A refreshing breeze had sprung up, and the river was alive with pleasure boats of every description, from the sail- to the row-boat.
And there were more boats for hire, at the service of any who might wish to amuse themselves upon the water.
"Take a boat. Craven, and let us go out for a row. The evening is so delightful, the sky and the water so beautiful," said the bride, coaxingly.
"I would like to do so, my angel; but, to tell the truth, I am a very inexperienced oarsman, and I can not swim at all," answered the poor fellow, apologetically.
"Are you afraid then, Craven?" she asked, with exasperating archness.
"No, love, not for myself, but for you. If by my awkwardness any accident should happen to you I think I should run raving mad," he answered, earnestly.
"Oh, well, never mind me! There is no cause for fear whatever, as far as I am concerned. I can row like a squaw and I can swim like a duck. And I think I could do so ever since I could walk. At least, I certainly do not remember the time when I could not swim," said the lady, laughingly.
"What a wonder you are—in everything!" exclaimed the lover-bridegroom, in a rapture of admiration.
"No wonder at all. I was brought up on the water-side, and was always a sort of amphibious little creature, as often in the water as out of it. Come, now, will you hire a boat to please me?"
"Of course! I would do anything in the world to please you, my angel!"