"We've asked him," we both exclaimed, "and he said he was too busy to come."
"But," I added, "he promises that to-morrow he will make Aleck's boat sail as well as mine."
"His must be uncommonly clever fingers if they are equal to that task," said my father doubtingly; "but, as I said before, Surgeon Groves is the man for your bad case. And now I should like to know which of you means to stay at home to-morrow morning and learn the lessons which ought to be prepared this afternoon, and which will not be ready unless we are betaking ourselves home very soon? You, Willie?"
"No, papa," I said, "nor Aleck either; we mean to have a very delightful, long, whole holiday, and to do no lessons at all, not the very smallest little bit of one." And so saying, we picked up the boat and various other belongings, and, one on each side of my father, took the way of the Zig-zag up towards home.
"We haven't quite settled all we are going to do to-morrow, papa," I proceeded; "but if we may, we want to have the boat in the morning, and sail the 'Fair Alice,' and go out to some place for madrepores; and George is going to see about Aleck's boat too. And then, in the afternoon, we would play cricket with you, dear papa."
"I am much obliged to you, Willie," answered my father, playfully bowing to me, "and feel greatly honoured at your kind arrangement for my amusement. Perhaps you have planned for your mamma also; is she to field-out when I take my innings? or possibly she will bowl!"
"Auntie couldn't soon put you out if she were to bowl," said Aleck, laughing; "it would not do to trust Auntie with the ball."
"Then, perhaps, the wicket?" suggested my father.
"Now, papa, you know," I interposed, "you will be all alone with dear mamma in the morning—you always are—but you always do play with me in the afternoon; and now that Aleck is here to play also, it will be so jolly. Please, dear papa, do say you will."
"Shall I say, like the poor people, I'll consider of it?" answered my father. "But allow me to state to you both that I am at present considering another thing, which is, that so long as I have you two boys clinging one at each side of me, I am reduced to the necessity of climbing this steep hill with a matter of twelve stone in tow, and that at my time of life I ought rather to be looking upon you young people as crutches to assist my failing steps."