"I'll try first, Beth."
Thereupon Julia leaped from the shed, making her arms flap for wings. Strange to relate, she landed safely and without feeling much jar from it.
"Oh, it's lovely, Beth. Come on."
Poor Beth did not think it so lovely. She put a bold face on the matter, though, and jumped as she had seen Julia do, also keeping her arms going in the same manner as Julia. However, she landed with a sickening thud that jarred every bone in her body.
"Isn't it fun, Beth? Let's try it again."
Up Julia scampered upon the shed. Beth, not to be outdone, followed after, but more slowly.
Again Julia Jumped and Beth followed. She felt the jar even more the second time than she had the first.
Fortunately, Mr. Davenport arrived on the scene just in time to see their last leap.
"Children, children, what are you thinking about to jump off that high shed? You might hurt yourselves badly. Don't do such a thing as that again. Run into the house now; it is about dinner time."
The children did as they were bidden; but when Mrs. Davenport beheld Beth, she exclaimed: