You  seemed  to  avoid  me."

"Ifonsense,  Mr.  Dodd!  what  is  there  about  you  to
avoid?"

"  Plenty,  Miss  Fountain,  I  am  so  inferior  to  your  other
friends."

"  I  was  not  aware  of  it,  Mr.  Dodd."

"And  I  have  heard  your  sex  has  gusts  of  caprice,  and
I  thought  the  cold  wind  was  blowing  upon  me  ;  and  that


280  LOVE  ME  LITTLE,   LOVE  ME  LONG.
did  seem  very  sad,  just  when  I  am  going  out,  and  per-
haps shall  never  see  your  sweet  face  or  hear  your  lovely
voice  again."

'■  Don't  say  that,  Mr.  Dodd !  or  you  will  make  me  sad
in  earnest.  Your  prudence  and  courage,  and  a  kind
Providence,  will  carry  you  safe  through  this  voyage,  as
they  have  through  so  many,  and  on  your  return  the  ac-
quaintance you  do  me  the  honor  to  value  so  highly  will
await  you  —  if  it  depends  on  me."

All  this  was  said  kindly  and  beautifully,  and  almost
tenderly,  but  still  with  a  certain  majesty  that  forbade
love-making :  rendered  it  scarce  possible,  except  to  a
fool.  But  David  was  not  captious.  He  could  not,  like
the  philosopher,  sift  sunshine.  For  some  days  he  had
been  almost  separated  from  her.  Now  she  was  by  his
side.  He  adored  her  so,  that  he  could  no  longer  realize  ■
sorrow  or  disappointment  to  come.  They  were  uncer-
tain—  future.  The  light  of  her  eyes,  and  voice,  and
face,  and  noble  presence  were  here  :  he  basked  in  them.
He  told  her  not  to  mind  a  word  he  had  said  :  "  It  was
all  nonsense.     I  am  happy  now :  happier  than  ever.''

At  this  Lucy  looked  grave,  and  became  silent.
