But Miss Dolly was not to be seen that day, nor yet on the following one. She was vexed at Foster having thought of his work before herself, and she had determined to punish him by not meeting him for some little time, and amuse herself with the handsome young Dutch sailor 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——”