“I think my father and you and Mr. Ellett could manage the ghost scene.”
“Perhaps we may have a chance next winter,” he returned. “I have a bridge to build near your good city, and shall certainly see you all as I go and come.” Rose made no reply. The gap in the talk was filled by Miss Anne:
“That we shall be glad of.”
“And,” added Lyndsay, coming out, “we shall hold you to it. There is a little old Madeira still left.”
“Your fellows in the war drank all that would have been mine,” said Carington. “You owe me principal and interest.”
“We shall be honest; and we shall look to see you also, Mr. Ellett,” said Rose.
“Good night.” And they went to their boats. As they poled away in the night, Carington said to himself, “If those railway directors but knew it, I would pay for the privilege of building their bridge. However, skew bridges are difficult: it will take a good while.” And he lit his pipe.
“What are you thinking over, Fred?”
“Oh, about the difficulty of constructing a cantilever skew bridge.”
“What a word! Good gracious! It suggests a dreadful pun.”