Bosom Friends

me? That which

name would sm

n of most of the inhabitants, for fishing-nets of all descriptions might be seen hanging out to dry over every available railing; great flat skates and conger eels were nailed to the doorways to be cured in the sun; rosy-faced women appeared to be eternally washing blue jerseys, which fluttered like flags from the various little gardens; and the bare-headed, brown-legged children who gathered cockles on the sands, or angled for crabs from the jetty, seemed as much at home in the water as on dry land. The harbour was decidedly fishy; bronzed burly seamen were perpetually unloading cargoes of herri

nt which attracted every looker-on in the harbour. All the talk at Silversands was of tides and storms, of good or bad catches, the luck of one vessel or the ill-fortune of another, and to the fisher-folk the affairs of the empire were of small importance compared with the arrival and departure of the herring-fleet. The schools gave a thin veneer of educati

dows and a handsome display of spades, buckets, shell-purses, baskets, china ornaments, photographic views, and other articles calculated to tempt the shillings from the pockets of summer visitors; there were several streets of lodging-houses near the railway station, as well as the long terrace facing the sea, dignified rather prematurely by the name of "The Parade," and an enterprising tradesman from Ferndale had opened a tea

ness in great waters, and sending up silent prayers on their behalf. In the square tower the bells had rung for seven hundred years, and the flat roof with its turreted battlements told tales of wild times of Border

g here and there with its roots deep down among the clumps of stones. Above rose the cliffs in bold craggy outlines, their tops crowned by a heather-clad common which stretched far inland, while the low tide

d been unfortunate enough to meet with an accident that morning: slipping on the rocks she had twisted her an

round for a matter of ten days or more. It's a good thing now as I didn't sell the sofa, which I nearly let it go in the spring, as it do fill up the

it will be very dull for you, Isobel, my poor child, while I'm lying here. You will have to amuse

have anything to do except read. What a good thing we brought plenty of books with us! I'm so sorry our sitting-room hasn'

ooped every now and then to pick up a shell, or to clutch at a great piece of ribbon sea-weed which was dashed to her feet by an advancing wave; she had an exciting chase after a scuttling crab, and missed him in the end, and nearly got drenched with spray trying to rescue a walking-stick which she could see floating at the edge of the water. She had filled her pockets with a moist collection of specimens, and was half thinking of turning back to retrace her footsteps to Marine Terrace, when f

t fine grass made an excellent pitch. It looked so interesting that Isobel strolled rather nearer to the players, and finding an upturned boat upon the beach, she curled herself under its shadow, a

u found

, and stung my fingers horrib

aby. Go on; i

he bat while my

ong, Bertie, and have your in

I must go in first. If you'd only wait

resome you are! Here,

o go in ages, and I'm six

e your turn

only nine, a

t make yourself a nuisance!-Now th

ed the little girl, with a very aggrieved countenance, sitting

companion, with scant sympathy. "There are plenty of

Bertie!

h that bal

up, Be

un! Wel

s out! H

turn is

lle

e is

's Hugh's turn to bowl, and if he sends me one of his nast

t were replaced by a delicate pale pink muslin and a broad-brimmed straw trimmed with a gauze scarf. She looked even more charming than ever, like some fairy in a story-book or one of the very prettiest pictures you get

; the third was high, and as she wisely let it alone, it cleared the wicket; the fourth was a full pitch: she

ugh

's o

n easy

, Aggie, yo

of the old boat. She sat down on the sand close by Isobel, and taking off her hat, began to fan her

," she said, "to be caught

Isobel. "But I think t

the most mean ones. Weren't you

irst at the books

he carriage detestable? I nearly

adfully hot

e banjo! You were better off sitting by the window,

d," said Isobel; "

staying at Silvers

4 Marine

not bad rooms for a little place like this, but they don't know how to wait

e," replied Isobel. "W

y just you and

t's

ou no f

was killed in

a soldie

ptain in the Fift

too. Have you any b

never h

wish I had. It's so lo

but I'm a great

t home she's out so much, and

read?" sa

like books when there's really no

at Tiverton. Which one d

I forget its name now. I

oose 'The Red Cross

with my governess, and about King Arthur too.

obel; "I do less

nt to school in another year, and I don't thin

'm thirteen

d are y

st el

I! When's yo

rteenth of

so you're nearly a month older than I

s Isobel

her blue eyes wide in the greates

laimed Isobel, i

s. My name's Is

you sp

-L-L-E S-T

E-L S-T-E-W-A-R-T, so that

lled 'Belle,' too,

anything

ou'd call a 'coincidence.' We came to Silversands on the same day, too, and in the same railway carriage. We o

d would not have dreamt of comparing her appearance with that of her pretty com

all see you again upon the shore. I'm afraid that's your mother calling y

uart sprang

with Mrs. Rokeby. I must fly. But I hope we shall meet

od-

me as fast as possible along the beach, for she was very excited at this strang

e to me first, and asked me ever so many questions. Isn't it queer that our names should be just the same, and our ages too? You'll let