In the morning they camped round the boat on the stones with books , gay work , and merry chatter , till bathing-time . Then the beach was full of life and fun , for every one looked so droll in the flannel suits , it was hard to believe that the neat ladies and respectable gentlemen who went into the little houses could be the same persons as the queer , short-skirted women with old hats tied down , and bareheaded , barefooted men in old suits , who came skipping over the sand to disport themselves in the sea in the most undignified ways . The boys raced about , looking like circus-tumblers , and the babies were regular little cupids , running away from the waves that tried to kiss their flying feet . Some of the young ladies and girls were famous swimmers , and looked very pretty in their bright red and blue costumes , with loose hair and gay stockings , as they danced into the water and floated away as fearlessly as real mermaidens . Jill had her quiet dip and good rubbing each fine day , and then lay upon the warm sand watching the pranks of the others , and longing to run and dive and shout and tumble with the rest . Now that she was among the well and active , it seemed harder to be patient than when shut up and unable to stir . She felt so much better , and had so little pain to remind her of past troubles , it was almost impossible to help forgetting the poor back and letting her recovered spirits run away with her . If Mrs. Minot had not kept good watch , she would have been off more than once , so eager was she to be `` like other girls '' again , so difficult was it to keep the restless feet quietly folded among the red cushions . One day she did yield to temptation , and took a little voyage which might have been her last , owing to the carelessness of those whom she trusted . It was a good lesson , and made her as meek as a lamb during the rest of her stay . Mrs. Minot drove to Gloucester one afternoon , leaving Jill safely established after her nap in the boat , with Gerty and Mamie making lace beside her . `` Do n't try to walk or run about , my dear . Sit on the piazza if you get tired of this , and amuse yourself quietly till I come back . I 'll not forget the worsted and the canvas , '' said Mamma , peeping over the bank for a last word as she waited for the omnibus to come along . `` Oh , do n't forget the Gibraltars ! '' cried Jill , popping her head out of the green roof . `` Nor the bananas , please ! '' added Gerty , looking round one end . `` Nor the pink and blue ribbon to tie our shell-baskets , '' called Mamie , nearly tumbling into the aquarium at the other end . Mrs. Minot laughed , and promised , and rumbled away , leaving Jill to an experience which she never forgot .
For half an hour the little girls worked busily , then the boys came for Gerty and XXXXX to go to the Chasm with a party of friends who were to leave next day .
Gerty Gibraltars Jill Mamie Minot aquarium bathing-time circus-tumblers day mermaidens