She lifted that terrible pump handle again.
“I believe this will be about enough,” Walter blubbered. His mouth was so full of water that again Mrs. Claus did not understand him.
“Green soap is good for corns, and for rheumatism.” She was pumping away for dear life.
Walter finally succeeded in rescuing himself and the bench from that destructive stream of water. He was now able to make his cries for mercy understood; but he was not yet able to get up. Besides, the good woman had hung his clothes out of his reach, and he was ashamed. He remained sitting.
“Do you want anything else?” inquired the water nymph.
“No, no, no!” he answered quickly. She was already lifting the pump-handle again. “But——”
The simple, innocent woman did not understand; and, when he continued to sit there like a helpless lump of misery, she asked:
“Do you have a pain anywhere?”
“No, I haven’t any pains.”
“Are you tired?”