Page:Leah Reed--Brenda's summer at Rockley.djvu/85

Rh reprovingly. “ I know perfectly well just how many revolutions there are, and what the interval is between them; but still it fascinates me to count. I half hope that the count will once in a while be different, that I may find  the lighthouse in a fault. I wonder what would happen if it should go a little wrong for a night or two. It’s more to be depended on than the moon, for sometimes the  moon hides behind a cloud. I suppose that that is one reason why we are so fond of the moon. If she were as absolutely unchanging as a lighthouse, we might consider  her rather tiresome. I believe I can understand why Brenda is so annoyed with people who claim to be perfect. Angelina seems to be her one exception. Well, the sooner I write that note to Miss South the better!”

Although the light was really too dim for writing, Julia pushed a little table to the window, and soon had the note  finished which was to apprise Miss South of Angelina’s  recent visit to Lynn. She asked her friend to make sure, by sending a messenger to Shiloh, that Angelina had  really returned home. She knew that in a general way Miss South needed no suggestion as to what ought to be  said to Angelina, and Julia felt sure that she would devise  some plan for preventing Angelina’s leaving home again.

When the note was finished Julia still sat near the window. It was nearly dark, and the moon, paler in color, had grown to look more metallic. It was high enough to throw a trail of light on the water, and, the better to  enjoy the scene, Julia stepped out on the little balcony,  upon which her windows opened. She found it, indeed,