96 MADGE’S MISTAKE,

“Nothing,” I reply promptly. “Why, I
thought you knew that we had permission, all
of us, to go out in the boat any time before
sunset, as long as we never go beyond the
Hull Farm gate, which you know one can’t
very well pass without seeing, as it is half
sunk in the water, and no easy matter to
steer round, even when one wants to—no,
don’t you be afraid, Jack,” I say confidently,
“Father knew what he was about, depend
upon it; he knows there are few people
handle a scull better than Gip and J, and
what is more, he knows that we can both
swim.”

“Well, £ never knew anything about it,”
remarks Jack, after this long explanation;
“but, then, I don’t think I’ve heard the boat
mentioned since I came home this term;
besides, I don’t care for rowing much myself,
you know, so it’s natural I shouldn’t trouble
my head about the matter.”

“Yes, of course,” I reply; “and as to your
hearing nothing about the boat, that’s not
surprising either, for it only came back from