all my fault."

"How good you are," and Beth edged up nearer to him.

"Stop dripping water all over me and come on."

They hurried towards the house, and circled around to the back entrance
to escape Beth's mother.

The washerwoman, at the tubs on the kitchen porch, and Maggie were the
only ones to see poor Beth. Maggie raised her arms skyward. "Laws a
massa"--then she broke into hearty laughter. "I 'lows, Penny,"--the
name of the washerwoman,--"hyere's moh washin' fur yo'. How yo' 'specs
it'd be if we'd jes' run chile an' all frugh de wringer?"

Beth was too humiliated to say a word, and rushed up-stairs the back
way.

When the affair was reported to Mrs. Davenport, she considered the
situation well before seeing her little daughter.

Beth was getting to be a terrible tomboy, she thought, but she was
growing strong physically with the outdoor life. And even while she
did sometimes fall into danger, the same thing often occurred when
mothers watched a child's every breath. Mrs. Davenport decided that
the wiser way was to educate a child to be self-reliant and fearless,
trusting to God's guardianship and protection.

She knew that in the years to come, Beth would learn the gentler
graces, for she had a kindly heart; so, instead of punishing Beth, Mrs.
Davenport had a long talk with her that did Beth a world of good. In
fact, her mother's gentleness was an inspiration to right living all
through her life.

CHAPTER VIII

Learning to Swim

Marian, Julia, Beth, Harvey, and Don were in bathing. The deep water
enclosed by the walk and piling surrounding the boat house made a safe
bathing place for them,--safe at least from the alligators, though the
water was deep. Harvey and Don were the only ones in the party who
knew how to swim.

The other children struggled hard to learn. Harvey was a very willing
teacher, but did not know exactly how to impart his knowledge. He said:

"Why, it's very easy. See, you just have to start out like this, and
there you are."

Thereupon, they started out as directed, but, alas, they were not there
as he said. Their feet grew unaccountably light so that their heads
disappeared under the water. However, they enjoyed even the ducking.

Don reveled in the water frolic as much, if not more, than any of them.
He was ever ready to do the children's bidding, and ever kept a
watchful eye on his charges. Beth, however, was his especial care. He
seemed to feel an