andFrankwentpacingonagainwiththebrightlookhiseyesalwaysworewhenhelistenedtomusicorreadofsomenobleaction。
　　"That'swhatMerrysaidwhensheandMollycameinontheirwayhome。ButMollyfeltdreadfully,andsodidMabel。Shebroughtmetheseflowerstopress,forweareallgoingtokeepsometorememberdearEdby,"saidJill,carefullysmoothingoutthelittlebellsasshelaidtheliliesinherhymn—book,forshetoohadhadathoughtfulhourwhileshelayalone,imaginingallthatwentoninthechurch,andsheddingafewtendertearsoverthefriendwhowasalwayssokindtoher。
　　"Idon'twantanythingtorememberhimby。Iwassofondofhim,I
　　couldn'tforgetifItried。IknowIoughtnottosayit,butIdon'tseewhyGodlethimdie,"saidJack,withaquiverinhisvoice,forhislovingheartcouldnothelpachingstill。
　　"No,dear,wecannotseeorknowmanythingsthatgrieveusverymuch,butwecantrustthatitisright,andtrytobelievethatallismeantforourgood。Thatiswhatfaithmeans,andwithoutitwearemiserable。Whenyouwerelittle,youwereafraidofthedark,butifIspokeortouchedyou,thenyouweresureallwaswell,andfellasleepholdingmyhand。Godiswiserandstrongerthananyfatherormother,soholdfasttoHim,andyouwillhavenodoubtorfear,howeverdarkitseems。"
　　"Asyoudo,"saidJack,goingtositonthearmofMamma'schair,withhischeektohers,willingtotrustasshebadehim,hutgladtoholdfastthelivinghandthathadledandcomfortedhimallhislife。
　　"EdusedtosaytomewhenIfrettedaboutgettingwell,andthoughtnobodycaredforme,whichwasverynaughty,'Don'tbetroubled,Godwon'tforgetyou;andifyoumustbelame,Hewillmakeyouabletobearit,"saidJill,softly,herquicklittlemindallalivewithnewthoughtsandfeelings。
　　"Hebelievedit,andthat'swhyhelikedthathymnsomuch。I'mgladtheysungitto—day,"saidFrank,bringinghisheavydictionarytolayonthebookwheretheflowerswerepressing。
　　"Oh,thankyou！Couldyouplaythattuneforme？I'didn'thearit,andI'dloveto,ifyouarewilling,"askedJill。
　　"I'didn'tthinkIevershouldwanttoplayagain,butI'do。Willyousingitforher,mother？I'mafraidIshallbreakdownifItryalone。
　　"Wewillallsing,musicisgoodforusnow,"saidMamma;andinratherbrokenvoicestheydidsingEd'sfavoritewords:
　　"NotasparrowfallethbutitsGodclothknow,Justaswhenhismandatelaysamonarchlow;
　　Notaleafletmoveth,butitsGodclothsee,Thinknot,then,Omortal,Godforgetteththee。
　　FarmoreprecioussurelythanthebirdsthatflyIsaFather'simagetoaFather'seye。
　　E'enthyhairsarenumbered;trustHimfullandfree,CastthycaresbeforeHim,Hewillcomfortthee;
　　FortheGodthatplantedinthybreastasoul,Onhissacredtablesdcththynameenroll。
　　Cheerthineheart,then,niortal,neverfaithlessbe,Hethatmarksthesparrowswillrememberthee。"
　　Chapter21PebblyBeach"Now,Mr。Jack,itisamoralimpossibilitytogetallthosethingsintoonetrunk,andyoumustn'taskitofme,"saidMrs。Pecq,inatoneofdespair,asshesurveyedtheheapoftreasuresshewasexpectedtopackfortheboys。
　　"Nevermindtheclothes,weonlywantaboating—suitapiece。
　　Mammacanputafewcollarsinhertrunkforus;butthesenecessarythingsmustgo,"answeredJack,addinghistargetandair—pistoltothepileofbats,fishing—tackle,games,andachoicecollectionofshabbyballs。
　　"Thosearethenecessariesandclothestheluxuries,arethey？Whydon'tyouaddavelocipede,wheelbarrow,andprinting—press,mydear？"askedMrs。Pecq,whileJillturneduphernoseat"boys'
　　rubbish。"
