"No one else, I assure you," returned the lively girl, dropping down on
the sand and folding her hands in her lap. "Where did you say Ned is?"

"I didn't say; but he has gone to help mamma down with her shawls and so
forth."

"He's the best of sons as well as of husbands," remarked Betty; "but I'm
glad he's away for a moment just now, as I want a private word with you.
Don't you think it is just a trifle mean and selfish for all our
gentlemen to be going off on a pleasure excursion without so much as
asking if one of us would like to accompany them?"

"I hadn't thought anything about it," replied Zoe.

"Well, think now, if you please; wouldn't you go if you had an
invitation? Don't you want to go?"

"Yes, if it's the proper thing; I'd like to go everywhere with my
husband. I'll ask him about it. Here he comes, mamma with him."

She waited till the two were comfortably settled by her side, then said,
with her most insinuating smile, "I'd like to go sharking, Ned; won't you
take me along to-morrow?"

"Why, what an idea, little wife!" he exclaimed in surprise. "I really
hate to say no to any request of yours, but I do not think it would be
entirely safe for you. We are not going on the comparatively quiet
waters of the harbor, but out into the ocean itself, and that in a
whaleboat, and we may have very rough sailing; besides, it is not at all