'Oh I didn't mean you, but the water-soldier,' said Nuttie. 'To have
come five miles for it in vain!'

'I don't know what to suggest,' added Gerard. 'Even if the ladies
were to retire--'

'No, no,' interposed Mr. Dutton, ''tis no swimming ground, and I
forbid the expedient. You would only be entangled in the weeds.'

'Behold!' exclaimed Mary, who had been prowling about the banks, and
now held up in triumph one of the poles with a bill-hook at the end
used for cutting weed.

'Bravo, Miss Nugent!' cried Gerard.

'Female wit has circumvented the water-soldier,' said Mr. Dutton.

'Don't cry out too soon,' returned Mary; 'the soldier may float off
and escape you yet.'

However, the capture was safely accomplished, without even a dip
under water to destroy the beauty of the white flowers. With these,
and a few waterlilies secured by Gerard for the morrow's altar vases,
the party set out on their homeward walk, through plantations of
whispering firs, the low sun tingeing the trunks with ruddy light;
across heathery commons, where crimson heath abounded, and the
delicate blush-coloured wax-belled species was a prize; by cornfields
in ear hanging out their dainty stamens; along hedges full of
exquisite plumes of feathering or nodding grass, of which Nuttie made
bouquets and botanical studies, and Gerard stored for harvest