Then she tried to turn it off.

“Mr. Dodd, how can you be so ridiculous?” said she, affecting humorous disdain.

But David was not to be put down now; he was launched.

“I am not ridiculous for loving and worshiping you, for you are worthy of even more love than any human heart can hold.”

“Oh, hush, Mr. Dodd.  I must not hear this.”

“Miss Lucy, I can’t keep it any longer—­you must, you shall hear me.  You can despise my love if you will, but you shall know it before you reject it.”

“Mr. Dodd, you have every right to be heard, but let me persuade you not to insist.  Oh, why did I come back?”

“The first moment I saw you, Miss Lucy, it was a new life to me.  I never looked twice at any girl before.  It is not your beauty only—­oh, no! it is your goodness—­goodness such as I never thought was to be found on earth.  Don’t turn your head from me; I know my defects; could I look on you and not see them?  My manners are blunt and rude—­oh, how different from yours! but you could soon make me a fine gentleman, I love you so.  And I am only the first mate of an Indiaman; but I should be a captain next voyage, Miss Lucy, and a sailor like me has no expenses; all he has is his wife’s.  The first lady in the land will not be petted as you will, if you will look kindly on me.  Listen to me,” trying to tempt her.  “No, Miss Lucy, I have nothing to offer you worth your acceptance, only my love.  No man ever loved woman as I love you; it is not love, it is worship, it is adoration!  Ah! she is going to speak to me at last!”

Lucy presented at this moment a strange contrast of calmness and agitation.  Her bosom heaved quickly, and she was pale, but her voice was calm, and, though gentle, decided.

“I know you love me, Mr. Dodd, and I feared this.  I have tried to save you the mortification of being declined by one who, in many things, is your inferior.  I have even been rude and unkind to you.  Forgive me for it.  I meant it kindly.  I regret it now.  Mr. Dodd, I thank you for the honor you do me, but I cannot accept your love.”  There was a pause, but David’s tongue seemed glued to the roof of his mouth.  He was not surprised, yet he was stupefied when the blow came.

At last he gasped out, “You love some other man?”

Lucy was silent.

“Answer me, for pity’s sake; give me something to help me.”

“You have no right to ask me such a question, but—­I have no attachment, Mr. Dodd.”

“Ah! then one word more.  Is it because you cannot love me, or because I am poor, and only first mate of an Indiaman?”

“That I will not answer.  You have no right to question a lady why she—­Stay! you wish to despise me.  Well, why not, if that will cure you of this unfortunate—­ Think what you please of me, Mr. Dodd,” murmured Lucy, sadly.

“Ah! you know I can’t,” cried David, despairingly.