Part 83 (2/2)
”No, Miss Lucy, you know better, and I know better, and there is your own sweet handwriting to prove it.”
”Miss Dodd has showed you my letter?”
”How could she help it?”
”What a pity! how injudicious!”
”The truth is like the light; why keep it out? Yes; what I have worked for, and battled the weather so many years, and been sober and prudent, and a hard student at every idle hour--that has come to me in one moment from your dear hand.”
”It is a shame.”
”Bless you, Miss Lucy,” cried David, not noting the remark.
Lucy blushed, and the water stood in her eyes. She murmured softly: ”You should not say Miss Lucy; it is not customary. You should say Lucy, or Miss Fountain.”
This _apropos_ remark by way of a female diversion.
”Then let me say Lucy to-day, for perhaps I shall never say that, or anything that is sweet to say again. Lucy, you know what I came for?”
”Oh, yes, to receive my congratulations.”
”More than that, a great deal--to ask you to go halves in the _Rajah.”_
Lucy's eyebrows demanded an explanation.
”She is worth two thousand a year to her commander; and that is too much for a bachelor.”
Lucy colored and smiled. ”Why, it is only just enough for bachelors to live upon.”
”It is too much for me alone under the circ.u.mstances,” said David, gravely; and there was a little silence.
”Lucy, I love you. With you the _Rajah_ would be a G.o.dsend. She will help me keep you in the company you have been used to, and were made to brighten and adorn; but without you I cannot take her from your hand, and, to speak plain, I won't.”
”Oh, Mr. Dodd!”
”No, Lucy; before I knew you, to command a s.h.i.+p was the height of my ambition--her quarter-deck my Heaven on earth; and this is a clipper, I own it; I saw her in the docks. But you have taught me to look higher. Share my s.h.i.+p and my heart with me, and certainly the s.h.i.+p will be my child, and all the dearer to me that she came to us from her I love. But don't say to me, 'Me you shan't have; you are not good enough for that; but there is a s.h.i.+p for you in my place.' I wouldn't accept a star out of the firmament on those terms.”
”How unreasonable! On the contrary you should say, 'I am doubly fortunate: I escape a foolish, weak companion for life, and I have a beautiful s.h.i.+p.' But friends.h.i.+p such as mine for you was never appreciated; I do you injustice; you only talk like that to tease me and make me unhappy.”
”Oh, Lucy, Lucy, did you ever know me--”
”There, now, forgive me; and own you are not in earnest.”
”This will show you,” said David, sadly; and he took out two letters from his bosom. ”Here are two letters to the secretary. In one I accept the s.h.i.+p with thanks, and offer to superintend her when her rigging is being set up; and in this one I decline her altogether, with my humble and sincere thanks.”
”Oh yes, you are very humble, sir,” said Lucy. ”Now--dear friend--listen to reason. You have others--”
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