cannot put things on paper out of
my thoughts. Do you remember how you did this sort of thing for me the
very first time I saw you?--in the gun deck of the 'Achilles'?"

He smiled, finishing the sketch he was about.

"I remember. I remember what pleasure it gave me, too. At that time I
had a little sister, just your age, of whom I was exceedingly fond."

"At that time--you _had?_" Dolly repeated.

"Yes," he said soberly; "I have not anybody now, of near kin to me."

Dolly's hand with mute sympathy stole into his. It was the first action
of approach to him that she had made, unless that coming to him in the
park three or four days before might be reckoned in the bargain. He
tossed his drawing into her lap and warmly clasped the hand.

"It is time you began to talk to me, Dolly," he said. "I have talked a
great deal, but you have said next to nothing. You must have a great
many questions to ask me."

"I don't know," said Dolly.

"Why, you know nothing about me," he said with a laughing look of his
eyes. "You had better begin. You may ask me anything."

"But knowing a person and knowing _about_ him, are very different
things."

"Very. And if you have the one sort of knowledge, it seems to me you
must want to have the other. Unless, where both are alike
uninteresting; which I cannot suppose is my case."

"No," said Dolly, laughing a little, "but I suppose you will tell me
things by degrees, without my asking."

"What makes you suppose that?"

"It would be natural, wouldn't it?"

"_Would_ it be natural, without your showing any interest?"

"Ah, but now _you_ are supposing. Perhaps I should show interest."

Sandie laughed now heartily.

"I will try you," said he. "I will begin and tell you something without
questions asked. Dolly, I have a house."

"Have you?"

"You do not care to hear about it?"

"I am glad that you have a house," said Dolly demurely. Sandie was
lying on the turfy bank, in a convenient position for looking up into
her eyes; and she found it not precisely an easy position for her.

"You do not take it as a matter of personal concern?"

"It is a house a long way off," said Dolly. "Just now we are here.''

"How much longer do you expect to be here?"

"That I do not know at all. Mother and I have tried and tried to get
father to go home again,--and we cannot move him."

"I must try," said Mr. Shubrick.

"Oh, if you could!" said Dolly, clasping her hands unconsciously--"I
don't k