e pure pleasure of it. In the minute I stood waiting and
watching up there I expected to see you turn into--who was
what's-his-name, Narcissus? Narcissi, then."

"Nonsense. You should use more local color. Say Anemones; but I warn
you, we don't allow pretty speeches up here."

"That's unfortunate," returned Dunham, "for I've been in Seaton for
months, and there's nobody to make love to there but Miss La--" He
nearly bit his tongue off in the suddenness of his halt, but he did
save himself. "What is in this pool, then, if not starry eyes?" he
added suddenly, bending over the stone trough with interest.

"Star_fish_," replied Edna. "See this one. I pulled it out just before
you came."

The starfish was clinging pinkly to the rock, and beyond him lay the
urchin, the blackness of its draggled spines turning to green as it
dried in the sun.

"Who's your friend?" asked John, regarding it. "Looks like a miniature
Paderewski. Say, he's getting up steam."

In fact, the urchin had begun dragging itself in a stately and scarcely
perceptible progress across the rock toward its native pool. The three
watched it.

"Isn't there any law here against speeding?" asked Dunham with concern.
"First water mobile I ever saw. Take his number, somebody. It's a
scandal."

"He's number one," said Sylvia. "We're going to get some more. I 'm
going to have a cabinet."

"You are? Well, I don't think a sport like that would be a safe member
of any cabinet."

"Here. I'll show you the urchin I couldn't get," said Edna. "You'll
reach him for us. My arm isn't long enough. See that big dark spot down
in the corner? That is Sylvia's candlestick. A beautiful, lilac,
embroidered candlestick."

"Who'd have thought it!" responded Dunham, rolling up his sleeves. In a
minute the dripping prize was being offered to Sylvia, who clasped her
hands and drew back.

"Would you mind putting him down?" she said. "He looks so big
and--whiskery."

"Oh, I'm ashamed of you, Sylvia," laughed Edna. "Now you have to find
another just his size, Mr. Dunham. She has to have a pair."

"She does, eh?" returned John resignedly. "I don't know what I'll draw
out of this grab bag next," and he plunged his arm in again.

"No, no, you mustn't do that!" cried Edna,--"clouding up the water like
that. We have to peer. Come and peer, Sylvia." They all leaned over the
side of the pool. "See that little starfish? He's lost a leg already in
his short career; and those pretty