"You are too bad," said Mellen, laughing, "too bad, Elsie."
"Indeed, I shall tease him more than ever," replied Elsie; "he will grow conceited if I don't. Tell him how much you like me to tease you, old Tom."
"Well," said he, a little ruefully, "you have always done it, and I suppose you always will—I shouldn't think it was you if you stopped now."
Even Elizabeth laughed, and Elsie said:
"There, there, old Tom, don't get sentimental. Perhaps I'll be good-natured for three days by way of reward for pulling me out of the water."
"I'd like to save your life every day in the week at that rate," cried Tom in ecstasy.
"No, no!" added Mellen; "I think one such exploit is quite enough."
Elsie seized Tom's hand, and said with real feeling:
"Tom, I do thank you—I can't tell you how much."
"Don't, don't!" he pleaded. "If you say another word I'll run off and never show my face again."