"I never wore one," said Nan, "excepting at play, and I can't see how
any girl can dance with a lot of long skirts dangling around."

"Oh, they mostly bow and smile," put in Bert, "and a boy has to be
awfully careful at one of those affairs. If he should step on a skirt
there surely would be trouble," and he snapped his whip at the donkeys
with the air of one who had little regard for the graceful art of
dancing.

"We had better go back now," said Dorothy, presently. "You haven't
had a chance to see our own place yet, but I thought you wanted to get
acquainted with the ocean first. Everybody does!"

"I have enjoyed it so much!" declared Nan. "It is pleasanter now than
when the sun grows hot."

"But we need the sun for bathing," Dorothy told her. "That is why we
'go in' at the noon hour."

The drive back to the Cliff seemed very short, and when the children
drove up to the side porch they found Mrs. Bobbsey and Aunt Emily
sitting outside with their fancy work.

Freddie could hardly find words to tell his mother how big the ocean
was, and Flossie declared the water ran right into the sky it was so
high.

"Now, girls," said Aunt Emily, "Mrs. Manily has gone to bring Nellie
down, so you must go and arrange her room. I think the front room
over Nan's will be best. Now get out all your pretty things, Dorothy,