"There's grand water in between," he said. "Deep too in places. Nine fathoms." "Where's the man to sail her?" I asked. "The man?" he replied. "Aren't you going to sail her yourself? Your letter said nothing about a man." "Good heavens!" I said, "you surely wouldn't let a total stranger try to sail a boat here among all these unknown rocks and currents?" From his manner it was plain that he would, cheerfully. "Well, I've no man to spare," he said at last. "But there's a boy in the village who could come. He's not right in his head quite, but he'll be handy." "Does he know the channels?" I asked. "No, I wouldn't say he knew the channels," he replied, "but he'll be handy." "Have you any life-belts?" I asked. "There were some," he said, "but they've gone." "You're not very encouraging," I remarked. "Surely you don't want people drowned in your boats? It wouldn't do the village or the hotel any good." "No, I suppose not," he assented thoughtfully; "but no one's going to be drowned. No one ever has been drowned in that boat since I've had her." He laughed a hearty laugh. "So that's all right," he added, and was gone. I now know what an invalid feels like who, after a few weeks in (so to speak) cotton-wool, is deposited on the doorstep in the sleet. * * * * * [Illustration: _Grandpapa_ (_to small Teuton struggling with home lessons_). "COME, FRITZ, IS YOUR TASK SO DIFFICULT?" _Fritz_. "IT IS INDEED. I HAVE TO LEARN THE NAMES OF _ALL_ THE COUNTRIES THAT MISUNDERSTAND THE ALL-HIGHEST."] * * * * * "Consequently, if Austria wants to save her twin-broth Hungary from a crushing defeat she must take her armies from Lemberg in a round-about way through most inconvenient mountain passes." Judging by this account the Central Powers seem to be in the soup. * * * * * "To ascertain to what extent the children under their care have lost weight as a result of the war dietary, the Henley-on-Thames Guardians have decided to have them weighed periodically. At a certain boarding school all the boys were found to have lost weight--in some cases to the extent of 111lb--under the new food régime."--_Manchester Guardian_. What did these young giants weigh before the War? * * * * * "Dr. A---- is the gifted author of his old Vicar, the late Dr. Bickersteth, who afterwards, became Bishop of Exeter. He is also a son-in-law of the late Bishop."--_Church Paper_. And apparently (by marriage) his own grandfather. * * * * * THE VOTE. "And now," I said, "that you've got your dear vote, what are you going to do with it?" "If," said Francesca, "you'll promise to treat it as strictly confidential I'll tell you." "There you are," I said. "Unless you can make a secret out of it you take no pleasure in it. You're just like a lot of girls who--"