At last grandmamma said, ‘Now you have been very good children; run upstairs, and ask Mary to dress you.’
Alice and Beatrice ran upstairs; and whilst Mary was taking out their hats and jackets, they both sat down on the carpet and pulled off their shoes, and put on their thick boots, and stood very quiet when Mary buttoned their little white jackets and tied on their hats.
‘I will put your cloaks with your grandmamma’s,’ said Mary, ‘because it will be cold when you come back.’
‘Cold!’ cried Alice, ‘this hot day. Oh, Mary, we cannot want our cloaks!’
‘On the sea it is often cold, Miss Alice; and it may be late when you return,’ added Mary.
The three cloaks were put together, and the children were glad to see that Mary was to come with them in the boat.
When they came to the shore, there was John Bartlett waiting for them, and a very nice large boat, half on the sand and half in the water, and there was another sailor there, and a little boy.
Little Beatrice said, ‘Grandmamma, that is Jack; I know Jack, he brings us nice shrimps for our tea; don’t you Jack?’ and the boy smiled. ‘I am so glad that Jack is going with us.’
The sea was very smooth, and the tide was neither high nor low, and there were no waves.
The children were lifted into the boat, after grandmamma and Mary had walked along a sloping plank into it, and had seated themselves at the end, where there were cushions, and Alice and Beatrice sat on the cushions on each side of their grandmamma.