“Yes,” said Lucy, “and so I told you. I told you that you couldn’t make such a duck pond as I wanted.”
Royal insisted that the bargain was fairly made, and that he only agreed to make a duck pond big enough for a duck to swim in. And now he said that it was not fair for Lucy to take back her promise, and that he meant to go on and finish the pond, and then he should certainly have half the duck for his.
But Lucy, on the other hand, contended that she meant a large duck pond; whereas Royal was only going to make a box full of water. After considerable discussion, they very properly agreed to refer the case to Miss Anne. They both promised to abide by her decision.
They found Miss Anne swinging herself at a swing, near the back part of the garden. After hearing a full account of the case from each of the parties, Miss Anne said,—
“It is rather a difficult case to decide. Nothing was said about the size of the duck pond in the bargain, but yet Lucy says she meant a large one; and it is highly probable that she did. Now, it is hard for her to lose her duck, in a bargain which she did not mean to make.
“But, then, on the other hand,” continued Miss Anne, “Royal honestly understood her to mean a duck pond of any size, and so he began in good faith to fulfil his agreement; and now it is rather hard for him to be disappointed, and lose his work.”
“Why, Miss Anne,” said Lucy, “he hasn’t done any work; he has only taken out the box.”
“That is something,” said Miss Anne, “and then the disappointment is a good deal; so that it is a hard case to decide.”
She paused for a few moments, considering the case, and then she added,—
“You see, Royal—do you not?—that your claim is a somewhat doubtful one?”