,
was in strongest contrast to the sweet, thoughtful, delicate
housewifery of his wife. It was a constant pleasure to watch her.
Tea-making, in her hands, was a nice art; her fingers were deft to cut
bread; and whenever the hands approached him, whether it were to give a
cup of tea or to render some other ministry, it was with an
indescribable shyness and carefulness at once, which was wholly
bewitching. Sandie was hungry, no doubt; but his feast was mental that
night, and exquisite.

Meanwhile, he talked. He gave Dolly details of his voyage home, which
had been stormy; got from her a full account of the weeks since she had
set foot on American ground; and finally informed her that his having a
ship was certain, and in the near future.

"Poor Christina!" said Dolly.

"Hush!" said he, laughing and drawing her with him back into the other
room; "you shall not say that again. Would you like to go to
Washington? The probability is that you will have to go."

"Anywhere," said Dolly.

They stood silently before the fire for a few minutes; then Mr.
Shubrick turned to her with a change of tone.

"Why did you think I would not spoil you?"

She was held fast, she could not run away; he was bending down to look
in her face, she could not hide it. Dolly's breath came short. There
was so much in the tone of his words that stirred her. Besides, the
answer--what came at last was--

"Sandie, you know you wouldn't!"

"Reasons?"

"Oh!--reasons."

"Yes. I want to know the reasons, Dolly."

In her desperation Dolly looked up, one good glance of her brown eyes;
then she hid her face. I think Sandie was satisfied, for he asked no
more.

"Yes," he said presently. "I love you too well, and you love me too
well. We will try to help each other up; not down. Dolly, I would not
spoil you for the whole world! and I do not believe I could if I tried."

The lady from whom this story comes, remembers having seen Mrs.
Shubrick when she was a beautiful old lady. Then and all her life she
wore her cable watch-chain.

THE END.

Typographical errors silently corrected:

Chapter 1: =if they don't know Him= replaced by =if they don't know him=

Chapter 3: ='The sails are said= replaced by =The sails are said=

Chapter 4: =what strange shapes:= replaced by =what strange shapes;=

Chapter 4: =unschoolgirl-like;= replaced by =unschoolgirl-like,=

Chapter 6: =for calculation,= replaced by =for calculation;=

Chapte