Milly's face crimsoned with pleasure, while her poor little heart fluttered and beat fast with love to everybody.
"It's a beautiful world to live in," she said to herself, running to bring her uncle's daily paper from the door, "and God is just as good to me as he can be."
During the forenoon, Mrs. Ward, a relative of Mrs. Morgan, called to see grandma, who was a kind of aunt to her.
"We have been anticipating a visit to the beach for a long time," she said, when she heard of the contemplated drive. "I'll go directly to my husband's office, and ask him to go this afternoon. Why can't we have a fish chowder on the beach?"
"We can. I'll go at once, and tell cook to pack whatever will be necessary."
"I'll carry a hamper of crackers, cake and coffee, with milk for the children. Ernest will be crazy with delight, when I tell him. We'll meet at Ruggles street, where we turn off for the beach. Whoever gets there first will wait for the other. By the way, I'll send over directly, if William can't go; but I hope he can. Good-by, till afternoon."
Everything turned out in the most satisfactory manner. Mr. Ward declared himself delighted with the project, said it was just the day for the shore and for chowder. The hampers were packed, not forgetting a great iron pot and the potato-cutter. On reaching Ruggles street, Mr. Morgan saw Mr. Ward looking out of a carriage which contained his wife, his sister, and his three children.
Mr. Ward called out as he turned his horses out of the street, "We've only been here five minutes. All right. Drive on."
When, after a delightful ride, the party came in sight of the ocean, with the foamy billows, rolling up, and breaking on the sand, Milly could not restrain her delight. She laughed and clapped her hands exclaiming:
"I love you, good old ocean!"