'Would anybody not swear that he is mad to see
him standing waist-deep in the water and the sun on his bald head, I am
reduced to entreat you not to--though you have no family of your own--not
to encourage him. It is amusing to you. Pray, reflect that such folly is
too often fatal. Compel him to come on shore.'
The logic of the appeal was no doubt distinctly visible in the lady's
mind, though it was not accurately worded. I saw that I stood marked to
be the scape goat of the day, and humbly continued to deserve well,
notwithstanding. By dint of simple signs and nods of affirmative, and a
constant propulsion of my friend's arm, I drew him into the boat, and
thence projected him up to the level with his wife, who had perhaps
deigned to understand that it was best to avoid the arresting of his
divergent mind by any remark during the passage, and remained silent. No
sooner was he established on his feet, than she plucked him away.
'Your papa's hat,' she called, flashing to her daughter, and streamed up
the lawn into the rose-trellised pathways leading on aloft to the
vicarage house.
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