"May I—" Joan was beginning, but just as she spoke Lilly appeared. She was pale, and almost seemed as if she had difficulty in keeping back her tears.
"Mamma," she said, "I can't forgive myself, I am dreadfully afraid my dear watch is gone. I must have left it on the shore."
Up started Bill and Humphrey.
"You'll let us go, Mamma. We don't care about any more dinner. We know where Lilly left it—no one's likely to have been there."
"And the people about here are so honest," said Joan.
"But," said Mamma, "was the stone where you laid it, Lilly, out of reach of the tide? It was almost low tide when you bathed."
All looked startled at this, but the boys persisted.
"All the more reason to go at once," they said, and off they set.
Lilly would fain have gone too, but she gave in to her Mother, and sat quietly, trying to eat, though I fear her luncheon was flavoured by some drops of salt water.
And in a few minutes the whole party started down the road to meet the boys and hear the news.