oh yes,'laughed mother.'and I suppose you bought those wooden shoes yourselves in a Dutch shop.'
'yes,they did,'said Daddy,and mother,looking at his face,saw that he meant it.
'jim!'said mother.'you promised me that you wouldn't take my children out of the harbour.how could you take them right across the North sea,in that terrible weather?'
'I....I...'said Jim,and put a hand to his head.this was all too much for him.
'jim wasn't there,'said Daddy.'and I've got to telephone the hospital about him.and you've got to tellMiss Powell about lunch.come with me,mary,and I'll tell you all about it.Lunch'll be ready when we get back.'
A moment later he and mother were gone,and the four children watched as Daddy rowed their mother ashore and told her all about it.
'it's going to be all right,'said Titty.
'yes,'said susan.'Daddy'll tell her that we didn't mean to go to sea.'