"Oh, he is not afraid. One day lately, when the water was low, he offered to cross the weir at Dingleford. I did not persuade him to that; but he pulled off his shoes and stockings, and got over and back, safe enough." "Indeed! and you tried it too, I suppose?" "Yes; it would be a shame if I could not do what George can. It was almost as easy as walking along this bank." "I shall talk to Master George, however, before he goes to Dingleford again, or he may chance to find it easier some day to miss his footing than to hold it." "I wonder Mrs Rowland is afraid to let George go out with you," said Sophia, "considering what things he does when you are not with him." "She does not know of these pranks, or she would feel as you do; and I hope every one here will be kind enough not to tell her. It would only be making her anxious to no purpose, whenever the boy is out of her sight. It would be a pity to make a coward of him; and I think I can teach him what is mischief, and what is not, without disturbing her. Come, ladies, suppose you rest yourselves here; you will find a pleasant seat on this bank: at least, I fell asleep on it just now, as if I had been on a sofa." "I wish you would all go to sleep, or else walk off," said Sydney. "You make so much noise I shall never catch any fish." "Suppose you were to go somewhere else," said Mr Enderby. "Would not that be rather more civil than sending us all away?" Sydney thought he would find another place: there were plenty along the bank. He gathered up bait and basket, and trudged off. There was an amusement, however, which he liked better even than fishing; and for which he now surrendered it. He was presently seen cantering round the meadow on Mr Hope's horse. Mr Enderby hoped the Miss Ibbotsons were able to say "No" with decision. If not, he did not envy them their supper this evening; for Sydney would certainly ask them to eat all the fish he had caught--bream and dace and all. The first pleasure of young anglers is to catch these small fry; and the next is, to make their sisters and cousins eat them. Sophia solemnly assured her cousins that mamma never allowed Sydney's fish to come to table, at least in the house. If the children liked to get the cook to boil them for their dolls' feasts in the schoolroom, they might. "And then Miss Young is favoured with a share, I suppose?" said Margaret. "Have you made acquaintance with Miss Young yet?" inquired Mr Enderby. "Oh, yes! I had the pleasure of knowing Miss Young long before I knew you." "Long! how long? I was not aware that you had ever met. Where did you meet?" "In the schoolroom, before breakfast,--full four hours before you called this morning." "Oh, that is all you mean! I wondered how you should know her." Sophia asked whether Margaret and Miss Young were not going to study together: Margaret assented. Miss Young was kind enough to promise to help her to read German. "And you?" said Mr Enderby to Hester.