“Is it alive, then?” asked Susan.
“I should just think it is! It can eat like anything.”
“What does it eat?”
“Little tiny crabs and shrimps. Now, I’m going to drop a pebble into it, and you’ll see it will think it’s something to eat, and shut its mouth. Look!”
Susan thought it rather cruel to deceive the Enemy in this manner, but she could not help watching curiously to see what it would do, as Sophia Jane popped a little stone into the midst of its soft waving petals. It happened just as she had said. The Enemy tucked them all in, and suddenly became nothing but a mould of smooth red jelly.
The two little girls bent over this new discovery for some time with the keenest interest, but by and by there arose a dispute, for one wished to tear it from its resting-place and carry it home, and the other to leave it where it was. Sophia Jane declared that it was her Enemy because she had found it, and she should do as she liked, and Susan begged her with tears not to disturb it. When these were of no use she became angry, and called Sophia cruel and naughty; but for that Sophia Jane did not care one whit. She only repeated doggedly, “I shall take it home, and keep it in a basin of salt water.”
“Then it will die,” said Susan hotly, “and you’re very cruel and wicked.”
Sophia Jane did not answer. She was gazing fixedly over Susan’s shoulder at the spot where the basket and collection had been left.
“Ha! ha!” she suddenly exclaimed triumphantly, pointing to it.
Susan looked quickly round. Alas! while her back was turned the deceitful sea had crawled quietly up and taken possession of her treasures. The flat rock was covered by the waves, and the basket was bobbing lightly up and down on the water.