"Porter!" I cried.

"Sir!" came from above us.

"Behold, now- "

I let the rest of the quotation go, as I wanted to rejoin the
mermaid, looking as she had last seen me. Berry said afterwards
that Jonah gained on me while the sand lasted, but the loose
stones at the foot of the path were my salvation.

As I passed the porter, I told him to say that a square meal
would be awaiting them at the farm. We ordered it generously
enough, but, despite our hunger, the Mermaid and I decided to
have our own tea at the hotel. Thither we set out to walk
through the fields. Suddenly she stopped as we were crossing a
deep lane.

"I don't know why you're here," she said.

"Try and think, Mermaid."

"You'd better go and have another bathe."

"Now, Mermaid, you know- "

"Afterwards you'll be wishing you had given up your tea, if you
don't."