"I shall have the credit of setting that fire," added Noddy, not a little disturbed by the anticipation.
"No, you won't."
"Yes, I shall. I told Ben I wished the boat-house would catch afire and burn up. Of course he will lay it to me."
"No matter if he does; Ben isn't everybody."
"Well, he is 'most everybody, so far as Miss Bertha is concerned; and I'd rather tumbled overboard in December than have that fire happen just now."
"You were not there when the fire broke out," said Fanny, with a strong effort to satisfy her boatman.
"That's the very reason why they will lay it to me. They will say I set the boat-house afire, and then ran away on purpose."
"I can say you were with me when the fire broke out, and that I know you didn't do it," replied Fanny.
"That will do; but I would give all my old shoes to know how the fire took, myself."
"No matter how it took."