"I can't," said Ada; "for I shall dislike it extremely."
"We shall see," answered her brother patiently; "meanwhile, Ada, think of our text, dear, and try not to say anything to discourage the others. And then we must pray."
"Pray?" said Arthur.
"For God's blessing on what we do; for His help to get the children together; for His Holy Spirit to send the arrow to the dear little hearts. When we get to the beach, I will set you all to work. I have brought some hymn sheets with me."
Nellie felt the responsibility great of being considered "able to sing," And as they all with beating hearts walked down to the shore, she said to her brother, "I am afraid you count on me too much. I can start the tune, or I will try to, but my voice is not very loud, and if the children do not catch it up, I am afraid—"
"Don't be afraid," said Walter; "it will be sure to be all right, and someone will be there, I daresay, who will help. Think of our text."
Nellie smiled, reassured, and they soon reached the beach, where Walter set the children to work to make a circle on the sand. Tom's little carriage was wheeled into one side of it, and while the children were diligently digging a trench round the circle, Walter took a cane and wrote on the smooth sand in the centre what he called "their text."
When this was done, he began inviting a few children who stood near to help them. "We are going to have a little service," he said, "only lasting half an hour, and we want you to come and sing a few hymns; will you?"
Some of the children stared; others turned away; but one or two, who had seen the same sort of thing at other places, joined very heartily, and the circle was soon made, and some of the children began seating themselves with their feet in the trench.
Mrs. Arundel had her camp stool close to little Tom, and she too would be able to help the singing.