So, as both were anxious to go out rowing and sailing, this threat acted as a spur to their efforts.
Nellie, too, had a bathe each day; and, much she liked bobbing up and down in the usual girl-fashion from the end of the rope of the machine. By and by, also, when she had gained a little courage, she learnt to swim like Bob, whose boastings on the point had put her on her mettle; and the bathing-woman informed Mrs Gilmour one fine morning, when she accompanied Nellie to the beach and entered into conversation with her teacher, that she was “the smartest young leddy to learn as ever was.”
This fact Miss Nell at once proved by swimming there and then some forty yards, more than double the distance Master Bob could accomplish, in spite of all his ‘tall talk,’ after a similar period of tuition.
“You ladies can always beat us if you only try,” said the Captain gallantly, when he heard this. “I believe a woman can do anything she likes.”
“You’re too complimentary, I’m afraid,” remarked Mrs Gilmour. “You don’t mean all you say.”
“Don’t I, by Jove!” replied he. “Lucky for us men you do not set your mind to it; for, if you did, no poor fellow would ever have a chance of commanding his own ship!”
“That’s a base slander,” cried Mrs Gilmour, laughing. “I thought you were paying us rather a doubtful compliment.”
The old sailor chuckled.
“I had you there, ma’am, I think, eh?” said he, blinking away with much delight. “By Jove, I had!”
“But, when are you going to take us on the water?” asked Bob at this point, before his aunt could give the Captain ‘a Roland for his Oliver’ in reply to his aspersion on her sex. “You said you would, you know, when I and Dick knew how to swim.”