band."

"No; the Bible says that is what the man shall do; leave father and
mother and cleave unto his wife."

"They work it the other way," said Lawrence. "With us, it is the woman
who leaves her family to go with the man."

"Mr. St. Leger," said Dolly suddenly, "father does not look well. What
do you think is the matter with him?"

"Oh--aw--yes! Do you think he doesn't look well?" Lawrence answered
vaguely.

"Not _ill_--but not just like himself either. What is it?"

"I--well, I have thought that myself sometimes," replied the young man.

"What is the matter with him?" Dolly repeated anxiously.

"Oh, not much, he spends too much time at--at his office, you know!"

"He has no need to do that. He does not want the office--not for the
money's sake."

"Most men want money," said Lawrence.

"But do you think he does?"

"Oh, why not? Why, _my_ father wants money, always wants money; and yet
you would say he has enough, too. Dolly"---- She interrupted him.

"But what did you mean? You meant to say he spends too much time at--at
what? Say what you were going to say."

Lawrence rolled himself over on the bank so that he could look up
straight into her face. It was a good look of his blue eyes. "Dolly,"
said he, "if you will leave father and mother for my sake,
figuratively, I mean,--of course, figuratively,--I will take care that
neither of them ever wants anything for the rest of their lives. And
you shall have a place as good as Brierley Park."

Dolly's spirits must have taken one or two quick leaps, for her colour
changed so; but happily Lawrence's speech was long enough to let her
get possession of herself again. She answered with an _a plomb_ which,
born of necessity as it was, and natural, equalled that of the most
practised fine lady which should show her artificial habit or skill.
Like an instinct of self-preservation, I suppose; swift in action,
correct in adjustment, taking its measures with unpremeditated good
aim. She answered with absolute seeming calmness--

"You evade my question, I observe."

"I am sure you evade mine!" said the young man, much more hotly.

"Perhaps I do. Naturally, I want mine answered first."

"And then will you give me the answer to my question?" said he eagerly.

"That would seem to be no more than good manners."

"What do you want to know, Dolly? I am sure I can't tell what to say to
you."

"Tell me what makes my father look unlike himself," said Dolly quietly.