And Isabella was not an entertaining companion . Rachel never particularly enjoyed an outing with her mother . The children wandered far along the shore ; at last they came to a place that Rachel had never seen before . It was a shallow cove where the waters purred on the yellow sands . Beyond it , the sea was laughing and flashing and preening and alluring , like a beautiful , coquettish woman . Outside , the wind was boisterous and rollicking ; here , it was reverent and gentle . A white boat was hauled up on the skids , and there was a queer little house close down to the sands , like a big shell tossed up by the waves . Rachel looked on it all with secret delight ; she , too , loved the lonely places of sea and shore , as her father had done . She wanted to linger awhile in this dear spot and revel in it . `` I 'm tired , girls , '' she announced . `` I 'm going to stay here and rest for a spell . I do n't want to go to Gull Point . You go on yourselves ; I 'll wait for you here . '' `` All alone ? '' asked Carrie Bell , wonderingly . `` I 'm not so afraid of being alone as some people are , '' said Rachel , with dignity . The other girls went on , leaving Rachel sitting on the skids , in the shadow of the big white boat . She sat there for a time dreaming happily , with her blue eyes on the far , pearly horizon , and her golden head leaning against the boat . Suddenly she heard a step behind her . When she turned her head a man was standing beside her , looking down at her with big , merry , blue eyes .
XXXXX was quite sure that she had never seen him before ; yet those eyes seemed to her to have a strangely familiar look .
Bell Isabella Point Rachel children head people queer sands sea