"I'm so frightened again!" she said; "and I can't help it. The sea! What does it mean?"
"What do you mean, Mattie?" returned Lucy, smiling.
"Well, it's roaring at me, and coming nearer and nearer, as if it wanted to swallow me up. I don't like it."
"You must not be afraid of it. God made it, you know."
"Why does he let it roar at me, then?"
"I don't know. Perhaps to teach you not to be afraid."
Mattie said no more, stood a little while by Lucy, and then scrambled back to her former place.
The next day, they managed with some difficulty to get up on the East Hill; Mattie was very easily worn out, especially with climbing. She gazed at the sea below her, the sky over her head, the smooth grass under her feet, and gave one of her great sighs. Then she looked troubled.
"I feel as if I hadn't any clothes on," she said.