"Oh, no, Father!--why, I'm quite a dab at mowing." She gave it another alarming but truly scientific sweep.
"See that--and th-a-at--and tha-a-a-at!" "Th-a-at" carried off a fragment of her dress, and "tha-a-a-at" switched off the top of a rose-bush; but there are details to everything, of course.
"Accidents WILL happen, even to the best regulated grass-cutters," she said composedly, and raising the scythe for a fresh circle.
"Stop immediately, Helen! Why ever can't you go and play quietly with your doll, and not do things like this ?" said her father irascibly.
"An' I was afther doin' it just to pleasure him," she said, apparently addressing the dandelions.
"Well, it won't 'pleasure him' to have to provide you with cork legs and re-stock the garden," he said dryly: "Put it down." "Sure, an' it's illigence itsilf this side: you wouldn't be afther leaving half undone, like a man with only one cheek shaved." Judy affected an Irish brogue at some occult reason of her own.
"Sure an' if ye'd jist stip down and examine it yirself, it's quite aisy ye'd be in yer moind." The Captain hid a slight smile in his moustache.

The little girl looked so comical, standing there in her short old pink frock, a broken-brimmed hat on her tangle of dark curls, her eyes sparkling, her face flushed, the great scythe in her hands, and the saucy words on her lips.
He came down and examined it: it was done excellently well, like most of the things miss Judy attempted--mischief always included: and her little black-stockinged legs were still in a good state of preservation.
"Hum! Well, you can finish it then, as Pat's busy.

How did you learn to mow, young lady of wonderful accomplishments ?" (he looked at her questioningly); "and what made you set yourself such a task ?" Judy gave her curls a quick push off her hot forehead.
"(A) Faix, it was inborn in me," she answered instantly; "and (B)--sure, and don't I lo-o-ove you and delaight to plaize you ?" He went in again slowly, thoughtfully.

Judy always mystified him.

He understood her the least of any of his children, and sometimes the thought of her worried him.