great for words.

The rain beat in her face and flicked her wet hair against it like the
lash of a whip; but Susie felt nothing except the warm comfort of the
little body behind her, saw nothing but the gleaming row of lights that
marked the Parade. All her heart moved in one passionate cry, "If mother
will only forgive me!" And then she realized, with a glow of happiness,
that she had never really doubted it; that she had known quite well all
the time that there would be no need for tears or protestations--mother
would understand.

The stars came out and the leaping waves seemed to fall asleep, whilst
Susie, with wide-awake eyes, settled herself for the interminable night.
But nature is very kind to the remorseful sinner as well as to the happy
and the innocent, and presently her head fell back against Dick's
comfortable, cosy shoulder, and she too fell into a dreamless sleep.




CHAPTER IX.


Meanwhile Tom and Mrs. Beauchamp had bought the sand-shoes and various
other little necessaries, had had tea in an Oriental coffee shop, and, as
the climax of a delightful afternoon, were coming home on the top of a
tram--a leisurely proceeding that gave plenty of time for enjoyment. The
weather had clouded over early in the afternoon, but they were halfway
home before a fine rain began to fall and to blot out the shimmering sea.
Just at sunset it cleared up for a little while, and a long path of gold