When did you land?"
To this fire of eager questions Lucy was in no state to answer. "Oh,
no, Mr. Dodd," she cried, "I can't. I am choking. Yes, Miss Dodd, I am
the heartless, unfeeling girl you think me." Then, with a sudden dart,
she took David's hand and kissed it, and, both her hands hiding her
blushing face, she fled, and a single sob she let fall at the door was
the last of her. So sudden was her exit, it left both brother and
sister stupefied.
"Eve, she is offended," said David, with dismay.
"What if she is?" retorted Eve; "no, she is not offended; but I have
made her feel at last, and a good job, too. Why should she escape? she
has done all the mischief. Come, you go to bed."
"Not I; I have been long enough on my beam-ends. And I have heard her
voice, and have seen her face, and they have put life into me. I shall
cruise about the port. I have gone to leeward of John Company's favor,
but there are plenty of coasting-vessels; I may get the command of
one. I'll try; a seaman never strikes his flag while there's a shot in
the locker."
"Here, put me up, Captain Kenealy! Oh, do pray make haste! don't
dawdle so!" Off cantered Lucy, and fanned her pony along without
mercy. At the door of the house she jumped off without assistance, and
ran to Mr. Bazalgette's study, and knocked hastily, and that gentleman
was not a little surprised when this unusual visitor came to his side
with some signs of awe at having penetrated his sanctum, but evidently
driven by an overpowering excitement.
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