as soon as he was in his depth, and
once on the beach they sat down one on each side of him to rub his limbs,
while the little ones stood by with scared faces. Halliday was soon
smiling. It was--he said--rotten of him, absolutely rotten! If Frank
would give him an arm, he could get to his clothes all right now.
Ashurst gave him the arm, and as he did so caught sight of Stella's face,
wet and flushed and tearful, all broken up out of its calm; and he
thought: 'I called her Stella! Wonder if she minded?'

While they were dressing, Halliday said quietly, "You saved my life, old
chap!"

"Rot!"

Clothed, but not quite in their right minds, they went up all together to
the hotel and sat down to tea, except Halliday, who was lying down in his
room. After some slices of bread and jam, Sabina said:

"I say, you know, you are a brick!" And Freda chimed in:

"Rather!"

Ashurst saw Stella looking down; he got up in confusion, and went to the
window. From there he heard Sabina mutter: "I say, let's swear blood
bond. Where's your knife, Freda?" and out of the corner of his eye
could see each of them solemnly prick herself, squeeze out a drop of
blood and dabble on a bit of paper. He turned and made for the door.

"Don't be a stoat! Come back!" His arms were seized; imprisoned between
the little girls he was brought back to the table. On it lay a piece of
paper with an effigy drawn in blood, and the three names Stella Halliday,
Sabina Halliday, Freda Halliday--also in blood, running towards it like
the rays of a star. Sabina said:

"That's you. We shall have to kiss you, you know."

And Freda echoed:

"Oh! Blow--Yes!"

Before Ashurst could escape, some wettish hair dangled against his face,
something like a bite descended on his nose, he felt his left arm
pinched, and other teeth softly searching his cheek. Then he was
released, and Freda said:

"Now, Stella."

Ashurst, red and rigid, looked across the table at a red and rigid
Stella. Sabina giggled; Freda cried:

"Buck up--it spoils everything!"

A queer, ashamed eagerness shot through Ashurst: then he said quietly:

"Shut up, you little demons!"

Again Sabina giggled.

"Well, then, she can kiss her hand, and you can put it against your nose.
It is on one side!"

To his amazement the girl did kiss her hand and stretch it out. Solemnly
he took that cool, slim hand and laid it to his cheek. The two little
girls broke into clapping, and Freda