She spoiled every one's comfort. She would go nowhere where the rest wanted to go: she persisted in being afraid where there was no danger, and in being foolhardy in dangerous places, and she cried five different times in three hours. Her dress was torn in a dozen different places before the day was over, and her thin boots cut to pieces so that she could hardly walk, and the stones hurt her at every stop.
"Now I am going to rest a while and then we will go and see the cave," said Mr. Grey, when they had finished their lunch; "but none of you must venture on the rocks without me. They are dangerous in many places."
Stella was searching for shells on the sandy beach, near the place where they had lunched, when Etty joined her.
"I am going up there to get some of those wild-flowers, instead of poking about here," said she, pointing to some flowering shrubs which grew at a little distance, "and I want you to go with me."
"Uncle said we must not go on the rocks without him, you know," said Stella.
"He did not say on these rocks: he said on the rocks by the cave."
"He said on the rocks," persisted Stella; "and I know we ought not to go."
"Of course you won't go if I want you to," said Etty. "It is enough for you to know that I wish to do anything to set you against it. I don't care, I shall go alone."
"Please don't," pleaded Stella, but Etty was already on the rocks.
In a few minutes Mr. Grey, who was taking a little nap, was startled by a cry of distress.