"Oh, I am so sorry, Coral," said Beryl; "I can't think how I could be so horrid to you. I can never forgive myself for knocking you down and hurting you so."
"Don't cry, Beryl; it is better now," said the child; "it only smarts a little."
"I was a cross, bad thing," said Beryl; "can you forgive me, Coral?"
"Oh yes, of course I forgive you," said Coral readily; "please do not cry any more."
But Beryl's tears burst forth anew as she stooped to kiss Coral. She hardly left Coral's side for the rest of the day, and tried by loving words and actions to atone for her previous unkindness.
Beryl did not soon forget the lesson she had learned. Though the cut on Coral's forehead soon began to heal, its scar lingered for many a day to remind Beryl of her ill-temper and its consequences. This, their first quarrel, was also the last serious disagreement which the children had.
When Beryl was tempted to give way to passion and pride, she remembered the misery she had endured that day on the beach, and tried to check her anger, and show the loving, forgiving spirit of a true child of the kingdom.
After this, the days passed very pleasantly with the two little people. As spring grew into summer they took long walks and rides along the shore, or they explored the beautiful woods lying beyond the village.
Andrew was very pleased when he could find leisure to accompany the young ladies, and lead the pony whilst they rode by turns. In this way, they were able to go a good distance, and they generally came back from these excursions laden with ferns and wild flowers.
Sometimes Lucy would get her brother to take them for a row in his boat, a treat which the children thoroughly enjoyed. Beryl planned how, when she was a little older, she would get her father to give her a boat of her own, which she would learn to row her very self.