"Oh, nowheres. Don't you take hold o' me, Rosie, 'cause I'm in a hurry."
Rosie went with him to the door, still keeping her hand on his shoulder. "Please tell me where you're going."
"You just let go my arm! I'll kick if you don't!"
Jack struggled violently, broke away, and, escaping to a safe distance, scowled back at Rosie angrily. "'Tain't none o' your business where I'm going! Guess I can go where I want to!"
"Oh, Jackie, Jackie! Is that the way to talk to your poor Rosie?"
Joe Slattery, who had, of course, instantly espoused his friend's cause, now spoke: "He's goin' in swimmin'! That's where he's goin' if you want to know it!"
"Swimmin'! You mustn't, Jackie, you mustn't! You'll get drownd-ed! Sure he will, Joe! He don't know how to swim one bit!"
Joe grinned mockingly. "Guess he can learn, can't he?"
Rosie paused distractedly, then clutched at the only straw that floated by. "See here, Jackie, you can go with Joe and you can look on, but listen: if you promise me you won't go in, I'll give you a whole nickel!"
Jack looked at Joe and Joe looked at Jack. Then with the eye farthest away from Rosie, Rosie thought she saw Joe screw out a small wink. Thereupon Jack turned to Rosie with a frank, guileless smile.