The obstacle had caused an upset, and baby Don, more angry than hurt, to be sure, set up a howl and ran to Smiles' arms for comfort. "You'll spoil that baby," growled his uncle. "Well, what do you say, are you coming?" He stood up, and stretched his powerful frame in anticipation of the exercise that he loved. "If you don't mind, Donald, I'd ... I'd rather not ... to-night," answered Rose. "I'm afraid that you don't like the ocean; I rather thought that you wouldn't," he responded gently, for he had in mind the fact that both of her parents had met their death by drowning. The girl sat silently for a little while, with her eyes fixed upon the waters, here and there upon the surface of which had begun to appear shadowy streaks of varying tones, as though the Master Painter were deftly sweeping a mighty, invisible brush across the pictured surface. Interblending shades of soft green, gray and violet came and disappeared. Without turning her head, she answered, pensively, "It is very, very beautiful and I love it--in a way. But I am afraid of it, too. Yes, I like the lordly mountains better, Don. To me there is always something sinister about the sea, even when it is in as peaceful a mood as this; storms come upon it so swiftly, and it has taken so many precious lives." Donald laid an understanding hand upon her shoulder for a brief moment. "I won't urge you," he said. "Let's go for a little walk, then." "I ... I can't do that, either, Donald. It was meant to be a surprise, but ... Dr. Bentley is coming down from Boston to-night, and I promised ... that is, he has asked me to ... to go somewhere with him." Rose was blushing again. "Oh, I see. I didn't know that Phil was coming, although, of course, he has a standing invitation, and knows that I'm always delighted to see him," answered Donald, in a tone which he made natural with an effort. "I invited him especially," broke in Ethel. "And he accepted in a letter to Rose." CHAPTER XXXII THE STORM AND THE SACRIFICE Baby Don put an end to the moment of strained silence which succeeded. He laid hold of two of Smiles' fingers and began to pull at her, while saying insistently, "Come down to the beach with me, Aunty Smiles, and hear the waves ro-er." This was a favorite pastime with him. His grandfather smiled. "The waves are 'ro-ering' as gently as any sucking dove, to-night." But the baby was not to be turned from his design, and tugged persistently until Rose was obliged to rise, laughing. Muriel also started up. "I'll go down with you and try out the _Water Witch_ alone--unless, that is, either of you want to come along," said Donald.