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Wet Magic rather awkward and quite presentable little girl.

"Now," he said, looking down at his serge skirts with a queer smile, "now we shan't be long."

Nor were they. Thrusting the tin spoon and the pie plate and the discarded boots of Reuben into the kind shelter of the bush they made straight for the sea.

When they got to that pleasant part of the shore which is smooth sand and piled shingle, lying between low rocks and high cliffs, Bernard stopped short.

"Now, look here," he said, "if Sabrina fair turns up trumps I don't mind going on with the adventure, but I won't do it if Kathleen's to be in it." "It's not fair," said Kathleen; "you said I might."

"Did I?" Bernard most handsomely referred the matter to the others.

"Yes, you did," said Francis shortly. Mavis said "Yes," and Reuben clinched the matter by saying, "Why, you up and asked her yourself if she'd go along of you."

"All right," said Bernard calmly. "Then I shan't go myself. That's all." "Oh, bother," said at least three of the five; and Kathleen said: "I don't see why I should always be out of everything."

"Well," said Mavis impatiently, "after all, there's no danger in just trying to see the Mermaid. You promise you won't do anything if Bernard says not—that'll do, I suppose? Though why you should be a slave to him just because he chooses to say you're his particular sister, I don't see. Will that do, Bear?"

"I'll promise anything," said Kathleen, almost in tears, "if you'll only let me come with you all and see the Mermaid if she turns out to be seeable."

So that was settled.

Now came the question of where the magic words should be said. 72