ould be to row for an hour!' exclaimed Miss
Schuyler.

'Oh, do you think so, in those tippy boats on a strange river?'
remonstrated Mrs. Benedict.

The moment I suspected she was afraid of the water, I lured her to the
landing-stage and engaged a boat.

'It's a pity that that large flat one has a leak, otherwise it would
have held three nicely; but I dare say we can be comfortable in one of
the little ones,' I said doubtfully.

'Shan't we be too heavy for it?' Mrs. Benedict inquired timidly.

'Oh, I don't think so. We'll get in and try it. If we find it sinks
under our weight we won't risk it,' I replied, spurred on by such
twinkles in Miss Schuyler's eyes as blinded me to everything else.

'I really don't think your aunt would like you to venture, Miss
Schuyler,' said the marplot.

'Oh, as to that, she knows I am accustomed to boating,' replied Miss
Schuyler.

'And Miss Schuyler is such an excellent swimmer,' I added.

Whereupon the marplot and killjoy remarked that if it were a question
of swimming she should prefer to remain at home, as she had large
responsibilities devolving upon her, and her life was in a sense not her
own to fling away as she might like.

I assured her solemnly that she was quite, quite right, and pushed off
before she could change her mind.

After a long interval of silence, Miss Schuyler observed in the voice,
accompanied by the smile and the glance of the eye, that 'did' for me
the moment I was first exposed to them:

'You oughtn't to have said that about my swimming, because I can't a
bit, you know.'

'I was justified,' I answered gloomily. 'I have borne too much to-day,
and if she had come with us and had fallen overboard, I might have been
tempted to hold her down with the oar.'

Whereupon Miss Schuyler gave way to such whole-hearted mirth that she
nearly upset the boat. I almost wish she had! I want to swim, sink, die,
or do any other mortal thing for her.

We had a heavenly hour. It was only an hour, but it was the first time I
have had any real chance to direct hot shot at the walls of the maiden
castle. I regret to state that they stood remarkably firm. Of course, I
don't wish to batter them down; I want them to melt under the warmth of
my attack.

_She_

York, _July 5_.

We had a lovely sail on the river Ouse this afternoon. Mrs. Benedict was
timid about boating, and did not come with us. As a usual thing, I hate
a cowardly woman, but her lack of courag