"Hallo, Master Dick, you never said that you were going to send that dog you bought at Mutford to my sister Mary."
"Didn't I?" answered Dick blushing.
"No, of course you didn't. Well, here is a message for you from her; she says, 'Tell Dick that I am very much obliged to him for the pretty little dog. He is a sweet little dear, but he soon got into a scrape. He went into the laundry and ate up the blue-bag, flannel and all, and he isn't a bit the worse, although Florrie says she is sure his white coat will turn blue.'"
CHAPTER XVII.
The Boat-race.—Winning.—Mr. Marston.—Nightingale and Nest.—The noise of the Nightingales.
The next morning Frank had another row in the four-oar, and in the afternoon they practised starts. The boat went very well indeed, notwithstanding the importation of new blood into it at the last hour. The day of the race came, a beautiful summer day with a gentle breeze, and the glare of the sun subdued by light clouds.
The race was at three o'clock, and a goodly company had assembled at Whitlingham to witness it. The course was from below Postwick Grove to Whitlingham, a distance of two miles, the latter part of which was a long straight course, where for nearly a mile the boats could be seen by all the spectators.
"How do you feel, old man?" said Jimmy to Frank as he was in the boat-house dressing.
"Oh, all right; we mean to win."