Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/24

10 “It’s a pity that your wheel has n’t come down yet, or you could ride with me, Julia,” and Brenda rattled on, evidently in the best of humor, as the result of her  swim.

“I can’t say that I exactly crave a bicycle ride on a day like this,” answered Julia.

“Oh, by afternoon it will be cool. There is almost always a breeze, and I shall only go for a short ride  about five o’clock. It has n’t been a very long walk, has it?”

For they were now at the stone pillars that marked the front entrance to the grounds, and a minute or two later  they were seated in wicker chairs fanning themselves, and  resting after their exertions. The house was at the top of a hill which, if not really very high, made a rather sharp  ascent from the surrounding country.

“It’s a lovely view, even though we do have to work a little to get here,” said Julia. “If there were nothing but the view, I should be perfectly happy. But from what every one says, I know that I am going to enjoy Rockley  immensely.”

The accent on the last word sounded a little more like Brenda than Julia, and it was a rather curious fact that  the two cousins who in the first six months of their acquaintance had seemed so unlike had begun to modify  each other a little. Julia’s speech had become slightly more frivolous, and Brenda had acquired what she had  previously lacked, a more serious way of looking at things. By serious I do not mean solemn, and perhaps I ought