“Yes, mamma, I hope they will; but ah, a storm may come and wreck them before they can get back,” sighed Zoe, furtively wiping away a tear.

“Possibly; but we won’t be so foolish as to make ourselves unhappy by anticipating evils that may never come,” was the cheery rejoinder.  “The Edna has a skilful captain, a good crew, and is doubtless entirely seaworthy—­at least so Edward assured me—­and for the rest we must trust in Providence.

“Come in, now, and let me give you each a cup of coffee.  Your breakfast with the boys was so early and so slight, that you may find appetite for a supplement,” she added, sportively, as she led the way into the cosey little dining-room of the cottage, where they found a tempting repast spread especially for them, the others having already taken their morning meal.

“How nice in you, Cousin Elsie!” exclaimed Betty.  “I wasn’t expecting to eat another breakfast, but I find a rapidly coming appetite; these muffins and this coffee are so delicious.”

“So they are,” said Zoe.  “I never knew anybody else quite so kindly thoughtful as mamma.”

“I think I know several,” Elsie rejoined; “but it is very pleasant to be so highly appreciated.  Now, my dear girls, you will confer a favor if you will tell me in what way I can make the day pass most pleasantly to you.”

“Thank you, cousin.  It is a delightful morning for a drive, I think,” said Betty; then went on to repeat what their hackman had said of the drive to the South Shore.

“It sounds pleasant.  I think we will make up a party and try it,” Elsie said.  “You would like it, Zoe?”

“Yes, mamma, better than anything I know of beside.  The man says that just there the beach has not been so thoroughly picked over for shells and other curiosities, and we may be able to find some worth having.”

No one had made any special plans for the day, so all were ready to fall into this proposed by Zoe and Betty.  Hacks were ordered—­enough to hold all of their party now at hand—­and they started.

They found the drive all it had been represented.  For some distance their way lay along the bank of a long pond, pretty to look at and interesting as connected with old times and ways of life on the island.  Their hackmen told them that formerly large flocks of sheep were raised by the inhabitants, and this pond was one of the places where the sheep were brought at a certain time of year to be washed and shorn.  On arriving at their destination, they found a long stretch of sandy beach, with great thundering waves dashing upon it.

“Oh,” cried Zoe and Betty, in delight, “it is like a bit of ’Sconset!”

“Look away yonder,” said Lulu; “isn’t that a fisherman’s cart?”

“Yes,” replied her father.  “Suppose we go nearer and see what he is doing.”

“Oh, yes; do let us, papa!” cried Lulu, always ready to go everywhere and see everything.