"And how is the mother, dear?" she asked, when Dolly had drawn up a chair and sat down; for they were grown familiar friends by this time.
"She is not getting on much, Mrs. Jersey. I wanted to talk to you about her. The doctor says travelling would be the best thing."
"And you will go and travel? Where will you go?"
"I don't know yet whether we can go anywhere. Mother wants to go."
Dolly looked out hard into the tree groups on the lawn. They barred the vision.
"That is one sign then that the doctor is right," said Mrs. Jersey. "It is good for sick folks to have what they like."
"Isn't it good for people that are not sick?"
"Sometimes," said Mrs. Jersey, smiling. "But sometimes not; or else the good Lord would let them have it, when He does not let them. What are _you_ wanting, Miss Dolly?"
"I want everything different from what it is just now!" said Dolly, the tears starting to her eyes. The housekeeper was moved with a great sympathy; sympathy that was silent at first.
"Can I help?" she asked.
"Maybe you can help with your counsel," said Dolly, brushing her hand over her eyes; "that is what I came here for to-day. I wanted to speak to somebody; and I have nobody but you, Mrs. Jersey."
"Your mother, my dear?"
"I can't worry mother."
"True. You are right. Well, my dear? What do you want counsel about?"
"It is very difficult to tell you. I don't know if I can. I will try.
One thing. Mrs. Jersey, is it right sometimes, is it a girl's duty ever--to sacrifice herself for her parents?".
The housekeeper had not expected this form of dilemma, and hesitated a few minutes.
"Sacrifice herself how, Miss Dolly?"
"Marrying, for instance."
"Marrying somebody she does not care for?"
"Yes."
"How 'for her parents'?"
"Suppose--I am just supposing,--suppose he has money, and they haven't.
Suppose, for instance, they are in difficulties, and by her sacrificing herself she can put them out of difficulty? Such a case might be, you know."
"Often has been; or at least people have thought so. But, Miss Dolly, where is a young lady's first duty?"
"To God, of course; her first duty."
"And next after God?"
"To her parents, I suppose."
"And besides her parents?"
"I don't know; nobody, I think."
"Let us see. She owes something to herself."
"Does she?"
"And do you not think she owes something to the other party concerned?
don't you think she owes something to the gentleman she is to marry?"
"Yes, of course," said Dolly slowly. "I do not know exactly what, though; nor exactly what she owes to herself."
"Before taking any course of action, in a matter that is very important, shouldn't she look all round the subject? and see what will become of all these duties?"
"Certainly. But the first comes first."
"The first comes first. How does the first look to you?"
"The first is her duty to God."
"Well. What does her duty to God say?"
"I don't know," said Dolly very gravely. "I am all in a puzzle.
Something in me says one thing, and something else in me cries out against it. Mrs. Jersey, the Bible says, 'Honour thy father and thy mother.'"
"Yes, and it says, 'Children, obey your parents.' But the next words that come after, are--'_in the Lord_.'"
"How is that?"
"So as you can without failing in your duty to Him."
"Can duties clash?"
"No," said the housekeeper, smiling; "for, as you said, 'the first comes first.'"
"I do not understand," said Dolly. "It is my duty to obey His word; and His word says, obey them."
"Only not when their command or wish goes against His."
"Well, how would this?" said Dolly. "Suppose they wish me to marry somebody, and my doing so would be very good for them? The Bible says, 'Love seeks not her own.'"
"Most true," said the housekeeper, watching the tears that suddenly stood in Dolly's bright eyes. "But it says some other things."
"What, Mrs. Jersey? Do make it clear to me if you can. I am all in a muddle."