She went on to tell her husband of these; and when Jack returned half an hour later to escort Captain Southorn to his room, he found the two of them laughing happily together.
CHAPTER XXXIV
The next morning—although at rather a late hour for her—Dorothy arose, feeling greatly refreshed by her sound and dreamless sleep.
While she was yet dressing, her brother rapped on the door, and told her she was to go to the little room near by, where supper had been served the night before, and that Dolly—the sutler's wife—would have breakfast ready for her.
An hour later, as she stood at the open window of her room, drinking in the fresh morning air, still bearing the odor of fallen leaves wetted by the night damps, she saw her brother, with Captain Southorn and several other men, chatting together a short distance away.
Jack was the first to turn his eyes in her direction, and seeing her, he smiled and waved his hand, at which Captain Southorn turned about and hurried toward her.
He was soon standing under the window, and reaching up took possession of one of the small hands resting upon the sill.
For an instant neither of them spoke, but Dorothy's dark eyes smiled shyly into the blue ones uplifted to her face.
"And it is really true," he said at last, with an air of conviction. "Do you know, little one, that when I awakened this morning, I was fearful at first that I 'd been dreaming it all. But knowing now what I do, how can I have the heart to go away and leave you again? Cannot you come to Boston with me now—this very day?"