Once Mr. Gilbank joined them in one of their boating excursions, and his presence added greatly to the children's pleasure, for he talked to them and told them stories as they sailed over the bright rippling water.
The children saw a good deal of the artist in those days; they often sat by his side on the beach whilst he painted. Their presence did not disturb him, and he was never too busy to answer the questions they asked.
The only drawback to Beryl's happiness at this time was the thought of the governess, of whom mention had been made. Beryl fancied that a governess must of necessity be a disagreeable, cross-looking individual, who would feel it to be her duty to restrict their pleasures, and scold and punish them as much as possible. She disliked the thought of her coming. Beryl was beginning to be sensible of her need of instruction, for she had discovered that Coral, though two years younger, could read and write better, and knew a great deal more than herself; but she could not regard a governess otherwise than as a necessary evil.
It was a relief to her to find that her father's letters contained no allusion to his purpose of seeking a governess, and she began to hope that he had forgotten all about it, and for the present, they might enjoy unrestrainedly the delights of life at Egloshayle.
[CHAPTER IX]
A STRANGE SUNDAY SCHOOL
THE children were very sorry when their friend David Gilbank quitted Egloshayle. He had made a longer stay than he had intended at the Cornish village, and he carried away with him many beautiful sketches, to be worked up to perfection in his London studio. Not the least excellent of these was a water-colour sketch of Coral and Beryl, seated side by side in the shelter of a fisherman's boat, turned keel upwards on the beach. Mr. Gilbank hoped in time to finish this picture, and make it a worthy memorial of the little friends in whom he took such interest.
The children missed him sadly when he had gone away. There were no nice talks on the beach now, no preaching on Sunday afternoons, no friend who could tell them what they wanted to know. They wandered about listlessly on the Sunday afternoon following his departure, and found the time long and dull.
Beryl had been unusually silent for some time, and Coral, finding her remarks unheeded, had also grown thoughtful, when suddenly Beryl exclaimed, "Oh, Coral, I've thought of such a splendid thing!"
"What is it?" asked Coral, eager to hear any new idea which might brighten the dulness of their day.