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new suit。 I'm not a bit tired； and I do want to be like other folks
right off；〃 said Jill； who had been improving rapidly of late； and
felt much elated at being able to drive out nearly every day； to
walk a little； and sit up some hours without any pain or fatigue。
To gratify her； the blue flannel suit with its white trimming was
put on； and Mamma was just buttoning the stout boots when Jack
thundered at the door； and burst in with all sorts of glorious news。
〃Do come out； mother； it's perfectly splendid on the beach！ I've
found a nice place for Jill to sit； and it's only a step。 Lots of capital
fellows here； one has a bicycle； and is going to teach us to ride。 No
end of fun up at the hotel； and everyone seems glad to see us。 Two
ladies asked about Jill； and one of the girls has got some shells all
ready for her； Gerty Somebody； and her mother is so pretty and
jolly； I like her ever so much。 They sit at our table； and Wally is
the boy； younger than I am； but very pleasant。 Bacon is the fellow
in knickerbockers； just wish you could see what stout legs he's got！
Cox is the chap for me； though： we are going fishing to…morrow。
He's got a sweet…looking mother； and a sister for you； Jill。 Now；
then； do come on； I'll take the traps。〃
Off they went； and Jill thought that very short walk to the shore the
most delightful she ever took； for people smiled at the little invalid
as she went slowly by leaning on Mrs。 Minot's arm； while Jack
pranced in front； doing the honors； as if he owned the whole
Atlantic。 A new world opened to her eyes as they came out upon
the pebbly beach full of people enjoying their afternoon
promenade。 Jill save one rapturous Oh。 and then sat on her stool；
forgetting everything but the beautiful blue ocean rolling away to
meet the sky； with nothing to break the wide expanse but a sail
here and there； a point of rocks on one hand； the little pier on the
other； and white gulls skimming by on their wide wings。
While she sat enjoying herself； Jack showed his mother the place
he had found； and a very nice one it was。 Just under the green bank
lay an old boat propped up with some big stones。 A willow
drooped over it； the tide rippled up within a few yards of it； and a
fine view of the waves could be seen as they'd ashed over the
rocks at the point。
〃Isn't it a good cubby…house？ Ben Cox and I fixed it for Jill； and
she can have it for hers。 Put her cushions and things there on the
sand the children have thrown inthat will make it soft； then these
seats will do for tables； and up in the bow I'm going to have that
old rusty tin boiler full of salt…water； so she can put seaweed and
crabs and all sorts 0c chaps in h for an aquatium； you know；〃
explained Jack； greatly interested in establishing his family
comfortably before he left them。
〃There couldn't be a nicer place； and it is very kind of you to get it
ready。 Spread the shawls and settle Jill； then you needn't think of
us any more； but go and scramble with Frank。 I see him over there
with his spy…glass and some pleasant…looking boys；〃 said Mamma；
bustling about in great spirits。
So the red cushions were placed； the plaids laid； and the little
work…basket set upon the seat； all ready for Jill； who was charmed
with her nest； and cuddled down under the big parasol； declaring
she would keep house there every day。
Even the old boiler pleased her； and Jack raced over the beach to
begin his search for inhabitants for the new aquarium； leaving Jill
to make friends with some pretty babies digging in the sand； while
Mamma sat on the camp…stool and talked with a friend from
Harmony Village。
It seemed as if there could not be anything more delightful than to
lie there lulled by the sound of the sea； watching the sunset and
listening to the pleasant babble of little voices close by。 But when
thcy went to tea in the great hall； with six tables full of merry
people； and half a dozen maids flying about； Jill thought that was
even better； because it was so new to her。 Gerty and Wally nodded
to her； and their pretty mamma was so kind and so gay； rhat Jill
could not feel bashful after the first few minutes； and soon looked
about her； sure of seeing friendly faces everywhere。 Frank and Jack
ate as if the salt air bad already improved their appetites； arid
talked about Bacon and Cox as if they had been bosom friends for
years。 Mamma was as happy as they for her friend； Mrs。
Hammond； sat close by； and this rosy lady； who had been a
physician； cheered her up by predicting that Jill would soon be
running about as well as ever。
But the best of all was in the evening； when the elder people
gathered in the parlors and played Twenty Questions； while the
children looked on for an hour before going to bed； much amused
at the sight of grown people laughing； squabbling； dodging； and
joking as if they had all become young again； for； as everyone
knows； it is impossible to help lively skirmishes when that game is
played。 Jill lay in the sofa corner enjoying it all immensely； for she
never saw anything so droll； and found it capital fun to help guess
the thing； or try to puzzle the opposite side。 Her quick wits and
bright face attracted people； and in the pauses of the sport she held
quite a levee； for everybody was interested in the little invalid。 The
girls shyly made friends in their own way； the mammas told
thrilling tales of the accidents their darlings had survived； several
gentlemen kindly offered their boats； and the boys； with the best
intentions in life； suggested strolls of two or three miles to Rafe's
Chasm and Norman's Woe； or invited her to tennis and archery； as
if violent exercise was the cure for all human ills。 She was very
grateful； and reluctantly went away to bed； declaring； when she got
upstairs； that these new friends were the dearest people she ever
met； and the Willows the most delightful place in the whole world。
Next day a new life began for the young folksa very healthy；
happy life； and all threw themselves into it so heartily； that it was
impossible to help getting great good from it； for these summer
weeks； if well spent； work miracles in tired bodies and souls。
Frank took a fancy to the bicycle boy； and； being able to hire one
of the breakneck articles； soon learned to ride it； and the two might
be seen wildly working their long legs on certain smooth stretches
of road； or getting up their muscle rowing about the bay till they
were almost as brown and nautical in appearance and language as
the fishermen who lived in nooks and corners along the shore。
Jack struck up a great friendship with the sturdy Bacon and the
agreeable Cox： the latter； being about his own age； was his
especial favorite； and they soon were called Box and Cox by the
other fellows； which did not annoy them a bit； as both had played
parts in that immortal farce。 They had capital times fishing；
scrambling over the rocks； playing ball and tennis；