must you--how long can you stay?"
"My leave expires in two weeks."
"Two weeks! And can you not get it extended?"
"I don't know. Perhaps, for a little. But, Dolly, there is a prospect of the 'Red Chief' being ordered home; and there is a further possibility that I may have to take her home; for Captain Busby is very much out of health and wants to stay the winter over in Naples."
"You may have to take her home. Will that give you the ship, do you mean?"
"No," said he, smiling; "ships are not had at such an easy rate as that. But, Dolly, you perceive that there are several questions we must ask and answer; and the sooner the better."
"Then," said Dolly a little hurriedly,--she was afraid of the questions that might be coming,--"if you go away in two or three weeks, when shall I see you again?"
There was more of an admission made in these words than Dolly herself knew; and it was made with a tender, shy grace of tone and manner which touched the young officer with more than one feeling. He bent down to kiss Dolly's hand before he said anything.
"That is one of the questions," he said. "Let me tell you what I have thought about it. The 'Red Chief' has been a long time out; she needs overhauling. She will probably be sent home soon, and I am like to be in charge of her. I may expect to get a long furlough when I go home; and--I want to spend every minute of it with you. I do not want to lose a day, Dolly. Do you understand? I want you to be all ready for me, so that we can be married the very day I get to you."
"You mean, in America?" said Dolly, with a great flush.
"I mean, in America, of course. I want to take you straight away from your old home to your new one. I will have the house put in readiness"----
"When do you think you will be there?" Dolly broke in.
"By Christmas, perhaps."
"But I am here," said Dolly.
"So am I here, just at present," said he, smiling. "But you can go over in one ship while I am going over in another, and be there as soon as I, or before."
"I don't know," said Dolly. "I can't tell about father. I don't know when he will be persuaded to leave England."
She looked doubtful and troubled now. Possible difficulties and hindrances began to loom up before her, never looked at until then.
What if her father would not go? What if he persisted in staying by the companions who were his comrades in temptation? Could she go away and leave him to them? and leave her mother to him? Here offered itself another sort of self-sacrifice, to which nothing could be objected except its ruinous effect upon her own future. Nay, not _her_ own future alone; but what of that? "Fais que dois advienne que pourra." It all swept through Dolly's head with the speed, and something of the gloom, of a whirlwind.
"I don't know anything about his movements," she repeated anxiously.
"Only, mother and I cannot get him away."
"In that case, I will come to England for you."
"Oh no!" said Dolly, shaking her head; "_that_ would not do. I could not leave him and mother here."
"Why not?"
Dolly was silent. She could not tell him why not.
"Would it be more difficult here, than to leave them in America?" Mr.
Shubrick asked, the smile upon his lips checked by the very troubled expression of Dolly's face.
"It would not be 'difficult' here; it would be _impossible_."
"May I ask, why more impossible, or difficult, than in America?"
Dolly was silent. What could she say?
"Suppose Mr. Copley should prefer to stay in England permanently?"
"Yes," said Dolly in a sort of whisper.
"What then?"
"I do not know," she answered faintly.
"In America it would be different?"
"Yes."
"Do you know, my little Dolly, you are speaking what it is very difficult for me to understand?"
"Of course," said Dolly. "You cannot understand it."
"Are you not going to give me the grace of an explanation?"
"I cannot."
"Then I shall go to Mr. Copley for it."
"Oh no!" said Dolly, starting, and laying both her hands upon one of the young officer's, as if in pleading or in hindering. "Oh no, Mr.