As it was still far too early to return, she went down to the riverside and seated herself on one of the benches.

Many boats were going by, a majority of them containing only two persons--a young man who pulled, and a girl who held the strings of the tiller.

Some of these couples Monica disregarded; but occasionally there passed a skiff from which she could not take her eyes.

To lie back like that on the cushions and converse with a companion who had nothing of the _shop_ about him! It seemed hard that she must be alone.

Poor Mr.Bullivant would gladly have taken her on the river; but Mr.Bullivant-- She thought of her sisters.