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38 "It was not very good, but it was all I brought, except my town hat," said Joan rather dismally.

"You don't have to wear any," said Garth; "but if you really need one, Fogger can give you lots of old duck ones. They stick better."

"I don't think that I can read here; it's too windy," said Joan, as she shut the book and stood up. Garth scrambled up, too.

"Then you can come fishing!" he said. "I've another line in my trousers' pocket for you. The bait's down there. Please come, Joan!"

He slid his hand into hers. He had to abandon it the next moment to manage a crutch, but she followed him idly.

"I'm not allowed out here alone," he remarked, looking back at her over his shoulder and stumbling on a crack in the rock; "but I thought it was all right as long as you were here."

"Please be careful!" cried Joan, feeling suddenly a great responsibility. If the child fell and hurt himself, or tumbled into the sea, it would certainly be the fault of the grown-up person in charge.

"I fell in once," said Garth, "when I was