"I—er—I beg pardon, you know," said the head. "But—er—by Heaven! did you hear a bell, madam?"
Miss Chalmers shook her head.
"Odd as the deuce!"
His shoulders came into view and his arms gripped the string-piece.
"Odd as anything in the world," he added, as he continued to stare at her. "I could swear there was a bell, you know."
"I don't hear it," she said.
"Nor I, madam. It—er—seems to have stopped, you know. But there was one—oh, I'm sure! Unless, of course, you say there wasn't. I may have been mistaken. But—oh, it's frightfully odd!"
Miss Chalmers chewed her under lip until the pain made her wince. She had never before seen a long, yellow mustache drip water at both ends, and she was amazed at the quantity.
"If you've finished tubbing, why not come completely ashore?" she inquired presently.
"Why—er—thank you. I believe I will."