he threshold with a bright face and pleasant smile: "You have
seen the boys off?" she said, half inquiringly. "The weather is so
favorable, that I think they can hardly fail to enjoy themselves
greatly."

"Yes, mamma, I hope they will; but ah, a storm may come and wreck them
before they can get back," sighed Zoe, furtively wiping away a tear.

"Possibly; but we won't be so foolish as to make ourselves unhappy by
anticipating evils that may never come," was the cheery rejoinder. "The
Edna has a skilful captain, a good crew, and is doubtless entirely
seaworthy--at least so Edward assured me--and for the rest we must trust
in Providence.

"Come in, now, and let me give you each a cup of coffee. Your breakfast
with the boys was so early and so slight, that you may find appetite for
a supplement," she added, sportively, as she led the way into the cosey
little dining-room of the cottage, where they found a tempting repast
spread especially for them, the others having already taken their
morning meal.

"How nice in you, Cousin Elsie!" exclaimed Betty. "I wasn't expecting to
eat another breakfast, but I find a rapidly coming appetite; these
muffins and this coffee are so delicious."

"So they are," said Zoe. "I never knew anybody else quite so kindly
thoughtful as mamma."

"I think I know several," Elsie rejoined; "but it is very pleasant to be
so highly appreciated. Now, my dear girls, you will confer a favor if
you will tell me in what way I can make the day pass most pleasantly to
you."

"Thank you, cousin. It is a delightful morning for a drive, I think,"
said Betty; then went on to repeat what their hackman had said of the
drive to the South Shore.

"It sounds pleasant. I think we will make up a party and try it," Elsie
said. "You would like it, Zoe?"

"Yes, mamma, better than anything I know of beside. The man says that
just there the beach has not been so thoroughly picked over for shells
and other curiosities, and we may be able to find some worth having."

No one had made any special plans for the day, so all were ready to fall
into this proposed by Zoe and Betty. Hacks were ordered--enough to hold
all of their party now at hand--and they started.

They found the drive all it had been represented. For some distance
their way lay along the bank of a long pond, pretty to look at and
interesting as connected with old times and ways of life on the island.
Their hackmen told them that formerly large flocks of