try, and I think it would be a very stupid world if
I could do it; but nobody ought to raise _expectations_ he is not
prepared to gratify."

"Like a sentence out of a book!" cried Christina. "But Sandie is the
most unchangeable person; he will not take any views of anything but
the views he has always taken; he is as fixed as the rock of Gibraltar,
and almost as distinct and detached from the rest of the world."

"And don't you like that?"

"No; confess I do not. I'd like him to come down a little from his high
place and mix with the rest of us mortals."

"What expectations does he indulge which you are not willing to meet?"

"That's the very thing!" cried Christina, in her turn stooping to
arrange the little sticks and pile more on; "he is unreasonable."

"How?"

"Wants me to marry him."

"Is that unreasonable?"

"Yes! till things are ready for such a step, and I am ready."

"What things?"

"Dolly, he is only the first officer of his ship. He was distinguished
in the last war, and he has the prospect of promotion. I don't want to
marry him till he is a captain."

"Why?" said Dolly.

"Why?--Don't you understand? He would have a better position then, and
better pay; and could give me a better time generally; and mamma thinks
we ought to wait. And I like waiting. It's better fun, I do think, to
be engaged than to be married. I _know_ I shouldn't have my head near
so much if I was married to Sandie. I do just as I like now; for mamma
and I are always of a mind."

"And are not you and Mr. Shubrick of a mind?"

"Not about this," said Christina, getting up from the hearth, and
laughing.

"Pray, if one may ask, how long have you and he been waiting already?"

"Oh, _he_ thinks it is a great while; but what is the harm of waiting?"

"Well, how long is it, Christina?"

"Dolly, we were engaged very young. It was before I left school; one
summer when I was home for the vacation. I was sixteen; that is four
years ago, and more."

"Four years!" cried Dolly.

"Yes. Of course we were too young then to think of marrying. He was
home on furlough, and I was home for the vacation; and our houses were
near together; and so we made it up. His people were not very well off,
but mine were; so there was nothing in the way, and nobody objected
much; only mother said we must wait."

"What are you waiting for now, Christina?"

"I told you. I am in no hurry, for my part. I want Sandie to get his
ship; and in the mean