"I don't mind that a bit."

"And--the fact is my cousin--it's only fair to tell you--she bit it pretty
nearly all over and----" Frank hesitated. He was an honourable boy. Even
at the cost of losing Miss Rutherford's respect he would not refrain
from telling the truth, "And I bit it too," he blurted out.

"Then I suppose I may," said Miss Rutherford. "I should like to more
than anything. I so seldom get the chance."

She bit and munched heartily; bit again, and smiled at Frank. He began
to feel more at his ease.

"There are some biscuits," he said. "The macaroons are finished, I'm
afraid. But there are some cocoanut creams. I'm afraid they're rather
too sweet to go well with tongue."

"In the state of starvation I'm in," she said, "marmalade would go with
pea soup. Cocoanut creams and tongue will be simply delicious. Have you
anything to drink?"

"Only the juice of the tinned peaches."

"Peach juice," said Miss Rutherford, "is nectar. Do I drink it out of
the tin or must I pour it into the palm of my hand and lap?"

"Any way you like," said Frank. "I believe there's a bailer somewhere if
you prefer it."

"I prefer the tin, if it doesn't shock you."

"Oh," said Frank, "nothing shocks me."

This was very nearly true. It had not been true a week before; but a
day on the sea with Priscilla had done a great deal for Frank. Miss
Rutherford threw her head back, tilted the peach tin, and quaffed a
satisfying draught.

"I'm afraid," she said, "that you were just as sceptical as your cousin
was about my sponges."

"I was rather surprised."

"Naturally. You were thinking of bath sponges and naked Indians plunging
over the side of their boats with large stones in their hands to sink
them. But I'm not after bath sponges. I'm doing the zoophytes for the
natural history survey of this district."

"Oh," said Frank vaguely.

"They brought me over from the British Museum because I'm supposed
to know something about the zoophytes. I ought to, for I don't know
anything else."

"It must be most interesting."

"Last week I did the fresh water lakes and got some very good results.
Professor Wilder and his wife are doing rotifers. They're stopping----"

"In tents?" said Frank with interest.

"Tents! No. In quite the sweetest cottage you ever saw. I sleep on a
sofa in the porch. What put tents into your head?"

"Then it wasn't Professor Wilder and his wife whose boat you rescued
just now?"

"Oh, dear no. I don't