Nancy obeyed, and nothing more was said until the boat grated on the sand. Jim stepped out and gave her a hand. She was stiff and cold, and could hardly stand. Seeing her stagger, Jim stooped and picked her up like a doll.
“Put your arms around my neck,” he directed.
“But Jim,” she protested, “I’m too heavy. You’ll hurt yourself.”
Paying no attention to her objections, he carried her across the beach and appeared so suddenly beside the bus that Jeanette gave a little scream.
“She’s all right,” said Jim, placing Nan gently on the seat beside Jeanette, “only cold and stiff.”
After one wild hug, Jeanette busied herself making Nancy comfortable.
“Give Jim my coat,” directed Nan, when Jeanette tried to slip it on her. “He made me put on his sweater, and it’s too wet from my clothes now for him to use it.”
“You’ll do no such thing,” said Jim decidedly. “Besides, what do you suppose would happen to your coat if I tried to get into it.”
“Jim, please!” pleaded Nancy. “You’ll catch cold and have pneumonia—or—or something, and it will be all my fault——”
Her voice broke.