The Cove , so-called , was a little fishing hamlet situated on the low , sandy shore of a small bay . The houses , clustered in one spot , seemed like nothing so much as larger shells washed up by the sea , so grey and bleached were they from long exposure to sea winds and spray . Dozens of ragged children were playing about them , mingled with several disreputable yellow curs that yapped noisily at the strangers . Down on the sandy strip of beach below the houses groups of men were lounging about . The mackerel , season had not yet set in ; the spring herring netting was past . It was holiday time among the sea folks . They were enjoying it to the full , a happy , ragged colony , careless of what the morrows might bring forth . Out beyond , the boats were at anchor , floating as gracefully on the twinkling water as sea birds , their tall masts bowing landward on the swell . A lazy , dreamful calm had fallen over the distant seas ; the horizon blues were pale and dim ; faint purple hazes blurred the outlines of far-off headlands and cliffs ; the yellow sands sparkled in the sunshine as if powdered with jewels . A murmurous babble of life buzzed about the hamlet , pierced through by the shrill undertones of the wrangling children , most of whom had paused in their play to scan the visitors with covert curiosity . Marian led the way to a house apart from the others at the very edge of the shelving rock . The dooryard was scrupulously clean and unlittered ; the little footpath through it was neatly bordered by white clam shells ; several thrifty geraniums in bloom looked out from the muslin-curtained windows . A weary-faced woman came forward to meet them . `` Bessie 's much the same , Miss Lesley , '' she said , in answer to Marian 's inquiry . `` The doctor you sent was here today and did all he could for her . He seemed quite hopeful . She do n't complain or nothing -- just lies there and moans . Sometimes she gets restless . It 's very kind of you to come so often , Miss Lesley . Here , Magdalen , will you put this basket the lady 's brought up there on the shelf ? ''
A girl , who had been sitting unnoticed with her back to the visitors , at the head of the child 's cot in one corner XXXXX the room , stood up and slowly turned around .
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