"Not now."
"I can't wait."
"I will go just as soon as I have done washing the boat-house."
"Plague on the boat-house!" snapped Fanny. "I wish it was burned up. What a nice fire it would make!—wouldn't it, Noddy?"
The bright eyes of the wayward miss sparkled with delight as she thought of the blazing building; and while her more wayward companion described the miseries which he daily endured in his regular work, she hardly listened to him. She seemed to be plotting mischief; but if she was, she did not make Noddy her confidant this time.
"Come, Noddy," said she, after a few moments' reflection, "I will promise to make it all right with Bertha."
Noddy dropped the broom with which he had begun to sweep up some chips and shavings Ben had made in repairing a boat-hook.
"If you will get me out of the scrape, I will go now," said he.
"I will; you may depend upon me."
"Then I will go."