Part 16 (2/2)
”No,” said Winifred, blus.h.i.+ng; ”I don't think I can write stories very well. When I get the ink and paper, and everything ready, I never can think of anything to say.”
”Oh, but you must go on trying,” urged Lulu. ”It's the easiest thing in the world when you once get started. Does Betty know about what we're doing?”
”No,” said Betty, looking interested, ”tell me about it.”
”Why, you see,” Lulu explained, ”Aunt Daisy is writing a book, and in it two little girls have to write compositions, and she thought it would be so nice to have original ones written by real little girls. So she asked Winifred and me to write some for her, and if she likes them well enough, she will put them in her book, and they will be published. Won't that be fun?”
Betty and Jack were both much impressed, and Winifred, who did not find authors.h.i.+p come at all easy, was struck with a bright idea.
”I don't suppose your aunt cares who writes the stories, so long as she gets them, does she, Lulu?”
”Why, no, I don't suppose so,” Lulu admitted, ”but you really must try, Winnie. Think how grand it will be to have something published.”
”I was only thinking that perhaps Betty or Jack could do it better,”
said Winifred, with an appealing glance at her two little friends, both of whom, however, declined to enter the compact, declaring that they couldn't write a story to save their lives.
”I can't see why you all find it so hard,” said Lulu a little patronizingly; ”it seems very easy to me. I was only five when I made up my first story, and Aunt Daisy wrote it down on her typewriter. It wasn't very long, only 'Two little girls went to see two little boys.
They played hide and seek and blindman's buff. Then they had ice cream, and went home again.' Aunt Daisy said it was a beginning, and I've been writing stories ever since. Oh, by the way, Aunt Daisy says if you'll come over this afternoon she'll tell us all stories on the piazza.”
The children looked pleased, and accepted the invitation with alacrity, for Lulu's blind aunt was a famous story-teller and a great favorite with them all.
”Papa and mamma have gone to the city for the day,” said Lulu, ”and Aunt Daisy's very busy this morning, writing on her story, but she's promised to devote the whole afternoon to us.”
The conversation drifted to other things, and the next hour pa.s.sed very pleasantly in building sand forts, making mud pies, and doing other delightful things only possible at the sea sh.o.r.e. The ocean was very calm, and the little girls took off their shoes and stockings, and let the little waves splash over their feet. Jack lay on the sand, watching them and making sketches by turns. Some of the people from the hotels and cottages came down to the beach to bathe, and almost every one had a pleasant word for the little boy.
At last the ginger-snaps were produced, and they all sat down to enjoy them before going home.
”I wonder what makes people so dreadfully hungry at the sea sh.o.r.e,”
remarked Jack, helping himself to his third ginger-snap. ”At home I never used to eat very much.”
”It's because you're so much better than you used to be,” said Betty, regarding her brother with happy, loving eyes. ”What's the matter, Lulu?
you've dropped your cake.”
”My goodness,” exclaimed Lulu, clasping her hands in dismay. ”I declare I forgot all about telling you the most important thing. A lord is coming to stay with us.”
”A what?” inquired Betty and Winifred both together.
”A lord,” repeated Lulu impressively, ”a real live English lord. He's coming on his yacht. Papa got a letter from him yesterday, and he's on his way now.”
”Where is he coming from?” Winifred asked.
”I don't know, but he's traveling in his yacht. He has a castle in England, and he's awfully rich. Mamma thinks he will bring a valet with him.”
<script>