sh I'd given up
my lunch, too."

The Mermaid stiffened, but none of the others noticed the error.

I felt myself colouring like a fool.

"Aren't you going to bathe again?" said Berry.

There was the note of eagerness in his voice, and I saw a vision of
Berry in my clothes striding triumphantly homewards.

"I don't think so," I said carelessly. "Rather too soon after lunch.
But I'm going to take off my coat and sit down in the sun."

After all, he couldn't do much with a coat.

The Mermaid was already seated between Daphne and Jill, talking
vivaciously. Jonah pretended to be asleep. After a furtive glance at
the top of the cliff, Berry resumed his building operations with awful
deliberation.

After a while:

"Well, if you aren't going to bathe any more, aren't you going to
dress?" said I.

"And leave this beauty spot?" said Berry. "Shame, shame on you,
brother! Go your ways if you will. 'Then wander forth the sons of
Belial.' You'll just be in time. But leave us here in peace. I have
almost evolved a post-futurist picture which will revolutionize the
artistic world. I shall call it 'The Passing of a Bathe: a Fantasy.
It will present to the minds of all who have not seen it, what they
would have rejected for lunch if they had. To get the true effect, no
one must see it."

"But if some one does?"

"I shall have already left the country."

This was too much for Daphne, and she asked Jonah to come and help her
to get some mussels. They walked away together.

"What on earth does she want mussels for?" said I.

"The garden paths," said Berry. "Our cobbles aren't wearing at all
well."

I turned to the Mermaid. She was chattering away to Jill, with her
back towards me. Over her shoulder, Jill's grey eyes regarded me
wistfully. I made a rapid calculation. Yes, the porter ought to have
arrived by now. I had told him to keep out of sight till I called him.

I waited until Daphne and Jonah came strolling back empty-handed. They
had forgotten about the mussels. Daphne's brows were knitted, and
Jonah was looking ruefully at the sun. It was getting on for half-past
three. One could guess that much.

I rose and picked up my coat. "I say, aren't you ever going to dress
any more?" I said.

Daphne swallowed before replying, and with the tail of my eye I saw
Berry start and wreck six inches of architecture. Then:

"Presently," said my big sister. "You two go on and order a big tea at
the