“Hush! you little coward,” said Emily, placing her hand over Jessie’s mouth. “They aren’t half frightened enough about us yet.”
Jessie tried to get her mouth away from her cousin’s hand. In doing so she stepped backwards, and, losing her balance, fell with a splash into the water.
“Oh!” cried she, in a great fright. But the water was not deep, and the side of the “cave” kept her from falling entirely down. Hence, a thorough fright and wet feet and dress were the only evil results of her misstep.
“Pooh! what a silly little goose you are,” said Emily, in a taunting tone of voice. “If you had done as I told you, you wouldn’t have got that wetting.”
“I’m afraid I have done too much as you told me already,” replied Jessie, crying, “and now I’m going right after our party, as fast as I can.”
With these words Jessie stepped out of the cave, tripped across the quarry, and ran out into the open pasture; Emily, not liking to play “lost child” all alone, followed her. But their party was no longer either in sight or within hearing, for an elevation in the ground rose between them and the two girls.
“Guy! Hugh! Richard! here we are!” screamed Jessie, at the top of her voice.
Vainly did she scream, however. The wind blew the sounds back upon herself, and she began to run in the direction of the pond.
“Don’t be in such a hurry,” said Emily, hanging back.
“We must hurry,” replied Jessie, “or we shall be really lost. See, it’s almost sundown! And it is so damp and chilly that I am shivering with cold. Come, Emily, do make haste, there’s a dear, good cousin.”