“Nearer three, sir, but we mostly call it two, because it sounds better,” said Oily Dave.  Then he took his greasy old hat off with a flourish to Mary, and the boats started on again up the main channel of the river.

There was plenty to interest the travellers now on the left bank of the river; the fish shed showed a weather-beaten front to the broad waters of the bay, while beyond it, perched on a high bluff, was a fanny brown house, with a strange-looking wing built out at the side.

“Feather, look at that house, and the queer building at the side; what is it?” cried Mary, who was flushed and eager; for to her this entrance to Roaring Water River was like coming into her kingdom, although it was not land her father owned in these parts, but water, or at least the privilege to fish in the water, and the right to cut the timber needed for the making of his boats.

“It looks uncommonly like part of an old boat.  Well, if it is Astor M’Kree’s work, it would seem as if I have got a man who will make the best use of the materials at hand,” Mr. Selincourt replied, in a tone of satisfaction.

“Here comes a woman; oh, please, we must stop and speak to her!” said Mary, as a slatternly figure emerged from the house on the bluff, and came running down the steep path to the water’s edge, gesticulating and shouting.

“Welcome, sir, and welcome, Miss, to Seal Cove!” cried Mrs. Jenkin in a breathless tone.  “We are all most dreadfully delighted to have you here, and you will be sure to come and have tea with me on your first spare afternoon,” she panted, in hospitable haste, the sun shining down on her dusty, unkempt hair, and revealing the rags in her dress.

Mr. Selincourt looked at his daughter in quiet amusement; but Mary rose to the occasion in a manner worthy of the country in which she was living, and answered with sweet graciousness: 

“Oh!  I will be sure to come; thank you so much for asking me:  but I have got to get my house straight, you know, and that may take me a few days, so perhaps I will drop down the river some morning while it is cool, and let you know how I am getting on.  Then you must promise to come and see me.”

“Oh, I’ll come!  I shall be just delighted!  You won’t mind if I bring the babies, will you?  There are only three of them, and the oldest isn’t five yet; so when I go out I’m forced to take them with me, don’t you see,” Mrs. Jenkin said, smiling at the young lady from England, and serenely oblivious of the defects in her own toilet.

“I shall be charmed to entertain the babies, and I will be sure to come and see you very soon,” called Mary, as the boat moved on, leaving Mrs. Jenkin smiling and waving from the bank.

“What a nice little woman, and how friendly and kind in her manner!” exclaimed Mary, whereat Mr. Selincourt laughed.

“Has Canada bewitched you already?  What is to become of class distinctions if you are just going to hobnob with anyone who may happen along?” he asked, his eyes twinkling with fun, for he was quoting from her own past utterances.