bridge and parts of the town, could be enjoyed; and there Dolly sat
down on a step, and still without speaking to Rupert, bent forward
leaning on her knees, and seemed to give herself up to studying the
beautiful scene. She saw it; the river, the picturesque bridge, the
wavy, vine-clad hills, the unfamiliar buildings of the city, the villas
scattered about on the banks of the Elbe; she saw it all under a clear
heaven and a sunny light which dressed everything in hues of
loveliness; and her face was fixed the while in lines of grave thought
and gave back no reflection of the beauty. It had beauty enough of its
own, Rupert thought; who, I must say, paid little heed to the landscape
and watched his companion instead. The steady, intent, sweet eyes, how
much grave womanliness was in them; how delicate the colour was on the
cheek, and how tender were the curves of the lips; while the wilful,
clustering curly hair gave an almost childish setting to the features
whose expression was so very un-childish. For it was exceedingly grave.
Dolly did see the lovely landscape, and it made her feel alone and
helpless. There was nothing wonted or familiar; she seemed to herself
somehow cast away in the Saxon capital. And truly she was all alone.
Lawrence she could not apply to, her mother must not even be talked to;
she knew nobody else. Her father had let her come on this journey, had
sent her forth, and now left her unprovided even for the barest
necessities. No doubt he meant that she should be beholden to Mr. St.
Leger, to whom he could return the money by and by. "Or not at all,"
thought Dolly bitterly, "if I would give him myself instead. O father,
could you sell me!" Then came the thought of the entanglements and
indulgences which had brought Mr. Copley to do other things so unlike
himself; and Dolly's heart grew too full. She could not bear it; she
had borne up and fought it out all the morning; now feeling and truth
must have a minute for themselves; her head went down on her hands and
she burst into quiet sobs.

Quiet, but deep. Rupert, looking on in dismayed alarm, saw that this
outbreak of pain had some deep grounded cause; right or wrong, it came
from Dolly's very heart, and her whole nature was trembling. He was
filled with a great awe; and in this awe his sympathy was silent for a
time; but he could not leave the girl to herself too long.

"Miss Dolly," he said in a pause of the sobs, "I thought you were such
a Christian?