came to the middle
stone, he put Olly down on the stone, and stepped into the water
himself. "Now, Olly, give me your hands and jump in. Mind, it'll feel
very cold."

Olly shut his eyes, and opened his mouth, as he always did when he felt
just a little frightened, and then in he went; splash! ugh! it was so
cold--much colder than the sea used to feel--but after a few splashes
Olly began to get used to it, and to think it fine fun.

"Oh, father, fetch Milly, and then we'll all dance about," entreated
Olly.

"Come, Milly," called Mr. Norton. "Try whether you can manage the
stepping-stones by yourself." So Milly came, holding up her bathing
dress, and stepping from one big stone to another with a very grave
face, as if she felt that there would be an end of her altogether if she
tumbled in. And then, splash! In she jumped by the side of Olly, and
after a little shiver or two she also began to think that the river was
a delightful bathing place, almost as nice as the sea, perhaps in some
ways nicer, because it was such a strange and funny one. They danced and
splashed about in the brown sparkling water till they were tired, and at
last Olly stopped to take breath.

"I should think the fishes must be frightened of us," he said, peering
down into the river. "I can't see any, father."

"Well, they wouldn't choose to swim about just where little children are
shouting and capering. The fishes are hidden safe away under the banks
and the big stones. Besides, it's going to be a very hot day, and they
like the shady bits of the river. Just here there's no shade."

Suddenly there was a great commotion in the river, and when Mr. Norton
looked round for a second he could see nothing of Milly, till up came a
dripping head and a pair of hands, and there was Milly kneeling on the
stones at the bottom of the river, with just her head above water,
looking very much astonished and rather frightened.

"Why, what happened, old woman?" said Mr. Norton, holding out his hand
to help her up.

"I--I--don't quite know, father; I was standing on a big stone, and all
of a sudden it tipped up, and I tumbled right in."

"First of all I thought you was a big fish, and then I thought you was
going to be drowned," said Olly, cheerfully. "I'm glad you wasn't
drowned."

"Miss Milly! Miss Milly!" shouted nurse from the bank, "it's quite time
you came out now. If you stay in so long you'll get cold, and you, too,
Master Olly."

Olly was not in