Part 17 (2/2)

Mollie took the hint and scrambled hurriedly to her feet

”I think so,” she said, then as her eyes swiftly took in the situation--the grietting ahead of theine

”All right,” she cried gayly ”Coirls jumped in with alacrity and Betty and Grace ran to the car in front Then while the man whipped up his horses and called to the forward and were off down the road

They turned once, to find thehis fist after the ”gasoline wagons” The girls waved to hiht

”I guess that will teach hi back coreed Betty absently, adding with a rueful little sreat fun, of course, but I hope we shan't et to Bluff Point”

”We're almost there now,” said Grace ”All this part of the country is almost as familiar to me as Deepdale When I was a little kiddie, I used almost to live with Aunt Mary”

”It's wonderful how little children love the woods and brooks and all wild things,”in the , caht the tith us They would have so loved it”

”And ould have spent all our ti into the ocean,” added Grace dryly ”Besides,” she added, ”I don't believe Mrs Billette would have let them come They are such littlewill happen to thereed Betty thoughtfully; ”especially when Mollie is away”

After a fewthe Little Captain jump

”Betty,” cried the former excitedly, ”we're almost there Just around that curve--”

”Well, you needn't scareone hand from the wheel to rub the arm Grace had clutched

”But I love it so,” Grace cried, standing up only to be jerked back into her seat as Betty swung round the curve ”It's such a wonderful place!”

”Is that it up on the hill?”

”Yes,” answered Grace, standing up in earnest now ”Turn up the drive--it leads to the garage at the back And, Betty, the house stands on a little bluff looking out over the ocean Do you hear it--the ocean I mean, not the house, Silly!”

The road that they had traveled from Deepdale to Bluff Point had led across country, Deepdale being in the interior, so that the girls had scarcely realized how close they were co to the coast

Now, as Betty stopped the car at the back of the quaint little cottage, that sound of ro of water with the deeper undertone of waves against rock came up to her and she threw back her head with a little bubbling laugh

”I don't wonder you love it, Gracie dear,” she said ”I do already It's glorious”

They ju like an old rade

”The ocean! The ocean!” cried Betty ecstatically, as she opened the doors and the girls tuirls, hurry up, I can't wait to feel it!”