Driving and walking on to Quidnet they soon found an old, experienced mariner who possessed a suitable boat and was well pleased to undertake the job of carrying their party out to the sharking grounds on the shoals.  He would need a crew of two men, easily to be found among his neighbors, he said; he would also provide the necessary tackle.  The bait would be perch, which they would catch here in the pond before setting out for the trip by sea to their destination—­about a mile away.

Mr. Dinsmore, his three grandsons, and Bob Johnson were all to be of the party.  Max was longing to go too, but hardly thought he would be allowed; he was hesitating whether to make the request when his father, catching his eager, wistful look, suddenly asked, “Would you like to go, Max?”

“Oh, yes, papa, yes, indeed!” was the eager response, and the boy’s heart bounded with delight at the answer, in a kindly indulgent tone, “Very well, you may.”

Lulu, hearing it, cried out, “Oh, couldn’t I go too, papa?”

“You? a little girl?” her father said, turning an astonished look upon her; “absurd! no, of course you can’t.”

“I think I might,” persisted Lulu; “I’ve heard that ladies go sometimes, and I shouldn’t be a bit afraid or get in anybody’s way.”

“You can’t go, so let me hear no more about it,” the captain answered decidedly as they turned toward home, the arrangements for the morrow’s expedition being completed.

“Wouldn’t Lulu like to ride?” Violet asked, speaking from the carriage window; “she has already done a good deal of walking to-day.”

The carriage stopped, and the captain picked Lulu up and put her in it without waiting for her to reply, for he saw that she was sulking over his refusal of her request.

She continued silent during the short drive to the cottage, and scarcely spoke while hurriedly dressing for the surf-bath.

The contemplated sharking expedition was the chief topic of conversation at the dinner-table, and it was quite evident that those who were going looked forward to a good deal of sport.

The frown on Lulu’s face grew darker as she listened.  Why should not she have a share in the fun as well as Max? she was sure she was quite as brave, and not any more likely to be seasick; and papa ought to be as willing to give enjoyment to his daughter as to his son.

She presently slipped away to the beach and sat down alone to brood over it, nursing her ill-humor and missing much enjoyment which she might have had because this—­a very doubtful one at the best—­was denied her.

Looking round after a while, and seeing her father sitting alone on a bench at some little distance, she went to him and asked, “Why can’t I go with you to-morrow, papa?  I don’t see why I can’t as well as Max.”

“Max is a boy and you are a girl, which makes a vast difference whether you see it or not,” the captain answered.  “But I told you to let me hear no more about it.  I am astonished at your assurance in approaching me again on the subject.”