Girlie did not feel in the least alarmed and quite enjoyed it; the sun glittered on the water and they floated merrily onward. Presently she began to be aware that the Bathing-machine Woman was staring at her very curiously.
“I seem to know your face, somehow,” she said at last, frowning thoughtfully.
“Do you?” said Girlie, who did not feel at all inclined to tell her where they had met.
“Yes, yours is such a pretty face, you know, my dear, that one cannot easily forget it,” said the Bathing-machine Woman, rocking her baby to and fro.
“Oh, come, that’s much better,” thought Girlie. “Why, she seems to be quite amiable;” and she wondered what was coming next.
No one spoke, however, for some time, and, at last, the Wallypug proposed that somebody should sing a song.
“Oh, yes, that would be lovely,” said Girlie. “Won’t you please sing something, Ma’am,” she said to the Bathing-machine Woman.
“Oh, I used to sing once, dear,” she replied, looking pleased at having been asked, “but I’ve no voice now; he’ll sing, if you ask him, though,” she continued, nodding her head towards the Ancient Mariner, and then going up to him and giving him a poke with her finger. “The young lady wants you to sing,” she shouted.
“I sing only one song and that you know,” he said, turning round.
“Well, won’t you sing it now, please?” pleaded Girlie.