Part 1 (1/2)
The Holiday Round.
by A. A. Milne.
HOLIDAY TIME
I.--THE ORDEAL BY WATER
”We will now bathe,” said a voice at the back of my neck.
I gave a grunt and went on with my dream. It was a jolly dream, and n.o.body got up early in it.
”We will now bathe,” repeated Archie.
”Go away,” I said distinctly.
Archie sat down on my knees and put his damp towel on my face.
”When my wife and I took this commodious residence for six weeks,”
he said, ”and engaged the sea at great expense to come up to its doors twice a day, it was on the distinct understanding that our guests should plunge into it punctually at seven o'clock every morning.”
”Don't be silly, it's about three now. And I wish you'd get off my knees.”
”It's a quarter-past seven.”
”Then there you are, we've missed it. Well, we must see what we can do for you to-morrow. Good-night.”
Archie pulled all the clothes off me and walked with them to the window.
”Jove, what a day!” he said. ”And can't you smell the sea?”
”I can. Let that suffice. I say, what's happened to my blanket? I must have swallowed it in my sleep.”
”Where's his sponge?” I heard him murmuring to himself as he came away from the window.
”No, no, I'm up,” I shouted, and I sprang out of bed and put on a s.h.i.+rt and a pair of trousers with great speed. ”Where do I take these off again?” I asked. ”I seem to be giving myself a lot of trouble.”
”There is a tent.”
”Won't the ladies want it? Because, if so, I can easily have my bathe later on.”
”The ladies think it's rather too rough to-day.”
”Perhaps they're right,” I said hopefully. ”A woman's instinct--No, I'm NOT a coward.”
It wasn't so bad outside--sun and wind and a blue-and-white sky and plenty of movement on the sea.
”Just the day for a swim,” said Archie cheerily, as he led the way down to the beach.
”I've nothing against the day; it's the hour I object to. The Lancet says you mustn't bathe within an hour of a heavy meal. Well, I'm going to have a very heavy meal within about twenty minutes. That isn't right, you know.”