On Sunday she could not help telling Paul of her defeat. Paul had immediately seen that something was wrong, asking, "What's the matter?"
"I know I could learn to ski if she'd just let me go on trying," Flip persisted. "I know I could." Ariel was licking her face in a worried manner and she put her head down on his back to try to hide the tears that were threatening.
"Bring your skis over next Sunday and I'll help you," Paul told her.
"Oh, would you really, Paul?"
"I said I would. Do you think it's because of your bad knee you told me about?"
Flip shook her head. "No. My father asked the doctor when Eunice gave me her skis and he said skiing was fine for me. So it isn't that."
"Well, bring your skis next time then," Paul told her.
So Flip brought her skis over. Madame Perceval arrived just as they were about to set off.
"Hello, Philippa, Paul, what's this?" she asked, fending off Ariel's frantic welcome.
"I'm going to teach Flip to ski," Paul announced.