The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University
The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University
The Girl on the Boat - Penn State University
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sumed, but if you say so …. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> problem c<strong>on</strong>fr<strong>on</strong>ting<br />
us, as I envisage it, resolves itself into this. You have<br />
offended our Miss B. and she has expressed a disinclinati<strong>on</strong><br />
ever to see you again. How, <strong>the</strong>n, is it possible,<br />
in spite of her attitude, to recapture her esteem?”<br />
“Exactly,” said Sam.<br />
“<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re are several methods which occur to <strong>on</strong>e ….”<br />
“<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>y d<strong>on</strong>’t occur to me!”<br />
“Well, for example, you might rescue her from a burning<br />
building, as in ‘True As Steel’ ….”<br />
“Set fire to <strong>the</strong> house, eh?” said Sam reflectively. “Yes,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re might be something in that.”<br />
“I would hardly advise such a thing,” said Webster, a<br />
little hastily—flattered at <strong>the</strong> readiness with which his<br />
disciple was taking his advice, yet acutely alive to <strong>the</strong><br />
fact that he slept at <strong>the</strong> top of <strong>the</strong> house himself. “A<br />
little drastic, if I may say so. It might be better to save<br />
her from drowning, as in ‘<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> Earl’s Secret.’”<br />
“Ah, but where could she drown?”<br />
“Well, <strong>the</strong>re is a lake in <strong>the</strong> grounds ….”<br />
“Excellent!” said Sam. “Terrific! I knew I could rely<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>Girl</str<strong>on</strong>g> <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Boat</strong><br />
164<br />
<strong>on</strong> you. Say no more! <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> whole thing’s settled. You<br />
take her out rowing <strong>on</strong> <strong>the</strong> lake, and upset <strong>the</strong> boat. I<br />
plunge in …. I suppose you can swim?”<br />
“No, sir.”<br />
“Oh? Well, never mind. You’ll manage somehow, I<br />
expect. Cling to <strong>the</strong> upturned boat or something, I<br />
shouldn’t w<strong>on</strong>der. <str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g>re’s always a way. Yes, that’s <strong>the</strong><br />
plan. When is <strong>the</strong> earliest you could arrange this?”<br />
“I fear such a course must be c<strong>on</strong>sidered out of <strong>the</strong><br />
questi<strong>on</strong>, sir. It really wouldn’t do.”<br />
“I can’t see a flaw in it.”<br />
“Well, in <strong>the</strong> first place, it would certainly jeopardise<br />
my situati<strong>on</strong> ….”<br />
“Oh, hang your situati<strong>on</strong>! You talk as if you were<br />
Prime Minister or something. You can easily get ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
situati<strong>on</strong>. A valuable man like you,” said Sam<br />
ingratiatingly.<br />
“No, sir,” said Webster firmly. “From boyhood up<br />
I’ve always had a regular horror of <strong>the</strong> water. I can’t so<br />
much as go paddling without an uneasy feeling.”<br />
<str<strong>on</strong>g>The</str<strong>on</strong>g> image of Webster paddling was arresting enough