"I know a better one than that," put in Archie. "Two men set out simultaneously, at different times, on a journey, both being unable to travel. For two hours they kept ahead of each other, and then a snow-storm came up, and they both lost their way. Query: Which got there first?"
"How silly!" said Edna. "How could they set out simultaneously, at different times, mamma?"
"That's the question for your deep brain, Miss Wiseacre," said Archie. "Perhaps you're equal to this. If three men work all day on a fertile farm, what is the logarithm?"
"The lager-in-'em?" echoed Cricket. "Depends on how much they drank."
Whereupon Mrs. Somers and the boys laughed themselves sore, and the girls clamoured to know the joke.
"Cricket's a born joke," said Will, resuming his sculling. "You'll be the death of me, young one."
"I always see jokes when there are any to see," Cricket answered, with dignity. "You know I do, Mr. Will. I'm not just as worse as Edna."
"Just as bad, you mean," retorted Edna.
"Let's play some games, children," Mrs. Somers said, coming to the rescue. The children were all fond of games.