e?" said Elizabeth.

"Sartain," said Mr. Cowslip; -- "book-box and all."

"But they'll be too much for the boat?"

"Not at all," said Winthrop; "it was only because the tide was
so low last night -- there wasn't water enough in the bay. I am
not going in the bay this morning."

"No," said Mr. Cowslip, -- "tide's just settin' up along shore
-- you can keep along the edge of the flats."

"You have load enough without them. Don't put 'em in here,
sir!" Elizabeth exclaimed; -- "let them go in the other boat --
your boat -- you said you had a boat -- it's at home now, isn't
it?"

"Sartain," said Mr. Cowslip, "it's to hum, so it can start off
again as soon as you like. My boy Hild can fetch up the things
for you -- if you think it's worth while to have it cost you a
dollar."

"I don't care what it costs," said Elizabeth. "Send 'em up
right away, and I'll pay for it."

So Winthrop dropped into his place again, and lightly and
swiftly as before the boat went on her way back towards the
blue smoke that curled up over Shahweetah; and Elizabeth's
eyes again roved silently and enjoyingly from one thing to
another. But they returned oftener to the oars, and rested
there, and at last when they were about half way home, she
said,

"I want to learn how to manage an oar -- will you let me take
one and try?"

Winthrop helped her to change her seat and put an oar into her
hand, and gave her directions. The first attempts took effect
upon nothing but Asahel's face, which gave witness to his
amusement; and perhaps Winthrop's dress, which was largely
splashed in the course of a few minutes. But Elizabeth did not
seem to heed or care for either; she was intent upon the great
problem of making her oar _feel_ the water; and as gravely, if
not quite so coolly, as Winthrop's instructions were
delivered, she worked at her oar to follow them. A few random
strokes, which did not seem to discriminate very justly
between water and air, and then her oar had got hold of the
water and was telling, though irregularly and fitfully, upon
the boat. The difficulty was mastered; and she pulled with
might and main for half the rest of the way home; Winthrop
having nothing to do with his one oar but to keep the two
sides of the boat together, till her arm was tired.

"Next time I'll take both oars," she said with a face of great
satisfaction as she put herself back in her old seat. Asahel
thought it would cure her of wearing pale cheeks, but h