Beryl had found a letter awaiting her from Coral, which she was now eagerly reading. Coral wrote in good spirits. Her uncle had taken a beautiful house a few miles out of Melbourne. There was a large garden with lovely flowers and delicious fruit, very different from anything to be seen at Egloshayle. Her uncle had given her a pretty bay pony, and she often rode for many hours. He had also given her a fine dog, a monkey, one of the cleverest of his tribe, and a green parrot, which she had already taught to call her "Coral," and was now trying to persuade to say "Beryl." Her uncle had engaged a governess for her, who was very kind, but, of course, not so nice as Miss Burton.
It was clear that Coral was well pleased with her new life, and she declared that she should be perfectly happy, if only she had Beryl with her.
Beryl laid down the letter at last with a sigh. "Coral is quite gone from me," was her thought. "I shall never see her again. Well, she is happy enough without me. She does not really want me now she has that pony, and dog, and monkey, and parrot."
And, for a few moments, Beryl actually felt injured because Coral appeared to be enjoying her new life so much. But she soon was ashamed of the feeling.
"What a horrid, mean thing I am!" she said to herself. "To think that I should be cross because Coral is happy. As if her being unhappy could make my life any happier! I ought to be glad, and I am glad."
But the dreary feeling which had crept over Beryl could not at once be shaken off. The remarkable mildness of the day was making her feel very languid, and with languor came sadness.
"What shall I do when Miss Burton goes away?" she began to think. "I shall be miserable by myself. I suppose papa will send me to school when I am strong enough, and that will be horrid, I know. Oh dear! Oh dear!"
At this moment, a tap at the window attracted her attention. She started up, and saw her father and Miss Burton standing outside. Miss Burton had been gathering some snowdrops and violets, and held them up smilingly to Beryl's view. Then she and Mr. Hollys turned towards the hall door, and in a few moments appeared in the drawing-room.
They came forward with smiling, radiant faces to the sofa on which Beryl was resting. But if there was any special significance in their looks, Beryl was not in a mood to observe it. She sighed heavily as Miss Burton came to her side.
"I have brought some flowers to cheer you," said Miss Burton brightly. "You looked very disconsolate when I peered at you through the window. Is anything the matter?"