"Allen!" she cried. "What an idea! Of course I can't."
"Well, what are you going to do then?" he demanded despairingly. "I've suggested everything I could think of and you certainly can't stand up all afternoon."
"What are you two talking about?" Grace demanded. "Don't you know you are blocking the way?"
"I don't want to put my feet over the edge," Betty explained. "And I don't know what else to do."
"Follow my example," Mollie suggested. "Sit on 'em."
"Good idea," Betty agreed. And she immediately plumped down on her two slim ankles, looking up at Allen invitingly. "You look so far away," she said. "When you sit down you are not nearly so impressive. There's plenty of room for two," and she patted the rock beside her.
Allen obediently stretched his long length on the turf at her side, letting his legs hang over.
"You see I'm not afraid to risk a dip in the aqua pura," he said. "It wouldn't ruin my dainty little gunboats."
"It looks as if nothing would hurt them but an axe," Frank remarked. He had seated himself next to Allen and Betty, after having made Grace comfortable, and was busily engaged in baiting his hook. "You'd better hurry up, Allen—we'll have all the fish in the place hooked before you get started."
"Oh, no you won't," said Allen. "Hand us some of those worms, Will, will you?"