"I should like above all things to see these lakes," remarked the dominie.
"Do you know," said Mr. Perrowne, "for sow long a time as I have been in Flanders, I have never seen the lakes. One down't like to gow alowne, you know."
"I say we go this afternoon," proposed the lawyer.
"I'm with you, sir," responded the minister. "We'll drop cricket and golf, the day, Perrowne." Then in a whisper to Carruthers, "I'm anxious about poor Nash."
"Then, meenister, see that ye aa tak' your revolvers and cartridges. I can supply you and Perrowne."
Coristine proposed to botanize, but did not care to detain the expedition by continually opening his knapsack, nor to incommode himself with the burden of the strap press. He regretted that he had not brought his vasculum, when Miss Carmichael spoke up, and said that she would furnish him with one when the party was ready to start. After dinner the company lounged for half an hour on the verandah and in the garden. There the Captain made up his mind to go with the exploring party, and take charge of Richards' scow on the first lake, that being the only craft available. Ben Toner came round from the kitchen and asked the Squire if he had anything for him to do, as Sylvanus wanted to stay with old man Newcome and read the Bible to him.
"Do you know the lakes, Toner?" asked Mr. Carruthers.
"If you don't mind Squier, I'd sooner you'd call me Ben."
"Well, Ben, then?"
"Yaas, leastways I've ben at the laiuk as is nighes to han.'"