The captain relented and drew out of his pocket a handful of what seemed to be either oyster or mussel shells. "You've brought some oysters for our luncheon, haven't you?" guessed Eleanor. "You must stay and eat them with us." Captain Jules chuckled. "Oysters are out of season, child, and these are never good to eat." But Madge had clapped her hands together suddenly, her eyes shining. "You have been down to the bottom of the bay, haven't you, Captain Jules? And you've found some pearls!" Captain Jules shook his head. "I wouldn't call them pearls, exactly. They're too little and too poor. But come, now; maybe they are seed pearls. I went down under the water with the men who were looking over the oyster beds yesterday. Pearl oysters are not found in beds, like the edible oysters, so I wandered around on the bottom of the bay a bit and picked up these." The captain extended his great hand. Five pairs of eager eyes peered into it. There lay four nearly round, thick shells, horny and rough with tiny little pearls embedded in them. "'Pearls are angel's tears'," quoted Phil softly. Captain Jules seemed worried. "I searched about everywhere in the bay, but I could only find these four tiny pearls, and pretty lucky I was to find them!" the sailor continued. "They aren't of much value, but I wanted to give them to five girls, and that's just the difficulty." The captain looked at the houseboat party, which now included Tania, as though he did not know just what he should make up his mind to do. "Let's draw straws for them," suggested Eleanor sensibly. Madge shook her head. "No; Captain Jules is to give them to you and to leave me out. Remember, some stranger gave me a handsome pearl when I graduated. I have never had it mounted." Madge slipped her arm confidingly through the old sea captain's and gazed into his face with her most earnest expression. "Captain Jules is going to do something else for me; he is going down to the bottom of the bay again in his diving suit, and he is going to take me with him." "What a ridiculous idea!" protested Eleanor. "Just as though Captain Jules would think of doing any such thing." Lillian laughed unbelievingly, but Phil's face was serious. "It would be awfully jolly, wouldn't it? There wouldn't be any danger if Captain Jules should take you. Do please take Madge down with you, and then take me," she insisted coaxingly. Captain Jules shook his head, but the little captain observed that he did not look half so shocked at the idea as he had the first time she proposed it. This was encouraging. Phil took hold of one of the captain's hands, and Madge the other. "Please, please, _please_!" they pleaded in chorus. "Miss Jenny Ann wouldn't let you," objected Captain Jules faintly. "But if we were to get her permission," argued Madge triumphantly, "then you would take us down to the bottom of the bay. I just knew you would, you are so splendid! I shall send to New York to see if we can rent a diving suit."