Down, down, a hundred steps here, round a bend there, down a damp ladder, hard as they could go, and yet the holland frocks gained on the blue every moment. Lynn was panting, Pauline’s face streamed with perspiration, and still they sought to increase the distance; they could not have run more conscientiously from their little friends if they had been lepers.
But on, on, resistlessly came the holland frocks. Driven to bay Paul wheeled round—“We can’t go any faster,” she shouted desperately, “you’ll just have to sit down and wait.”
“Driven to bay Paul wheeled round.”
On, on came Florence and Effie while Lynn who had pulled up, too, regarded them in horror. When they were within a distance of ten feet she caught at Pauline’s hand and [p249] began to run again. But the newcomers who had dropped into a comfortable walk began to run even faster.
Paul and Lynn dodged into “Lurline’s Bower” that came along opportunely.
“We’ll wait here while you go past as you’re in such a hurry,” Paul shouted.
But the holland frocks came on steadily, steadily till they stood in the opening of the bower, till they crushed themselves on the very seat with the amazed blue ones.
“You’ll catch our whooping,” began Paul.