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charred… looking little whare where Leila the milk…girl lived with her old
Gran。 The sheep strayed over a yellow swamp and Wag； the sheep…dog；
padded after； rounded them up and headed them for the steeper； narrower
rocky pass that led out of Crescent Bay and towards Daylight Cove。
〃Baa！ Baa！〃 Faint the cry came as they rocked along the fast…drying
road。 The shepherd put away his pipe； dropping it into his breast…pocket
so that the little bowl hung over。 And straightway the soft airy whistling
began again。 Wag ran out along a ledge of rock after something that
smelled； and ran back again disgusted。 Then pushing； nudging； hurrying；
the sheep rounded the bend and the shepherd followed after out of sight。
Chapter 1。II。
A few moments later the back door of one of the bungalows opened；
and a figure in a broad…striped bathing suit flung down the paddock；
cleared the stile； rushed through the tussock grass into the hollow；
staggered up the sandy hillock； and raced for dear life over the big porous
stones； over the cold； wet pebbles； on to the hard sand that gleamed like
oil。 Splish… Splosh！ Splish…Splosh！ The water bubbled round his legs
as Stanley Burnell waded out exulting。 First man in as usual！ He'd
beaten them all again。 And he swooped down to souse his head and
neck。
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The Garden Party
〃Hail； brother！ All hail； Thou Mighty One！〃 A velvety bass voice
came booming over the water。
Great Scott！ Damnation take it！ Stanley lifted up to see a dark head
bobbing far out and an arm lifted。 It was Jonathan Troutthere before
him！ 〃Glorious morning！〃 sang the voice。
〃Yes； very fine！〃 said Stanley briefly。 Why the dickens didn't the
fellow stick to his part of the sea？ Why should he come barging over to
this exact spot？ Stanley gave a kick； a lunge and struck out； swimming
overarm。 But Jonathan was a match for him。 Up he came； his black
hair sleek on his forehead； his short beard sleek。
〃I had an extraordinary dream last night！〃 he shouted。
What was the matter with the man？ This mania for conversation
irritated Stanley beyond words。 And it was always the samealways
some piffle about a dream he'd had； or some cranky idea he'd got hold of；
or some rot he'd been reading。 Stanley turned over on his back and
kicked with his legs till he was a living waterspout。 But even then。。。〃I
dreamed I was hanging over a terrifically high cliff； shouting to some one
below。〃 You would be！ thought Stanley。 He could stick no more of it。
He stopped splashing。 〃Look here； Trout；〃 he said； 〃I'm in rather a hurry
this morning。〃
〃You're WHAT？〃 Jonathan was so surprisedor pretended to bethat
he sank under the water； then reappeared again blowing。
〃All I mean is；〃 said Stanley； 〃I've no time tototo fool about。 I
want to get this over。 I'm in a hurry。 I've work to do this morning
see？〃
Jonathan was gone before Stanley had finished。 〃Pass； friend！〃 said
the bass voice gently； and he slid away through the water with scarcely a
ripple。。。But curse the fellow！ He'd ruined Stanley's bathe。 What an
unpractical idiot the man was！ Stanley struck out to sea again； and then
as quickly swam in again； and away he rushed up the beach。 He felt
cheated。
Jonathan stayed a little longer in the water。 He floated； gently
moving his hands like fins； and letting the sea rock his long； skinny body。
It was curious； but in spite of everything he was fond of Stanley Burnell。
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The Garden Party
True； he had a fiendish desire to tease him sometimes； to poke fun at him；
but at bottom he was sorry for the fellow。 There was something pathetic
in his determination to make a job of everything。 You couldn't help
feeling he'd be caught out one day； and then what an almighty cropper he'd
come！ At that moment an immense wave lifted Jonathan； rode past him；
and broke along the beach with a joyful sound。 What a beauty！ And
now there came another。 That was the way to livecarelessly； recklessly；
spending oneself。 He got on to his feet and began to wade towards the
shore； pressing his toes into the firm； wrinkled sand。 To take things easy；
not to fight against the ebb and flow of life； but to give way to itthat was
what was needed。 It was this tension that was all wrong。 To liveto
live！ And the perfect morning； so fresh and fair； basking in the light； as
though laughing at its own beauty； seemed to whisper； 〃Why not？〃
But now he was out of the water Jonathan turned blue with cold。 He
ached all over； it was as though some one was wringing the blood out of
him。 And stalking up the beach； shivering； all his muscles tight； he too
felt his bathe was spoilt。 He'd stayed in too long。
Chapter 1。III。
Beryl was alone in the living…room when Stanley appeared； wearing a
blue serge suit； a stiff collar and a spotted tie。 He looked almost
uncannily clean and brushed； he was going to town for the day。
Dropping into his chair； he pulled out his watch and put it beside his plate。
〃I've just got twenty…five minutes；〃 he said。 〃You might go and see if
the porridge is ready； Beryl？〃
〃Mother's just gone for it；〃 said Beryl。 She sat down at the table and
poured out his tea。
〃Thanks！〃 Stanley took a sip。 〃Hallo！〃 he said in an astonished
voice； 〃you've forgotten the sugar。〃
〃Oh； sorry！〃 But even then Beryl didn't help him； she pushed the
basin across。 What did this mean？ As Stanley helped himself his blue
eyes widened； they seemed to quiver。 He shot a quick glance at his
sister…in… law and leaned back。
〃Nothing wrong； is there？〃 he asked carelessly； fingering his collar。
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