of the little house, Dempster stood on the sand with a pair--well,
of garments like mine, only more so, on, and a flaming red upper
garment, bright enough to set the waves on fire, covering his broad
bosom.

Another gentleman stood near him--blue and brown in his sea-outfit,
youngish, and with eyes that made me wilt like a poppy the moment they
fell upon me.

My goodness, how I did feel in that dress! It was all I could do to keep
from kind of scrouching down to hide my bare feet; but it was of no use,
so I dug them deep into the sand, and felt myself blushing all over,
while that gentleman in blue fixed his eyes upon them.

Anyway, there was nothing to be so mightily timorous about, for,
according to my calculation, two smaller or whiter feet didn't leave
their prints in the sand that day, though I do make that assertion with
my own lips, that ought to be mute.

Cousin Dempster came forward, took both E. E. and my trembling self by
the hand, and led us to the water.

I took one glance: a swarm of straw hats, a crowd of men, women, and
children were floundering, swimming, screaming, laughing, tumbling
through the waves, that lifted them up, flung them down, pitched them
forward, and behaved in a way that no well-bred ocean would have thought
of doing.

I shrank--I shivered--the heart seemed to die in my agitated bosom when
the first wave kissed my feet; I gave a little scream, but checked
myself bravely. The waves were full of men, some of them were looking at
me.

I determined to act bravely, and be the heroine of the occasion. I let
go of Dempster's hand. A wave struck me, my head went down and my feet
went up. In my fright and anguish I remembered their size and whiteness,
and found consolation in the thought while I strove to right myself.

It was in vain; while I staggered with one big wave, another took me
unawares, like a thief in the night, and dragged me under, like a wild
beast growling over some poor helpless lamb--it tore me away. I
shrieked--I plunged--I fought madly for my life. Up through the vivid
green of the waters the sunshine came toward me like light upon beaming
emeralds. I clutched at it. I tried to scream; but my mouth filled with
water, green flashes shot through and through my eyes. I began to pray.
The Green Mountains, the farm, and all my life there shot through my
brain; things I had forgotten came uppermost, and those thoughts grew
pleasant while the waters seemed roaring me to s