asleep in Aunt Emily's arms; Uncle William, Mr. Bobbsey, and
Mr. Burnet were talking, with Bert as an interested listener; while
Mrs. Manily told Aunt Emily of her mission to the beach. As the
children had thought, Aunt Emily readily gave consent to have Nellie,
the little cash girl, come to Ocean Cliff, and on the morrow Nan and
Dorothy were to write the letter of invitation.


CHAPTER VI
THE OCEAN

Is there anything more beautiful than sunrise on the ocean?

Nan crept out of bed at the first peep of dawn, and still in her white
robe, she sat in the low window seat to see the sun rise "under her
window."

"What a beautiful place!" Nan thought, when dawn gave her a chance to
see Ocean Cliff. "Dorothy must be awfully happy here. To see the
ocean from a bedroom window!" and she watched the streaks of dawn make
maps on the waves. "If I were a writer I would always put the ocean
in my book," she told herself, "for there are so many children who
never have a chance to see the wonderful world of water!"

Nettie's flowers were still on the dresser.

"Poor little Nettie Prentice," thought Nan. "She has never seen the
ocean and I wonder if she ever will!"

Nan touched the lilies reverently. There was something in the