Beryl's Triumph by Eglanton Thorne

HAVING consented to Miss Burton's plan for establishing a Sunday school, Mr. Hollys interested himself heartily in the necessary arrangements. No time was lost in setting about the work; but the Egloshayle carpenters were not the most expeditious of workmen, and a fortnight passed before the room was ready for use. Coral and Beryl watched the progress of the work with the greatest interest, and it was a glad day for them when at last they saw the barn in perfect order for the reception of their scholars.

It was a barn no longer, but a large and comfortable room, furnished with a table and chairs, wooden benches for the scholars, and some bookshelves; bright pictures adorned the walls, and sweet, flowering plants, standing on the window-sill, gave a cheerful, homely look to the room.

The children were delighted beyond measure with the new schoolroom. It was a disappointment to Beryl that Percy did not see its completion. He went back to London a few days before it was finished. His foot was not yet well, but he could manage to limp along with the aid of a stick, and his mother was so anxious for his return home, that he would not delay his journey after he had the doctor's permission to travel.

He and Beryl parted the best of friends. The child was not glad now at the thought of losing Percy's company. She regretted his departure keenly. Her face broke into a smile, however, when Percy, as he said good-bye, whispered to her that he would get his mother to insist upon Mr. Hollys bringing her with him, when he came to London in the spring. That was a charming idea to her, for Beryl had no longer the least fear that Percy's teasing ways would spoil the enjoyment of her holiday.

"Oh, that would be delightful! " she returned. "If only papa will let me go!"

"He will, if you make a fuss," returned Percy, in an undertone. "You know you always manage to get your own way, Duchess."

Beryl could not feel that this statement was quite true; but she earnestly hoped that she might get her own way with respect to the visit to London.

She had certainly had things much her own way of late. She had never dreamed of anything so good as the manner in which her wish to have a Sunday school was now realised. On the Sunday following Percy's departure, the first classes were held. A good number of children obeyed the invitation to come, and their bright happy faces and orderly demeanour showed that they appreciated the arrangements which had been made for their reception.

Beryl felt very proud, when Miss Burton committed to her the instruction of six little children, all under seven years of age. Perhaps the lady's presence awed the restless little mortals; certainly Beryl found her present class much more manageable than the class she had tried to teach in the damp cave under the cliff. She found it a great advantage to have Miss Burton to appeal to in any disturbance or perplexity.

Coral also was entrusted with the charge of some little ones, whilst Miss Burton taught the elder scholars.

Thus was commenced the first Sunday school at Egloshayle. To many of the dwellers in that out-of-the-world place, the very idea of such a thing was astonishing, and its novelty was alone enough to set them against the arrangement. But there were people, who had come from other villages, where Sunday schools were as unquestioned a fact as the Sunday services at the church, and they were thankful that their children should be cared for and taught on Sunday afternoons.

The establishment of the school tended to increase Mr. Hollys' popularity with the simple fisher-folk of Egloshayle.

As the children talked about their school, and the thing became better known, one new scholar after another was added to the number who gathered in the barn, till at last there were as many as the room could conveniently hold.

Beryl had a pleasing proof that Percy did not forget his little friends as soon as he found himself in London again.

Perhaps he had been more interested in their plans for establishing a Sunday school than he cared to appear. It seemed so, when one day, about a fortnight after his departure, the country carrier brought to Egloshayle House a large square parcel, directed to Miss Beryl Hollys, which had come by rail from London.

In a flutter of curiosity, Beryl cut the string and unfastened the package. As she pushed back the many folds of paper, a pile of bright-covered books came to view. They were well-chosen story books such as all children love. A note from Percy lay above them, in which he explained that as he believed a lending library was considered to be an important addition to a Sunday school, he had sent a few books, which Beryl might devote to the use of her scholars if she thought fit. He could not say that the books were worth reading, as he was not responsible for their selection. His mother, who knew more about such things, had chosen them at his request.

Beryl was highly pleased with this most unexpected gift. The idea of a lending library had not before occurred to her; but she hailed it with delight, and felt very grateful to Percy for at once suggesting it and aiding its accomplishment.

She and Coral were soon at work covering the books in neat brown paper covers, and when they were duly numbered and placed on the shelves in the new schoolroom, with some of the children's own books added to them, they made a good foundation for a school library.

After this, the weeks passed very happily and swiftly for the children at Egloshayle House. With their own lessons to do, and their Sunday scholars to care for, they had no lack of occupation.

To Beryl's joy, her father remained at home from September till Christmas, with the exception of a fortnight, during which he was absent on a yachting trip with a friend. Many friends visited him during the autumn; but when they were gone, and rough gales and icy breezes changed Egloshayle into a bleak and uninviting place, he still found attractions in his home there.