There was a shrill squeal, a flutter of white, and a neat pair of button
boots waving in the air. Then Miss Nugent, sobbing piteously, rose from
the puddle into which she had fallen and surveyed her garments. Mr.
Wilks surveyed them, too, and a very cursory glance was sufficient to
show him that the case was beyond his powers. He took the outraged
damsel by the hand, and led her, howling lustily, in to the horrified
Ann.
"My word," said she, gasping. "Look at your gloves! Look at your
frock!"
But Miss Nugent was looking at her knees. There was only a slight
redness about the left, but from the right a piece of skin was
indubitably missing. This knee she gave Ann instructions to foment with
fair water of a comfortable temperature, indulging in satisfied
prognostications as to the fate of Master Hardy when her father should
see the damage.
The news, when the captain came home, was broken to him by degrees.
He was first shown the flower-beds by Ann, then Mrs. Kingdom brought in
various soiled garments, and at the psychological moment his daughter
bared her knees.
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