“Well, now that we know our resources, the next thing is to consider how we are to obtain them, my dears,” said Catharine. “For fishing, you know, we must have a hook and line, a rod, or a net. Now, where are these to be met with?”
Louis nodded his head sagaciously. “The line I think I can provide; the hook is more difficult, but I do not despair even of that. As to the rod, it can be cut from any slender sapling on the shore. A net, ma chere, I could make with very little trouble, if I had but a piece of cloth to sew over a hoop.”
Catharine laughed. “You are very ingenious, no doubt, Monsieur Louis, but where are you to get the cloth and the hoop, and the means of sewing it on?”
Lords took up the corner of his cousin’s apron with a provoking look.
“My apron, sir, is not to be appropriated for any such purpose. You seem to covet it for everything.”
“Indeed, ma petite, I think it very unbecoming and very ugly, and never could see any good reason why you and Mamma and Mathilde should wear such frightful things.”
“It is to keep our gowns clean, Louis, when we are milking and scrubbing, and doing all sorts of household duties,” said Catharine.
“Well, ma belle, you have neither cows to milk, nor house to clean,” replied the annoying boy; “so there can be little want of the apron. I could turn it to fifty useful purposes.”
“Pooh, nonsense,” said Hector, impatiently, “let the child alone, and do not tease her about her apron.”
“Well, then, there is another good thing I did not think of before, water mussels. I have heard my father and old Jacob the lumberer say, that, roasted in their shells in the ashes, with a seasoning of salt and pepper, they are good eating when nothing better is to be got.”