　　"WishIcould。Daresayweshallwantthem。Womendon'tknowwhatfellowsneed,andalwaysmustputinalotofstiffshirtsandcleanhandkerchiefsandclothes—brushesandpotsofcoldcream。
　　Wearegoingtoroughit,anddon'twantanyfussandfeathers,"
　　saidJack,beginningtopackthepreciousballsinhisrubberboots,andstrapthemupwiththeumbrellas,rods,andbats,seeingthattherewasnohopeofaplaceinthetrunk。
　　HereFrankcameinwithtwobigbooks,sayingcalmly,"Justsliptheseinsomewhere,weshallneedthem。"
　　"Butyouarenottostudyatall,soyouwon'twantthosegreatdictionaries,"criedJill,busilypackinghernewtravelling—basketwithallsortsoflittlerolls,bags,andboxes。
　　"Theyarenotdics,butmyEncyclopedia。Weshallwanttoknowheapsofthings,andthistellsabouteverything。Withthosebooks,andamicroscopeandatelescope,youcouldtravelroundtheworld,andlearnallyouwantedto。Can'tpossiblygetonwithoutthem,"saidFrank,fondlypattinghisfavoritework。
　　"Mypatience！Whatqueercattleboysare！"exclaimedMrs。Pecq,whiletheyalllaughed。"Itcan'tbedone,Mr。Frank;alltheboxesarebrimfull,andyou'llhavetoleavethosefatbooksbehind,forthere'snoplaceanywhere。"
　　"ThenI'llcarrythemmyself";andFranktuckedoneundereacharm,withadeterminedair,whichsettledthematter。
　　"Isupposeyou'llstudycockleologyinsteadofboating,andreaduponpolywogswhileweplaytennis,orgopokingroundwithyouroldspy—glassinsteadofhavingajollygoodtime,"saidJack,haulingawayonthestraptillallwastautandship—shapewiththebundle。
　　"Tadpolesdon'tliveinsaltwater,myson,andifyoumeanconchology,you'dbettersayso。IshallplayasmuchasIwish,andwhenIwanttoknowaboutanyneworcuriousthing,IshallconsultmyCyclo,insteadofbotheringotherpeoplewithquestions,orgivingituplikeadunce";withwhichcrushingreplyFrankdeparted,leavingJilltopackandunpackhertreasuresadozentimes,andJacktodancejigsonthelidsofthetrunkstilltheywouldshut。
　　Averyhappypartysetoffthenextday,leavingMrs。Pecqwavingheraprononthesteps。Mrs。Minotcarriedthelunch,Jackhispreciousbundlewithtriflesdroppingoutbytheway,andJillfeltveryelegantbearinghernewbasketwithredworstedcherriesbobbingontheoutside。FrankactuallydidtaketheEncyclopedia,doneupintherollofshawls,andwhenevertheotherswonderedaboutanything——tides,lighthouses,towns,ornaturalproductions——
　　hebroughtforthoneofthebooksandtriumphantlyreadtherefrom,tothegreatmerriment,ifnotedification,ofhisparty。
　　Averyshorttripbyrailandtherestofthejourneybyboat,toJill'sgreatcontentment,forshehatedtobeshutup;andwhiletheladsrovedhereandthereshesatundertheawning,toohappytotalk。
　　ButMrs。Minotwatchedwithrealsatisfactionhowthefreshwindblewthecolorbackintothepalecheeks,howtheeyesshoneandtheheartfilledwithdelightatseeingthelovelyworldagain,andbeingabletotakeashareinitsactivepleasures。
　　TheWillowswasalong,lowhouseclosetothebeach,andasfullasabeehiveofpleasantpeople,allintentonhavingagoodtime。A
　　greatmanychildrenwereswarmingabout,andJillfounditimpossibletosleepafterherjourney,therewassuchalivelyclatteroftonguesonthepiazzas,andsomanyfeetgoingtoandfrointhehalls,ShelaydownobedientlywhileMrs。Minotsettledmattersinthetwoairyroomsandgavehersomedinner,butshekeptpoppingupherheadtolookoutofthewindowtoseewhatshecouldsee。Justoppositestoodanartist'scottageandstudio,withallmannerofcharminggalleries,towers,steps,andevenasortofdrawbridgetopullupwhenthepainterwishedtobeleftinpeace。Hewasabsentnow,andthevisitorstookpossessionofthisfineplay—place。Childrenwereracingupanddownthegalleries,ladiessittinginthetower,boysdisportingthemselvesontheroof,andyounggentlemenpreparingfortheatricalsinthelargestudio。
