Miss Betty was a very lively, in fact, quite wild, young lady, whose great desire was for fun and frolic; to have, as she expressed it, “a jolly good time” wherever she went.

The captain drew out his watch.  “About time to don the bathing-suits,” he said; “I understand that eleven o’clock is the hour, and it wants but fifteen minutes of it.”

Grandma Elsie had kindly seen to it that each little girl—­that is, Captain Raymond’s two and her own Rosie—­was provided with a pretty, neatly-fitting, and becoming bathing dress.

Violet helped Lulu to put her’s on, and, surveying her with a smile of gratified motherly pride, told her she looked very well in it, and that she hoped she would enjoy her bath.

“Thank you,” said Lulu; “but why don’t you go in too, Mamma Vi?”

“Only because I don’t feel strong enough to stand up against those heavy waves,” Violet answered.  “But I am going down to the beach to watch you all, and see that you don’t drown,” she added, sportively.

“Oh Lu, aren’t you afraid to go in?” asked little Grace, half shuddering at the very thought.

“Why no, Gracie; I’ve bathed in the sea before; I went in a good many times last summer; don’t you remember?”

“Yes; but the waves there weren’t half so big and strong.”

“No; but I’ll have a rope and papa, too, to hold to; so why need I be afraid?” laughed Lulu.

“Mamma is, I think,” said Grace, looking doubtfully at her.

“Oh no, dear,” said Violet; “I should not be at all afraid to go in if I were as strong as usual; but being weak, I know that buffeting with those great waves would do me more harm than good.”

Their cottages being so near the beach, our party all assumed their bathing suits before descending to it.  They went down, this first time, all in one company, forming quite a procession; Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore heading it, and Violet and Grace, as mere spectators, bringing up the rear.

They, in common with others who had nothing to do but look on, found it an amusing scene; there was a great variety of costume, some neat, well-fitting, and modest; some quite immodestly scant; some bright and new; some faded and old.  There was, however, but little freshness and beauty in any of them when they came out of the water.

Violet and Grace found a seat under an awning.  Max came running up to them.

“Papa is going in with Lulu first,” he said; “then he will bring her out and take me with him for a swim beyond the breakers.  I’ll just wait here with you till my turn comes.”

“See, see, they’re in the water!” cried Grace; “and oh, what a big, big wave that is coming!  There, it would have knocked Lulu down if papa hadn’t had fast hold of her.”

“Yes; it knocked a good many others down,” laughed Max; “just hear how they are screeching and screaming.”

“But laughing, too,” said Violet, “as if they find it fine sport.”