'I couldn't get away before,' he said. 'I hope you have been well looked after.'
'Yes, indeed. Come and sit down here, Robert. What a delicious old garden this is! We are all so happy! Look at those dear little swans in the river!'
'Do you like the cygnets?' said Robert, abruptly, as he looked her full in the face, and sat down on the low wall beside her. 'Do you remember Charles Martindale?' he asked; 'we met once at John Morgan's, who went out to India? He is coming home next October.'
'Is he?' said Dolly. 'Look at that little grey cygnet scuttling away!'
'Dolly,' said Henley, quickly, 'they sent for me to offer me his place, and I—I—have accepted it.'
'Accepted it?' said his cousin, forgetting the cygnets, and looking up a little frightened. 'Will you have to go to India and leave everybody?'
Her face changed a little, and Robert's brightened, though he tried to look as usual.
'Not everybody,' he said. 'Not if——' He took the soft hand in his that was lying on the wall beside him. 'Dolly! will you come too?' he said.
'Me?' cried the unabashed Dolly. 'Oh, Robert, how could I?'
'You could come if I married you,' said Robert, in his quiet voice and most restrained manner. 'Dearest Dorothea, don't you think you can learn to love me? It will be nearly five months before I start.'