But Lilly was so seldom careless, and even if she had been so for once, it was in the service of others, that no one would let her blame herself, and all the family joined to try to console her. "There is one chance," said Bill to Humphrey, when they were alone,—their Mother and elder sisters having gone out for the afternoon,—"the watch is heavy, and the sea is calm. It may be left there when the tide goes back. Let's see—it will be high tide by about five, and low again by eleven. Those stones should be uncovered by ten o'clock, and it is bright moonlight just now. I tell you what, Humphrey, we'll get Mamma's leave to sit up later to-night, and we'll go off to the shore and have another try for the watch and chain." Humphrey's eyes sparkled with sympathy. "We'll say nothing to Lilly—it would be cruel to raise her hopes again on such a chance," he said. "We'll only tell Mamma." The plan was carried out. At ten o'clock that evening, just as poor Lilly was going to bed, and thinking sadly how strange it seemed to have no watch to wind up, two small figures might have been seen in the moonlight, carefully picking their way among the stones over which the little waves were still softly lapping, for the special group of small rocks they were in search of was not yet uncovered. It was more difficult than they had expected to find the exact spot. The moonlight and the sheen it cast on the water were rather dazzling. The boys crept along slowly and carefully.[Pg 86] [Pg 86] "I say, what a beautiful night it is," said Bill. "It's a good thing the watch is a gold one; if it were silver there wouldn't be much chance of seeing it—everything looks silver, and—" But Humphrey interrupted him. "This is the place—I'm sure it is—look, the smooth sand just beyond is where the girls jumped in, and—"[Pg 87] [Pg 87] In his turn he was interrupted. "You're right," cried Bill, "and—I do believe—no, there's a little wave hiding it again—now, look, Humphrey—isn't there something glittering still more than the wet stones, down there—on that smooth flat rock?" Yes—another wave or two came gently lapping in, as if to say good-bye to the treasure they had been playing with, and then the boys stepped
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