l compass for their long visit. Young folks are very apt not to
think of all these things, and seem to imagine that hats and caps,
gloves and shoes grow on the bushes, and are produced by rain and
sunshine, like the garments of the flowers! Most mothers and nurses
could tell a very different tale; and could, if they pleased, prove,
that if little girls were as idly managed as the doll family are, life
would not be so easy or quite so pleasant, to the juveniles at least.

At last the happy day of the journey arrived, and the Spensers, with all
their luggage, were safely crammed into a couple of cabs, and borne off
to the railway station on their way to Sandbay. Little Florry persisted
in carrying her precious wooden spade, for fear it should be left
behind, a proceeding that resulted in its being left in the
refreshment-room at Hembery station, and only regained at the risk of
Frank's being left behind; and it was finally forgotten in the carriage
when they changed at Dawlish junction, its little tired owner being
carried fast asleep in Nurse's arms. And so before Papa left them all
comfortably settled in their airy lodgings at Sandbay, he was obliged to
take his tearful little girl to the one toy-shop and buy her a new one.

"Which you gained by, Florry," remarked Frank; "for Pa gave you a bucket
into the bargain; so now you can make ovens enough to bake all the rolls
in Sandbay!"

And then, like a good-natured brother as he was, he printed Florry's
name in great capital letters on her spade, with the name of the house
they lived in, so that when she left it behind on the sands, there was a
chance of its being brought back again. And Celia and her mother rambled
about by the edge of the sea, and collected shells and sea-weed, or took
long walks through the pretty country round Sandbay, till the rosy
cheeks Miss Watson prophesied became quite Celia's usual look.

Meanwhile, Mr. Spenser having seen the little colony comfortably
established, returned back to town, for he was going to stay with a
sister who lived near his own house, in order to keep an occasional
watch over the workmen. And so the town villa, which a few hours before
had been the scene of such confusion and bustle,--such noisy voices and
pattering feet,--was left empty to the echoes and the dust which now had
time to settle peaceably over the bare boards and dingy windows. An old
charwoman had the charge of it, and was to sleep in the kitchen; but as
the