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96 "Most bracing and refreshing," Aunt Cathie had said decisively as she put on her stockings again; "it has done me a world of good, Elizabeth, and I shall paddle every day while we are here. Fancy never having thought of it all these years! What a waste!"

"Then don't blame me if you are a cripple all the winter," said Elizabeth.

Aunt Cathie strained her eyes seaward.

"I will not," she said. "Dear me, I wish Lucia would not swim so far out. There may be currents, and I am told there are some dreadfully deep holes about. But she won't hear if I do call. I shall go up to the house, Elizabeth, and bring down letters and papers. Shall I bring yours?"

"I should sit in the shade of the tent and rest, if I were you," said Elizabeth. "You will send the blood to your head, walking in the sun after paddling, so don't say afterwards that I didn't warn you. It seems to me that all we get out of the tent, which was a great extravagance, is to be permitted to sit outside in the shade of it, as Lucia or her clothes always occupy the interior."

"For one hour a day?" said Cathie; "you can sit in it and welcome for the other twenty-three. Then I shall bring your letters, shall I?"

"No, pray do not touch them," said Elizabeth; "as like as not you will drop them, carrying them about. I warn you about your head, Cathie."

So Cathie went off, and soon Lucia came out from the sea, bare-legged and bare-armed, with her bathing-dress clinging close to her slim figure, and sat down dripping by Aunt Elizabeth, who instantly closed her eyes.

"Lucia, I beg you to go into the tent at once," she said. "There was a man passed ten minutes ago, and it is likely that he'll soon be back. Though I have no doubt that it is thought quite proper now for a girl to show more arms and legs than I should like to specify, your bathing-dress, being wet, clings very closely."

Lucia looked round.

"There is neither man, woman, nor child for miles, dear," she said, "and sitting in the sun after bathing is about the nicest part of it all. I only wish I could take my bathing-dress off. Then it would not cling so closely."

Aunt Elizabeth gave a faint scream, then recovered her nerve.