each, playing in the sand, wandering
hither and thither, or just sitting gazing dreamily out over the waves;
and her father had allowed her to do so, only stipulating that she
should not go out of sight or into any place that looked at all
dangerous.

"I'm going down to the beach," she said to Grace, when they had left the
table that evening; "won't you go too?"

"Not yet," said Grace; "baby is awake, and looks so sweet that I'd
rather stay and play with her a little while first."

"She does look pretty and sweet," assented Lulu, glancing toward the
babe, cooing in its nurse's arms, "but we can see enough of her after we
go home to Ion, and haven't the sea any more. I'll go now, and you can
come and join me when you are ready."

Leaving the house, Lulu turned southward toward Sunset Heights, and
strolled slowly on, gazing seaward for the most part, and drinking in
with delight the delicious breeze as it came sweeping on from no one
knows where, tearing the crests of the waves and scattering the spray
hither and yon.

The tide was rising, and it was keen enjoyment to watch the great
billows chasing each other in and dashing higher and higher on the sands
below. Then the sun drew near his setting, and the sea, reflecting the
gorgeous coloring of the clouds, changed every moment from one lovely
hue to another.

Lulu walked on and on, wilfully refusing to think how great might be the
distance she was putting between herself and home, and at length sat
down, the better to enjoy the lovely panorama of cloud and sea which
still continued to enrapture her with its ever-changing beauty.

By and by the colors began to fade and give place to a silvery gray,
which gradually deepened and spread till the whole sky was fast growing
black with clouds that even to her inexperienced eye portended a storm.

She started up and sent a sweeping glance around on every side. Could it
be possible that she was so far from the tiny 'Sconset cottage that at
present she called home? Here were Tom Never's Head and the life-saving
station almost close at hand; she had heard papa say they were a good
two miles from 'Sconset, so she must be very nearly that distance from
home, all alone too, and with night and a storm fast coming on.

"Oh me! I've been disobedient again," she said aloud, as she set off for
home at her most rapid pace; "what would papa say? It wasn't exactly
intentional this time, but I should not have been so careless."

Al