'Would you like to come for a cruise with me and the Victory, Nancy?' he asked.
Nancy knew as well as Godfrey that she had no business to go. Her mother and Patty had their Christmas preparations to make as well, and wanted the eggs she had been to fetch. But, like Godfrey, she put 'want' before 'ought' that afternoon.
'Mother always likes me to do what the young ladies and Master Godfrey want,' she said to herself, and so she turned her face away from home with Godfrey and the Victory.
'Please, where is the cruise, Master Godfrey?' she asked, as she trotted along on the frozen snow.
'We are going to sail the Victory on Farmer White's pond,' said Godfrey, 'and to watch those white ducks' harbours, for they've got ships building there I know.'
'Oh but, Master Godfrey, please we can't,' exclaimed Nancy; 'the pond's frozen and the ship won't float.'
'Frozen!' exclaimed Godfrey; 'do you mean to say all that water's ice like these puddles?'
Nancy nodded.
'I see it as I come along,' she said. 'Pete says two more nights' frost and we'll be going sliding.'
Godfrey had never been sliding, his thoughts were of Arctic discoverers.