"Doesn't it spoil a house to be shut up so?"
"It is not good for it. But there is nobody belonging to me that I would like to see in it; and I could never rent the old place. I am very fond of it, Dolly. It is full of associations to me."
It swept through Dolly, how she would like to put it in order and keep it open for him; and again she was silent, till admonished by a laughing, "Go on."
But Dolly did not know what further to say, and was still silent.
"There is one question you have not asked me," Mr. Shubrick said, "which would be a very pertinent one just now. You have never asked me how long I was going to stay in England."
"No," said Dolly, starting. "How soon must you—how long can you stay?"
"My leave expires in two weeks."
"Two weeks! And can you not get it extended?"
"I don't know. Perhaps, for a little. But, Dolly, there is a prospect of the 'Red Chief' being ordered home; and there is a further possibility that I may have to take her home; for Captain Busby is very much out of health and wants to stay the winter over in Naples."
"You may have to take her home. Will that give you the ship, do you mean?"