afternoon now that we have joined
the Clubs. And there's teas and things----"

"Yes," Marilla returned, meekly.

"Why wouldn't you go in the water?" she asked Jack a few days
afterward.

"'Cause there's sharks. Stevie said so. An' they eat up people."

"Why don't they eat up--well, they haven't eaten up any one yet. We
should have heard of it."

"They only eat up children. The big folks kick 'em out of the way. But
you've got to be real strong an' have a big foot. You just give it to
'em by the side of the jaw and they flop down in the water. That big
Jimmy Lane has seen them lots of times."

There was a great sand heap where the smaller children went to play
and tumble about and build forts and ovens and sometimes sand each
other. Marilla took the babies out in the carriage after they had
their dinner and were dressed afresh. Sometimes she met the girls
sauntering about, sometimes with the nurse maids. The two ladies went
to a Whist Club, and one afternoon played Bridge, and between times
they met on each others' porches.

The afternoon of the children's lawn party the street was fairly
thronged. There were grown people within the enclosure by special
invitation. And how pretty the young people were in their beautiful
summer attire with laces and ribbons and bead chains and white ties
with a great bow almost as big as the foot.

There were four pieces of music. Oh, the dancing was just bewitching?
Marilla drew long breaths and wished she was among them; every pulse
in her body kept time. The trees waved and nodded, some birds sang and
there were sounds of happy laughter.

"Get away from here with this big caboose of yourn!" said a rough
voice, "you take up too much room," and he wheeled the carriage around
so suddenly the babies almost toppled over. "Other people want a
chance. Get along, I say!"

She had no choice but to go on.

"I'm glad he sent off that nurse girl," exclaimed a woman with two
children clinging to her skirts. "Those great wagons are such a
nuisance!"

Marilla crossed the street and went slowly up and down. When the
throng moved about a little she could see the white fairy figures
floating over the greensward, and hear the music that set one's nerves
a-tingle. The outside crowd began to disperse, but the man loitered
about, so she did not dare go back.

Then they brought out some tables on the lawn and began to arrange
them. Oh, how daintily pretty it was! She recognized some of the