"Upon my word!" he exclaimed, after a minute. "Upon my word!"
"Are you all through talking about that?" asked Jewel, after a pause.
"I am, certainly," replied Mr. Evringham.
"And I," added his daughter. She was content that the seed was planted, and preferred not to press the subject.
"Well, then," continued Jewel, "I was wondering, grandpa, if the cracks in that boat couldn't be stuffed up a little more so I wouldn't have to bail, and then I could learn how to row."
"Ho, these little hands row!" returned Mr. Evringham scoffingly.
"Why, I could, grandpa. I just know I could. It was fun to bail at first, but I'm getting a little tired of it now, and I love to be on the pond—oh, almost as much as on Star!"
Mr. Evringham's eyes shone with an unusually pleased expression. "Is it possible!" he returned. "It's a water-baby we have here, a regular water-baby!"
"Yes, grandpa, when I know how to swim and row and sail—yes," chuckling at the expression of exaggerated surprise which her listener assumed, "and sail, too, I'll be so happy!"