"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.