nd brushing
away the tears. "Rupert, if there is anything you want to see or to do
here in Venice, be about it; for I think we shall go off to Rome at
once."

She told the same thing to St. Leger when he came in; and having got
rid of both the young men set herself anew to consider how she should
speak to her father. And consideration helped nothing; she could not
tell; she had to leave it to the moment to decide.

It was late in the morning, later than the usual hour for the dejeuner
a la fourchette, which Mr. Copley liked. He did not want anything
to-day, his wife said; and she and Dolly and Rupert had finished their
meal. Dolly contrived then that her mother should go out under Rupert's
convoy, to visit the curiosity shop again, (nothing else would have
tempted her), and to make one or two little purchases for which Dolly
gave Rupert the means. When they were fairly off, she went to her
father's room; he was up and dressed, she knew. She went with a very
faint heart, not knowing in the least what she would do or say, but
feeling that something must be said and done, both.

Mr. Copley was sitting listlessly in a chair by the window; miserable
enough, Dolly could see by the gloomy blank of his face; looking out,
and caring for nothing that he saw. His features showed traces of the
evening before, in red eyes and pale cheeks; and yet worse, in the
spiritless, abased expression, which was more than Dolly could bear.
She had come in very quietly, but when she saw this she made one spring
to his side and sank down on the floor before him, hiding her face on
his knee. Mr. Copley's trembling hand presently lifted her up into his
arms, and Dolly sat on his knee and buried her face in his breast.
Neither of them was ready to speak; neither did speak for some time. It
was Mr. Copley who began.

"Well, Dolly,--I suppose you will say to me that I have broken my word?"

"O father!"--it came in a sort of despair from Dolly's heart,--"what
shall we do?"

Mr. Copley had certainly no answer ready to this question; and his next
words were a departure.

"How came you to be at that place last night?"

"I was afraid you were there"----

"How did you dare come poking about through all those crooked ways, and
at that time of night?"

"Father," Dolly said, without lifting her head, "that was nothing. I
dared nothing, compared with what you dared!"

"I? You are mistaken, child. I did not run the slightest risk. In fact,
I was o