,

"F. C. COPLEY,

"CONSUL'S OFFICE LONDON,

"_Sept_. 9, 182-."

Poor Dolly read this note over and over, having thrown away the
remainder of her sweet pear as belonging only to a time of easy
pleasure-taking which was past. Was her father not coming to Brierley
then? she must get off without him? Why? And "_your_ passage"! why not
"our" passage? Dolly felt the ground giving way under her feet. No, her
father could not be coming to Brierley, or he would not have sent this
young fellow. And all things in the world were hovering in uncertainty;
nothing sure even to hope.

The eyes that watched her saw the face change, the fair, bright, young
face; saw her colour pale, and the lovely lines of the lips droop for a
moment to an expression of great sadness. The eyelids drooped too, and
he was sure there was a glistening under them.

"Did Mr. Copley say why he could not come?" she asked at length,
lifting her head.

"He did not. I am very sorry!" said Rupert involuntarily. "I guess he
could not get his business fixed. And he said you were in a hurry."

But not without him! thought Dolly. What was the whole movement for, if
he were to be left out of it? What should she do? But she must not let
the tears come. That would do nobody any good, not even herself. She
brushed away the undue moisture, and raised her head.

"Did Mr. Copley tell you who I am?" the young man asked. "I guess he
didn't forget that."

"No. Yes!" said Dolly, unable to help smiling at the question and the
simple earnestness of the questioner's face. "He told me your name."

"Left you to find out the rest?" said he. "Well, what can I do first?
That's what for I'm come."

"I don't think there is anything to do," said Dolly.

"All ready?"

"Yes. Pretty much. All except finishing."

"Lots o' baggage?"

"No, not so very much. We did not bring a great deal down here."

"Then it'll go by the coach easy enough. How will it get to the coach?"

"I don't know. We must have a waggon from the village, I suppose, or
from some farmhouse."

"When do you want to go? and I'll soon fix that."

Dolly reflected and said, "The day after to-morrow."

"All right."

He was setting forth immediately, with a world of energy in his gait.
Dolly called after him.

"To-morrow will be time enough for the waggon, Mr. Babbage."

"There'll be something else for to-morrow," he answered without pausing.

"Tea'll be ready at six," said Dolly, raising her voice