moats, and the rising tide flowed in just as they wished it to. Like
another Canute, Tom flung defiance to the waves, and shouted himself
hoarse; and then, to his immense surprise, the little ripples swept
smoothly back, and left a crumbled castle, and white foamy ridges that
looked like soap.

"Come on, Susie," he said; "it's no fun when there's no water in it.
Let's go over to the rocks and look for insects."

"No; let's stay here," said Susie. "I like watching the ships and the
steamers."

"Fudge," said Tom.

"The rocks are awfully jolly, Sue," said Dickie.

But Susie shook her shoulders, and gazed straight before her. "I'm not
going," she said.

"Very well; we jolly well prefer your room to your company," said
Tom.--"Come on, Dick."

Susie was sitting on the ruins of the castle, with her knees drawn up and
her elbows planted on them. She really was not listening to Tom a bit,
for her fascinated eyes were fixed on the line of silver sea, on which
the passing steamers rose and fell. Far away at the back of her mind was
the consciousness that Tom was going to be naughty, and that she might
prevent it; but she pushed her fingers into her ears, and gazed straight
before her.

It was Amy tugging at her dress that made her turn reluctantly at last.

"Tom is calling you, Susie," she said.

"Oh, bother!" said Susie. "You can go and see what he wants."

Amy obediently struggled over the heavy sand to the fine strip of pebbles
on which the boys were disporting themselves. Their boots were wet
through; their shrill voices pierced Susie's poor defences.

"Susie--Susie--Susie!"

But Susie did not move.

All the same, she knew perfectly well that Amy was struggling back over
the shingle and the sand, and had dropped panting at her feet, quite
unable to speak for want of breath. Her little delicate face was pink
with heat and excitement, and her thin legs trembled.

"They want to get a box and send Dickie out in it, like a boat," she
explained.

"They haven't got a box," said Susie.

"But they say they can get one easily. It's father's; and they can tie a
string on to it and drag it."

"They can ask mother," said Susie impatiently.

"Yes, I suppose so." Amy had crept nearer, and put a small, unsteady hand
on her knee. "Please don't let them do it, Susie," she said; "don't let
them be naughty."

"Don't bother," said Susie. "I can't help it."

She shook off Amy's hand impatiently; but she was sorry a mome