ery softly, took out her bathing-dress, put it on,
and ran down to the beach. There was no one about. In a moment she had
entered the waves. She breasted them as far as her waist; she ducked and
covered herself with the invigorating salt water. And as the sparkling
salt water rolled over her, it seemed to her fancy that a load rolled off
her mind. She felt light of heart and gay. She felt cheerful and happy. A
few minutes later she was back in the cottage. Nancy turned in her sleep,
started, opened her sleepy eyes, and looked at the dripping figure
standing in the middle of the room.

"Why, Paulie," she cried, "what are you doing? Oh, you are dripping wet;
your hair and all. What have you been at?"

"I am wet because I have washed. I have washed and I am clean. Oh, Nancy,
Nancy! it is as right as possible. The terrible, haunting words have
gone, and the longing for the sea has gone. I know that I am forgiven.
Nancy, do you hear? I am washed, and I am clean. Oh! I know at last what
it means."

"For goodness' sake take off those wet things and get back into bed and
let me warm you up. You will catch your death."

"My death!" cried Pauline, "when I am so happy I scarcely know how to
contain myself."

Nancy sprang out of bed, dragged Pauline towards her, and helped her to
pull off her wet things. Then she wrapped her up in her warm night-dress,
made her cuddle down in bed, and kissed her and hugged her.

"Oh, dear!" she said, "you are the queerest girl; but your face looks as
it did long ago."

"I feel as I did long ago--or, rather, I feel different. I was a child
then and did not understand much. Now, it seems to me, I understand a
great deal--yes, a great deal. Oh! and there is your father in the
garden. I must dress; I must go to him."

So Pauline jumped out of bed, got quickly into her clothes, and ran out
to join the farmer.

"Mr. King," she cried, "I am quite well again."

"It looks like it, little missy," said the farmer.

"I am," repeated Pauline. "I am as perfectly well as a girl can be. You
know how often I told you I wanted to wash and be clean. I had my wash
this morning, and it was really what I did want, for that dull feeling
has left my head. I know just everything, and how I behaved, and all the
rest, and I am prepared to take the bitter as well as the sweet. It is
very, very sweet living here with you and Nancy, and whatever happens,
you will be my friends as long as I live. And it is very bitt