“You certainly bruised us enough doing it. The last time Mabel slipped, you steadied yourself by grabbing my left ear,” said Frances ruefully.
“And my poor head,” laughed Ellen. “Charlie reminded me of the Bellman, don’t you remember?—
“‘Just the place for a Snark!’ the Bellman cried,
As he landed his crew with care;
Supporting each man on the top of the tide
By a finger entwined in his hair.”
“You kids are certainly peaches,” and Mr. Wing literally beamed. “Here you are quoting ‘The Hunting of the Snark’ and laughing and chatting just as if you weren’t cold and upside down and everything.”
Just then Breck came in with a steaming coffee pot, in some mysterious way maintaining his equilibrium.
“Fortunately the steward didn’t hear your remark about the orchestration of his snores, or I don’t believe you would have got your coffee so soon,” Breck said in an undertone to Jane as he handed her her cup.