CHAPTER III.


The next day was radiantly beautiful, and Susie started well. Directly
after breakfast the four elder ones trooped down to the sands with spades
and buckets, whilst Alick, left alone with nurse, waved his good-byes
from the balcony. Mrs. Beauchamp looked after them a little anxiously;
but Susie in her best mood was so very trustworthy that she smoothed the
anxious line out of her forehead, and turned back with a restful sigh to
the empty room and the silence.

And out on the beach things went swimmingly. They made sand castles and
moats, and the rising tide flowed in just as they wished it to. Like
another Canute, Tom flung defiance to the waves, and shouted himself
hoarse; and then, to his immense surprise, the little ripples swept
smoothly back, and left a crumbled castle, and white foamy ridges that
looked like soap.

"Come on, Susie," he said; "it's no fun when there's no water in it.
Let's go over to the rocks and look for insects."

"No; let's stay here," said Susie. "I like watching the ships and the
steamers."

"Fudge," said Tom.

"The rocks are awfully jolly, Sue," said Dickie.

But Susie shook her shoulders, and gazed straight before her. "I'm not