Chapter Nine.
Beginnings?
“Very wrong, very wrong,
Very wrong and bad.”
Child World.
“Let’s run on fast a little way,” said Bertrand, “to make her think we won’t wait for her. That will frighten her, and she will run after us, you’ll see. Don’t look round, Ruby.”
In his heart he really did not believe that Mavis would change her mind or run after them. And he did not care. Indeed, he much preferred having Ruby alone, as he knew he could far more easily persuade her by herself to join in his mischievous schemes. But he felt that she was half-hearted about leaving her sister, and so he did not hesitate to trick her too.
They hurried on for some distance. Then Ruby, who was growing both tired and cross, pulled her hand away from Bertrand.
“Stop,” she said. “I’m quite out of breath. And I want to see if Mavis is coming.”
Bertrand had to give in. They were on higher ground than the shore, and could see it clearly. There lay the little boat as they had left it, and Mavis sitting in it calmly. To all appearance at least.