At the same time it has occurred to me that, as
his guardian, I am at least bound to give the boy every chance.
You are teaching him gardening?"
Captain Barker nodded, with a face profoundly puzzled.
"You object to it?" he asked.
"Decidedly, under your present conditions. You are cramped for
space."
"We are using every inch between the road and the marsh."
"You forget my back-garden, which lies waste at present."
"My dear Jemmy!"
"By knocking a hole in the party hedge you gain two and a half acres
at least. Then, as to water--you depend on the rainfall."
"That's true."
"But there's an excellent spring between this and Dovercourt; and the
owner will sell."
"It's half a mile away."
"God bless my soul! I suppose I am not too old to design a conduit."
Captain Jack's arm stole into Captain Jemmy's.
"You'll be saying next," the latter went on, "that I'm too old to set
about draining the marsh. Then, as to sundials: you're amazingly
deficient in sundials. Now half a dozen here and there--and a
fish-pond or two--unless you'd like to have a moat. I could run you
a moat around the back, and keep it supplied with fresh water all the
year round. By the way, talking of moats and fresh water, did I tell
you that Roderick Salt was not drowned, after all?"
"Eh? How did he die, then?"
"He's not dead.
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