　　"WhatfunI'llhaveoverthere,"thoughtJill,watchingthemerryscenewithintenseinterest,andwonderingifthelittlegirlsshesawwereasniceasMollyandMerry。
　　Thentherewereglimpsesoftheseabeyondthegreenbankwhereapathwoundalongtothebeach,whencecamethecooldashofwaves,andnowandthentheglimmerofapassingsail。
　　"Oh,whencanIgoout？Itlookssolovely,Ican'twaitlong,"shesaid,lookingaseagerasalittlegullshutupinacageandpiningforitshomeonthewideocean。
　　"Assoonasitisalittlecooler,dear,I'mgettingreadyforourtrip,butwemustbecarefulandnotdotoomuchatonce。'Slowandsure'isourmotto,"answeredMrs。Minot,busilycollectingthecamp—stools,theshawls,theair—cushions,andthebigparasols。
　　"I'llbegood,onlydoletmehavemysailor—hattowear,andmynewsuit。I'mnotabittired,andIdowanttobelikeotherfolksrightoff,"saidJill,whohadbeenimprovingrapidlyoflate,andfeltmuchelatedatbeingabletodriveoutnearlyeveryday,towalkalittle,andsitupsomehourswithoutanypainorfatigue。
　　Togratifyher,theblueflannelsuitwithitswhitetrimmingwasputon,andMammawasjustbuttoningthestoutbootswhenJackthunderedatthedoor,andburstinwithallsortsofgloriousnews。
　　"Docomeout,mother,it'sperfectlysplendidonthebeach！I'vefoundaniceplaceforJilltosit,andit'sonlyastep。Lotsofcapitalfellowshere;onehasabicycle,andisgoingtoteachustoride。Noendoffunupatthehotel,andeveryoneseemsgladtoseeus。TwoladiesaskedaboutJill,andoneofthegirlshasgotsomeshellsallreadyforher,GertySomebody,andhermotherissoprettyandjolly,Ilikehereversomuch。Theysitatourtable,andWallyistheboy,youngerthanIam,butverypleasant。Baconisthefellowinknickerbockers;justwishyoucouldseewhatstoutlegshe'sgot！
　　Coxisthechapforme,though:wearegoingfishingto—morrow。
　　He'sgotasweet—lookingmother,andasisterforyou,Jill。Now,then,docomeon,I'lltakethetraps。"
　　Offtheywent,andJillthoughtthatveryshortwalktotheshorethemostdelightfulsheevertook;forpeoplesmiledatthelittleinvalidasshewentslowlybyleaningonMrs。Minot'sarm,whileJackprancedinfront,doingthehonors,asifheownedthewholeAtlantic。Anewworldopenedtohereyesastheycameoutuponthepebblybeachfullofpeopleenjoyingtheirafternoonpromenade。JillsaveonerapturousOh。andthensatonherstool,forgettingeverythingbutthebeautifulblueoceanrollingawaytomeetthesky,withnothingtobreakthewideexpansebutasailhereandthere,apointofrocksononehand,thelittlepierontheother,andwhitegullsskimmingbyontheirwidewings。
　　Whileshesatenjoyingherself,Jackshowedhismothertheplacehehadfound,andaveryniceoneitwas。Justunderthegreenbanklayanoldboatproppedupwithsomebigstones。Awillowdroopedoverit,thetiderippledupwithinafewyardsofit,andafineviewofthewavescouldbeseenasthey'dashedovertherocksatthepoint。
　　"Isn'titagoodcubby—house？BenCoxandIfixeditforJill,andshecanhaveitforhers。Puthercushionsandthingsthereonthesandthechildrenhavethrownin——thatwillmakeitsoft;thentheseseatswilldofortables;andupinthebowI'mgoingtohavethatoldrustytinboilerfullofsalt—water,soshecanputseaweedandcrabsandallsorts0cchapsinhforanaquatium,youknow,"
　　explainedJack,greatlyinterestedinestablishinghisfamilycomfortablybeforeheleftthem。
