Beryl did not wait to see if Coral were hurt, but ran off at full speed along the beach, as if anxious to get as far away as possible. But run as fast as she might, Beryl could not escape from the evil self which was the source of her unhappiness. She came to a sudden halt as she caught sight of a distant figure seated in a quiet nook amongst the rocks, with easel and paint-box at hand. She had no inclination now to bound forward to greet the artist. She fancied that Mr. Gilbank would be able to read in her face the secret of her naughtiness. The very sight of him had the force of a silent reproach.
Hoping that he had not seen her, Beryl turned back, and began slowly to climb one of the many zigzag paths leading to the top of the cliff. Half-way up, she paused, and stood looking down on the beach. She was anxious to see Coral, but the child was not in sight.
It was lovely to watch the blue, foam-crested waves breaking on the stones, to gaze across the beautiful bay, or at the pure white clouds sailing slowly overhead; but these things were lost upon Beryl. Conscience was awake now, and her unhappiness had taken a new and better shape.
The sight of Mr. Gilbank had reminded her of her resolve to be a child of the kingdom, and she felt that she had miserably failed. She saw her conduct in its true light, and wondered to think how easily she had given way to bad temper. How could she behave so crossly to poor little Coral, who had lost both her father and mother, and had no one else to love her! She had meant to be so tender and loving, and to act the part of a good, wise, elder sister to the child. Beryl really loved Coral, and she now felt heartily sorry and ashamed to think how she had treated her. She began to fear that Coral must have been very much hurt by that fall on the sharp stones.
She longed to go in search of her and ask her forgiveness, yet she shrank from doing so. How could she bear it if she found Coral suffering greatly from the effects of her violence?
The more Beryl thought of all that had happened, the more uneasy she became. At last she turned to the best source of comfort for our troubles, whether they spring from sin or not. There is but one voice that can absolve from sin, and one Friend whose sympathy can reach every sorrow. When Beryl had told her sin and sorrow in the ear of that Friend, she felt calmer, and started off, determined to lose no time in finding Coral and telling her how sorry she was that she had been so cross.
She ran down to the beach, and hastened in the direction of home, looking everywhere for Coral; but the child was not to be seen. Once or twice Beryl called her name, thinking that Coral might be hiding amongst the rocks; but no answer came, and she hurried on with a vague sense of fear. Coral was not at the end of the beach, where she had left her, and Beryl ran up the steps into the garden, hoping to find her there. But no; the garden paths were quiet and deserted; and, feeling more and more frightened, Beryl hastened into the house, and ran upstairs to the nursery, meeting no one by the way.
The nursery was empty, but the door of the adjoining room, in which the children slept, stood ajar, and something prompted Beryl to peep inside. She started and trembled greatly to see Coral lying on her little bed, looking very pale, with closed eyes, and a white bandage on her forehead. For a few moments Beryl scarcely dared to move, so alarmed was she. Then she ventured to creep nearer; but as she did so, Beryl saw to her horror that there was blood upon the handkerchief which bound Coral's forehead. The sight was too much for Beryl's self-control, and she uttered a sharp cry of distress. At the sound Coral's eyes opened, and she looked up at Beryl with a dazed, bewildered glance.
"Oh, Coral, Coral!" sobbed Beryl, quite overcome by emotion. "I thought I had killed you! What is the matter with your forehead? Is it very bad?"
"The stones cut it," said Coral, "and it bled so, and I was frightened, and cried, so Lucy carried me in and put me to bed. She said I had better try and go to sleep, and I think I have been asleep."