her, or marry her, or something. Whatever's that?"

I jumped to my feet and looked towards where she was pointing.

"It looks rather like- forgive me- a chemise."

"Good Heavens!"

Before I had time to move, she rushed into the surf and secured
the floating garment, made another dart at something else, and
was knocked down by a roller. I had her on her feet in a moment,
but she dashed the water out of her eves and looked wildly to and
fro over the sea.

What is it, Mermaid?"

She tried to stamp her foot; but the four inches of water in
which she was standing were against her.

"Can't you see, idiot? This is mine- this chemise- so's this
shoe. The tide's come up into my cave while I've been making a
fool of myself talking to you, and all my things are gone.
There's the other shoe."

"All right- I'll get it."

I got it, and one stocking, but though I swam about till I was
tired, and even climbed on to the rock, now almost submerged, to
which we had raced, I could see nothing else. I returned
temporarily exhausted to the cove. She waded out to meet me.