"Perhaps you must," said Dolly sadly, lifting her face again. "If I can
get father to go home, I will; maybe you can do it if I cannot. But I
am not sure that anybody can do it. Mr. Shubrick, he did not use to be
like this; he was everything different; he was what you would have
liked; but now he has got in with some people here in whose company
he--oh, how can I tell you!" cried Dolly, bursting into tears; but then
she fought them back and struggled for voice and went on with sad
bravery. "I have told you so much, I must tell you the whole. He is not
just master of himself; temptation takes hold of him and he cannot
resist it. They lead him to play and--betting--and he loses money,--and
then comes wine." Dolly's voice fell. "I have been trying and trying to
get him back; sometimes I almost thought I had done it; but the
temptation gets hold of him again, and then everything goes. And so, I
cannot be sure," Dolly went on, as Mr. Shubrick remained silent, "what
he will do about going home. Once he would have done it for me; but I
do not know what he will do now. I cannot tell. And if there is a hope
for him, it is in me. I have not been able to do much, yet; but if I
cannot, no one can. Unless you, perhaps; but you cannot be with him.
And you see, Mr. Shubrick, that even if I can be of no use to him, I
could not leave mother all alone. I could not. I am glad you know it
all now; but"----

Dolly could say nothing more. In sorrow and shame and agitation of
spirits, she broke down and sobbed.

Her lover was very still; but though he spoke not a word, Dolly was
feeling all the while the new guardianship she had come into; what
strong love and what resolute care it was; feeling it the more because
Mr. Shubrick was so quiet about it. It was new to Dolly; it was very
delicious; ah, and what if she were but learning that now, to do
without it for ever after! Her tears had more sources than one;
nevertheless, as soon as she could manage it, Dolly mastered her
feelings and checked down the expression of them; lifted her head and
wiped her eyes, as if she had done now with tears for the term of her
natural life. Even forced a smile, as she said--

"Please, Mr. Shubrick, let me go,--you must be tired of me."

Which Dolly, to be sure, had no reason to think, and had still less
reason a minute after; being obliged to learn, somewhat to her
astonishment, that there was also a difference in kisses as well as in
some other things.