"What did you expect?
I can do five times as well with a shingle as Lonnie can with a paddle.

What do you suppose aunt Martha'll say?
'Bravo! those are smart children, to be rowing all alone, by themselves'!" "O, Susy, what a hubble-bubble we make in the water! Look at the bubbles winkin' their eyes! See those pretty wrinkles, all puckered up in the water!" "I see them," said Susy, steadily plying her shingle; "but why don't you sit still?
You'll tip us both over, as sure as this world; and if we get drowned I guess grandma'll scold! I shall be the one to have all the blame." "O, dear," said Dotty, reeling about from side to side, "the boat's dizzy! My head's goin' to tip into the water.

But don't you cry, Susy; you catch hold of me, and I shan't go!" Susy was suddenly seized with mortal terror.
"Dotty Parlin, I'll never take you anywhere again, as long as I live! You sit as still as ever you can, and fold your hands; fold them both!" Dotty obeyed at once, and sat up quite straight, looking very sweet, and at the same time slightly acid, like a stick of lemon-candy.

The Water Kelpie, now that Dotty was quiet, floated on, safely and surely, towards the opposite shore.
It was a pretty picture--the white boat, the graceful children, and the still, blue water.

Susy's fair arms were bared to the elbows, and her face was deeply flushed.