Here and there huge rocks stood detached from the cliffs, and the waves surging fiercely against them seemed possessed by an angry desire to bring down their pride.
Mrs. Bryden felt some qualms of fear as she warned her children not to go too near the edge of the cliff. It was a place where a boy's high spirits and contempt of fear might easily betray him into danger; but she foresaw that she must harden herself to accept some risk if she would not spoil her boys' pleasure or prevent their gaining proper courage and self-control.
"Listen to me, boys," she said. "I want you to enjoy a good holiday here; but I cannot always be with you. My duties will oblige me often to leave you to yourselves; but I dare not let you go beyond the garden alone unless you will promise me to be careful and not do things of which you know I should not approve."
"You, Duke, are old enough to understand when there is danger which you ought to avoid, and I shall make you responsible for Noel's safety. You are not to let him climb into dangerous places. Remember that he is younger and weaker than you, and things that you could attempt with safety might prove too much for him. Will you promise me?"
"Yes, mother," said Duke; "but we can bathe, can't we?"
"Not alone," said his mother; "there is a good bathing beach at a little distance, where it is safe to bathe. I will take you there to-morrow morning if it is fine. When I am unable to go with you, I will try to find some one to take my place."
"Why can't I bathe alone?" asked Duke. "I have learned to swim in the swimming-bath at school, and I can do six strokes quite easily."
"I am glad to hear it," said his mother with a smile; "but the water off this coast is very different from that in the swimming-bath. There is often a strong undercurrent too, and it would take more than six strokes to save you, if that carried you out of your depth."
"Mother," said Noel, as they came in sight of Egloshayle House, "who sleeps in those rooms with the ivy almost covering the windows?"
"No one," said Mrs. Bryden; "those rooms are all unoccupied, with the exception of the one next the tower, which Mr. Alan uses as a kind of a study."