“My dear,” said the old inhabitant, “don’t be frightened. It’s really nothing at all. We who live here don’t mind it in the least.” She patted Mrs. Vernon’s beautiful cheek as she continued: “Why, my little Peggy sees nothing in them. The last time we had an earthquake shock Peggy said that the earth was trying to do the shimmy.”
“Oh,” said Mrs. Vernon, “I’m feeling so ill! Let me lean on you, dear. I feel as though I should faint.”
The sympathetic right arm of Mrs. Sansone wound itself about the other’s waist.
“Many strangers are so affected,” she said. “But really there’s nothing to fear. God is here with us right now.”
Mrs. Barbara Vernon unobtrusively made the sign of the cross.
“Thank you,” she said. “My fear is gone; but I feel sick, sick.”
“Lean on my arm, Mrs. Vernon. I will bring you to our Pullman, where you can lie down and rest quietly.”
“But the children!” objected Barbara.
“Leave that to me. At the worst, Peggy knows the way, and she is really a very punctual little girl.”
They had walked but a few paces, when an automobile, moving along the sands, came abreast of them and stopped. The driver, its sole occupant, leaned out.