'There ain't much about water, salt or fresh, nor whatsoever moves on the face of it, nor down below in the belly of it, any man can teach you.' Which may seem putting it a bit high yet ain't no more than truth and justice, Miss, so you needn't fear to trust yourself across the ferry along of me." "I have no fear," Damaris answered curtly and loftily, holding herself very erect, her face slightly flushed, her eyes war-like.
For he was a repulsive old man, and said repulsive things such as she had never heard put thus plainly into words before.

She felt soiled by even this brief association with him.

She wanted to hear no more of his ugly high-coloured talk, although of his skill as a waterman she entertained no doubt.

Stepping lightly and quickly up on to the square stern of the ferry-boat, she went forward and kept her back resolutely turned upon the old fellow as he scrambled on board after her, shoved off and settled to the oars.

The river was low, and sluggish from the long drought with consequently easy passage to the opposite bank.