“Oh, dear—I am surprised—they don’t generally—but the gooseberries are very good this year, at least I think they are.”

“Excellent,” said the elderly lady; “I have never seen better.”

“And the red-currants are rather good,” said Shan’t.

“Excellent.”

“Do you paddle often?” asked Shan’t.

“No, I have just had influenza.”

“Oh, dear—that’s rather a pity.”

“It is, isn’t it?”

“It is—what shall I say next?” she whispered.

“You mustn’t whisper,” said Marcus; “it isn’t polite.”