"Whose boat is that, Paul?" asked Mrs. Duncan, who, during the last moments of her walk, had been gazing with admiration upon the trim craft.
"Mine, mother," replied Paul, with assumed indifference.
"Mine, too," added John.
"We own her together," said Paul.
"Own her together? What do you mean by that? Haven't you learned better than to make sport of your mother, boys?"
"It is ours, certain true, mother!" cried John.
"You don't mean so?"
"It is a fact, mother," replied Paul.
"Why, where, what in the world——"
"That's it, mother; I knew you'd come to it," interposed John. "To make a long story short, Captain Littleton made us a present of her."