inute. "Upon my word!"

"Are you all through talking about that?" asked Jewel, after a pause.

"I am, certainly," replied Mr. Evringham.

"And I," added his daughter. She was content that the seed was planted, and
preferred not to press the subject.

"Well, then," continued Jewel, "I was wondering, grandpa, if the cracks in
that boat couldn't be stuffed up a little more so I wouldn't have to bail,
and then I could learn how to row."

"Ho, these little hands row!" returned Mr. Evringham scoffingly.

"Why, I could, grandpa. I just know I could. It was fun to bail at first,
but I'm getting a little tired of it now, and I love to be on the pond--oh,
almost as much as on Star!"

Mr. Evringham's eyes shone with an unusually pleased expression. "Is it
possible!" he returned. "It's a water-baby we have here, a regular
water-baby!"

"Yes, grandpa, when I know how to swim and row and sail--yes," chuckling at
the expression of exaggerated surprise which her listener assumed, "and
sail, too, I'll be so _happy_!"

"Oh, come now, an eight-year-old baby!"

"I'll be nine in five weeks, nine years old."

"Well," Mr. Evringham sighed, "that's better than nineteen."

"Why, grandpa," earnestly, "you forget; perhaps you'll like me when I'm
grown up."

"It's possible," returned the broker.

How the sun shone the next morning! The foam on the great rollers that
still stormed the beach showed from the farmhouse windows in ever-changing,
spreading masses of white. Essex Maid and Star, after a day of ennui, were
more than ready for a scamper between the rolling fields where already the
goldenrod hinted that summer was passing.

Star had to stretch his pretty legs at a great rate, to keep up with the
Maid this morning, though her master moderated her transports. The more
like birds they flew, the more Jewel enjoyed it. She knew now how to get
Star's best speed, and the pony scarcely felt her weight, so lightly did
she adapt herself to his every motion.

With cheeks tingling in the fine salt air, the riders finally came to a
walk in the quiet country road.

"I've been looking up that boat business, Jewel," said Mr. Evringham. "The
thing is hardly worth fixing. It would take a good while, just at the time
we want the boat, too."

"Well, then," returned the child, "we'll have to make it do. There are so
many happinesses here, it isn't any matter if the boat isn't just right;
but I was thinking, grandpa, if you wouldn't wear suc