ny one
of the four. There was plenty of hot water in the little brass
tea-kettle, and an unlimited supply of milk and sugar. A big flat rock
served as a table, and smaller ones gave them excellent seats.

They had just finished eating the last of the cakes and were nibbling
the fudge when Polly, perched highest on the rocks, exclaimed: "There's
Granville talking to Luella! I wonder what he is doing up here this
time of day. They look real excited. There, Luella is going into the
house. Now Aunt Ada has come out with her and they are all talking
together. I believe I'll go up and see what it is all about. Don't
eat up all the fudge."

"Hurry back then," Molly called after her. "Let's hide it, girls, and
pretend when she comes back that we've eaten it all up."

"I'll hide it," said Grace. She ran down a little way below them and
poked the remaining pieces of fudge into a crevice in the rock, and
then returned to await Polly's return, who in a few minutes came
running back. "Oh," she said, "I have something to tell you. Our poor
little baby hasn't any father. He has been drowned."

"Oh, how dreadful!" Three pairs of startled eyes showed how this news
affected the little tea-drinkers.

"Do tell us about it," said Molly setting down the cup from which she
was draining the last sugary drop.

"I didn't hear all about it," Polly told them, "but I know he tried to
save one of his shipmates and couldn't, and they were both drowned.
Luella is going down to stay with Ora's children this afternoon. They
haven't told Leona yet, and poor Ellis is perfectly distracted,
Granville says. Isn't it sad, when Leona has been so ill and now this
dreadful thing has happened?"

"I feel so very sorry for Ellis," remarked Mary.

"So do I," said Polly, "for the baby isn't big enough to know, and
maybe Leona can get another husband, but Ellis can't get another
brother."

They all agreed that this was a plain fact and sat quite solemnly
looking off at the blue sea which had so cruelly swallowed up Parker.

At last Polly gave a long sigh, and she broke the silence by
exclaiming, "There, you mean piggies, you ate up all the fudge!"

"You were gone so long," said Molly giving Grace a nudge.

"I don't care; you ought to have saved an extra piece for my bringing
you such exciting news."

"But it was such sad news," said Grace turning away her head so Polly
could not see her smile.

"If it is sad you needn't laugh about it