Mysie drew a long breath.
“I am glad to get out,” she said. “It seems like the bottom of the sea.”
Arthur laughed.
“I am afraid we shouldn’t make many scientific discoveries here. It would be hardly like dredging the deep sea-water.”
“Do you know,” said Mysie, “I always think of the bottom of the sea as if it was like Andersen’s Little Mermaid, with beautiful shells and strange creatures and coloured sea-weeds covering the poor drowned people like the leaves did the children in the wood?”
”‘Should toss with tangle and with shells,’” quoted Arthur. “I don’t think one associates the idea of rest with drowning.”
“Oh,” said Mysie, “I did, after I read that story. It was my great favourite.”
“You must show it to me. But I say, my darling, look out! That old swan wants your blue ribbons.”
The great majestic swan, with white ruffled plumes and fierce writhes of his long neck, bore down fiercely on them.
“Now, he has come down the river from Redhurst,” said Mysie. “Row faster, Arthur; he is horribly fierce, and, besides, the others will be tired of waiting.”