When he was gone Dolly Grey spent the remainder of the afternoon in contemplating what would have been her condition had she agreed to join her lot to that of Mr. Barry, and she came to the conclusion that it would have been simply unendurable. There was nothing of romance in her nature; but as she looked at matrimony, with all its blisses,--and Mr. Barry among them,--she told herself that death would be preferable. "I know myself," she said. "I should come to hate him with a miserable hatred. And then I should hate myself for having done him so great an evil." And as she continued thinking she assured herself that there was but one man with whom she could live, and that that was her father. And then other questions presented themselves to her, which were not so easily answered. What would become of her when he should go? He was now sixty-six, and she was only thirty-two. He was healthy for his age, but would complain of his work. She knew that he must in course of nature go much the first. Ten years he might live, while she might probably be called upon to endure for thirty more. "I shall have to do it all alone," she said; "all alone; without a companion, without one soul to whom I can open my own. But if I were to marry Mr. Barry," she continued, "I should at once be encumbered with a soul to whom I could not open my own. I suppose I shall be enabled to live through it, as do others." Then she began to prepare for her father's coming. As long as he did remain with her she would make the most of him. "Papa," she said, as she took him by the hand as he entered the house and led him into the dining-room,--"who do you think has been here?" "Mr. Barry." "Then he has told you?" "Not a word,--not even that he was coming. But I saw him as he left the chambers, and he had on a bright hat and a new coat." "And he thought that those could move me." "I have not known that he has wanted to move you. You asked me to guess, and I have guessed right, it seems." "Yes; you have guessed right." "And why did he come?" "Only to ask me to be his wife." "And what did you say to him, Dolly?" "What did I say to the Devil?" She still held him by the hand, and now she laughed lightly as she looked into his face. "Cannot you guess what I said to him?" "I am sorry for it;--that's all." "Sorry for it? Oh, papa, do not say that you are sorry. Do you want to lose me?" "I do not want to think that for my own selfish purposes I have retained you. So he has asked you?" "Yes; he has asked me." "And you have answered him positively?" "Most positively." "And for my sake?" "No, papa; I have not said that. I was joking when I asked whether you wished to lose me. Of course you do not want to lose me." Then she wound her arm round him, and put up her face to be kissed. "But now come and dress yourself, as you call it. The dinner is late. We will talk about it again after dinner."