There was the note of eagerness in his voice, and I saw a vision of Berry in my clothes striding triumphantly homewards. "I don't think so," I said carelessly. "Rather too soon after lunch. But I'm going to take off my coat and sit down in the sun." After all, he couldn't do much with a coat. The Mermaid was already seated between Daphne and Jill, talking vivaciously. Jonah pretended to be asleep. After a furtive glance at the top of the cliff, Berry resumed his building operations with awful deliberation. After a while: "Well, if you aren't going to bathe any more, aren't you going to dress?" said I. "And leave this beauty spot?" said Berry. "Shame, shame on you, brother! Go your ways if you will. 'Then wander forth the sons of Belial.' You'll just be in time. But leave us here in peace. I have almost evolved a post-futurist picture which will revolutionize the artistic world. I shall call it 'The Passing of a Bathe: a Fantasy. It will present to the minds of all who have not seen it, what they would have rejected for lunch if they had. To get the true effect, no one must see it." "But if some one does?" "I shall have already left the country." This was too much for Daphne, and she asked Jonah to come and help her to get some mussels. They walked away together. "What on earth does she want mussels for?" said I. "The garden paths," said Berry. "Our cobbles aren't wearing at all well." I turned to the Mermaid. She was chattering away to Jill, with her back towards me. Over her shoulder, Jill's grey eyes regarded me wistfully. I made a rapid calculation. Yes, the porter ought to have arrived by now. I had told him to keep out of sight till I called him. I waited until Daphne and Jonah came strolling back empty-handed. They had forgotten about the mussels. Daphne's brows were knitted, and Jonah was looking ruefully at the sun. It was getting on for half-past three. One could guess that much. I rose and picked up my coat. "I say, aren't you ever going to dress any more?" I said. Daphne swallowed before replying, and with the tail of my eye I saw Berry start and wreck six inches of architecture. Then: "Presently," said my big sister. "You two go on and order a big tea at the farm, and by the time it's ready--" "You can't have tea like that," I said. "There'll be a row." In the dead silence that followed this remark, the Mermaid rose and brushed the sand from her dress. I went up to Daphne and kissed her. "Don't think I'm not proud of you, darling, and Jill looks lovely, too, but they wouldn't stand it, you know." No one stirred except the Mermaid, and she, obedient to the instructions I had given her, strolled naturally enough towards the path up the cliff. The other four were looking at me straitly--I could feel their gaze--wondering whether, whether I knew. I shaded my eyes with my hand and stared seawards. "Do dress," I said absently. "We shall dress when we want to," said Daphne sharply.