Early though they were, their scholars were earlier. There was quite a crowd of children gathered about the cave. And now Beryl began to feel nervous and doubtful of what she was going to do, though she would not allow Coral to suspect the least failure of self-confidence. She was dismayed to see so many great boys and girls in the party. Summoning her courage, she addressed herself to the little ones, and tried to coax them to sit down within the cave. This was a difficult matter, for they were shy and frightened, and seemed to have no notion of sitting still and keeping quiet. If one child was settled for a minute, another would start up and run away, and as soon as that one was brought back there would be a fresh defaulter. Beryl grew hot and cross in her endeavours to reduce to order this unruly school.
To add to her embarrassment, the elder boys and girls hung about the place, and seemed to derive great amusement from observing what was going on. In vain Beryl told them to go away. They moved off a few yards in obedience to her command, but had evidently no intention of going out of sight and hearing of what passed between her and her little scholars.
At last, after a great deal of trouble, Beryl managed to get the little ones seated in a row on the ground, with Coral closely guarding them to prevent their escape. Then Beryl began to read to them out of the Bible the story of Joseph. But Beryl's reading, as she stumbled over the long words, and paid not the least heed to punctuation, could not attract her audience.
The ignorant young scholars did not attend to her for a moment; they kicked and writhed, played the queerest pranks, pinched each other, and laughed and talked as if they had not the least idea of the purpose for which they were assembled.
At last Beryl closed her Bible in despair.
"It is of no use, Coral," she said; "we had better try to teach them a hymn."
This attempt was no more successful than former ones. But one child could Beryl persuade to repeat the words after her, and she only managed to imitate the sounds, and had clearly not the least notion of the meaning of what she said.
Beryl persevered as long as she could, in spite of a dreary sense of the futility of her efforts; but at last the attention of her brightest scholar was attracted by the sight of a sailing boat nearing the shore.
She started up, and, clapping her hands with delight, exclaimed, "Daddy's boat! Daddy's boat!"
Then darting out of the cave before Coral could stop her, she ran at full speed across the beach. The children outside also scampered off to meet the incoming boat, and this was the signal for the sudden break-up of the school.