Jo's Boys - Bibliotecadigital.puc-campinas.edu.br

Chapter 8 70excitedly:'There she is! Look! coming to bathe. How splendid! Oh, if she only would drown a little and let me save her!or even get her toe nipped by a crab; anything so I could go and speak!''Don't seem to look; she comes to be quiet and enjoy herself. Pretend we don't see her, that's only civil,'answered Bess, affecting to be absorbed in a white-winged yacht going by.'Let's carelessly float that way as if going for seaweed on the rocks. She can't mind if we are flat on our backs,with only our noses out. Then when we can't help seeing her, we'll swim back as if anxious to retire. That willimpress her, and she may call to thank the very polite young ladies who respect her wishes,' proposed Josie,whose lively fancy was always planning dramatic situations.Just as they were going to slip from their rock, as if Fate relented at last, Miss Cameron was seen to beckonwildly as she stood waist-deep in the water, looking down. She called to her maid, who seemed searchingalong the beach for something, and not finding what she sought, waved a towel towards the girls as ifsummoning them to help her.'Run, fly! she wants us, she wants us!' cried Josie, tumbling into the water like a very energetic turtle, andswimming away in her best style towards this long desired haven of joy. Bess followed more slowly, and bothcame panting and smiling up to Miss Cameron, who never lifted her eyes, but said in that wonderful voice ofhers:'I've dropped a bracelet. I see it, but can't get it. Will the little boy find me a long stick? I'll keep my eye on it,so the water shall not wash it away.''I'll dive for it with pleasure; but I'm not a boy,' answered Josie, laughing as she shook the curly head which ata distance had deceived the lady.'I beg your pardon. Dive away, child; the sand is covering it fast. I value it very much. Never forgot to take itoff before.''I'll get it!' and down went Josie, to come up with a handful of pebbles, but no bracelet.'It's gone; never mind--my fault,' said Miss Cameron, disappointed, but amused at the girl's dismay as sheshook the water out of her eyes and gasped bravely:'No, it isn't. I'll have it, if I stay down all night!' and with one long breath Josie dived again, leaving nothingbut a pair of agitated feet to be seen.'I'm afraid she will hurt herself,' said Miss Cameron, looking at Bess, whom she recognized by her likeness toher mother.'Oh, no; Josie is a little fish. She likes it'; and Bess smiled happily at this wonderful granting of her cousin'sdesire.'You are Mr Laurence's daughter, I think? How d'ye do, dear? Tell papa I'm coming to see him soon. Too tiredbefore. Quite savage. Better now. Ah! here's our pearl of divers. What luck?' she asked, as the heels wentdown and a dripping head came up.Josie could only choke and splutter at first, being half strangled; but though her hands had failed again, hercourage had not; and with a resolute shake of her wet hair, a bright look at the tall lady, and a series of puffs to