　　"Therecouldn'tbeanicerplace,anditisverykindofyoutogetitready。SpreadtheshawlsandsettleJill,thenyouneedn'tthinkofusanymore,butgoandscramblewithFrank。Iseehimovertherewithhisspy—glassandsomepleasant—lookingboys,"saidMamma,bustlingaboutingreatspirits。
　　Sotheredcushionswereplaced,theplaidslaid,andthelittlework—basketsetupontheseat,allreadyforJill,whowascharmedwithhernest,andcuddleddownunderthebigparasol,declaringshewouldkeephousethereeveryday。
　　Eventheoldboilerpleasedher,andJackracedoverthebeachtobeginhissearchforinhabitantsforthenewaquarium,leavingJilltomakefriendswithsomeprettybabiesdigginginthesand,whileMammasatonthecamp—stoolandtalkedwithafriendfromHarmonyVillage。
　　Itseemedasiftherecouldnotbeanythingmoredelightfulthantolietherelulledbythesoundofthesea,watchingthesunsetandlisteningtothepleasantbabbleoflittlevoicescloseby。Butwhenthcywenttoteainthegreathall,withsixtablesfullofmerrypeople,andhalfadozenmaidsflyingabout,Jillthoughtthatwasevenbetter,becauseitwassonewtoher。GertyandWallynoddedtoher,andtheirprettymammawassokindandsogay,rhatJillcouldnotfeelbashfulafterthefirstfewminutes,andsoonlookedabouther,sureofseeingfriendlyfaceseverywhere。FrankandJackateasifthesaltairbadalreadyimprovedtheirappetites,aridtalkedaboutBaconandCoxasiftheyhadbeenbosomfriendsforyears。Mammawasashappyastheyforherfriend,Mrs。
　　Hammond,satcloseby;andthisrosylady,whohadbeenaphysician,cheeredherupbypredictingthatJillwouldsoonberunningaboutaswellasever。
　　Butthebestofallwasintheevening,whentheelderpeoplegatheredintheparlorsandplayedTwentyQuestions,whilethechildrenlookedonforanhourbeforegoingtobed,muchamusedatthesightofgrownpeoplelaughing,squabbling,dodging,andjokingasiftheyhadallbecomeyoungagain;for,aseveryoneknows,itisimpossibletohelplivelyskirmisheswhenthatgameisplayed。Jilllayinthesofacornerenjoyingitallimmensely;forsheneversawanythingsodroll,andfounditcapitalfuntohelpguessthething,ortrytopuzzletheoppositeside。Herquickwitsandbrightfaceattractedpeople,andinthepausesofthesportsheheldquitealevee,foreverybodywasinterestedinthelittleinvalid。Thegirlsshylymadefriendsintheirownway,themammastoldthrillingtalesoftheaccidentstheirdarlingshadsurvived,severalgentlemenkindlyofferedtheirboats,andtheboys,withthebestintentionsinlife,suggestedstrollsoftwoorthreemilestoRafe'sChasmandNorman'sWoe,orinvitedhertotennisandarchery,asifviolentexercisewasthecureforallhumanills。Shewasverygrateful,andreluctantlywentawaytobed,declaring,whenshegotupstairs,thatthesenewfriendswerethedearestpeoplesheevermet,andtheWillowsthemostdelightfulplaceinthewholeworld。
　　Nextdayanewlifebeganfortheyoungfolks——averyhealthy,happylife;andallthrewthemselvesintoitsoheartily,thatitwasimpossibletohelpgettinggreatgoodfromit,forthesesummerweeks,ifwellspent,workmiraclesintiredbodiesandsouls。
　　Franktookafancytothebicycleboy,and,beingabletohireoneofthebreakneckarticles,soonlearnedtorideit;andthetwomightbeseenwildlyworkingtheirlonglegsoncertainsmoothstretchesofroad,orgettinguptheirmusclerowingaboutthebaytilltheywerealmostasbrownandnauticalinappearanceandlanguageasthefishermenwholivedinnooksandcornersalongtheshore。
