The Nantucket party drove directly to the bathing house of the town, and
the little girls took their first lesson in swimming. They all thought
it "very nice," even Grace soon forgetting her timidity in the quiet
water and with her father to take care of her.

After that they went about the town visiting places of note--the
Athenaeum, the oldest house, dating back more than a hundred years, no
longer habitable, but kept as a relic of olden times, so important that
a visit to it is a part of the regular curriculum of the summer
sojourner in Nantucket; then to the news-room, where they wrote their
names in the "Visitors' Book;" then to the stores to view, among other
things, the antique furniture and old crockery on exhibition there and
for sale.

Many of these stores, situate in wide, handsome streets, were quite
city-like in size and in their display of goods.

Dinner at one of the hotels was next in order; after that a delightful
sail on the harbor, then around Brant Point and over the bar out into
the sea.

Here the boat new before the wind, dancing and rocking on the waves to
the intense delight of the older children; but Gracie was afraid till
her father took her in his arms and held her fast, assuring her they
were in no danger.

As she had unbounded confidence in "papa's" word, and believed he knew
all about the sea, this quieted her fears and made the rest of the sail
as thoroughly enjoyable to her as it was to the others.