Littlebourne Lock

that if the Fairy had drifted down to Banksome Weir they would probably be too late to

boat in mid-stream that it might get the full force of the current. Phil knelt in the bows, keeping the

trees, houses. Sometimes they could see nothing more distant than a hedge, at other times the flat fields stretched back and back, and

a smaller one tied to its stern coming up the middle of the stream. "It is that old gentleman who, they say, is s

ed Philip. "All

umbrella, sat the truant girl, while young Leonard w

eatly relieved in mind that he almost felt inclined to

r. Webster to Mr. Burnet. "When they discovered that the boat was missing as well

side Mr. Burnet's, and held the rowlock

hurt in

think we came upo

down as far

ier which is marked

gasp. "If the Fairy had been dra

of the great peril she had incurred, that Juliet's pride and coldness w

as you can. There is heavy rain coming up, and we must be down at Egham by four o'clock if possible. I am afraid

k with you," said the vicar of Littlebourne as he bent t

rent. Mr. Burnet sheltered Juliet and himself as best he could against the rain, which came in heav

has happened to you. Did the

uliet through h

ded, trying to examine the poor old boat which was being towed behind them. "

Juliet in a

t my father will

be so overjoyed to see his little niece again safe and sound

ip; then he added, addressing Juliet, "you will have

on't," said J

so he said, shaking his head, "Ah, then, I should advise you to tell me

d Mr. Burnet; "tell

aters were sometimes pent up in the lock; and then, just as the waters when they escape from the lock pour out and awa

thought I would just take the Fairy a little way, over to the o

en to take out the bo

ove away quite quick. And I wanted to sit on the little seat that goes across, and I slipt and caught my shin such a crack against the edge of it, and I went down on my face on the floor; and I should have liked to call out, but I did not want

ls," Phil

e water, I found it was the wrong end, and the spoon part had come into the boat. So I got that one to go right after a fight with it, and the other one wen

ink so!" sai

said youn

uld not come up again for a long time; and so the one that went up seemed to get stuck, and when it came down it made a worse splash than the other one, and the water jumped up and hit me in the face and made my ha

t happen

ay and fell into the water. And there was a boat and people sitting in it on chairs with fishing-rods, and they did so laugh at me; and some men on the bank they laughed too, and called out something, but I don't know what the

you not fr

d I could not have sp

t in time to save you. Had the boat been carried over the weir you would have been drowned. But when Roberts

ain pattering on his umbrella, and wished she was at the lock and wished she was in London, and wished she was grown-up and doing for herself, and not so stupid and always putting oth

when Mr. Burnet's boat arr

to go inside the house until the rain should cease. For there was bright sky beyond the black clouds, and the shower would soon be over. So t

the orders and the advice of other people. I used to think that she wanted encouraging and helping o

irl setting herself up against her elders indeed! If she is to s

answere

r aunt's

g as I am in

lood of angry tears, and kicked her he

p to your room," sai

elf away, slamming

e child," sai

n living in a close-packed part of London is trying to the temper. And she's a baby beginning to feel her feet, and beginning to feel herself get

-clearing up, I do believe," he added, going out to the front of the hous

come from?" Mr. Burnet

her is a printer, and that is one thing t

nquired the

omas. You see, sir, Rowles has been lock-keeper these seventeen years with eighteen shillings a-week and a house, and his hours from six in

"And I hope he does not hold that bad opinion of all i

rs. Rowles, while E

paper every alternate night to receive the foreign telegrams as they came in. It was rather trying. Ah, Mrs. Rowles, while half the world is asleep in

ople in Australia are asleep while

now as I grow old. Most of my work is over. It is my boy's turn to go on with the task. One wants rest after the heat and burden of the day; and it is a blessed

And presently Mr. Burnet roused himself from his solemn thoughts and said bri

ad been talking, Roberts and the l

girl like that would be sure to get into trouble in the country. Her father's a

r-headed I don't see how they could set up their type without more mistakes than they make. Wh

ow?" sai

nd he wants to live near the works, and while we are looking out for a house we have to s

es looked with more interest at the old gentleman who was in the same line with T

boat, and stepping into it went through the lock, and were soon going up betwee

Here, Phil, see what you can do to put the Fairy in order again. But as for that Juliet, if m