“Come along,” she said, holding out her hand, “it’s as safe as dry land. Why, I’ve seen four great boys on it at once.”
“How beautiful!” cried Anna, as, after a little more encouragement, she found herself safely on the punt by Delia’s side, surrounded by water-lilies and bulrushes. They set to work to fill their basket with these, and when it was done there were always finer ones still almost out of reach. These must be had at any cost. Delia would lie flat on the punt, and while Anna held the skirt of her dress, would manage to get hold of them with the handle of a stick. There was both excitement and triumph in these captures, and while they were going on the girls forgot that any coolness had come between them, or that the world held much beyond water-lilies and bulrushes. When, however, they climbed out of the punt with their dripping prizes, and sat down on the bank to rest a little, recollections returned.
“What a pity,” thought Anna, with a sigh, “that things are not always pleasant. Delia is nicer than any one when she is kind.”
Delia, on her side, as she packed the lilies into the basket, reminded herself that there was something she had to say to Anna, and wondered how she should begin.
As usual, she plunged straight into the matter of which her mind was full, and said suddenly:
“Do you ever meet your grandfather at Pynes?”
Here was the tiresome subject again! All pleasure was over now.
“No, never,” replied Anna. “He gives Clara lessons on Saturdays, and Aunt Sarah always wants me at home then.”
“You are going to this picnic, I suppose?” said Delia. “Does Mrs Forrest know that the Professor has not been asked?”
“I don’t know,” murmured Anna.