The times., 1898-08-14

!, ful evening, yes. Been tremendous dis
tance. Oh, dear no; not tired in the
least, thanks. Won't you come around to
music presently? Bring some songs,
mind. Santley's always suit you. Byei
CTo Lazy Grid Now, you can have a
turn. dear. if you like. My arms are
simply aching most horribly
(Muscular daughters are rowing cargo
of portly maternal parent)
Younger Daughter appealingly)-Ma,
DEAR do try to sit in the middle. 1t
makes such a difference if you move at
all.
I, Ma Dear (moving with some annoyance)
is that better? I'm sure l never knew
| girls who made so much fuss over mere
| trifies as you do.
| Elder Daughter (sotto voce to sister,
| Calls sixteen stone a trifie.
Ma Dear (aggrievedly)-Any one who
didn't know you would have thought you
| would have taken a pride and a delight
| and a positive pleasure in taking your
| own mother out in the boat with you.
| (Gfrls row Stolidly on and do not reply)
I'm sure if 1 were able to row nothing
would delight me more than TO take you
| two girls out and LET you sit here as I
! am sitting now. IF young people would
only recognize the fact that it's so much
nicer and better and more agreeable to
Elder Daughter-Lftt}e more to the left,
ma dear. CMa Dear moves reluctantly
The left. please. That's the right.
| Ma Dear 6estily)-Quite impossible to
! know which is your right hand and which
! is your left on the river. And do keep
good lookout. girls. There's one of those
| dreadful launches coming down the river
| with perfectly horrible people on board
| I'm sure. singing and rearing and having
something to say about everybody
| they pass by. Put shawl over my feet,
| MiIlicent. and open that sunshade. Some
| times if one can only avoid being seen
Younger Daughter-It's empty, ma,
| dear.
| Ma Dear-Oh, CUnsatisfied) Well, all
| 1 can say is that they ought not TO al
| low empty launches to race down the
| river like that, with only one or two men.
| (Affrightedly) What on earth makes the
| boat rock in such 4 stupid way?
/ Elder Daughter Qaconieally.)-Wash,
ma. dear.
Ma Dear-P can't help thinking. girls
that If you knew how to manage boat
! this sort of thing would never happen
! (Grudeingly) It's better now. certainly;
but if I hadn't gripped tight hold of the
! sides Talking OF blouses. there's 4
girl in a boat over there where I'm point
| ing (To youth in adjacent boaD ! beg
pardon.
SculIer-I shall want that face OF mine
again when you've done with it, ma'am.
Ma Dear-Sorry; but. really, it's your
| own fault.
sculler (defiantly)-Its my avn face,
anyhow.
| Ma Dear-The horrid people one meets
/ on the river are really something too
! COMPLAINS at some length. Ingenious
1 Young woman in neighboring boat steers
! acutely.)
Ingenious Young Woman (contentedly)
This is really very delightful, Mr.. GRAIN
1 ger (Pauses.) For me.
Granger (fervently)-It's treat of a
lifetime. 10 my mind What mean TO say
is. Miss Fremantle, rowing in Itself is
i cinkin' good business; and then to have
/ the company of some one whom YOU
raally-well-(re -(recklessly)-you really ike.
don't
Miss Frernan ntle-Mr Graingeri Q.ooks
at her brown shoes modestly)
Granger tstoutiy)-Well. 1 mean it. I
shouldn't say II if I didn't. There's no
/. harm in saying that you like certain peo-
| pie is there?
| Miss Fremantle with reticence)-I sup
pose IL there are sufficient number
Grainger-Oh, but don't mean exactly
| that (Get out into n1idstream a bit, will
| you? Tharks.) You don't quite see my
argument What I mean to say is. If a
] fellow likes a girl-likes her. say. better
than any other girl, you know See what
mean. don't you?
Miss Fremantle 3hesiiatingly)-But is It
necessary-I don't profess to know much
about these matters-is it necessary for
| him to say so? Wouldn't 1t be better
Grainger-There think you're wrong,
| Miss Fremantle. II you don't mind my