THE SHIPWRECK
ON hearing the news which Andrew brought, Mr. Hollys hastened into the hall, and, putting on his travelling coat and cap, prepared to go out into the stormy night.
"Papa," said Beryl's voice by his side, "do let me go with you, and see the ship."
"Nonsense, child," returned her father hastily; "you could not stand on the beach in such a storm as this. No, no; you must not think of it."
"Oh yes, papa, I could stand against the wind," persisted Beryl; "I am sure I could. You do not know how strong I am."
But Mr. Hollys was firm. "No, no, child, it will not do; I cannot think of it," he said. "But I tell you what you may do, Beryl. You can get Lucy to take you into the garden. You will see the ship from there, I have no doubt."
And with this, Beryl had to be content.
Lucy was anxious herself to see what was happening, and made no objection to taking Beryl into the garden. The garden lay in front of the house, reaching to the beach, and was comparatively a sheltered spot, for a high, strong wall, protected it from any possible danger from wind or wave. At the bottom of the garden there was a door made in the wall, from which a flight of stone steps led down to the beach, giving Beryl easy access to the water when she wanted to bathe, for at high tide the waves broke over the lowest step. As another convenience for bathers, a garden-house had been built close to this door. It consisted of a lower and an upper room, and as the window of the upper room rose above the wall, and overlooked the whole sweep of the bay, it formed a fine observatory.
In this house Lucy and Beryl took refuge from the wind, which even in the garden was felt as far too rough, as it beat in their faces, laden with the cold sea-spray. Soon they were joined by some of the other servants, and the whole party gazed anxiously from the windows; but for a long time they could distinguish nothing save a heaving mass of blackness, over which swept the furious blasts.
Presently Beryl cried, "Lucy, I can see a light! There, far away to the right, beyond Sheldon Point. Don't you see it?"