"To a certain extent," says I, "that has always been my habit."
"But the ocean—salt water?"
"Well," says I, "salt water is beyond me; but if that is the fashion down at Long Branch, I don't object to a trifle of salt."
"The bathing is delightful," says she. "At the turn of every tide you see parties in the water all along the shore."
"Parties in the water—parties?"
"Ladies and gentlemen."
"What!!"
"Children, too."
"Ladies and gentlemen bathing together! Cousin, you—well, if I were telling a story like that to a congregation of born idiots, they might believe me—that's all."
"But it is true."