"Robert!" she
exclaimed; "you're not serious? You don't mean to leave us on foot,
alone in the dark?"
"It's only saying good-by, my dear, the last thing at night instead of
the first thing in the morning," he answered, with a smile. "Try and
make allowances for me, Lizzie. My life has been passed at sea; and I'm
not used to having my mind upset in this way. Men ashore are used to
it; men ashore can take it easy. I can't. If I stopped here I shouldn't
rest. If I waited till to-morrow, I should only be going back to have
another look at her. I don't want to feel more ashamed of myself than I
do already. I want to fight my way back to my duty and myself, without
stopping to think twice about it. Darkness is nothing to me--I'm used to
darkness. I have got the high-road to walk on, and I can't lose my way.
Let me go, Lizzie! The only sweetheart I have any business with at my
age is my ship. Let me get back to her!"
His sister still kept her hold of his arm, and still pleaded with him
to stay till the morning. He listened to her with perfect patience and
kindness, but she never shook his determination for an instant.
"What am I to say to William?" she pleaded.
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