ss to wear, which would certainly answer for
to-night.

She had been busy all the early summer in preparing her dresses for
this very watering-place, and, as far as appeared, she would hardly
need them, and was disappointed to have no chance to display them. But
of course, when the Sylvesters and Ann Maria came, all would be
different; but they would surely be wasted on the two old ladies she
had seen, and on the old men who had lounged about the porch; there
surely was not a gentleman among them.

Agamemnon assured her she could not tell at the seaside, as gentlemen
wore their exercise dress, and took a pride in going around in
shocking hats and flannel suits. Doubtless they would be dressed for
dinner on their return.

On their arrival they had been shown to a room to have their meals by
themselves, and could not decide whether they were eating dinner or
lunch. There was a variety of meat, vegetables, and pie, that might
come under either name; but Mr. and Mrs Peterkin were well pleased.

"I had no idea we should have really farm-fare," Mrs. Peterkin said.
"I have not drunk such a tumbler of milk since I was young."

Elizabeth Eliza concluded they ought not to judge from a first meal,
as evidently their arrival had not been fully prepared for, in spite
of the numerous letters that had been exchanged.

The little boys were, however, perfectly satisfied from the moment of
their arrival, and one of them had stayed at the farm, declining to go
to the beach, as he wished to admire the pigs, cows, and horses; and
all the way over to the beach the other little boys were hopping in
and out of the wagon, which never went too fast, to pick long
mullein-stalks, for whips to urge on the reluctant horse with, or to
gather huckleberries, with which they were rejoiced to find the fields
were filled, although, as yet, the berries were very green.

They wanted to stay longer on the beach, when they finally reached it;
but Mrs. Peterkin and Elizabeth Eliza insisted upon turning directly
back, as it was not fair to be late to dinner the very first night.

On the whole the party came back cheerful, yet hungry. They found the
same old men, in the same costume, standing against the porch.

"A little seedy, I should say," said Solomon John.

"Smoking pipes," said Agamemnon; "I believe that is the latest style."

"The smell of their tobacco is not very agreeable," Mrs. Peterkin was
forced to say.

There seemed the same uncertai