Cricket at the Seashore

nergy often wearied her, and Eunice's naturally quieter temperament suited her much better. Edna was more deliberate in everything than her little cousi

as always gentle and polite, never reckless and forgetful of consequences, as C

slip off by herself, to find the boys, or go off with old Billy, with whom she had struck up such a comical friendship, for he followed her round like a big dog, and permitted all sorts of liberties with his possessions from her, that he was very chary of allowing the others. Or else she would go alone for a scamper on Mopsie, or even perch herself up on a branch of

id Eunice, the next morning

embroidery, and you can take a book and read to me, Eunice. I

dying to finish it. Cricket, you bring your knitting, won't you, and

to waste this glorious day, knitting washrags?" with ineffable scorn. "You tw

t her washrag done, if she w

I have that on hand, nobody can ask me to do anything else. If I'

very useful accomplishment when she was grown up, and that it was very much easier to learn to knit quickly, if one learns very young. So Cricket had toiled her way through a pa

washrag, she'd be a blackamoor

hes, anyway, and couldn't find them, that it isn't much but holes. The knitting only just h

to sew and embroider thin

nice, then I'll get some glasses and store teeth, and sit down and consolate myself by knitting and sewing all day. Ugh! I wish I were a boy! I mean, sometimes I wish I were

wn and get the boat ready, while you bring the cushions, a

nd a little, for fun, myself, while you two are having a nice stupid

're shipwrecked. You get some luncheon, Edna, l

tand how Cricket could always change the aspect of everything-even of thi

gs, than just plain do them," Crick

ngs, cushions and books and luncheon, and don't forget your precious work, E

e Young Crusoes,' or shall we be a new set altog

played 'Swiss Family' so much I'm tired of i

ket, soberly. "It's more appropr

aid Edna, decidedly. "If I ca

ed from a burning vessel, you know, and every one else is either burned or drowned. We've provisions for a month, if we

te of waters stretch on every side," quoting freely, as she swept her hand ar

the light boat along towards the small island ahead of them. It consisted of little more than a

very fond of coming over there, since no one else eve

ket, in her character of shipwrecked mariner, as sh

ed Eunice, shielding her eyes, and lo

cannibals there?" she asked. "I

sed Eunice, valiantly, as they shot up on the peb

cannibals or savages. Perhaps I'll find a settlement of white people," she said,

ack, if you do," called

nnoitre, "and if you are in any trouble, give the call, and wave a handkerchief on a stick. Perh

d in drawing a deep breath, and then crying, "Wah-whoo-wah! wah-whoo-wah!

ON BEA

h bit of sand, under the shadow of a pine, and well sheltered by rugged overhanging rocks. They had an uninterrupted view of the bay outward,

dna took her work, a linen cover for her bureau, which she was embroidering exquisitel

arten sewing, when she was a small child, had been the delight of her teachers, and the envy of her little c

strip of linen, on which graceful maidenhair fern was grow

e to play with, as you have. Probably you and Cricket play games together, w

like us to study in the evening much. You see, our school is out at one, and lunch is at half-past. Then, till half-past four, we can do anyth

must always be in the house at half-past four in winter, and at five when the days get longer.

could study better if I had somebody to talk things over with. Then i

hen, I tell you, if there isn't any company. We play games, or papa plays with us. Then if I haven't gotten through my le

in the afternoon, and can't get thr

said well-trained Eunice, su

er help you wit

ot need help. Well, then, generally we read for a little while, or mamma reads to us, and

ve no one to go out with, after luncheon, unless I go with some of the girls. Of course mamma often takes me with her, but lots of times she can't. And if she's out when I come in, the house

o come and live with you. Wouldn't it be nice if one of your brothers was only a sister? I don't think boys mind nearly as muc

es, but decided to wait till Cricket's return before eating a regular lunch

st, suddenly interrupting herself. "She's been gone perfec

t. Nobody could digest her, for she would fly around so. I believe

said Eunice, laying down her book and standing up to give the call. The "wah-whoo-wah!" rang acro

y. "We should have known better. Likely as not she's rowed over to Plymouth and forg

was high noon now, by the sun, and very hot. Not

which was intense. The tide was going out, and soon

. "The heat just quavers up from these rocks. I believe a coffee-

rk. If we're not off here in less than half an hour we have to wait till the tide i

t to be made to. When could we get off, then?" for Eunice knew much less accu

e that the flats are bare, and, of course, it's the same time after that before enough water comes in to float a boat. I don't believe it's

-wah!" Eunice sent her clear, strong voice ringing across

posely hiding somewhere, do

only forgotten, if anything, unless something ha

y. "It's the safest old hole. And since we are not really in t

and they could plainly see grandma's house on the Neck.

d Eunice, looking for hers, "for the

des, I'm getting dreadfully afraid that there isn't time for any one to pull out here and get us in before the tide would be so far o

th me," said Euni

ing past. If that man would take us in, we might

t on its way, the oarsman having his back towards them. Then he turned

can we

k, Edna. Tie i

a stick? Why, it

all day;" and Eunice caught the linen scarf from Edna's half-

t," went on poor Edna, distracted between the fear of injury to her beloved work and her desire to get off the island. But the little boat p

drowned or something," for she began to be much more worried over Cricket's non-appearan

afraid. I think she's just plain gone off and forgotten us-that bad girl! Won't

EXI