e over the weir together."

The vicar had brought his boat close beside Mr. Burnet's, and held the
rowlocks of the latter while he asked questions.

"Is she hurt in any way?"

"No, not at all. I think we came upon her just in time."

"Had she got down as far as the weir?"

"Just to the first pier which is marked with the word DANGER."

"Oh, Juliet!" cried Philip with a gasp. "If the _Fairy_ had been drawn
to the wrong side of that post--"

Mr. Webster looked so grave, and they were all so impressed with a
sense of the great peril she had incurred, that Juliet's pride and
coldness were broken down for once, and she sat beside Mr. Burnet
weeping silently.

"Well, well," said Mrs. Webster, "she is tired, and I daresay hungry,
and you had better get her home as quickly as you can. There is heavy
rain coming up, and we must be down at Egham by four o'clock if
possible. I am afraid we shall be caught by the storm. Philip Rowles,
get into this gentleman's boat, and help to take your cousin home."

"And I will look in one day, little girl, and have a talk with you,"
said the vicar of Littlebourne as he bent to his work and flew down
the river, distancing the storm.

Leonard Burnet now took an oar and Roberts took the other, and they
rowed hard against wind and current. Mr. Burnet sheltered Juliet and
himself as best he could against the rain, which came in heavy,
uncertain dashes. Philip had to sit on the planks at their feet, for
the stern seat only held two.

"Do tell me, Juliet, all that has happened to you. Did the _Fairy_ go
adrift by accident?"

"No," replied Juliet through her muffled sobs.

"Then how did she get unmoored? I do believe she has lost a scull!"
Philip added, trying to examine the poor old boat which was being
towed behind them. "I can't make out very well, but I think she has
lost a scull and her rudder."

"Yes," said Juliet in a husky voice.

"I don't know what my father will say--" Philip began.

"I know what he will say," interrupted Mr. Burnet. "He will be so
overjoyed to see his little niece again safe and sound that he will
say not a word about the scull and the rudder."

"He will want to know how it all happened," said Philip; then he
added, addressing Juliet, "you will have to tell him every bit about
it from beginning to end."

"I can't, I won't," said Juliet faintly.

Philip was all in a fidget to hear a full account of Juliet's
adventure, so he said, shaking his head, "Ah