Bacon is the fellow in knickerbockers ; just wish you could see what stout legs he 's got ! Cox is the chap for me , though : we are going fishing to-morrow . He 's got a sweet-looking mother , and a sister for you , Jill . Now , then , do come on , I 'll take the traps . '' Off they went , and Jill thought that very short walk to the shore the most delightful she ever took ; for people smiled at the little invalid as she went slowly by leaning on Mrs. Minot 's arm , while Jack pranced in front , doing the honors , as if he owned the whole Atlantic . A new world opened to her eyes as they came out upon the pebbly beach full of people enjoying their afternoon promenade . Jill save one rapturous `` Oh ! '' and then sat on her stool , forgetting everything but the beautiful blue ocean rolling away to meet the sky , with nothing to break the wide expanse but a sail here and there , a point of rocks on one hand , the little pier on the other , and white gulls skimming by on their wide wings . While she sat enjoying herself , Jack showed his mother the place he had found , and a very nice one it was . Just under the green bank lay an old boat propped up with some big stones . A willow drooped over it , the tide rippled up within a few yards of it , and a fine view of the waves could be seen as they dashed over the rocks at the point . `` Is n't it a good cubby-house ? Ben Cox and I fixed it for Jill , and she can have it for hers . Put her cushions and things there on the sand the children have thrown in -- that will make it soft ; then these seats will do for tables ; and up in the bow I 'm going to have that old rusty tin boiler full of salt-water , so she can put seaweed and crabs and all sorts of chaps in it for an aquarium , you know , '' explained Jack , greatly interested in establishing his family comfortably before he left them . `` There could n't be a nicer place , and it is very kind of you to get it ready . Spread the shawls and settle Jill , then you need n't think of us any more , but go and scramble with Frank . I see him over there with his spy-glass and some pleasant-looking boys , '' said Mamma , bustling about in great spirits . So the red cushions were placed , the plaids laid , and the little work-basket set upon the seat , all ready for Jill , who was charmed with her nest , and cuddled down under the big parasol , declaring she would keep house there every day . Even the old boiler pleased her , and Jack raced over the beach to begin his search for inhabitants for the new aquarium , leaving Jill to make friends with some pretty babies digging in the sand , while Mamma sat on the camp-stool and talked with a friend from Harmony Village . It seemed as if there could not be anything more delightful than to lie there lulled by the sound of the sea , watching the sunset and listening to the pleasant babble of little voices close by .
But when they XXXXX to tea in the great hall , with six tables full of merry people , and half a dozen maids flying about , Jill thought that was even better , because it was so new to her .
go keep leaning opened owned pleased smiled thought watching went