“Three cheers for——” But John did not finish this splendid sentence, and to this day no one knows for whom he intended the signal honor; for, happening to wave his cap wildly with these opening words, he lost his balance, and plumped into the water.
“Oh!” cried Mr. Benton, pulling off his coat.
“Stay where you are,” called the grinning Rector. “Don’t hurt Rieler’s feelings. To go to his help would be less sensible than carrying coals to Newcastle.”
John rose just then, and, shaking his locks, smiled graciously at the crews of the two boats.
“We don’t want you,” said the Rector.
“Thank you, Father,” John made grateful answer, and once more sank for a long, delicious dive. And thus did the youth continue to disport himself while huggings were renewed and Babel continued beside him.
“But, Father,” said Will Benton, “what I can’t understand is this! Dora was lost; after two weeks her body was recovered and she was buried in her coffin from our church.”
“You saw the coffin, Will?”
“Yes, Father.”
“But did you see Dora in it?”