gure, a
tall, upright figure; at first Dolly could see only the silhouette of
him against the warm outer light. She came doubtfully close up to the
open door. Then she could see a little more besides the tallness; a
peculiar uprightness of bearing, a manly, frank face, a head of close
curling dark hair, and an expression of pleasant expectation; there was
a half smile on the face, and a deferential look of waiting. He stood
bareheaded before her, and had not the air of a stranger; but Dolly was
quite bewildered. Somebody altogether strange, and yet somehow
familiar. She said nothing; her eyes questioned why, being a stranger,
he should stand there with such a look upon his face.

"I am afraid I am not remembered," said the gentleman, with the smile
coming out a little more. His look, too, was steady and straightforward
and observant,--where had Dolly seen that mixture of quietness and
resoluteness? Her eyes fell to the little cap in his hand, an officer's
cap, and then light came into them.

"Oh!" she cried,--"Mr. Shubrick!"

"It is a long time since that Christmas Day at Rome," he said; a more
wistful gravity coming into his face as he better scanned the face
opposite to him, which the evening light revealed very fully.

"Oh, I know now," said Dolly. "I do not need to be reminded; but I
could not expect to see you here. I thought you were in the
Mediterranean. Will you come in, Mr. Shubrick? I am very glad to see
you; but my thoughts were so far away"----

"You thought I was in the Mediterranean?" he said as he followed Dolly
in. "May I ask, why?"

"Your ship was there."

"_Was_ there; but ships are not stationary things."

"No, of course not," said Dolly, throwing open the blinds and letting
the summer light and fragrance stream in. "Then, when did you see
Christina?"

"Not for months. The Red Chief has been ordered to the Baltic and is
there now; and I got a furlough to come to England. But--how do you do,
Miss Copley?"

"I am well, thank you."

"Forgive me for asking, if that information can be depended on?"

"Yes, indeed I am well. I suppose I look tired. We have had sickness
here for a good while--my father. Mother and I are tired, no doubt."

"You look very tired. I am afraid I ought not to be here. Can you make
me of use? What is the matter? Please remember that I am not a
stranger."

"I am very glad to remember it," said Dolly. "No, I do not feel as if
you were a stranger, Mr. Shubrick, after