Beryl's Triumph by Eglanton Thorne

A FORTNIGHT after Mrs. Despard's death, Mr. Hollys went to London. The children seemed already to have forgotten their experience of earth's darkest shadow. May dawned so fresh and beautiful, that it was impossible for thoughts of sorrow to dwell in their childish hearts.

It was delightful to pass the sunny mornings on the beach, hunting for shells and seaweed, or raising with their spades castles or embankments, which the incoming tide always swept away. It was warm enough now for Beryl to commence the bathing which she so thoroughly enjoyed. Beryl's swimming seemed to Coral a wonderful performance. She did not soon forget the fright Beryl gave her on the morning on which they first ventured into the water.

"Look, Coral; see what I am going to do! " exclaimed Beryl, as she waded through the shallow waves towards a rock, which rose high out of the water.

On the other side of the rock, the waves were running high. Coral watched Beryl wonderingly as she scrambled up the great rocks, and stood on the top, looking a strange little figure in her pretty scarlet bathing-dress. Coral laughed and clapped her hands to see her perched there; but her laugh changed to a cry of horror, as she saw Beryl suddenly raise her hands high above her head, and, springing forward, plunge headlong into the waves surging around the rock.

Coral screamed with fear, as her friend disappeared from view. She felt certain that Beryl would be drowned.

"Don't be frightened, my dear," cried Lucy's voice from the shore; "that's only one of Miss Beryl's venturesome tricks. She's safe enough, for she can swim like a fish. Master had her taught when she was quite a little girl. Look! There she is again."

And Coral's fears were allayed by seeing Beryl's head appear above the water, and hearing her laugh merrily as she shook the water from her eyes and head.

"You little goose! Did you think I was drowned? " she cried. "Look how well I can swim. Come, Coral, I will teach you to swim."

But Coral was cold and nervous, and felt no desire for a swimming lesson.

"I don't want to learn," she said. "I am tired of being in the water; I shall go in."

"Oh, you can't think of going in yet," cried Beryl, who was warmed and exhilarated by her exercise; "you have been in the water no time. Come, let me dip you."

But Coral screamed and drew back as Beryl laid rather rough hands on her. Beryl, little used to having her will opposed, lost her temper at this, and the children, who up to this time had agreed most charmingly, now began to quarrel.

"You silly little thing," said Beryl, in a tone of contempt, "I do believe you are frightened. I would not be such a coward for something. There, go along with you; I don't want your company."

Coral ran sobbing to Lucy, and Beryl swam leisurely round the rock, and tried to believe that she was enjoying herself very much. But in truth she was feeling too angry with Coral to be very happy.

"Coral was a silly, cross, disagreeable little thing," she said to herself again and again, not being at all willing to acknowledge that she too had been cross and disagreeable.

"How could you be so unkind to Miss Coral? " said Lucy, when Beryl at length came out of the water, and went into the garden-house to be dressed. "The poor child has been sobbing like to break her heart. I wonder at you, Miss Beryl, treating a poor little motherless girl like that!"

Now, Beryl was already beginning to feel ashamed of herself, but she was not willing to acknowledge this to Lucy. At her nurse's words her heart grew hard again.

"I don't care," she said defiantly. "Coral was much more cross than I was. She is a horrid little thing."

"Well, I never! Miss Beryl! " exclaimed Lucy, lifting up her hands in astonishment. "And to think how anxious you were to have her for a little sister. No one would have thought, to hear you talk of her then, that you would so soon behave badly to her."

Beryl made no reply; her face wore a sullen, proud look, which it was not pleasant to see. When she was dressed, she went down to the beach again. Coral had ceased to cry, and was playing there very contentedly.