t,
considering that it must be something like going into the green nursery
tub, but with very cold water to wash in!

Walter had been at Margate once with his father, and could describe the
sea to Harry in very lively terms. The sands, the bathing-coaches, the
rocks, the billows--nothing was forgotten in Walter's narratives. But,
alas! the little town of Rosehampton, where they lived, was very far away
from any part of this enchanting ocean, and for long there seemed no
chance whatever of Mrs. Leslie consenting to let her children brave the
perils of a month's residence near the sea.

"I like them to go to the country," she would say to her husband or the
doctor, who often recommended sea-air, "and to think of them running
about on the grass when it is dry and sunny; for it is very close and
airless sometimes here in Diamond Terrace in the long summer days. But
do let me keep to dry land. It makes me quite nervous to think of Harry
falling over the rocks or getting into boats, and Bobby and Frank getting
their feet wet constantly on the shore when they are _so_ subject to
bronchitis."

"Pooh, pooh, my dear!" her husband would say, "you are far too much
afraid of these children getting into danger. It makes them little molly-
coddles, indeed it does." But he was an easy-going man, who let his wife
do pretty much as she liked, and did not interfere with her management of
house or children.

"Mamma," said Harry one day, "how is it that Uncle Jack _never_ catches
cold?--and, besides, he has never been drowned."

"Hush, Harry; don't talk so rashly. You don't know what may happen to
your uncle yet. And I do wish he wouldn't tell you all those long
stories about the sea when he comes; they make me quite miserable."

"I like them _awfully_, mamma," cried Harry, "and so does Walter. And do
you know, mamma, Walter and I are both going to be sailors when we grow
big. Only I do wish we might sail the _Rover_ first in real sea-water;
it would look so splendid!"

"Well, Harry, be a good boy," said his mother, who did not like to
disappoint her boy more than was for his good, "and don't go on talking
about being a sailor, for that you shall never be. Your papa and I will
never hear of it. As to Walter, his father may do what he pleases; but
you are going to help your father in the warehouse when you grow big, so
you don't need to trouble your head about anything else. But, as I was
saying, if you are a good boy ti