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let the water from the canal rush into the reservoir till it rose to a level.

"Not the great gates, Harry," said his father: "the rush of the whole body of water from the canal would be too violent. Think again."

Harry thought again, and said he supposed there were small sluices, on the side of the lock, next the upper part of the canal, similar to those next the lower, which he had seen opened; and he supposed that these sluices had been opened, before they came up to the lock, and had gradually let the water in.

His father told him, that this was exactly what had happened, and reminded him of a whistle, which he had heard, from one of their boatmen, some time before they came to the lock, which was the signal for the man at the sluice to open it, and get ready the water for the coming boat.

Harry was much pleased with this most ingenious contrivance. "It seemed

so easy," he said,

"that he thought even

he might have invented it."

"This is the case with almost all good inventions," said his father.

if

"How nicely and gently we sunk down, down, in the boat," said Lucy, "on the level water in the lock, while it was flowing out. As my father said, I am sure, my eyes had been shut, I should not have perceived that we were going down. What a depth we sunk! What a step that would have been, Harry! for a boat to come down: impossible, without a lock; but if you can go up and down stairs in canals-"

" Stairs! I do not know that," said Harry; "but one step, certainly."

Her father told Lucy, that he had seen, in Scotland, on the Caledonian Canal, seven or eight locks, immediately following each other; and the people of the country called these Neptune's

stairs.

Mr. Frankland was glad to see that Harry and Lucy had been so much pleased with the lock, as it was for the

purpose

of

showing it to them, that he had come home by the canal. Soon after passing through

the lock they landed by the side of a road, where their carriage had been appointed to meet them. Mrs. Frankland rejoiced to see it ready waiting for them, and again she looked at her watch, as if afraid they should be late.

LATE they certainly were, and very late; and cross, and very cross was the old gentleman, who had been kept waiting and starving, as he said, an hour and a half beyond the regular dinner time. Mrs. Frankland bore all he said, and all he looked, with such gentleness and good-humour, that Lucy wondered how he could continue angry. She thought, however, that he must be terribly hungry, and that when dinner came, and when he had satisfied his hunger, he would grow good-humoured again. No. At dinner he grew worse and worse. Every thing was wrong. The fish was overdone, and the venison was

over-roasted; and some fault he found with every one of the many good things, which Mrs. Frankland, with persuasive words, recommended.

"Try this, my dear sir, or try that.'

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But nothing he tried would do. Mrs. Frankland looked sorry, and still kindly soothed him; but at last he said something very provoking about ladies never being punctual, and seldom thinking of their absent friends. Harry could not bear this, and his natural bashfulness quite conquered by indignation, he called out in a loud voice,

"That is very unjust!"

The old gentleman looked up from his plate at Harry, whose face was red all

over.

"Well done, my little turkey-cock!" said he, half laughing. "What have you to say or to do with the business?"

"Only that it was all my fault," said Harry.

He explained, and said, that he had staid too long looking at a mill, and talk

ing about an undershot and overshot wheel.

Mighty well for you and your mill,” said the old gentleman, in a tone between pleasantry and reproach; "but pray,

young gentleman, what was that you said about Very unjust?””

"It was unjust to say that ladies never think of their absent friends, sir," replied "because Mrs. Frankland, who is a lady, did think of her absent friends, and of

Harry ;

you in particular; for she was very anxious to get home in time, lest you should be kept waiting for dinner, which she said, sir, that you do not like."

"Who does, sir?" said the old gentleman, now joining in a laugh. "But since it was all your fault, I must be satisfied, and must be obliged to Mrs. Frankland for her anxiety about me. This hare is very tender, and not over-roasted, which, considering all things, is wonderful. Mrs. Frankland, let us make up our quarrel by drinking a glass of wine together."

Mrs. Frankland's good temper and

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