t forgot--do you like
conchology?" he asked, by way of starting a conversation.

"I don't know anything about it," was Ruth's meek reply, "but I believe
it is the science of shells, is it not?"

"Yes. I thought you wouldn't care for it. Girls never do."

"Perhaps I might learn," she said humbly; "but I haven't had a chance to
study any 'ologies,' they did not teach them at Miss Green's. Are you
studying it as a holiday task?"

"No, for amusement. They won't let me study in the holidays, but I enjoy
this. Just look at these shells, aren't they beauties?" and he showed
her one of the illustrations in his book.

"Oh! how beautiful!" she exclaimed; and the boy, seeing she was
interested, told her what he had been reading, and promised to get her
some specimens the next day, and the time slipped rapidly by, until Mrs.
Woburn and Julia returned.

"What have you been doing all the evening?" asked Julia, when they were
in their room that night. "Was Ernest civil?"

"He was very kind, and showed me his book on conchology, and explained
about the shells, and he is going to get me some specimens to-morrow."

"Indeed!" said Julia, rather surprised, "I should not have thought that
you cared for that sort of thing."

Ruth was too tired to answer, and had soon forgotten the events of the
day in sound refreshing sleep. When she awoke, the sun was shining
brightly, and she was astonished to find that she had slept until
half-past seven. She was accustomed to rise very early at home, and was
afraid that her cousins would be shocked at her laziness, until she
found that Julia was still sleeping quietly in the bed beside her.

"Julia! Julia!" she cried, "it's very late. We must get up at once."

"What is the time?" was asked drowsily.

"Half-past seven."

"Why can't you let me rest?" said Julia crossly. "We always breakfast at
eight at home, but I don't intend to get up so early at the sea-side."

She closed her eyes and went to sleep again; but Ruth, who was wide
awake, rose at once, dressed quickly, brushed her brown curls, and went
downstairs. There was no one about, and the morning air was so fresh,
and the sunshine so inviting, that she took her hat and ran down to the
beach, feeling so full of joy and gladness that she could hardly
restrain herself from singing, as she often did in the fields at
Cressleigh. The sunlight sparkled upon the crested waves as they broke
gently upon the shore, and the tide came in, slowly c