98 CAROLINE.

 

 

An outcry. Vain efforts to quiet Augusta. Beechnut comes.

 

about half an hour, their attention was suddenly arrested
and the play was stopped, by a loud outcry from the
piazza, as if some one of the children were hurt. Several
of the company immediately ran to see what was the
matter. Others said it was only Augusta, and went on
with the play. In the mean time the cry grew louder
and louder. Wallace went out to inquire what was the
matter. He met Rodolphus coming away.

“What is the matter, Rodolphus?” said Wallace, “is
anybody hurt?”

“No,” said Rodolphus. “It is only Augusta crying
because her sister Anne has gone away. Anne has only
gone for a few minutes. She will be back directly.”

The terror which Augusta felt at being left thus alone
was greatly increased at the efforts which the children
made to quiet her. They all gathered around her and
offered her all sorts of consolations, but as usual in such
cases, their efforts were wholly ineffectual. Some told
her in earnest and eager tones that Anne would come
back very soon, some tried to take her up in their arms,
and began to tell her stories, and one girl broke off a
flower from a shrub which was growing in the yard, and
brought that to her,in hopes that it would amuse her.
But all was in vain. Augusta paid no attention to any-
thing that they said or did, but stood passive and motion-
less, and cried. as loud as she could cry.

Just at this juncture, a strange figure suddenly ap-
peared coming round the corner of the house. It proved
to be Beechnut. He walked along the path until he came
pretty near to the piazza, and then he stopped to find out
what was the matter.

“Ts she hurt?” said he, to one of the boys who were
standing near.