"Aw, Tom!" deprecated Peter in red confusion.

"An' Peter, he said he never seen anything so pretty in all his life
as--"

"Aw now, Tom, you're a liar! I never said anything about it."

"You thought it, or your face was liar too, my boy. Like a dog after a
rabbit it was."

"It was just like you both to lie watching," flamed Nance. "If you'd
both go and jump into the sea every day you'd be a great deal nicer than
you are; and if you'd stop there it would be a great deal nicer for us."

"Aw--Nance!" from Peter, and a great guffaw from Tom, while Gard devoted
himself guiltily to his plate.

"You looked nice before you went in," chuckled Tom, who never knew when
to stop, "but you looked a sight nicer when you came out and sat on
rocks with it all stuck to you--"

"You're a--a--a disgusting thing, Tom Hamon, and you're just as bad,
Peter Mauger!" and she looked as if she would have flown at them, but,
instead, jumped up and flung out of the room.

Gard's innate honesty would not permit him to take up the cudgels this
time. Inwardly he felt himself involved in her condemnation, though none
but himself knew it.