They got the provisions and water jar from the boat and sat down on the sands. It was past noon and cooler, for the breeze had livened up, the outgoing tide was leaving a strip of wet sand glittering like a golden sword, and the fume of beach filled the air resonant with the gentle rhythm of the waves.
They ate, leaning on their sides like old Athenians. They had no cup; so they took it in turns to drink from the water jar. Then he lit a pipe.
“This is jolly,” said he.
“Ain’t bad,” said Jude.
She made a pillow of sand for her head, and then, on her back with her head on the pillow, lay like a starfish, spread-eagled, her hat over her eyes.
He followed suit.
“How about those gulls’ nests?” he asked.
“Which ones?” evaded Jude.
“The ones you were going to hunt for?”
“Oh, them? Well, I reckon there’s dead loads of time.”