She suddenly fell into my arms. Page [145]
All this time, though, from the night of the play, Daphne and I had been secretly happy; for on the very next day, catching her alone, I told her, in plain and seamanlike language, that I loved her, and when she showed a disposition to cut and run, I said to her, very boldly,—
“Since you scorn my love, I have the resource that every one of my calling has in these days. I shall soon go to sea, and upon the deck of my ship I can find death, since life is nothing to me without my Daphne’s love.”
At which, without the least warning, she suddenly fell into my arms, crying,—
“You’ll break my heart, if you talk in that way!” and I perceived that she was only manœuvering for position.
I do not know exactly what happened next, except I was in that heaven, Daphne’s arms, when I looked up and caught the butler and two footmen grinning at me. But it mattered not.
Next morning Daphne and I met in the drawing-room, as usual, after breakfast; but what a meeting it was! We had barely time to scuttle back to our chairs when Sir Peter entered with the newspaper, and informed me that the Bellona frigate was being fitted for the West Indies, and he thought he could get me a berth in her, at which I felt myself grow weak in the knees, so great is the power of love.
Presently he went out. Then Daphne and I began to speculate upon Sir Peter’s personal equation in our affairs.
“He will never let me marry you,” she said. “He will say I am too young.”
This depressed me so that I could say nothing in reply. Daphne continued, quite in an offhand manner,—