"I never saw him touch the ship; I don't think he could touch it; but then I went to the meadow to fly the kite."
"Did Frisk get near the rope?"
"Yes, papa, just before I came away; but I didn't see him slip off the ring, though now I think he must have done so."
"You think so because you saw him going near the rope?"
"Yes, papa; but I can't tell you any more. I went to fly my kite, and Frisk came up quite panting soon after, having run hard because I had happened to leave him behind."
"It was the dog did it," said my father quite decidedly, turning to my mother. "Willie, you should have been more careful; you might have known it was not safe to leave Frisk in the Cove; but I quite believe your word, and that you had no hand in the matter."
Then the subject was dismissed: I played a game of chess with my mother, and finally went up to bed at the usual time, to receive, before going to sleep, the never-omitted visit, which was the peaceful closing to so many peaceful days.
My mother stayed but for a moment on this evening, going on almost at once to my cousin's room.
I heard all about that visit afterwards, so that I am able to tell what passed almost as well as if I had been present.
My mother found Aleck lying wearily and restlessly in bed, with tearful eyes and hot flushed face, that told of sleep being by no means near. She sat down beside him and said, "It was a sad disappointment for you, Aleck, to lose your pretty new boat; and I daresay you feel it hard not to have your own dear mamma to tell all about it."