David moved a step nearer; the woe had gone from his face. “Gosh, then, leave me out,” he said. “I—I prefer being left out, if that’s it.” “Really?” asked Maddox. “Yes, rather, and—and thanks ever so much.” There had been no need for more than these jerked telegraphic sentences, but David went up town, treading on air, with a secret heavenly pride that was certainly among the “rippingest feelings” he had ever had. He congratulated Ozzy with complete sincerity. . . . And here was Frank himself sliding down the crumbling sand-path with towels. Frank threw a towel at him and knocked off his hat. “Mother’s lunching out,” he said, “so we can bathe just as long as we please without being late. Oh, and she said to me, ‘need you’—that’s you—‘go away on Saturday?’ I said I’d ask you.” David had no hesitation over this. “No, of course I needn’t,” he said. “At least——” “At least?” said Frank, emptying the sand out of his shoes. “I mean, are you sure I’m not being a bore? I should love to stop, of course. But won’t you and your mother get blasted sick of me?” “Don’t think she will,” said Maddox gravely. “I shall rather, but it doesn’t matter. In fact, I was wondering whether perhaps you’d mind going on Friday instead of Saturday.” David laughed. “That’s a poor shot at getting a rise out of me,” he said. “Absolute failure. I shan’t go away on Friday or Saturday.” Frank just shrugged his shoulders, and stifled a yawn with dreadful versimilitude. David gave him one short, anxious glance. “And that wasn’t such a poor shot after all,” said Frank. “Just for a second you wondered if I was in earnest.” “No, I didn’t,” said David promptly. “And that’s a lie,” said Frank. David gave it up, and lay back on the sand again, beginning to unbutton. “I know it is,” he said. “You yawned jolly well.” Frank picked up a handful of the dry powdery sand and let it trickle gently into the gap of shin that showed between the end of David’s trousers, and the beginning of his sock. This caused him to spring up. “Lord, what’s that?” he said. “Oh, I see. Funny; I thought it was a bug of sorts.” “Well, if you will grow so that your trousers only reach half-way down your legs, what else is to be done with the intervals?” asked Frank. “I grew two inches last half,” said David. “I shall be taller than you before I’ve done.” “Very likely. You will be the image of a piece of asparagus, if you like that. And certainly, if you grow up to the size of your feet, you’ll be big enough. I shall call you Spondee.” David’s shirt was half over his head, but he paused and spoke muffled. “Because why?” he asked. “Because a spondee is two long feet.” David gave a great splutter of laughter, as his shirt came off. “Oh, quite funny,” he said. “Wish I had guessed. Jove, doesn’t the sea look good? I’m glad it was made, and—and that I didn’t die in the night. You didn’t bring down anything to eat, did you? Isn’t it bad to bathe on an empty tummy? Or is it a full one?”