"All right, aunt. You won't think it queer of us to desert you?"

"Oh, you're not going to desert me, James."

"Kitty will stay with you."

"No; she will not," said the old lady, "I'm not going to deprive her of her treat."

"I shan't mind, indeed, aunt," cried Lady Scarlett.

"Yes you would; and you shall not be disappointed, for I shall go too."

"You will, aunt?" cried Scarlett.

"Yes; if you promise to be very careful. And you are sure the boat is safe?"

"As safe as being on this lawn, my dear aunt. You trust to me. I am glad you are going."

Aunt Sophia looked at the frank manly face before her, saw the truth in the eager eyes, and her thin, yellow, careworn countenance relaxed into a smile.

"Well, I'm going, James, because I don't want to disappoint your little wife," she said to him in a low tone; "but I don't see what pleasure it can give you to have a disagreeable old woman with you in the boat."

They had moved off a little way from the others now, Scarlett having kept his arm round the old lady's waist, evidently greatly to her gratification, though if it had been hinted at, she would have repudiated the fact with scorn.

"Don't you, auntie?" he said seriously. "Well, I'll tell you." He paused, then, and seemed to be thinking.

"Well?" she said sharply; "why is it? Now you are making up a flowery speech."

"No," he said softly. "I was thinking of how precious little a young fellow thinks of his mother till she has gone. Auntie, every now and then, when I look at you, there is a something that brings her back so much. That's why I like to have you with me in this trip."

Aunt Sophia did not speak; but her hard sharp face softened more and more as she went into the house, to come out, ten minutes later, in one of the most far-spreading Tuscan straw-hats that ever covered the head of a maiden lady; and the marvel to her friends was that she should have been able to obtain so old-fashioned a production in these modern times.

Volume 1, Chapter X.

UP TO THE WEIR.

"That's the style. Hold her tight, Monnick.--Now, auntie, you first.

Steady; that's the way. You won't swamp her."

"But it gives way so, James, my dear," said Aunt Sophia nervously.

"There you are. Sit down at once. Never stand up in a boat.--Is the cushion all right? That's the way.--Now, Naomi.--Hand her in, Jack.-- Come along, Kitty."

Lady Scarlett gave her hand to her husband as soon as Naomi Raleigh was in, and stepped lightly from the gunwale to one thwart, and then took her place beside Aunt Sophia, Naomi being on the other.

"Arthur, old fellow, you'd better sit behind them and ship the rudder.

Shorten the lines, and you can steer.--Ready, Jack?" he said as Prayle stepped into the boat and sat down on a thwart behind the ladies.

"Oh!" cried Aunt Sophia with a little scream; "take him out; he's too heavy. He'll sink the boat."

"Ha-ha-ha!" laughed the doctor.

"It's all right, auntie, I tell you," cried Scarlett, making the boat dance up and down as he stepped in, and, stripping off his flannel jacket, rolled up his sleeves over his arms.

The doctor stepped in and imitated his friend, both standing up, the muscular specimens of humanity, though wonderfully unlike in aspect.

"Now, you told me it was dangerous to stand up in a boat, James," cried Aunt Sophia. "Pray, pray, take care. And look, look--the boat has broken loose!" For the gardener had dropped the chain into the forepart, and it was drifting slowly with the stream.

"All, so she has," cried Scarlett merrily; "and if we don't stop her, she'll take us right to London before we know where we are."

"But do, pray, sit down, my dear."

"All right, auntie," said Scarlett, dropping into his place, the doctor following suit.

"Oh, oh!" cried Aunt Sophia, catching tightly hold of her companions on each side; "the boat's going over."

"No, no, aunt, dear," said Lady Scarlett; "it is quite safe."

"But why did it rock?" cried the old lady tremulously. "And look, look; there are only two of them there, and we are four at this end! We shall sink it, I'm sure."

"Now, auntie, it's too bad of you to set up for a stout old lady, when you are as light as a cork," cried Scarlett, dropping his oar with a splash.--"Ready, Jack?"

"Ready, ay, ready," said the doctor, following suit; but his oar only swept the sedge.

"Gently," said Scarlett; "don't break the oar.--That's better; now you have it," he said, as the head of the gig turned more and more, the doctor's oar took a good hold of the water; and in a few moments they were well out from the sh.o.r.e, the steady vigorous strokes sending them past the sloping lawn of the Rosery, which looked its best from the river.

"There, aunt, see how steadily and well the boat goes," said Lady Scarlett.

"Yes, my dear, but it doesn't seem at all safe."

"Place looks pretty from the water, doesn't it, Arthur?" shouted Scarlett.

"Delightful. A most charming home--charming, charming," said Prayle, lowering his voice with each word, till it was heard as in a whisper by those on the seat in front.

"Don't feel afraid now, do you, auntie?" cried Scarlett to Aunt Sophia.

"N-not quite so much, my dear. But won't you make yourself very hot and tired?"

"Do him good, ma'am," said the doctor; "and me too.--Gently, old fellow, or you'll pull her head round. I'm not in your trim."

Scarlett laughed, and pulled a little less vigorously, so that they rode on and on between the lovely banks, pa.s.sing villa after villa, with its boat-house, lawn, and trimly kept garden. Then came a patch of trees laving their drooping branches in the stream; then a sweep of wood, climbing higher and higher into the background on one hand; while on the other the hills receded, leaving a lawn-like stretch of meadow-land, rich in the summer wild-flowers, and whose river-edge was dense with flag and sedge and willow-herb of lilac pink. The marsh-marigold shone golden, and the water-plantains spread their candelabra here and there.

Great patches of tansy displayed their beautifully cut foliage; while in sheltered pools, the yellow water-lilies sent up their leaves to float upon the calm surface, with here and there a round green hall in every grade of effort to escape from the tightening scales to form a golden chalice on the silvery stream.

By degrees the beauty of the scene lulled Aunt Sophia's fears to rest, and she found sufficient faith in the safety of the boat to loosen her clutch upon the ladies on either side, to admire some rustic cottage, or the sweep of many-tinted verdure, drooping to the water's edge; while here and there, at a word from Scarlett, the rowers let the boat go forward by its own impetus, slowly and more slowly, against the stream, so that its occupants could gaze upon some lovely reach. Then as they sat in silence, watching the beauty spread around, the boat grew stationary, hung for a moment on the balance, and began drifting back, gliding with increasing pace, till the oars were clipped again.

"The evening is so lovely," said Scarlett, breaking a long silence, "that I think we might go through the lock."

"Right," cried the doctor. "I am just warming to my work."