I'll hold on to the rope, and if I'm in any danger I suppose Bob, or some of the rest of you, will come to my assistance ?" "Of course we will!" all the gentlemen said, her brother adding, "And if there's a good chance, I'll take you over to Nantucket Town, where there's still-bathing, and teach you to swim." "Just what I should like," she said.

"I have a great desire to add that to the already large number of my accomplishments." 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.