erself, "I'll let people see that I
have some decent clothes to wear."

Returning after a little, she was much surprised to find Betty Johnson
stretched full length on a lounge with a paper-covered novel in her
hand, which she seemed to be devouring with great avidity.

"Why, Betty!" she exclaimed, "are you here? I thought you went with the
rest to the 'squantum.'"

"Just what I thought in regard to your highness," returned Betty,
glancing up from her book with a laugh. "I stayed at home to enjoy my
book and the bath. What kept you?"

"Papa," answered Lulu with a frown; "he wouldn't let me go."

"Because you put on that dress, I presume," laughed Betty. "Well, it's
not very suitable, that's a fact. But I had no idea that the captain was
such a connoisseur in matters of that sort."

"He isn't! he doesn't know or care if it wasn't for Mamma Vi," burst out
Lulu vehemently. "And she's no business to dictate about my dress
either. I'm old enough to judge and decide for myself."

"Really, it is a great pity that one so wise should be compelled to
submit to dictation," observed Betty with exasperating irony.

Lulu, returning a furious look, which her tormentor feigned not to see,
then marching into the adjoining room, gave tardy obedience to her
father's orders anent the dress.

"Are you going in this morning?" asked Betty, when Lulu had returned to
the little parlor.

"I don't know; papa didn't say whether I might or not."

"Then I should take the benefit of the doubt and follow my own
inclination in the matter. It's ten now; the bathing hour is eleven; I
shall be done my book by that time, and we'll go in together if you
like."

"I'll see about it," Lulu said, walking away.

She went down to the beach and easily whiled away an hour watching the
waves and the people, and digging in the sand. When she saw the others
going to the bath-houses she hastened back to her temporary home.

As she entered Betty was tossing aside her book. "So here you are!" she
said, yawning and stretching herself. "Are you going in?"

"Yes; if papa is angry I'll tell him he should have forbidden me if he
didn't want me to do it."

They donned their bathing-suits and went in with the crowd; but though
no mishap befell them and they came out safely again, Lulu found that
for some reason her bath was not half so enjoyable as usual.

She and Betty dined at the hotel where the family had frequently taken
their meals, then they strolled