"That's what you always say, Hetty. But I'm not sure that I want to dance country dances. I would rather go out walking on the common with the rest."
"That will be a pleasant day, little Flo. Now, good-bye. I shall be back in time to help you down the path, Hetty, so you may wait for me if the day does not change; and I don't think it will do that."
"I wonder is it always fine here?" said Flo, as she watched her father going up the steep path.
"Oh, no, Miss Flo! They have their share of rain and storm, no doubt. Don't you remember the old fisherman, who told you how his boat was lost, and his grandson was—"
"Don't, Hetty! Oh, I dreamed of it! Do let me forget it. I hope it will be fine all the time we're here. The sea is so nice. Does not that long bright streak look as if we could walk on it? I want to think of it like this always."
"So we will, Miss Flo. I don't suppose there are any storms in the summer."
With such conversation, Hetty working all the time, they passed the morning. Then Flo had some biscuits and milk, and Zelica, having had her share of milk, got back into her snug basket, and went fast asleep. Hetty began to read "Whiter than Snow," which I think she must have known of by heart. And Flo listened until the murmur of the sea mingled with the well-known words, and Hetty's voice sounded far-off and indistinct. After that, Flo was asleep.
Hetty covered her more completely, and then stitched away at the brown holland pinafore she was making. Presently a shrimp-girl, whose acquaintance she had made on the beach, came up the path with a sackful of these little creatures on her back. Hetty threw down her work and went out to talk to her. The girl was glad to rest, and to have a chat, and Flo slept peacefully, so that it did not matter.
"Well, I must be going," said the girl at last. "I have eight miles to walk to sell my shrimps to-day. Such a take as we had! And Joe Mallard gave up fishing early, and went and sold all his in the village; so no one would look at mine. Here, miss, I'll give you some if you have anything to put them in."
Hetty produced the paper bag in which Flo's biscuits had been packed, and the shrimp-girl filled it generously.