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           Harshawputasideahush-mikeandsaid,"Well,boywhathaveyoulearnedtoday?"

           Smithsmiledhappily,thenanswered–asalwayswithaslightpause."Ihavetodaylearnedtodoaone-and-a-halfgainer.Thatisajumping,adive,forenteringourwaterby-"

           "Iknow,Isawyoudoingit.Butyousplashed.Keepyourtoespointed,yourkneesstraight,andyourfeettogether."

           Smithlookedunhappy."Irightlydidnotitdo?"

           "Youdiditveryrightly,forafirsttime.WatchhowDorcasdoesit.Hardlyarippleinthewater."

           Smithconsideredthisslowly."ThewatergroksDorcas.Itcherisheshim."

           "‘Her.’Dorcasisa‘her,’nota‘him.’"

           "‘Her,’"Smithcorrected."Thenmyspeakingwasfalse?IhavereadinWebster’sNewInternationalDictionaryoftheEnglishLanguage,ThirdEdition,publishedinSpringfield,Massachusetts,thatthemasculinegenderincludesthefemininegenderinspeaking.InHagworth’sLawofContracts,FifthEdition,Chicago,Illinois,1978,onpage1012,itsays-"

           "Holdit,"Harshawsaidhastily."ThetroubleiswiththeEnglishlanguage,notwithyou.Masculinespeechformsdoincludethefeminine,whenyouarespeakingingeneral–butnotwhenyouaretalkingaboutaparticularperson.Dorcasisalways‘she’or‘her’–never‘he’or‘him.’Rememberit."

           "Iwillrememberit."

           "Youhadbetterrememberit–oryoumayprovokeDorcasintoprovingjusthowfemalesheis."Harshawblinkedthoughtfully.