warm spray, Susie revelled in a long hour of liberty. She was wild with
excitement, eager to come again, full of reckless promises.

"We'll go as far as the island another day," said Dot, "but we have to
choose a low tide. Aren't you glad now that you didn't go home and play
like a baby?"

Susie was hastily rubbing the sand out of her toes and hunting for her
stockings. Her feet were very cold, and her fingers seemed thumbs. She
did not answer Dot. She did not feel quite sure what to say; things
always looked so different before and after, and what nurse had said
about a _wearing time_ stuck in her mind.

"Well, aren't you?" said Dot impatiently.

"No," said Susie bluntly.

She stopped to lace Tom's boots, and then looked up with a face that had
grown suddenly red.

"I can't help it," she said desperately, "but I never _am_ glad
afterwards."

She went on lacing laboriously, whilst Tom lay on his face kicking and
plunging about. Dot looked at her curiously.

"But you wanted to come on the rocks?" she said.

"Oh yes," said Susie. "I shall always want to come, but I shall be sorry
afterwards. I think I ought to warn you because I am like that. I can't