Janie hopped about like a young robin, as she heard the delightful blast from the trumpet, which was always associated with their good times. She rushed to the window and saw, drawing up in front, two omnibuses, one filled with the various mothers, the other with the little girls and their dollies. But what was this procession which followed?
“Oh, mamma! it’s all the dolls from the doll-house, and each has on a tiny gossamer. How funny they look!” And so they did, each carrying an umbrella and paddling through the water. Mamma, Janie and Dollie followed them, and all jumped in the omnibuses, closed the doors with a bang, and away they went.
It was snug and cozy inside. The rain pattered on the roof and played a steady accompaniment to the chatter of this jolly little crowd, which looked so odd, hooded and cloaked in black, like so many nuns. The little mammas cast many admiring glances at their dolls, for they had always longed for them to have these wee rainy-day garments.
“Isn’t it the greatest fun?” they cried. “I’m so glad it rained; it’s much nicer to be shut in here and listen to it,” and they hugged one another in their delight.
They had a merry ride. The Queen told some delightful stories, which were so interesting that when the sun broke through the clouds they never noticed it; till, the last story being finished, they all shouted in one breath:
“Look at the sun!”
And now they found they were nearing the beach. They could hear the ocean roaring, and could see the waves creeping up and rolling over with that great swish, which once heard is never forgotten, and is sweetest music to lovers of the sea.
The ’buses stopped, then all tumbled out and made a mad rush for the water. Oh, the beauty of it all! How sweet the air was! Who can breathe that delightful, salty odor and not love it? They played in the sand and gathered shells until eleven o’clock, when the air was warmer, and mamma said they might put on their bathing suits.