in through the crack of the big door. When she
had looked the boat all over and felt the oars, and
wondered whether the fire could be lighted quick
enough, and pictured in her mind the half-drowned
people huddled around it in their sea-drenched
clothes, she moved to the door. Bart wanted her to
sit down inside, but she refused.

"No, come outside and lie on the sand. Nobody
comes along here," she insisted. "Oh, see how beautiful
the sea is! I love that green," and drawing
Jane's red cloak around her, she settled herself on
the sand, Bart throwing himself at her feet.

The sun was now nearing the horizon, and its
golden rays fell across their faces. Away off on the
sky-line trailed the smoke of an incoming steamer;
nearer in idled a schooner bound in to Barnegat
Inlet with every sail set. At their feet the surf rose
sleepily under the gentle pressure of the incoming
tide, its wavelets spreading themselves in widening
circles as if bent on kissing the feet of the radiant
girl.

As they sat and talked, filled with the happiness
of being alone, their eyes now on the sea and now
looking into each other's, Meg, who had amused himself
by barking at the swooping gulls, chasing the
sand-snipe and digging holes in the sand for imaginary
muskrats, lifted his head and gave a short