that I had received it, and signed
'A. Crowninshield.' I can show you the note. I have it in my work-box
at home. Do you know anybody of that name in the navy, Mr. Shubrick?"

"Midshipman?"

"He might not be a midshipman now, you know. That is nine years ago."

"True. I do not know of a Lieutenant Crowninshield in the navy--and I
am sure there is no captain of that name."

"That is what I thought," said Dolly. "I do not believe he is alive.
Whenever I saw in the papers mention of a ship of the navy in port, I
used to go carefully over the lists of her officers; but I never could
find the name of Crowninshield."

Mr. Shubrick here produced his pocket-book, and after some opening of
inner compartments, took out a small note, which he delivered to Dolly.
Dolly handled it at first in blank surprise, turned it over and over,
finally opened it.

"Why, this is my note!" she cried, very much confounded. "My own little
note to that midshipman. Here is my name. And here is his name. How did
you get it, Mr. Shubrick?" she asked, looking at him. But his face told
her nothing.

"It was given to me," he said.

"By whom?"

"By the messenger that brought it from you."

"The messenger? But you you--you--are somebody else!"

Mr. Shubrick laughed out.

"Am I?" said he. "Well, perhaps,--though I think not."

"But you are not that midshipman?"

"No. I was he, though."

"Your name,--your name is not Crowninshield?"

"Yes. That is one of my names. Alexander Crowninshield Shubrick, at
your service."

Dolly looked at him, like a person awake from a dream, trying to read
some of the remembered lineaments of that midshipman in his face. He
bore her examination very coolly.

"Why--Oh, is it possible you are he?" cried Dolly with an odd accent of
almost disappointment, which struck Mr. Shubrick, but was inexplicable.
"Why did you not sign your true name?"

"Excuse me. I signed my true name, as far as it went."

"But not the whole of it. Why didn't you?"

"I had a reason. I did not wish you to trace me."

"But please, why not, Mr. Shubrick?"

"We might say, it was a boy's folly."

"I shall not say so," said Dolly, tendering the note back. "I daresay
you had some reason or other. But I cannot somehow get my brain out of
a whirl. I thought you were somebody else!--Here is your note, Mr.
Shubrick. I cannot imagine what made you keep it so long."

His hand did not move to receive the note.

"I have been keeping it for