. Copley grew extremely uneasy; restless and
fidgeting. Dolly ate her chop and her potatoe, needing it, I fancy; and
perhaps she wanted to gain time too. Mr. Copley had no appetite. He had
none to begin with, and certainly Dolly's appearance had not given him
what he had not before.

"You don't make much of a breakfast, father," Dolly observed.

"Never do," he returned. "No time to eat, when a man has just got up. A
cup of coffee is the only thing. The French way is the best."

"You did not use to be up so late, in the old days."

"Don't think it's the best time either; but--you must do as the rest of
the world do; swim with the--what is it?--swim with the current."

"How if the current goes the wrong way?"

"Can't help yourself; you must go along, if you are in it."

Dolly was silent, finishing her luncheon. She ate fast and hurriedly.
Then she pushed her chair away and came round and sat upon her father's
knee; laying one arm round his neck and looking into his face.

"Father," she said in her clear, musical voice, sweet as a bird's
notes,--"father, suppose we get out of the current?"

"What current do you mean? It makes a great confusion to try to have
your meals at a different hour from the rest of the world."

"I don't mean that, father."

"What have you come up to town for?"

"To see about it," said Dolly, with a smile that dimpled her cheeks
most charmingly, and covered the anxiety she did not want to show.

"To see about what? Dolly, you are grown a woman."

"Yes, father."

"And, I declare you're a beautiful woman, child. It's time we were
thinking of getting you married."

"You're not in a hurry, are you, father?"

"In a hurry!" said Mr. Copley, gazing at her admiringly. "Why, yes. I
want you to be married while you can choose your place in the world,
and enjoy it when you have got it. And you can choose now, Dolly."

"What, sir?"

"Your husband."

"But, father," cried Dolly, while her cheeks covered themselves with
the most brilliant roses, "I cannot choose what is not presented to my
choice!"

"No, child; take what _is_. That's what I am thinking of. Good enough
too. Don't you like the ticket you have drawn?"

"Father," said Dolly, turning the tables now on her side, and laying
her face in his neck, "I wish you would have nothing to do with
lotteries or gaming!"

"I have nothing to do with lotteries, child."

"But with gaming?"

"What put such a thing into your head?"

Dolly