As he spoke, he laid a hand upon the gunwale and looked merrily from one to the other.
“Don’t touch me, girls. I’m rather damp,” he said. “I say, what a capital bathing dress flannels make!”
“Shall I help you in?” said Leslie.
“No, thank ye, I’m all right. As I am in, I may as well have a swim.”
“No, no, Harry, don’t be foolish,” cried Louise.
“There, you’d better hitch a rope round me, and tow me behind, or I shall swamp the boat.”
“Harry! what are you going to do?” cried Madelaine, as he loosened his hold of the gunwale, and began to swim away.
“Wait a bit and you’ll see,” he cried. “Leslie, you take care of the boat. I shan’t be long.”
“But Harry—”
“All right, I tell you.”