Good-mornings were exchanged when they had finished their piece, then Croly said, “Now, Miss Mary, let us have ‘My days are gliding swiftly by.’ It is a great favorite with me, particularly the chorus:
“‘For oh, we stand on Jordan’s strand,
Our friends are passing over,
And, just before, the shining shore
We may almost discover.’”
Mary at once complied with the request, and they were singing the last verse when two young men, strangers to the family, came up into the porch asking for Croly.
“Ah,” said he, “I quite forgot my errand. Those are some strangers visiting at my uncle’s house, and I have promised to go in bathing with them—so called to ask my friends Harold and Herbert to go in with us.”
“I really don’t think they can to-day,” said Calhoun, and went on to explain how they had planned to spend the next few hours.
“Ah, then I must just go on with the others,” returned Croly. “Good-morning to you all,” and with the words he hurried out, joined the two strangers; the three went over to the bath houses, not very far away, and were presently seen coming out of them in bathing-suits and going down among the waves.
A few moments later those who had gone in search of horses and carriage returned bringing a full supply. Those expecting to go had crowded on the porch, all in good spirits, laughing and chatting, the younger ones especially full of mirth and gayety, when suddenly a cry of fright and distress came from the sea. “Help! help! he’s drowning! Oh, help! help! save him!”