By degrees the beauty of the scene lulled Aunt Sophia's fears to rest, and she found sufficient faith in the safety of the boat to loosen her clutch upon the ladies on either side, to admire some rustic cottage, or the sweep of many-tinted verdure, drooping to the water's edge; while here and there, at a word from Scarlett, the rowers let the boat go forward by its own impetus, slowly and more slowly, against the stream, so that its occupants could gaze upon some lovely reach. Then as they sat in silence, watching the beauty spread around, the boat grew stationary, hung for a moment on the balance, and began drifting back, gliding with increasing pace, till the oars were clipped again. "The evening is so lovely," said Scarlett, breaking a long silence, "that I think we might go through the lock." "Right," cried the doctor. "I am just warming to my work." "I think it would be delightful," said Lady Scarlett. "Oh, yes," said Naomi. "Those islands are so beautiful." "I don't think any part could be more beautiful than where we are," said Aunt Sophia, rather shortly. "Oh, yes, it is, aunt, dear," said Scarlett. "There you trust to me." "Well, it seems I must, for we women are very helpless here." "Oh, you may trust us, aunt. We won't take you into any danger." As they were speaking the boat was rowed round a sharp curve to where the river on each side was embowered in trees, and stretching apparently like a bridge from side to side was one of the many weirs that cross the stream; while from between its piles, in graceful curves a row of little waterfalls flowed down, each arc of water glistening golden and many-tinted in the evening sun. "There!" cried Scarlett.--"Easy, Jack.--What do you think of that, aunt, for a view?" "Yes," said the old lady thoughtfully; "it is very sweet." "A very poet's dream," said Prayle softly, as he rested his elbow on the gunwale of the boat, his chin upon his hand. "It is one of my husband's favourite bits," said Lady Scarlett, smiling in the face of him she named.--"Look, Naomi; that is the fishing-cottage, there on the left." "I have not seen the weir for years--twenty years," said Aunt Sophia thoughtfully; "and then it was from the carriage, as we drove along the road." "Not half so good a view as this," said Scarlett.--"Now, then, we'll go through the lock, row up for a mile by the Dell woods, and then back." "But you will be tired, my dear," said Aunt Sophia, whom the beauty of the scene seemed to have softened; and her worn sharp face looked wistful and strange. "Tired?" said Lady Scarlett, laughing. "Oh, no, aunt; he's never tired." "Well," said Scarlett, with a bright look at his wife, "I'll promise one thing--when we're tired, we'll turn back." "Yes, dear; but there's all the way to return." "Oh, the river takes us back itself, aunt," said Lady Scarlett merrily. "Row up; and then float back."