About noon
`` Did he really give them to me ? '' she asked papa , quite gasping at the idea of such generosity . Then the ice-water boy came along , with his frame of tumblers ; she had a delicious cold drink , and told papa `` she did think the railroad was so kind , '' which made him laugh ; and , as seeing him laugh brightened her spirits , they journeyed on very cheerfully . About noon , they changed cars , and presently after that Eyebright became aware of a change in the air , a cool freshness and odor of salt and weeds , which she had never smelt before , and liked amazingly . She was just going to ask papa about it when the train made a sudden curve and swept alongside a yellow beach , beyond which lay a great shining expanse , -- gray and silvery and blue , -- over which dappled foamy waves played and leaped , and large white birds were skimming and diving . She drew a long breath of delight , and said , half to herself and half to papa , `` That is the sea ! '' `` How did you know ? ''