Rolf Boldrewood

“ You can't be the little girl we used to carry on our backs.'
`Dick remembers very well,' she says, and her very voice was ever so much fuller and softer, `don't you, Dick?' and she looked into my face as innocent as a child. `I don't think he could pull me out of the water and carry me up to the cottage now.'
`You tumble in and we'll try,' says Jim; `first man to keep you for good—eh, Gracey? It's fine hot weather, and Aileen shall see fair play.'
`You're just as saucy as ever, Jim,' says she, blushing and smiling. `I see George coming, so I must go and fetch in dinner. ”

“ And old George and Aileen. I never laid out any one for myself, I remember.'
`The first two don't look like coming off,' I said. `You're the likeliest man to marry and settle if Jeanie sticks to you.'
`She'd better go down to the pier and drown herself comfortably,' said Jim. `If she knew what was before us all, perhaps she would. Poor little Jeanie! We'd no right to drag other people into our troubles. I believe we're getting worse and worse. ”

“ I think more of old George now than I ever did before, and wish I'd had the sense to value his independent straight-ahead nature, and the track it led him, as he deserved.
Jim and I rode in front, with Gracey between us. She had on a neat habit and a better hat and gloves than Aileen, but nothing could ever give her the seat and hand and light, easy, graceful way with her in the saddle that our girl had. ”