"I had thought of Molly Ball," Carolyn's mother said. "After all, I believe I should be just as contented there; and I am sure Mr. Cameron would not mind." "The Balls are very kind people," remarked the clerk. "I agree with you. Do you suppose Molly would take us?" "Why don't you go over at once and ask her? Somebody may get ahead of you. My wife would be delighted to have you and your little girl for company. I am very sorry this has happened. It is going to bother Mrs. Bassett greatly, I fear, when she learns of it. She--she does not get along as well as I hoped, Mrs. Cameron." "I am sorry for that," Carolyn's mother returned. "Let us hope for improvement." Bassett was greatly disturbed, Mrs. Cameron could see, by the catastrophe. As he had said, it seemed that he was playing in very hard luck. Scarcely was he settled in his position as clerk of the hotel when he was again out of work. "Old Mr. Trouble seems camping close on my trail, Ben," he said to his friend whimsically. "I am a Jonah." Carolyn's mother prepared their possessions for removal and then engaged Tommy Trivett (Captain Littlefield being busy) to drive her and Carolyn and Prince over to the West Side. They reached the Ball place before noon, bringing the first news of the hotel fire. "And can you take us poor, burned-out people in, Molly Ball?" asked Carolyn's mother. "Carolyn and me--to say nothing of the dog?" "My soul and body!" ejaculated the capable island girl, "I'll take you in, Miz Cameron, and do for you as best I can. But this ain't no St. Regicide like you New York people are used to." "But, Molly," laughed Carolyn's mother, "do you know, I never was in the St. Regis? I promise not to compare your accommodations to their disparagement even with those of the Truefelt House." So an agreement was made, and the Camerons were established in two of those very delightful old-fashioned rooms overlooking the sea at the back of the cottage, out of the windows of which Carolyn had suggested they might jump for a bath. But the Ball cottage was not quite so near the edge of the bank as that implied. The unfenced brink of the fifty foot precipice, however, was only a few yards away. Along its ragged verge ran a hard path, deeply worn by many feet. To the south was the West Side life saving station. The surfmen followed this beaten path to the breach of the Great Salt Pond where there was a key-box on a post. They could shout across the strait there to the patrol from the new life saving station near Sands Point. In the other direction they met the Old Harbour patrol at a point on the South Side. But Carolyn thought little of these coast guards just now. She was running about getting more thoroughly acquainted than heretofore with the immediate vicinity of the Ball cottage.