Dacre declared Beatrice had had too
strong a dose of Undine and the water-sprites. Lord Airlie felt
her hand tremble as he helped her to leave the boat. He tried to
make her forget the incident by talking of the ball and the
pleasure it would bring. She talked gayly, but every now and
then he saw that she shuddered as though icily cold.
When they were entering the house she turned round, and, in her
charming, imperious way, said:
"None of you must tell papa about my fright. I should not like
him to think that an Earle could be either fanciful or a coward.
I am brave enough on land."
The heat had tried both girls, and Lady Helena said they must
rest before dinner. She made Beatrice lie down upon the cosy
little couch in her dressing room. She watched the dark eyes
close, and thought how beautiful the young face looked in repose.
But the girl's sleep was troubled. Lady Earle, bending over her,
heard her sigh deeply and murmur something about the "deep
water." She awoke, crying out that she saw her own face, and Lady
Earle saw great drops of perspiration standing in beads upon her
brow.
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