r
not giving more thought to what we were about. Rob and I ought to know
how to beach a boat by this time, seeing the amount of yachting we have
done in our day, but, indeed, I don't need to blame any one but myself;
I was in charge, and should have taken proper care."

"Well, it is not much use discussing who is to blame; the mischief is
done, and we had better set our wits to work to remedy it," cried the
little chaperon briskly. "If the boat cannot be brought back, I suppose
it means that we must stay here until--"

"Oh, how exciting! It's just like the _Swiss Family Robinson_, and
_Leila on the Desert Island_. It's as good as being shipwrecked,
without any of the bother," interrupted Mellicent gushingly. "Now,
then, we must make a tent, and examine the trees to see which are good
to eat, and catch crabs and lobsters, and shoot the birds as they fly
past, and Professor Reid shall be the father--the wise, well-informed
man who knows what everything is, and how everything should be done--and
Esther shall be his wife, and--"

"Mellicent, don't! Don't be silly, dear!" pleaded Esther gently. "It
is not a subject for jokes. Seriously, Arthur, how long may we have to
stay? Is there any chance of being left here for the night?"

"Not the slightest, I should say. If we don't get back in time for our
drive to the station, the flymen will give the alarm, and some one will
come over to see what has gone wrong. The worst that may happen is that
we shall have to wait until the men get back from their regatta, but you
need have no fear of remaining for the night."

"But in any case it will be impossible to catch our train."

"I fear it will. We shall have to make the best of it, and camp at the
inn until morning. It's unfortunate, but there are worse troubles at
sea. Don't look so miserable, Peggy; I promise you, you shall come to
no harm."

"But, mother--Mrs Asplin--what will they think? If we don't get back
until late, can we send a telegram to them? It is such a tiny place
that the office might be closed."

Arthur's face clouded over, for this was a view of the case which had
not occurred to him, and former experiences of country villages did not
tend to reassure him.

"I can't tell you. I will drive to the station and do my best to send a
wire from there, but that's all I can say. There is one comfort: they
know at home that if we miss the seven o'clock train, we are fixed for
the night, so they won