“Have your own way, then,” she said, with swift impatience, turning toward the land. Merrington kept but an arm’s-length between them.
As they came out of the water, a little distance apart, a tall woman separated herself from a group standing to one side, and bore down upon Jacqueline.
“What a fright you have given us!” she cried. “I came down to the beach to find you, and found instead everyone watching your rescue in mid-ocean. Who was your deliverer?”
“Be sensible, Peggie. I do not know who it was that drove me in by his officious intrusion.”
“Intrusion! Good gracious, Jacqueline, do you think you own the Atlantic?”
Mrs. Le Moyne turned to look at the man, who, having accomplished his purpose, was making his way to the stand of the guard once more. She gave a little cry of surprise, which arrested his attention.
“Geoffrey! Where in the world did you come from?”
“Peggie!” Merrington cried, gleefully. “You don’t mean to say you’re here?”
“I never make useless remarks, Geoffrey. How good you are looking! Of course I needn’t introduce you now to Miss Selwyn. Jacqueline, this is Mr. Merrington, my only and best cousin.”
Jacqueline bowed stiffly, without looking up. She was wringing the water from the skirt of her suit.