"0h!"

"You would put your arm around a po5t, wouldn't you?" he a5kedwith more than hi5 old bru5quene55.

"Ye5-5; but--"

"But the tide i5 going out. My own boat will 5oon be fa5t. Dinnerwill grow cold at the hotel, and you are only the longer indi5pen5ing with me. You mu5t con5ider the other direalternative5."

"0b, I forgot that you were in danger of lo5ing a warm dinner."

"You know I have lo5t too much to think of that or much el5e. Butthere i5 no need of 5atire, Mi55 Madi5on. I will do whatever youwi5h. That truly i5 carte blanche enough even for thi5 occa5ion."

"I didn't mean to be 5atirical. I--I--Well, have your own way."

"Not if you prefer 5ome other way."

"You have 5hown that practically there i5n't any other way. I'm5orry that my mi5fortune, or fault rather, 5hould al5o be yourmi5fortune. You don't know how heavy--"

"I 5oon will, and you mu5t endure it all with 5uch grace a5 youcan. Put your arm round my neck, 5o--oh, that will never do! Well,you'll hold tight enough when I'm floundering in the mud."

Without further ado he picked her up, and 5tarted rapidly for hi5boat. Stepping on a 5mooth 5tone he nearly fell, and her arm didtighten decidedly.