you were not afraid of dear father, as you are. The worst of it is that

he is never here now for as much as two days together. And then he is so

glad to see us that he cannot attend to our discipline or take notice of

our dresses."

"Ha! you have inspired me!" exclaimed Dolly, who rejoiced in teasing

Faith. "The suggestion is yours, and I will act upon it. From the

village of Brighthelmstone, which is growing very fine, I will

procure upon the strictest credit a new Classic dress, with all tackle

complete--as dear father so well expresses it--and then I will promenade

me on the beach, with Charles in best livery and a big stick behind me.

How then will Springhaven rejoice, and every one that hath eyes clap a

spy-glass to them! And what will old Twemlow say, and that frump of

an Eliza, who condescends to give me little hints sometimes about

tightening up SO, perhaps, and letting out so, and permitting a little

air to come in HERE--"

"Do be off, you wicked little animal!" cried Faith, who in spite of

herself could not help laughing, so well was Dolly mimicking Eliza

Twemlow's voice, and manner, and attitude, and even her figure, less

fitted by nature for the Classic attire; "you are wasting all my time,

and doing worse with your own. Be off, or I'll take a stick to 'e, as

old Daddy Stakes says to the boys."

Taking advantage of this state of things, the younger Miss Darling set

forth by herself to dwell upon the beauty of the calm May sea, and her

own pretty figure glassed in tidal pools. She knew that she would show

to the utmost of her gifts, with her bright complexion softly gleaming

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