"Your sister wouldn't like it."

"Nance?" with a look of surprise. "She won't mind. Will you, Nance?"

Then it was her turn to hesitate, for bathing with Bernel was one thing,
and with Mr. Gard quite another.

"You'll show me another time, Bernel," said Gard, picking up his towel.
"I wouldn't like to spoil your fun now."

"But you wouldn't. Would he, Nance?"

"I don't mind--if you'll give me the cave."

"All the caves you want," said Bernel, scornful at such unusual
stickling on the part of his chum.

"Quite sure you don't mind?" asked Gard, doubtful still.

"If I have the cave. It's generally the one who gets there first, and
Bern goes quicker than I do."

"Of course. You're only a girl," laughed Bernel, as he raced on down the
slope.

And Nance laughed too at his brotherly depreciation, and Gard, who had
never regarded her as only a girl, and whose thoughts of her were very
absorbing and uplifting, happening to catch her eye, laughed also, and
so they went down towards the sea in pleasant enough humour and the