“It really began further back than either,” said Priscilla, “for if it hadn’t been for our accident Loveday wouldn’t have been sent to Porthcallis, and so——”
“So really you have me to thank for it all,” cried Geoffrey, “for I put up the swing.”
“And if you had put it up properly it wouldn’t have broken, and there might not have been any accident,” agreed Priscilla. “But——”
“No,” said Loveday, who had been cogitating quietly for some time, “it was through me, after all; for if Mrs. Wall hadn’t been so long changing her frock, and kept me waiting so, I should have been in the swing too” (excitedly); “and then I should have fallen out, and p’r’aps been killed, and then I wouldn’t have gone to Porthcallis, and you” (growing more and more eager) “wouldn’t any of you have known Mr. Winter, so you see ’twas through me, after all.” And to her immense surprise she was for once allowed to have the last word.
Printed by Ballantyne, Hanson & Co. Edinburgh & London
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES:
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized.