“Let’s all go in,” proposed Elise, “and then, if it is too chilly, we can turn around and come right out again.”
This plan suited, and the girls ran away for their bathing suits.
Patty’s was white, trimmed with light blue, and was exceedingly becoming. Her gold curls were tied up in a light-blue silk handkerchief, from which a few ringlets persisted in escaping, though she kept tucking them back.
“Let them hang down, Patty,” said Roger; “the salt water won’t take the curl out!”
“No,” said Patty, laughing, “it makes it curl tighter than ever!”
“I envy you that,” said Christine. “I always wanted curly hair.”
“You needn’t,” said Patty. “Your soft, sleek bands are much better suited to your face than my corkscrews would be.”
Mr. Hepworth laughed at this, for Patty’s curls when wet turned into veritable corkscrews, which hung from her temples like those of an old-fashioned belle.
Christine’s rather plain bathing suit was of navy blue, trimmed with white braid, but Elise was gorgeous in a suit of scarlet and black, with her hair tied up in a red bandanna.
Nan’s suit was entirely of black, and was both pretty and becoming; and, as Mr. Van Reypen surveyed the group, he said: “Well, you are a bunch of naiads! You look like one of Sorolla’s pictures, except that we haven’t any of his pumpkin-coloured light and purply-green shadows.”