Chapter XXI. Pebbly Beach

r,theblueflannelsuitwithitswhitetrimmingwasputon,andMammawasjustbuttoningthestoutbootswhenJackthunderedatthedoor,andburstinwithallsortsofgloriousnews. “Docomeout,mother,it'sperfectlysplendidonthebeach!I'vefoundaniceplaceforJilltosit,andit'sonlyastep.Lotsofcapitalfellowshereonehasabicycle,andisgoingtoteachustoride.Noendoffunupatthehotel,andeveryoneseemsgladtoseeus.TwoladiesaskedaboutJill,andoneofthegirlshasgotsomeshellsallreadyforher,GertySomebody,andhermotherissoprettyandjolly,Ilikehereversomuch.Theysitatourtable,andWallyistheboy,youngerthanIam,butverypleasant.Baconisthefellowinknickerbockersjustwishyoucouldseewhatstoutlegshe'sgot!Coxisthechapforme,though:wearegoingfishingto-morrow.He'sgotasweet-lookingmother,andasisterforyou,Jill.Now,then,docomeon,I'lltakethetraps.” Offtheywent,andJillthoughtthatveryshortwalktotheshorethemostdelightfulsheevertookforpeoplesmiledatthelittleinvalidasshewentslowlybyleaningonMrs.Minot'sarm,whileJackprancedinfront,doingthehonors,asifheownedthewholeAtlantic.Anewworldopenedtohereyesastheycameoutuponthepebblybeachfullofpeopleenjoyingtheirafternoonpromenade.Jillsaveonerapturous“Oh!”andthensatonherstool,forgettingeverythingbutthebeautifulblueoceanrollingawaytomeetthesky,withnothingtobreakthewideexpansebutasailhereandthere,apointofrocksononehand,thelittlepierontheother,andwhitegullsskimmingbyontheirwidewings. Whileshesatenjoyingherself,Jackshowedhismothertheplacehehadfound,andaveryniceoneitwas.Justunderthegreenbanklayanoldboatproppedupwithsomebigstones.Awillowdroopedoverit,thetiderippledupwithinafewyardsofit,andafineviewofthewavescouldbeseenastheydashedovertherocksatthepoint. “Isn'titagoodcubby-house?BenCoxandIfixeditforJill,andshecanhaveitforhers.Puthercushionsandthingsthereonthesandthechildrenhavethrownin—thatwillmakeitsoftthentheseseatswilldofortablesandupinthebowI'mgoingtohavethatoldrustytinboilerfullofsalt-water,soshecanputseaweedandcrabsandallsortsofchapsinitforanaquarium,youknow,”explainedJack,greatlyinterestedinestablishinghisfamilycomfortablybeforeheleftthem. “Therecouldn'tbeanicerplace,anditisverykindofyoutogetitready.SpreadtheshawlsandsettleJill,thenyouneedn'tthinkofusanymore,butgoandscramblewithFrank.Iseehimovertherewithhisspy-glassandsomepleasant-lookingboys,”saidMamma,bustlingaboutingreatspirits. Sotheredcushionswereplaced,theplaidslaid,andthelittlework-basketsetupontheseat,allreadyforJill,whowascharmedwithhernest,andcuddleddownunderthebigparasol,declaringshewouldkeephousethereeveryday. Eventheoldboilerpleasedher,andJackracedoverthebeachtobeginhissearchforinhabitantsforthenewaquarium,leavingJilltomakefriendswithsomeprettybabiesdigginginthesand,whileMammasatonthecamp-stoolandtalkedwithafriendfromHarmonyVillage. Itseemedasiftherecouldnotbeanythingmoredelightfulthantolietherelulledbythesoundofthesea,watchingthesunsetandlisteningtothepleasantbabbleoflittlevoicescloseby.Butwhentheywenttoteainthegreathall,withsixtablesfullofmerrypeople,andhalfadozenmaidsflyingabout,Jillthoughtthatwasevenbetter,becauseitwassonewtoher.GertyandWallynoddedtoher,andtheirprettymammawassokindandsogay,thatJillcouldnotfeelbashfulafterthefirstfewminutes,andsoonlookedabouther,sureofseeingfriendlyfaceseverywhere.FrankandJackateasifthesaltairhadalreadyimprovedtheirappetites,andtalkedaboutBaconandCoxasiftheyhadbeenbosomfriendsforyears.Mammawasashappyasthey,forherfriend,Mrs.Hammond,satclosebyandthisrosylady,whohadbeenaphysician,cheeredherupbypredictingthatJillwouldsoonberunningaboutaswellasever. Butthebestofallwasintheevening,whentheelderpeoplegatheredintheparlorsandplayedTwentyQuestions,whilethechildrenlookedonforanhourbeforegoingtobed,muchamusedatthesightofgrownpeoplelaughing,squabbling,dodging,andjokingasiftheyhadallbecomeyoungagainfor,aseveryoneknows,itisimpossibletohelplivelyskirmisheswhenthatgameisplayed.Jilllayinthesofacornerenjoyingitallimmenselyforsheneversawanythingsodroll,andfounditcapitalfuntohelpguessthething,ortrytopuzzletheoppositeside.Herquickwitsandbrightfaceattractedpeople,andinthepausesofthesportsheheldquitealevee,foreverybodywasinterestedinthelittleinvalid.Thegirlsshylymadefriendsintheirownway,themammastoldthrillingtalesoftheaccidentstheirdarlingshadsurvived,severalgentlemenkindlyofferedtheirboats,andtheboys,withthebestintentionsinlife,suggestedstrollsoftwoorthreemilestoRafe'sChasmandNorman'sWoe,orinvitedhertotennisandarchery,asifviolentexercisewasthecureforallhumanills.Shewasverygrateful,andreluctantlywentawaytobed,declaring,whenshegotupstairs,thatthesenewfriendswerethedearestpeoplesheevermet,andtheWillowsthemostdelightfulplaceinthewholeworld. Nextdayanewlifebeganfortheyoungfolks—averyhealthy,happylifeandallthrewthemselvesintoitsoheartily,thatitwasimpossibletohelpgettinggreatgoodfromit,forthesesummerweeks,ifwellspent,workmiraclesintiredbodiesandsouls.Franktookafancytothebicycleboy,and,beingabletohireoneofthebreakneckarticles,soonlearnedtorideitandthetwomightbeseenwildlyworkingtheirlonglegsoncertainsmoothstretchesofr