He looked very busy, like a wild animal, active and
intent. She felt she ought to go away, he would not want her. He seemed
to be so much occupied. But she did not want to go away. Therefore she
moved along the bank till he would look up.
Which he soon did. The moment he saw her, he dropped his tools and came
forward, saying:
'How do you do? I'm making the punt water-tight. Tell me if you think
it is right.'
She went along with him.
'You are your father's daughter, so you can tell me if it will do,' he
said.
She bent to look at the patched punt.
'I am sure I am my father's daughter,' she said, fearful of having to
judge. 'But I don't know anything about carpentry. It LOOKS right,
don't you think?'
'Yes, I think. I hope it won't let me to the bottom, that's all. Though
even so, it isn't a great matter, I should come up again. Help me to
get it into the water, will you?'
With combined efforts they turned over the heavy punt and set it
afloat.
'Now,' he said, 'I'll try it and you can watch what happens.
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