ldren, to the smile on Stella's lips, to Halliday's "Ripping,
old chap! I can lend you things for the night!" But again a spasm of
longing and remorse throbbed through Ashurst, and he said moodily:

"I must send a wire!"

The attractions of the pool palling, they went back to the hotel. Ashurst
sent his wire, addressing it to Mrs. Narracombe: "Sorry, detained for the
night, back to-morrow." Surely Megan would understand that he had too
much to do; and his heart grew lighter. It was a lovely afternoon, warm,
the sea calm and blue, and swimming his great passion; the favour of
these pretty children flattered him, the pleasure of looking at them, at
Stella, at Halliday's sunny face; the slight unreality, yet extreme
naturalness of it all--as of a last peep at normality before he took this
plunge with Megan! He got his borrowed bathing dress, and they all set
forth. Halliday and he undressed behind one rock, the three girls behind
another. He was first into the sea, and at once swam out with the
bravado of justifying his self-given reputation. When he turned he could
see Halliday swimming along shore, and the girls flopping and dipping,
and riding the little waves, in the way he was accustomed to despise, but
now thought pretty and sensible, since it gave him the distinction of the
only deep-water fish. But drawing near, he wondered if they would like
him, a stranger, to come into their splashing group; he felt shy,
approaching that slim nymph. Then Sabina summoned him to teach her to
float, and between them the little girls kept him so busy that he had no
time even to notice whether Stella was accustomed to his presence, till
suddenly he heard a startled sound from her: She was standing submerged
to the waist, leaning a little forward, her slim white arms stretched out
and pointing, her wet face puckered by the sun and an expression of fear.

"Look at Phil! Is he all right? Oh, look!"

Ashurst saw at once that Phil was not all right. He was splashing and
struggling out of his depth, perhaps a hundred yards away; suddenly he
gave a cry, threw up his arms, and went down. Ashurst saw the girl
launch herself towards him, and crying out: "Go back, Stella! Go back!"
he dashed out. He had never swum so fast, and reached Halliday just as
he was coming up a second time. It was a case of cramp, but to get him
in was not difficult, for he did not struggle. The girl, who had stopped
where Ashurst told her to, helped