. Wait a bit and you won't mind it."

He was treading water and steadying his companion. "Want the
life-preserver off?" he laughed.

"Indeed I'd rather have it than the most gorgeous gown in Boston," she
replied breathlessly, her spirits rising as she felt the strength of
his arms. "Naught shall part me from it. Tell me what to do and I'll do
it."

Edna swam around them with nonchalant, sidelong strokes, while Dunham
went through the customary directions to the novice. She had been
splashing valiantly for some minutes when Miss Lacey, forsaking her
point of lookout, crept gingerly, with fear for her grenadine, to the
edge of the rocks.

"Children," she called in a hollow voice, "the people are returning
from church."

"Well, what shall we do?" asked John. "Edna and I can stay under for a
reasonable length of time, but I should be obliged to drown Miss
Sylvia. Does the situation demand it?"

"Benny Merritt is coming," still more acutely. "He's very near!"

"Well, when he sees this pool he'll fly with such hair as he has," said
John cheerfully.

"Oh," groaned Miss Martha, "I've so often told him it was wrong to swim
on Sunday."

"Keep him," cried Edna; "I want him. We're coming out, anyway."

"Stay _in_," commanded Miss Lacey sepulchrally. "He may pass by," and
she sank on a rock, spread out her Congregational paper, and examined
the columns from end to end with absorption.

But Benny had no idea of passing by. He had heard the voices from the
water and lounged toward Miss Lacey, but that lady declined to look up.

"Miss Sylvy's learnin' to swim, ain't she?" he remarked, when he had
stood unnoticed through a space of silence.

"Oh, good-afternoon, Benny," said Miss Martha severely. "Yes; a friend
from home came unexpectedly, and offered to help her, and she and Miss
Derwent--and---- Was there a good congregation this afternoon, Benny? I
thought best to remain here with my young people."

"Guess so. I heard 'em hollerin' as I come by a little while ago."

"Oh, Benny, you should have been there." Miss Lacey spoke more in
sorrow than in anger; she was conscious that the object lesson he was
now receiving would undo many of her faithful exhortations.

He directed an elaborate wink at the crown of her abased shade hat.

"Thought I'd ruther go swimmin'," he returned.

Miss Martha turned the leaves of her paper with a loud rustle. The
bathers were chattering and pulling themselves out of the water by the
s