et one up. But, oh, Anna! surely it
is time that I went on to my visit with Lucia Horton!" and Melvina's
face grew troubled. "Do you think Luretta Foster will have my clothes
in good order?"

At Melvina's words Anna sprang to her feet. "I think she will do her
best, and 'tis well for us to hurry," she responded; "but you have had a
good time, have you not, Melvina?"

"Oh, yes! I would like well to play about on the shore often; but I fear
I may never again," said Melvina; her smile had vanished, and she looked
tired and anxious.

"Let us hasten; the tide is coming in now, and Luretta will have taken
our things up from the beach," said Anna, taking Melvina's hand and
hurrying her along over the ledges. "I am glad indeed, Melvina, that we
are better acquainted, and we will often wade together."

But Melvina shook her head dolefully. "My mother does not like me to
play out-of-doors," she said. "Do you think, Anna, that Luretta is quite
sure to have my things clean and nice?"

The two little girls had now come in sight of the place where they had
left Luretta. They both stopped and looked at each other in dismay, for
the tide had swept up the beach covering the pool where Luretta had
endeavored to wash the stockings, and the rocks where Anna and Melvina
had left their things, and there was no trace either of Luretta or of
their belongings.

"Luretta has taken our things up the slope," declared Anna. "She saw the
tide would sweep them away, so she did not wait for us."

"But how can we find her?" wailed Melvina. "I cannot go up the slope
barefooted and in my petticoat. What would my father say if he met me in
such a plight? He tells me often to remember to set a good example to
other children. And I would be ashamed indeed to be seen like this."

"You do look funny," Anna acknowledged soberly. Her own flannel dress
had dried, and, except for her bare feet, she looked about as usual; but
Melvina's white petticoat was still wet and draggled, her hair untidy,
and it was doubtful if her own father would have recognized her at the
first glance.

"I will go and get your things," said Anna. "Come up the slope a little
way, and sit down behind those juniper bushes until I come back. Luretta
must be near the pine trees. I'll hurry right back, and you can dress in
a minute."

Melvina agreed to this plan, and followed Anna slowly up to the juniper
bushes, and crouched down well under their branches so that she was
complete