Zoe assented, though with rather an indifferent air, and they returned to the house.

Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore, the only ones they found there, the others being all down on the beach, fell readily into the plan; the book and the work were brought out, and the reading began.

It was a good, well-told story, and even Zoe presently became thoroughly interested.

Down on the beach Violet and the captain sat together in the sand, he searching sea and sky with a spyglass.

She noticed a look of anxiety creeping over his face.

“What is it, Levis?” she asked.

“I fear there is a heavy storm coming,” he said.  “I wish with all my heart the Edna was in.  But I trust they have been wise enough not to put out to sea and are safe in harbor some where.”

“I hope so, indeed,” she responded, fervently, “for we have much precious freight aboard of her.  But the sky does not look very threatening to me, Levis.”

“Does it not?  I wish I could say the same.  But, little wife, are you weatherwise or otherwise?” he asked, laughingly.

“Not wise in any way except as I may lay claim to the wisdom of my other half,” she returned, adopting his sportive tone.

“Ah,” she exclaimed the next moment, “I, too, begin to see some indications of a storm; it is growing very dark yonder in the northeast!”

Betty came hurrying up, panting and frightened.  “O captain, be a dear, good man, and say you don’t think we are to have a storm directly—­before Bob and the rest get safe to shore!”

“I should be glad to oblige you, Betty,” he said, “but I cannot say that; and what would it avail if I did?  Could my opinion stay the storm?”

“Zoe will be frightened to death about Edward,” she said, turning her face seaward again as she spoke, and gazing with tear-dimmed eyes at the black, threatening cloud fast spreading from horizon to zenith, “and I—­oh, Bob is nearer to me than any other creature on earth!”

“Let us hope for the best, Betty,” the captain said, kindly; “it is quite possible, perhaps I might say probable, that the Edna is now lying at anchor in some safe harbor, and will stay there till this storm is over.”

“Oh, thank you for telling me that!” she cried.  “I’ll just try to believe it is so and not fret, though it would pretty nearly kill me if anything should happen to Bob.  Still, it will do no good to fret.”

“Prayer would do far more,” said Violet, softly—­“prayer to Him whom even the winds and the sea obey.  But isn’t it time to go in, Levis? the storm seems to be coming up so very fast.”

“Yes,” he said, rising and helping her to get on her feet.  “Where are the children?”

“Yonder,” said Betty, nodding in their direction.  “I’ll tell them—­shall I?”

“No, thank you; you and Violet hurry on to the house as fast as you can; I will call the children, follow with them, and probably overtake you in time to help you up the stairs.”