Polly and Jasper, running in and out of the fascinating shops by the
Concert terrace, had minds divided by the desire to stay on the sands,
and to explore further the tempting interiors. "We must get something
for the boys," she declared, jingling her little silver purse; "just
let us go in this one now, then we'll run after Grandpapa; he's going
down on the sands."

"He's going to sit with Phronsie in some of those big sunbonnets of
yours, Polly," said Jasper. "There they are," pointing to them. "Well,
we'll go in this shop. I want to get a pair of those wooden shoes for
Joel." And they hurried in.

"Oh, how fine!" exclaimed Polly. "Well, I saw a carved bear I think
Davie would like, and--" the rest was lost in the confusing array of
tempting things spread out for their choice by deft shopkeepers.

When they emerged, Polly had a china windmill, and an inkstand of Delft
ware, and several other things, and Jasper carried all the big bundles.
"O dear me," said Polly, "now we must run, or we sha'n't have much time
to stay on the beach; and besides, Grandpapa will worry over us if
we're not there."

"We can't run much, loaded down with this," said Jasper, looking at his
armful and laughing, "or we'd likely drop half of them, and smash them
to pieces. Wait a bit, Polly, I'm going to buy you some fruit." They
stopped at the top of the stone stairway leading down to the sands,
where some comely peasant women, fishermen's wives, held great baskets
of fruit, and in one hand was a pair of scales. "Now, then, what will
you have, Polly?"