lor meanwhile.
So, in no very amiable mood, Foster went back to his ship, finished
discharging, and delighted his old mate by telling him to get ready
for sea as quickly as possible. And on this particular evening when
our story opens the _Policy_ only waited for her captain--who had gone
ashore--so he told Stevenson--to say goodbye to the Commissary, with
parting instructions to the mate to begin to heave up as soon as he saw
his (Foster's) boat leave the Cove.

After spending half an hour with the Commissary, Foster asked to see
Miss Dorothy, and was soon ushered into the sitting-room, where the
young lady welcomed him effusively, and her manner soon drove all
suspicious thoughts of his rival out of his mind. Her mother, a placid
lady, who was absolutely ruled by Dolly and her father, smiled approval
when Foster asked her daughter to accompany him to the garden and take
a look at the harbour. She liked him, and had previously given him much
assistance by getting out of the way whenever she suspected he wanted to
see Dolly alone.

As soon as they had gained the screen of the shaded path leading to the
water's edge, Foster came to the point at once.

"Dolly," he said, "you know why I have asked you to come with me here.
My ship is ready for sea, and it may be quite two years before I shall
have the happiness of seeing you again."

"'Tis very kind of you to pay me so pretty a compliment, Captain
Foster--or I should say Mr. Foster," said Dolly, concealing a smile;
"but surely you need not have brought me out to the garden to tell me
this."

Her pretended forgetfulness of some past passages in their brief
acquaintance, as her speech implied, ruffled him.

"You are very particular with your _Mr_. Foster, Miss Dolly; and why not
'Captain'?"

Dolly raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Captains hold the King's commission and fight for their country," she
said demurely. "The master of a horrid ship that goes catching whales
has no right to the title." Then she laughed and shook her long, fair
curls.

"Upon my word, young lady, you are very complimentary; but, Dolly, no
more of this banter. My boat is waiting, and I have but a few minutes
to ask you to give me your answer. In all seriousness remember that my
future depends upon it. Will you marry me? Will you try to love me?
May I go away with the hope that you will look forward to my return,
and----"

"In all seriousness, Mr. Foster, I will not."

"Why, what have