There was a silence in which Georgie’s love of chocolate creams fought with his instincts of cleanliness and put them to flight.
“All right,” he said, “I don’t mind muddying my feet just a bit.”
He took off his shoes and stockings. William and Ginger took off theirs too.
“Just to help you Georgie,” they said, “and to stop you fallin’ in or anythin’.”
They held him firmly on either side, and walked him down to the pond. “Jus’ because we wun’t like you to fall an’ mess up your suit,” said William.
“Be careful, Georgie,” said Ginger, “don’ go too far.”
“Be careful, Georgie,” said William, “mind you don’t fall.”
At last they returned to the bank.
“Nice sort of help you were,” said Georgie indignantly, “why, you made me go in lots further than I meant to and, look, you’ve got mud all over my trousers.”
“Sorry, Georgie,” said William meekly, “that was where I splashed you by mistake, wasn’t it? Shall I be King John if you don’t like it?”