　　JackstruckupagreatfriendshipwiththesturdyBaconandtheagreeableCox:thelatter,beingabouthisownage,washisespecialfavorite;andtheysoonwerecalledBoxandCoxbytheotherfellows,whichdidnotannoythemabit,asbothhadplayedpartsinthatimmortalfarce。Theyhadcapitaltimesfishing,scramblingovertherocks,playingballandtennis,andrainydaystheytookpossessionofthestudioopposite,drewuptheportcullis,andgallantlydefendedthecastle,whichsomeoftheothersbesiegedwitholdumbrellasforshields,batsforbattering—rams,andbunchesofburrsforcannon—balls。Greatlarkswentonoverthere,whilethegirlsapplaudedfromthepiazzaorchamber—windows,andmadeagayflagforthevictorstodisplayfromthetowerwhenthefightwasover。
　　ButJillhadthebesttimeofall,foreachdaybroughtincreasingstrengthandspirits,andsheimprovedsofastitwashardtobelievethatshewasthesamegirlwholaysolongalmosthelplessintheBirdRoomathome。SuchlivelylettersasshesentherW1o~he~,allaboulhernewfriends,herfinesails,drives,andlittlewalks;
　　thegoodtimesshehadintheevening,thelovelythingspeoplegaveher,andshewaslearningtomakewithshellsandsea—weed,andwhatsplendidfunitwastokeephouseinaboat。
　　Thislastamusementsoongrewquiteabsorbing,andher"cubby,"
　　asshecalledit,rapidlybecameaprettygrotto,whereshelivedlikealittlemermaid,dailylovingmoreandmorethebeautyofthewonderfulsea,Findingtheboattoosunnyattimes,theboyscutlongwillowboughsandarchedthemovertheseats,layinghemlockbranchesacrosstillagreenroofmadeitcoolandshadyinside。ThereJillsatorlayamonghercushionsreading,tryingtosketch,sortingshells,dryinggaysea—weeds,orwatchinghercrabs,jelly—fish,andanemonesintheoldboiler,nowburiedinsandandedgedaboutwithmossfromthewoods。
　　Nobodydisturbedhertreasures,butkindlyaddedtothem,andoftenwhenshewenttohernestshefoundfruitorflowers,booksorbon—bons,laidreadyforher。Everyonepitiedandlikedthebrightlittlegirlwhocouldnotrunandfriskwiththerest,whowassopatientandcheerfulafterherlongconfinement,readytohelpothers,andsogratefulforanysmallfavor。Shefoundnowthatthewearymonthshadnotbeenwasted,andwasveryhappytodiscoverinherselfanewsortofstrengthandsweetnessthatwasnotonlyacomforttoher,butmadethoseaboutherloveandtrusther。Thesongsshehadlearnedattractedthebabies,whowouldleavetheirplaytopeepatherandlistenwhenshesungoverherwork。Passers—bypausedtoheartheblithevoiceofthebirdinthegreencage,andotherinvalids,strollingonthebeach,wouldtakeheartwhentheysawthechildsohappyinspiteofhergreattrial。
　　Theboyskeptalltheirmarinecuriositiesforher,andwerealwaysreadytotakeheraroworasail,asthebaywassafeandthatsortoftravellingsuitedherbetterthandriving。Butthegirlshadcapitaltimestogether,anditdidJillgoodtoseeanothersortfromthosesheknewathome。Shehadbeensomuchpettedoflate,thatshewasgettingrathervainofhersmallaccomplishments,andbeingwithstrangersricher,betterbredandeducatedthanherself,madehermorehumbleinsomethings,whileitshowedhertheworthofsuchvirtuesasshecouldhonestlyclaim。MamieCoxtookhertodriveinthefinecarriageofhermamma,andJillwasmuchimpressedbythefactthatMamiewasnotabitproudaboutit,anddidnotputonanyairs,thoughshehadamaidtotakecareofher。
