Once, when they were rather further out than usual, Elsie said that she was getting tired.
“Put your hand on my shoulder—I’ll help you. Yes, do.”
“Oh no, I couldn’t.”
“Yes, you must.”
“Well, if you are sure you don’t mind....”
“Mind!”
His voice was very eloquent, and Elsie was abundantly satisfied.
She laid her hand upon his shoulder, and kept it there after her feet touched the sandy bottom once more and they were almost out of the water.
They raced to the bath-towel cloak that she had left under the wall, and as she put it round her Elsie said, without looking at him and in a peculiar tone:
“Did you enjoy it?”