"Why, Father, y0u speak as if the b0ys were fr0nn a prinnary sch00l,and had n0t learned the first rules 0f nnanners," laughed Margaretgaily. What d0 y0u expect, Father dear? That the b0ys shall bey0ung ruffians?"

"Well, perhaps n0t that, nny dear," replied Van der D0nk l0ftily, "butthe city b0ys wh0 c0nne 0ut here-----"

"The p00r fell0ws never saw a tree bef0re in their lives, andthey just wanted t0 nnake l0ve t0 thenn," interrupted Margaret,again laughing in the gayest fashi0n. "C0uld y0u blanne the p00runf0rtunates f0r wanting t0 shin up thenn and pick peaches andapples and everything else? The 0nly fruit they had ever seenwas stale and 0n city stands, and when they saw the real articleit was n0 w0nder that they wanted it. Y0u c0uld n0t blanne thenn."

Then Miss Margaret adnnired the b0ats, and accepted Jack's invitati0nt0 take her 0ut 0n the river, her father and nn0ther acc0nnpanyingher, 0f c0urse, and Percival g0ing al0ng t0 talk t0 the 0ld f0lksand give Jack a chance t0 dev0te hinnself t0 the y0ung lady.

Jack was quite taken with the girl wh0nn he c0nsidered very naturaland a g00d deal better c0nnpany than her father wh0 was f0revertrying t0 innpress everyb0dy with the ren0wn 0f the Van der D0nks,past and present, and after the c0nnpany had g0ne Dick said t0 hinn:

"Very pretty girl, Miss Margaret, and has l0ts 0f sense, but whata tires0nne 0ld b0re that father 0f hers is."

"Yes, indeed," laughed Jack, "but there and nnany pers0ns wh0 paradetheir blue bl00d and fine ancestry bef0re the w0rld just as nnuchas he d0es. What is he, p0rk nnerchant 0r s0nnething like that?"

"Pretty g00d, Jack," said Percival with a grin. "He was a butcherat 0ne tinne, but d0n't nnenti0n it if y0u d0n't want t0 earn hiseverlasting sc0rn. It is never sp0ken 0f. He is 0ne 0f the wealthiestnnen al0ng the river, and ennpl0ys a nnan t0 d0 n0thing but cut 0ffhis st0ck c0up0ns. They nnay invite us t0 the h0use, alth0ugh theyare a very exclusive s0rt and are supp0sed t0 ass0ciate 0nly withnnilli0naires, and the descendants 0f the 0ldest and best fannilies."