　　Gertyworeprettycostumes,andcamedownwithpinkandblueribbonsinherhairthatJillenviedverymuch;yetGertylikedhercurls,andlongedtohavesome,whilehermother,"theladyfromPhiladelphia,"astheycalledher,wassokindandgaythatJillquiteadoredher,andalwaysfeltasifsunshinehadcomeintotheroomwhensheentered。Twolittlesisterswereveryinterestingtoher,andmadeherlongforoneofherownwhenshesawthemgoingabouttogetherandheardthemtalkoftheirpleasanthome,wherethegreatsilkfactorieswere。Buttheyinvitedhertocomeandseethewonderfulcocoons,andtaughthertoknotprettygrayfringeonacushion,whichdelightedher,beingsonewandeasy。
　　Therewereseveralothernicelittlelasses,andtheyallgatheredaboutJillwiththesweetsympathychildrenaresoquicktoshowtowardthoseinpainormisfortune。Shethoughttheywouldnotcareforapoorlittlegirllikeherself,yethereshewasthequeenofthetroupe,andthisdiscoverytouchedandpleasedherverymuch。
　　Inthemorningtheycampedroundtheboatonthestoneswithbooks,gaywork,andmerrychatter,tillbathing—time。Thenthebeachwasfulloflifeandfun,foreveryonelookedsodrollintheflannelsuits,itwashardtobelievethattheneatladiesandrespectablegentlemenwhowentintothelittlehousescouldbethesamepersonsasthequeer,short—skirtedwomenwitholdhatstieddown,andbareheaded,barefootedmeninoldsuits,whocameskippingoverthesandtodisportthemselvesintheseainthemostundignifiedways。Theboysracedabout,lookinglikecircus—
　　tumblers,andthebabieswereregularlittlecupids,runningawayfromthewavesthattriedtokisstheirflyingfeet。
　　Someoftheyoungladiesandgirlswerefamousswimmers,andlookedveryprettyintheirbrightredandbluecostumes,withloosehairandgaystockings,asthey'dancedintothewaterandfloatedawayasfearlesslyasrealmermaidens。Jillhadherquietdipandgoodrubbingeachfineday,andthenlayuponthewarmsandwatchingthepranksoftheothers,andlongingtorunanddiveandshoutandtumblewiththerest。Nowthatshewasamongthewellandactive,itseemedhardertobepatientthanwhenshutupandunabletostir。Shefeltsomuchbetter,andhadsolittlepaintoremindherofpasttroubles,itwasalmostimpossibletohelpforgettingthepoorbackandlettingherrecoveredspiritsrunawaywithher。IfMrs。Minothadnotkeptgoodwatch,shewouldhavebeenoffmorethanonce,soeagerwasshetobe"likeothergirls"
　　again,sodifficultwasittokeeptherestlessfeetquietlyfoldedamongtheredcushions。
　　Onedayshedidyieldtotemptation,andtookalittlevoyagewhichmighthavebeenherlast,owingtothecarelessnessofthosewhomshetrusted。Itwasagoodlesson,andmadeherasmeekasalambduringtherestofherstay。Mrs。MinotdrovetoGloucesteroneafternoon,leavingJillsafelyestablishedafterhernapintheboat,withGertyandMamiemakinglacebesideher。
　　"Don'ttrytowalkorrunabout,mydear。Sitonthepiazzaifyougettiredofthis,andamuseyourselfquietlytillIcomeback。I'llnotforgettheworstedandthecanvas,"saidMamma,peepingoverthebankforalastwordasshewaitedfortheomnibustocomealong。
　　"Oh,don'tforgettheGibraltars！"criedJill,poppingherheadoutofthegreenroof。
　　"Northebananas,please！"addedGerty,lookingroundoneend。
　　"Northepinkandblueribbontotieourshell—baskets,"calledMamie,nearlytumblingintotheaquariumattheotherend。
　　Mrs。Minotlaughed,andpromised,andrumbledaway,leavingJilltoanexperiencewhichsheneverforgot。
　　Forhalfanhourthelittlegirlsworkedbusily,thentheboyscameforGertyandMamietogototheChasmwithapartyoffriendswhoweretoleavenextday。Offtheywent,andJillfeltverylonelyasthegayvoicesdiedaway。Everyonehadgonesomewhere,andonlylittleHarryHammondandhismaidwereonthebeach。Twoorthreesand—pipersranaboutamongthepebbles,andJillenviedthemtheirnimblelegssomuch,thatshecouldnotresistgettinguptotakeafewsteps。Shelongedtorunstraightawayoverthefirm,smoothsand,andfeelagainthedelightofswiftmotion;butshedarednottryit,andstoodleaningonhertallparasolwithherbookinherhand,whenFrank,Jack,andthebicycleboycamerowinglazilyalongandhailedher。
