This was well, as the sun was already setting when they reached
the beach.
"If this wagon were not so shaky," said Mrs. Peterkin "we might
drive over every morning for our bath. The road is very straight,
and I suppose Agamemnon can turn on the beach."
"We should have to spend the whole day about it," said Solomon
John, in a discouraged tone, "unless we can have a quicker horse."
"Perhaps we should prefer that," said Elizabeth Eliza, a little
gloomily, "to staying at the house."
She had been a little disturbed to find there were not more elegant
and fashionable-looking boarders at the farm, and she was
disappointed that the Sylvesters had not arrived, who would
understand the ways of the place. Yet, again, she was somewhat
relieved, for if their trunks did not come till the next day, as was
feared, she should have nothing but her travelling dress to wear,
which would certainly answer for to-night.
She had been busy all the early summer in preparing her dresses
for this very watering-place, and, as far as appeared, she would
hardly need them, and was disappointed to have no chance to
display them. But of course, when the Sylvesters and Ann Maria
came, all would be different; but they would surely be wasted on
the two old ladies she had seen, and on the old men who had
lounged about the porch; there surely was not a gentleman among
them.
Agamemnon assured her she could not tell at the seaside, as
gentlemen wore their exercise dress, and took a pride in going
around in shocking hats and flannel suits.
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