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on an unbending tussock and sat down； panting but savage。 As they
plodded wearily toward her； she bit her red lips； smacked them on her
cruel little white teeth like a festive and sprightly ghoul； and lisped：
〃You DO look so like guys！ For all the world like those English
shopkeepers we met on the Righi； doing the three…guinea excursion in
their Sunday clothes！〃
Certainly the spectacle of these exotically plumed bipeds； whose fine
feathers were already bedrabbled by sand and growing limp in the sea
breeze； was somewhat dissonant with the rudeness of sea and sky and
shore。 A few gulls screamed at them； a loon； startled from the lagoon；
arose shrieking and protesting； with painfully extended legs； in obvious
burlesque of the younger gentleman。 The elder lady felt the justice of her
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gentle daughter's criticism； and retaliated with simple directness：
〃Your skirt is ruined； your hair is coming down； your hat is half off
your head； and your shoesin Heaven's name； Maria！ what HAVE you
done with your shoes？〃
Maria had exhibited a slim stockinged foot from under her skirt。 It was
scarcely three fingers broad； with an arch as patrician as her nose。
〃Somewhere between here and the carriage；〃 she answered； 〃Dick can run
back and find it； while he is looking for your brooch； mamma。 Dick's so
obliging。〃
The robust voice of Dick thundered； but the wasted figure of Dick
feebly ploughed its way back； and returned with the missing buskin。
〃I may as well carry them in my hand like the market girls at Saumur；
for we have got to wade soon；〃 said Miss Maria； sinking her own terrors in
the delightful contemplation of the horror in her parent's face； as she
pointed to a shining film of water slowly deepening in a narrow swale in
the sands between them and the cabin。
〃It's the tide；〃 said the elder gentleman。 〃If we intend to go on we
must hasten； permit me； my dear madam；〃 and before she could reply he
had lifted the astounded matron in his arms； and made gallantly for the
ford。 The gentle Maria cast an ominous eye on her brother； who； with
manifest reluctance； performed for her the same office。 But that acute
young lady kept her eyes upon the preceding figure of the elder gentleman；
and seeing him suddenly and mysteriously disappear to his armpits；
unhesitatingly threw herself from her brother's protecting arms；an action
which instantly precipitated him into the water；and paddled hastily to the
opposite bank； where she eventually assisted in pulling the elderly
gentleman out of the hollow into which he had fallen； and in rescuing her
mother； who floated helplessly on the surface； upheld by her skirts； like a
gigantic and variegated water…lily。 Dick followed with a single gaiter。 In
another minute they were safe on the opposite bank。
The elder lady gave way to tears； Maria laughed hysterically； Dick
mingled a bass oath with the now audible surf； the elder gentleman； whose
florid face the salt water had bleached； and whose dignity seemed to have
been washed away； accounted for both by saying he thought it was a
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quicksand。
〃It might have been；〃 said a quiet voice behind them； 〃you should have
followed the sand dunes half a mile further to the estuary。〃
They turned instantly at the voice。 It was that of the Man on the
Beach。 They all rose to their feet and uttered together； save one； the
single exclamation； 〃James！〃 The elder gentleman said 〃Mr。 North；〃 and；
with a slight resumption of his former dignity； buttoned his coat over his
damp shirt front。
There was a silence； in which the Man on the Beach looked gravely
down upon them。 If they had intended to impress him by any suggestion
of a gay； brilliant； and sensuous world beyond in their own persons； they
had failed； and they knew it。 Keenly alive as they had always been to
external prepossession； they felt that they looked forlorn and ludicrous；
and that the situation lay in his hands。 The elderly lady again burst into
tears of genuine distress； Maria colored over her cheek…bones； and Dick
stared at the ground in sullen disquiet。
〃You had better get up；〃 said the Man on the Beach； after a moment's
thought； 〃and come up to the cabin。 I cannot offer you a change of
garments； but you can dry them by the fire。〃
They all rose together； and again said in chorus； 〃James！〃 but this time
with an evident effort to recall some speech or action previously resolved
upon and committed to memory。 The elder lady got so far as to clasp her
hands and add； 〃You have not forgotten usJames； oh； James！〃； the
younger gentleman to attempt a brusque 〃Why； Jim； old boy；〃 that ended
in querulous incoherence； the young lady to cast a half…searching； half…
coquettish look at him； and the old gentleman to begin； 〃Our desire； Mr。
North〃but the effort was futile。 Mr。 James North； standing before them
with folded arms； looked from the one to the other。
〃I have not thought much of you for a twelvemonth；〃 he said； quietly；
〃but I have not forgotten you。 Come！〃
He led the way a few steps in advance； they following silently。 In
this brief interview they felt he had resumed the old dominance and
independence； against which they had rebelled； more than that； in this half
failure of their first concerted action they had changed their querulous
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bickerings to a sullen distrust of each other； and walked moodily apart as
they followed James North into his house。 A fire blazed brightly on the
hearth； a few extra seats were quickly extemporized from boxes and chests；
and the elder lady； with the skirt of her dress folded over her knees；
looking not unlike an exceedingly overdressed jointed doll；dried her
flounces and her tears together。 Miss Maria took in the scant
appointments of the house in one single glance； and then fixed her eyes
upon James North； who； the least concerned of the party； stood before
them； grave and patiently expectant。
〃Well；〃 began the elder lady in a high key； 〃after all this worry and
trouble you have given us； James； haven't you anything to say？ Do you
knowhave you the least idea what you are doing？ what egregious folly
you are committing？ what everybody is saying？ Eh？ Heavens and
earth！do you know who I am？〃
〃You are my father's brother's widow； Aunt Mary；〃 returned James；
quietly。 〃If I am committing any folly it only concerns myself； if I cared
for what people said I should not be here； if I loved societ