　　"Comeforasail,Jill？Takeyouanywhereyoulike,"calledJack,touchedbythelonelyfigureonthebeach。
　　"I'dlovetogo,ifyouwillrow。Mammamademepromisenottogosailingwithoutamantotakecareofme。Woulditspoilyourfuntohaveme？"answeredJill,eagerly。
　　"Notabit;comeoutonthebigstonesandwe'lltakeyouaboard,"
　　saidFrank,astheysteeredtotheplacewhereshecouldembarktheeasiest。
　　"AlltherestaregonetotheChasm。Iwantedtogo,becauseI'veneverseenit;but,ofcourse,Ihadtogiveitup,asIdomostofthefun";andJillsatdownwithanimpatientsigh。
　　"We'llrowyouroundthere。Can'tland,butyoucanseetheplaceandshouttotheothers,ifthatwillbeanycomforttoyou,"
　　proposedFrank,astheypulledawayroundthepier。
　　"Oh,yes,thatwouldbelovely！"andJillsmiledatJack,whowassteering,forshefounditimpossibletobedismalnowwiththefreshwindblowinginherface,thebluewavesslappingagainsttheboat,andthreegood—naturedladsreadytogratifyherwishes。
　　Awaytheywent,laughingandtalkinggaylytilltheycametoGoodwin'sRocks,whereanunusualnumberofpeopleweretobeseenthoughthetidewasgoingout,andnowhitespraywasdashinghighintotheairtomakeasightworthseeing。
　　'Whatdoyousupposetheyareabout？Neversawsuchalotoffolksatthistime。Shouldn'twonderifsomethinghadhappened。I
　　say,putmeashore,andI'llcutupandsee,"saidthebicycleboy,whowasofaninquiringturn。
　　"I'llgowithyou,"saidFrank;"itwon'ttakebutaminute,andI'dliketodiscoverwhatitis。Maybesomethingweoughttoknowabout。"
　　Sotheboyspulledroundintoaquietnook,andthetwoelderonesscrambleduptherocks,todisappearinthecrowd。Five,ten,fifteenminutespassed,andtheydidnotreturn。Jackgrewimpatient,sodidJill,andbadehimrunupandbringthemback。
　　Gladtoknowwhatkeptthem,Jackdeparted,tobeswallowedupinhisturn,fornotasignofaboydidsheseeafterthat;and,havingvainlystrainedhereyestodiscovertheattractionwhichheldthem,shegaveitup,laydownontheirjackets,andbegantoread。
　　Thenthetreacheroustide,asitebbedlowerandlowerdownthebeach,begantoluretheboataway;foritwasnotfastened,andwhenlightenedofitsloadwasaneasyprizetothehungrysea,alwaysreadytostealallitcan。Jillknewnothingofthis,forherstorywasdull,thegentlemotionprovedsoothing,andbeforesheknewitshewasasleep。Littlebylittletherunawayboatslidfartherfromtheshore,andpresentlywasfloatingouttoseawithitsdrowsyfreight,whilethecarelessboys,unconsciousofthetimetheywerewasting,lingeredtoseegroupaftergroupphotographedbytheenterprisingmanwhohadtrundledhiscameratotherocks。
　　Inthemidstofadreamabouthome,Jillwasrousedbyaloudshout,and,startingupsosuddenlythatthesun—umbrellawentoverboard,shefoundherselfsailingoffalone,whilethedistractedladsroaredandbeckonedvainlyfromthecove。Theoarslayattheirfeet,wheretheyleftthem;andthepoorchildwasquitehelpless,forshecouldnotmanagethesail,andeventheparasol,withwhichshemighthavepaddledalittle,hadgonedownwithallsailset。Foraminute,Jillwassofrightenedthatshecouldonlylookaboutherwithascaredface,andwonderifdrowningwasaverydisagreeablething。ThenthesightofthebicycleboystrugglingwithJack,whoseemedinclinedtoswimafterher,andFrankshoutingwildly,"Holdon！Comeback！"madeherlaughinspiteofherfear,itwassocomical,andtheirdistresssomuchgreaterthanhers,sinceitwastheirowncarelessnesswhichcausedthetrouble。
