"I feel as if I might have done something for you, my dears; but, however, I thank God all are safe; I cannot be too thankful."
Before breakfast was over, Aunt Ruth entered, and begged to be told all about it. She had heard from the servant a word of the accident, and could not be satisfied till she knew all.
Her inquiries elicited that the young canoeist, who had saved so many of them, was staying at a village a few miles off; and that Wilmot would go over there to-day to call upon him and thank him.
"And how did they get off the rock?" asked Aunt Ruth, "I did not understand."
"Wilmot brought the boat round for them after we had been rescued," said Hope.
"Was it a large rock?"
"Only just room for them to stand, and in deep water. How horrified dear mother would have been, if she had been able to see little Mary standing there."
"It is often well we cannot see," said Aunt Ruth.
"And how did you all get dry?"
"It was a long job," said Nellie. "Mrs. Mansbridge put us all to bed at once. She had a roaring fire half up her chimney, and Mrs. Elliot and she stood and turned our things till they were fit to put on."