Again little Gloria went daily down to the old sea-wall and sat and read to her playmate while he mended old seines or netted new ones. She read to him the school histories of Rome, Greece and England, while the hungry mind of the boy swallowed and assimilated them all.
Under the shadow of the old sea-wall the life of the children was an idyl in Arcadie until one unhappy day, when their innocent affection fell under the notice of Miss Agrippina de Crespigney, and shocked that lady’s sense of propriety in the most outrageous manner.
She was giving the poor old manor house a fit of the severest hydrophobic convulsions, which she called a spring cleaning, turning every trunk, box, wardrobe, closet and store-room inside out, and raising dust that had rested undisturbed for ages, when, thinking that she needed more help, she determined to walk down to the landing, where, she was told, the fisher-boy was at work, and to send him to fetch his grandmother to her assistance. When she reached the old sea-wall and stood in the breach, this is what she saw before her:
A little fire kindled on the sands, and some fresh fish laid on the coals to broil; a little napkin spread on a flat stone, with two Little blue-edged plates and green-handled knives and forks, a bunch of radishes, a bunch of onions, and two rolls of wheat bread, and lastly, the two children sitting, side by side, in the old boat, reading from the same book.
Miss Agrippina raised up both her hands in speechless amazement. Then controlling herself, she forbore all reproaches to the little, unconscious offender, and only saying: “Gloria, my love, your uncle wants you. Go right home,” came calmly down to the scene.
Quite innocent of any impropriety, the little girl rose obediently, and saying:
“I am sorry, David Lindsay, that I cannot stay and take dinner with you to-day; but poor uncle, you know! I must go to him directly; you must take the book along with you and read it at home to-night,” she ran lightly along, tripped over the broken wall, and home.
Miss Agrippina turned to dispatch the boy on his errand after his grandmother.
David promptly left his culinary preparations, unmoored his boat, and rowed rapidly for the isle.
And so the children’s little, innocent al fresco feast was spoiled; but that was nothing to what happened afterwards.