"We will now bathe," said a voice at the back of my neck.
I gave a grunt and went on with my dream. It was a jolly dream, and
nobody got up early in it.
"We will now bathe," repeated Archie.
"Go away," I said distinctly.
Archie sat down on my knees and put his damp towel on my face.
"When my wife and I took this commodious residence for six weeks,"
he said, "and engaged the sea at great expense to come up to its
doors twice a day, it was on the distinct understanding that our
guests should plunge into it punctually at seven o'clock every
morning."
"Don't be silly, it's about three now. And I wish you'd get off my
knees."
"It's a quarter-past seven."
"Then there you are, we've missed it. Well, we must see what we can
do for you to-morrow. Good-night."
Archie pulled all the clothes off me and walked with them to the
window.
"Jove, what a day!" he said. "And can't you smell the sea?"
"I can. Let that suffice. I say, what's happened to my blanket? I
must have swallowed it in my sleep."
"Where's his sponge?" I heard him murmuring to himself as he came
away from the window.
"No, no, I'm up," I shouted, and I sprang out of bed and put on a
shirt and a pair of trousers with great speed. "Where do I take
these off again?" I asked. "I seem to be giving myself a lot of
trouble."
"There is a tent."
"Won't the ladies want it? Because, if so, I can easily have my
bathe later on."
"The ladies think it's rather too rough to-day."
"Perhaps they're right," I said hopefully. "A woman's instinct--No,
I'm NOT a coward."
It wasn't so bad outside--sun and wind and a blue-and-white sky and
plenty of movement on the sea.
"Just the day for a swim," said Archie cheerily, as he led the way
down to the beach.
"I've nothing against the day; it's the hour I object to. The Lancet
says you mustn't bathe within an hour of a heavy meal. Well, I'm
going to have a very heavy meal within about twenty minutes. That
isn't right, you know."
By the time I was ready the wind had got much colder. I looked out
of the tent and shivered.
"Isn't it jolly and fresh?" said Archie, determined to be helpful.
"There are points about the early morning, after all."
"There are plenty of points about this morning. Where do they get
all the sharp stones from? Look at that one there--he's simply
waiting for me."
"You ought to have bought some bathing shoes. I got this pair in the
village."
"Why didn't you tell me so last night?"
"It was too late last night."
"Well, it's much too early this morning. If you were a gentleman
you'd lend me one of yours, and we'd hop down together."
Archie being no gentleman, he walked and I hobbled to the edge, and
there we sat down while he took off his shoes.
"I should like to take this last opportunity," I said, "of telling
you that up till now I haven't enjoyed this early morning bathe one
little bit. I suppose there will be a notable moment when the
ecstasy actually begins, but at present I can't see it coming at
all. The only thing I look forward to with any pleasure is the
telling Dahlia and Myra at breakfast what I think of their
cowardice. That and the breakfast itself. Good-bye."