FOUR PEOPLE AND THE HALL OF SHELLS. 



" Old Neptune's napping ! " said Tom, as he 

 watched the waves that played as lightly as a 

 baby's fingers with the sands upon the shore. 



Far out, the sea was blue as bluest ame- 

 thyst; slowly circling toward the land the 

 waves grew green and opaline; their jewels 

 flashed a moment in the sun and were drawn 

 back again into the sea. 



Miss Bremely, to whom Tom had spoken, 

 seemed under the same spell as the ocean ; her 

 eyes held in their blue depths a dreamy look 

 of peace ; the sunshine touched her hair to 

 gold, gave a glint of richness to brow and 

 cheek, and fell in light caress upon her folded 

 hands. 



She answered Tom with a smile, then rous- 

 ing from her reverie, she said, "Our ocean is 

 for the nonce living up to Magellan's good 

 opinions and to the name the old navigator 

 gave it so long ago." 



