said, leaning
over the low stone wall, and evidently prepared for a talk. "I saw your
mother starting off. Why didn't she take you with her? You'd have liked
to have gone, wouldn't you?"

"Yes," Mona admitted.

"Well, why didn't you?"

"Somebody had to be here to look after father. He'll be home before
mother gets back."

Millie Higgins snorted sarcastically. "Very nice for some people to be
able to go off and enjoy themselves and leave others to look after things
for them! If I were you I'd say I'd like to go too."

Mona resented Millie's tone. A sense of fairness rose within her too.
"If I'd said I wanted to go, I daresay I could have gone," she retorted
coldly. "I'm going another time."

"Oh, are you? Well, that's all right as long as you are satisfied,"
meaningly. "Good-bye," and with a nod Millie took herself off.
But before she had gone more than a few paces she was back again.

"Come on out and play for a bit, won't you?"

"I'd like to," Mona hesitated, "but I don't know for certain what time
father'll get back."

"Well, I do! I know they won't be home yet awhile. They'll wait till the
tide serves. Come along, Mona, you might as well come out and play for
half an hour as stick moping here. You might spend all your life waiting
about for the old boats to come in, and never have a bit of pleasure if
you don't take it when you can. We'll go down to the quay, then you'll be
able to see the boats coming. After they're in sight there'll be heaps of
time to run home and get things ready."

The temptation was great, too great. Mona loved the quay, and the life
and cheerfulness there. Towards evening all the children in the place
congregated there, playing 'Last touch,' 'Hop-Scotch,' and all the rest of
the games they loved, to a chorus of shouts, and screams, and laughter.
Then there was the sea to look at too, so beautiful and grand, and
awe-inspiring in the fading light. Oh, how dearly she loved it all!

In her ears Millie's words still rang: "You might spend all your life
waiting about for the old boats, and never have a bit of pleasure, if you
don't take it when you can."

"Wait a minute," she said eagerly, "I'll just put some coal on the fire
and get my hat."

She banked up a good fire, unhung her hat, and, pulling the door after
her, ran out to Millie again, "I'm ready now," she said excitedly.

When they arrived at the quay they received a very warm welcome; they were
just in