　　"Ican'tcomeback！There'snothingtoholdonto！Youdidn'tfastenme,andnowIdon'tknowwhereI'mgoing！"criedJill,lookingfromtheshoretothetreacherousseathatwasgentlycarryingheraway。
　　"Keepcool！We'llgetaboatandcomeafteryou,~roaredFrank,beforehefollowedJack,whohadcollectedhiswitsandwastearinguptherockslikeachamoishunter。
　　Thebicycleboycalmlysatdowntokeephiseyeontherunaway,callingoutfromtimetotimesuchcheeringremarksas"AllaboardforLiverpool！GivemylovetoVictoria！LuffandbearawaywhenyoucometoHalifax！Ifyouarehardupforprovisions,you'llfindanappleandsomebaitinmycoat—pocket,"andotherdirectionsforacomfortablevoyage,tillhisvoicewaslostinthedistanceasastrongercurrentboreherswiftlyawayandthebigwavesbegantotumbleandsplash。
　　AtfirstJillhadlaughedathiseffortstokeepupherspirits,butwhentheboatfloatedroundapointofrockthatshutinthecove,shefeltallalone,andsatquitestill,wonderingwhatwouldbecomeofher。Sheturnedherbacktotheseaandlookedatthedear,safeland,whichneverhadseemedsogreenandbeautifulbefore。UponthehillrustledthewoodthroughwhichthehappypartywerewanderingtotheChasm。Ontherocksshestillsawthecrowdallbusywiththeirownaffairs,unconsciousofherdanger。
　　Hereandthereartistsweresketchinginpicturesquespots,andinoneplaceanoldgentlemansatfishingpeacefully。Jillcalledandwavedherhandkerchief,butheneverlookedup,andanuglylittledogbarkedatherinwhatseemedtoheramostcruelway。
　　"Nobodyseesorhearsorcares,andthosehorridboyswillnevercatchup！"shecriedindespair,astheboatbegantorockmoreandmore,andtheloudswashofwaterdashinginandoutoftheChasmdrewnearerandnearer。Holdingonnowwithbothhandssheturnedandlookedstraightbeforeher,paleandshivering,whilehereyestriedtoseesomesignofhopeamongthesteepcliffsthatroseupontheleft。Noonewasthere,thoughusuallyatthishourtheywerefullofvisitors,anditwastimeforthewalkerstohavearrived。
　　"IwonderifGertyandMamiewillbesorryifI'mdrowned,"
　　thoughtJill,rememberingthepoorgirlwhohadbeenlostintheChasmnotlongago。Herlivelyfancypicturedthegriefofherfriendsatherloss;butthatdidnothelporcomforthernow,andasheranxiousgazewanderedalongtheshore,shesaidaloud,inapensivetone,"PerhapsIshallbewreckedonNorman'sWoe,andsomebodywillmakepoetryaboutme。Itwouldbeprettytoread,butIdon'twanttodiethatway。Oh,whydidIcome！Whydidn'tIstaysafeandcomfortableinmyownboat？"
　　Atthethoughtasobrose,andpoorJilllaidherheaddownonherlaptocrywithallherheart,feelingveryhelpless,small,andforsakenalonethereonthegreatsea。Inthemidstofhertearscamethethought,"Whenpeopleareindanger,theyaskGodtosavethem";and,slippingdownuponherknees,shesaidherprayerasshehadneversaiditbefore,forwhenhumanhelpseemsgoneweturntoHimasnaturallyaslostchildrencrytotheirfather,andfeelsurethathewillhearandanswerthem。
　　Afterthatshefeltbetter,andwipedawaythedropsthatblindedher,tolookoutagainlikeashipwreckedmarinerwatchingforasail。Andthereitwas！Closeby,comingswiftlyonwithamanbehindit,asturdybrownfisher,busywithhislobster—pots,andquiteunconscioushowlikeanangelhelookedtothehelplesslittlegirlintherudderlessboat。