n she could row, sit out-doors as much as she liked, and swing in
the wild-grape hammocks which festooned the shore, she did not miss
them. Girls on desert islands can dispense with finery.

But summers in Maine are very short, and, as lengthening days and
chilly nights began to hint at coming winter, Eyebright caught herself
shivering, and knew that she dreaded it very much indeed.

"How long it will seem!" she thought. "And how will poor papa bear it?
And what am I to do when all mamma's old clothes are worn out? I don't
suppose I ever shall have any new ones, and how I am to manage, I
cannot imagine!"

CHAPTER XI.

A STORM ON THE COAST.

Summers _are_ short in Maine; still the autumn that year seemed in no
haste to begin its work. September came and went, bringing only
trifling frosts, and the equinoctial week passed without a storm. In
its place appeared an odd yellow mist, which wrapped the world in its
folds and made the most familiar objects look strange and unnatural.
Not a fog,--it was not dense enough for that. It seemed more like air
made visible, thickened just a little, and tinted with color, but
common air still, warm, thin, and quiet. The wind blew softly for many
days; there was a general hush over land and sea, and the sun blinked
through the golden haze like a bigger and hotter moon.

This strange atmosphere lasted so long that people grew accustomed and
ceased to wonder at it. Some of the old sailors shook their heads and
said it would end with a gale; but old sailors are fond of prophesying
gales, and nobody was frightened by the prediction, or saw any reason
for being so, as long as the weather remained thus warm and perfectly
calm.

The little steamer from Malachi to Portland made her last trip for the
season on the 30th of September; and the day before, Mr. Bright, who
had some potatoes to ship to market, went over with them to Malachi,
in a small sail-boat belonging to Captain Jim, Mr. Downs's brother's
son. They were not to return till next day, so it was arranged that
Eyebright should spend the night with Mrs. Downs, as papa did not like
to leave her alone on the island. She went with him as far as the
village, and kissed him for good-by on the dock, when the little cargo
was all on board and Captain Jim just ready to push off.

"I shall go home early to-morrow, and make some egg-toast and some
frizzled beef for your supper, papa, so mind you don't stop to tea
with Mrs. Downs,