Littlebourne Lock

tiful. And though Juliet would not confess how surprised she felt, yet by little look

been for the noise of the "buses" a long way off, and those folks that came home late and creaked their door, she would

late-comers a party of gentlemen managing the lock for themselves, sh

of them get up early and let themselves through at 3 a.m., but it is none

they?" as

You'll see plenty of them i

ids, and thought at first that the folks on the river

t make herself useful, and might begi

he climbed into the boat, over the thwarts, and up to the stern. As she crept along she saw in the shadowed water at the side of the boat a vast number of little fish playing together, and, like any other child, she wanted to catch some of them. She dipped th

Even mother used to scold a little sometimes when I smashed so m

rned indoors where her aunt was putti

ou look scared. Have y

cause I've b

he jug!

soon as ever I put it in the river it

r! Which j

w one with blue

If it was only that old one with the broken spout

id Juliet. "I've broke enough in my time t

her aunt, shocked

ouse used to say every time I br

shabby at the spout and the handle, I often wished it would get itself broken instead of the pr

nstead of reproved for her stupidity, to be met with smiles rather than sighs, was something so uncommon that Juliet almost believed that she really had done

that one of the children had fallen into the well. She ran out to the back of the house, and saw the two girls standing together with consternation on their faces. It appeared that Juliet had insisted o

find any consolation for Juliet

let a loaf drop in the mud that the scavengers had swept to the side of the road. I'm too stupid and awkward fo

es could be spared from the lock he brought a punting pole, and after a good deal of trouble fished up the bucket. He called Juliet a

er. Her father and mother had sent her away because she was so stupid, and now her uncle and aunt did not want her. Well

Rowles, "do you know

es

lot that are growing near the pi

out into the garden and presently

are not radishes! You did no

N

hat I said. I am sorry you have pull

liet; "you should not s

. Grown people often make children unhappy, and c

given her every chance of correcting some of her faults. On the Sunday they dressed her in some of Emily's good clothes, and they were glad to see that she looked nice in them. She went to church in

ything else. When they came back from church that evening he, with the two gi

row, Phil,"

ed the boat from the post to which she was fast

ed to pull at all, the stream took them down so quickly. Juliet's ill-humour gave way when all around was so delightful. She saw the clear, rippling water, and the deep green shade under t

sighing, "it

out of the current under the bank of an island. Ther

great white bird

s when you see them?

t know almo

s wing will break a man's leg, and a peck from a swa

who instantly grew very angry, and stretched out their long ne

r on her side, and Juliet thought they would be upset. But she was not so frightened as to lose her wits. She did not like the swans, but the danger of being drowned was greater than

e so stupid? Don't you know that y

crying; "but you frighte

way so as to balance you, we might all have been in the water, and the swan

mily crie

s called an eyot or ait; and he also said that she had more sense than most girls, and i

ld do it without bein

eather in the air, and you would run into the banks, and g

could eat the crabs, and make a pil

," said Philip; "but don't you get playin

k your leave,

," replied Philip

more, but knitted

praise of Juliet's presence of mind. In fact she was almost too profuse, and wishing to encourage her niece

o manage a boat if you have your wits about you. When people g

emely sensible, but to Philip, who

ing in temper and conduct; praise was doing the child good s

and sixpence for it. Albert had got a rise of a shilling a-week; and baby's cheeks were getting to have quite a colour. Mrs. Mitchell was sure that Juliet was very good and very happy, and making herself useful to her aunt and

nk cotton pinafores, some few other things, and a clean, large-print prayerbook. Juliet's face grew so happy over her letter and her presents that, to Mrs. Ro

ced, drowsy fellow, always sleeping in the daytime, and never getting a bit of sunshine to freshen him up. Not like some of

nt out to

of them were quite unknown to Rowles, but in the second was

sir?" asked Rowles. "Ea

h him was a youth in a suit of flannels pulling the other

hard at first?" said t

ard; and I don't find

wn stream, and reserve your energies for coming up. I say, lock-ke

through the sluices of the lower gates. "There is a gentleman who generally comes in August, being an upper-class lawyer a

," said the old gentleman laughing

r," the yo

. on them; and young Walker-the postman, you know-would just as soon he staid in London. But before August and after Sept

the gentleman, "that the hot

at had floated near

n the gates. Not you, sir," he added to the stranger who

ame of the servant who was

Roberts; "give Mr. Bur

the lock, and then the two boats passed out into the open st

s's cheerful reply. "Call the

louding up from the south-west. "Rain coming; bring on the scarlet-run

dlework at which she had been stitching in the intervals of watching her broth

ere is

now," answ

her in. Mother says

nd Emily went upstairs to seek her cousi

was not i

ne into the lodgers' r

of her anywhere in the house, nor in the garden, nor on the

have becom