t
not be arranged."

"It's right by the sea and Ruth says they never fuss about clothes down
there. Just anything will do."

The governess smiled. "Nevertheless I think you will need a couple of
changes. I have sometimes been asked to visit country houses where
'anything would do,' and I've generally found that it all depends on
what one understands by 'anything.'"

"I can wear a shirt-waist in the morning and in the afternoon I can
wear a--a--another one," announced Nan.

Miss Blake laughed. "You poor child," she said, "I do believe you
haven't much beside for the summer."

"You see," broke in Nan, shamefacedly, "Delia didn't know anything
about styles and I didn't--care, and so we sort of let clothes go. It
isn't because father wouldn't want me to have nice things."

Miss Blake took her up quickly. "I know it is not. And now we must
set to work at once to get you properly provided, for you are old
enough now to 'care,' not necessarily about styles, but certainly about
making a creditable appearance, and I want you to have a suitable
wardrobe so that you may always keep yourself tidy."

It seemed to Nan that the wardrobe Miss Blake proceeded to provide for
her was something more than merely "tidy." The frocks were simple, it
is true, but very dainty and tasteful, and in her new interest in them
and the way they were made she quite forgot to complain at the extra
inch or two which the governess caused to be added to the length of the
skirts.

There had been some stormy scenes when the winter dresses were being
made, Nan insisting that she would not wear "such horrid dangling
things that were forever getting in her way." She wanted her skirts
made short, and if she couldn't have her skirts made short, etc.

The skirts had not been made short, and these were even longer. Clad
in them Nan looked very tall and womanly, and Delia realized for the
first time that her "baby" had ceased to be a little girl.

So at last the preparations were completed and the girl started off to
spend a fortnight with Ruth at the Andrews' beautiful summer home by
the sea. Then came gay times. Early morning dips in the surf;
clam-bakes on the beach; long, lazy hours spent on the veranda, when
the day was too warm for exercise, and when it was cooler, fine spins
along the hard, white sand, for miles beside the shimmering sea.

Nan grew as brown as an Indian, for she scorned shade-hats, and
oftenest had nothing on her head