The Merryweathers

ers and their guests, in bathing array, the boys shouting and skylarking,-the girls singing and tossing their long hair about. Jack and Phil brought out a long spri

back somersault, ending with a noble splash; and so, one by one, like so many ducks, they dove and leaped and tumbled in, and splashed and swam about in the clear wat

ON! COM

d Peggy. "Come on! come i

to watch you a bit first; it takes m

, and clinging to the wharf, while he shook the drops from his hair and eye

in just a minute

e, perfection! Come, you must have your swimming lesson.

n imperative gesture. Marga

he rope!" she said

by your hand. Now, then

ald's, Margaret slid into the water, giving a l

th hands on the rope now. Take

ald. Oh, isn'

see. A mistake was made somewhere. If I had but

on't you think I would be charming with gills,-pretty

m to need the gills, though. How do you manage to keep under so long? Yesterday, when you stayed down p

r thought of your noticing. I say, come down with me,

he expected to be dragged from it by force. "I never should c

hild, Toots. Toots, will you stay here by Margaret, while I take

t to see it. Gertrude,

ut your arms on the rope, and lif

s of the "elephants," and came down straight as an arrow into the water; then, scrambling out, took his place in the row, while Phil performed the same man?uvre. Over and over and over they went, running, rising, plunging, rising again. Margaret grew diz

ed Peggy. "Do you

id Bell, who was floating placidly, her arm

" said Peggy. "May

rtily. "Take a good run-steady, Jer

ke a bird, and after a clean dive, was

with pleasure and pride in her Peggy's prowess. "Gertrude,

rtily. "Elle est aussi une corquerre, la

at I am not made for these things. I love to see them; I adm

really would do them so corkingly, you know, if only you should do them. We

don't want one, thank you, sir! water nixies and p

bstantive!" r

, she, or it sees you being trolled and wishe

t, loosed her moorings, and, taking up the oars, brought her clo

e, Gerald? I fear thee, ancient

m going to take you off a-trolling. Hold on tight with your hands,

along without effort or motion of her own. Her long hair floated behind her; her whit

nder Pratt?'" quoted G

op, I only said almost. The water feels like silk flowing

?" said Gerald; "stra

are you sure you will not take cold or anything, Gerald?

nd bent with age, feebly tugging at a pair of oars. Trailing behind the crazy boat, another figure might be distinguished-I forbear further description

thronged the

at graybeard

us dodderes

ppy

came: 'Fo

hed to

nk we'd better

d. Never interrupt a Muse

along that

g yet a ga

, dodders

ars th

spook he ca

oves to

we are ever so far from shore, and i

watching his nest. See him fanning about over it, never leaving the place. He'll keep that up for

d, I a

troll as the wolves of Apennine were all upon your track!" and with long, powerful strokes he se

the party were doing. To her great amazement, no one was in sight. The wharf lay wet and glistening in the sunshine, but no blu

have they gone in? Surely I heard their voices just

orn their levity. I advise you to take no notice of their childi

sper; no soul was in sight. It was as if she and Gerald were alone in the world. She stepped out on the float: at the

d outright. "Ger

iles that they are. The Pater has gone ashore, and the others manifes

ease, with plenty of breathing-space, they flung themselves with one accord upon Gerald's boat, capsized it, and dragged him into the water.