"No," said Jack, frowning, "it isn't the mosquitoes, it's only I don't like to have you talk about being things when you grow up."
"Why not?" inquired Betty in astonishment.
"Because if I'm an artist I can take care of you and mother. I want you just to be ladies."
"Well, mother's a lady, isn't she? and she works; and Lulu's aunt writes books."
Jack looked puzzled.
"I don't know quite how to say it," he said slowly, "but I want you to be the kind of ladies that mother was when she lived in England; the kind that live in castles, and have parks and things. They never work, do they?"
Both little girls laughed, and Betty said practically:
"I guess even queens work sometimes, but I know what you mean, Jack, only I think I'd like to be a housekeeper better."
"Here comes Lulu," exclaimed Winifred, rising to meet her friend, who came hurrying along the sand from the direction of her own home. "I've brought some ginger-snaps," announced Lulu, when she had greeted the others, and seated herself beside Betty on the bathing house steps. "I thought we might be hungry before luncheon time. I could have come before, but I was very busy writing my story. Is yours done yet, Winifred?"
"No," said Winifred, blushing; "I don't think I can write stories very well. When I get the ink and paper, and everything ready, I never can think of anything to say."