"But James is so careful, aunt. I'd go anywhere with him." "Of course you would, my child," said Aunt, Sophia shortly. "A wife should trust in her husband thoroughly and well." "So should a maiden aunt in her nephew," said Scarlett, laughing. "Come, auntie, you shan't be drowned." "Now, James, my dear, don't try to persuade me," said the lady, pulling up her black lace mittens in a peculiar, nervous, twitchy way. "I'll undertake to do the best for you, if you are drowned, Miss Raleigh," said the doctor drily. "I'm pretty successful with such cases." "Doctor Scales!" cried Aunt Sophia. "Fact, my dear madam. An old friend of mine did the Royal Humane Society's business for them at the building in Hyde Park; and one very severe winter when I helped him, we really brought back to life a good many whom you might have quite given up." "Doctor, you horrify me," cried Aunt Sophia.--"Naomi, my child, come away." "No, no: nonsense!" cried Scarlett. "It's only Jack's joking way, auntie." "Joke!" cried the doctor; "nonsense. The ice was unsafe; so of course the idiots insisted upon setting the police at defiance, and went on, to drown themselves as fast as they could." "How dreadful!" said Prayle. "Very, for the poor doctors," said Scales grimly. "I nearly rubbed my arms out of the sockets." "Kitty, dear, you stay with Aunt Sophia, then," said Scarlett. "We won't be very long away." "Stop!" cried Aunt Sophia sternly. "Where is it you are going?" "Up to the lock and weir," said Scarlett. "You and Kitty can sit under the big medlar in the shade till we come back." "The lock and weir?" cried Aunt Sophia sharply. "That's where the water comes running over through a lot of sticks, isn't it?" "Yes, aunt, that's the place." "And you've seen it before?" "Scores of times, dear." "Then why do you want to go now?" "Because it will be a pleasant row." "Nonsense!" said Aunt Sophia shortly, "pulling those oars and making blisters on your hands. Well, you must have your own way, I suppose." "All right, aunt. You won't think it queer of us to desert you?" "Oh, you're not going to desert me, James." "Kitty will stay with you." "No; she will not," said the old lady, "I'm not going to deprive her of her treat." "I shan't mind, indeed, aunt," cried Lady Scarlett. "Yes you would; and you shall not be disappointed, for I shall go too." "You will, aunt?" cried Scarlett. "Yes; if you promise to be very careful. And you are sure the boat is safe?" "As safe as being on this lawn, my dear aunt. You trust to me. I am glad you are going." Aunt Sophia looked at the frank manly face before her, saw the truth in the eager eyes, and her thin, yellow, careworn countenance relaxed into a smile. "Well, I'm going, James, because I don't want to disappoint your little wife," she said to him in a low tone; "but I don't see what pleasure it can give you to have a disagreeable old woman with you in the boat."