"Now you ought to be satisfied!" said Olivia.
"I'm not satisfied. I didn't expect Mr. Jefferson to back my statement."
"Then you didn't want to persuade me you can manage a boat?"
"Not at all," said Kit. "I wanted to state that when you stick to things you know, you're not ridiculous. When I met you at the maize field I was ridiculous, because it was pretty obvious I couldn't manage a horse. In fact, I feel I ought to apologise."
"I wonder. You declared you were logical as far as you knew, and when I thought about it I agreed. You imagined the channel wasn't safe and saw I was obstinate. In consequence, you resolved to ride the horse across. On the whole, I think you were nice!"
"Are you disputing?" Mrs. Austin asked.
"Oh, no," said Olivia. "I am trying to persuade Mr. Musgrave he was rather noble. Not long since he rode my horse across a spot he didn't think safe for me."
"Then I reckon his nerve is pretty good!" Jefferson remarked.
Austin laughed, Mrs. Austin said nothing, but looked interested, and the blood came to Kit's skin. He almost thought Olivia shabby. Anyhow, he had had enough. If he stopped, he might look like a fool again, and he declared he must write out some cargo lists. Mrs. Austin told him he might come back, and after a glance at Olivia he turned to Jefferson.
"Thank you for the clothes," he said in rather a loud voice. "I'll send them home to-morrow."