DLOATING. 97

the boat-builder’s last Saturday—been to be
done up and painted, you know.”

“Done up and painted!” exclaims Jack;
“why, I thought it was only built last
year!”

“Why, yes, so it was,” I answer; “but
Capt. Morris and Mr, Greenway took Freda
and Tiny out one day early this summer,
and they went and gave it a great bang
against that willow about two miles up, you
know, where there are a whole lot of small
trees half in and half out of the water: well,
at all events it requires some management
to pass that spot comfortably, and they
weren't up to it, I suppose; anyway Freda
screamed, Capt. Morris broke the boat-hook,
and between them all they managed to
scrape a good part of the paint off one side.
Great simpletons! didn’t they all look small
when they came back to dinner, and you
should have seen Father’s face as he handed
the girls out! he didn’t say much, but I
‘suppose, like the parrot, he thought all the

more!”
(220) G