It
was impossible not to seen them, for they could not keep still
a moment. They were here, there, and everywhere, playing
hide-and-seek and skipping and racing wherever they could
find an opening, and by and by, taking hold of each other,
they started dancing. It was a pretty spectacle, but most
interesting to see was the effect produced on the other
children, the hundred girls, big and little, the little ones
especially, who had been standing there tired and impatient to
get out to the sea, and who were now becoming more and more
excited as they gazed, until, like children when listening to
lively music, they began moving feet and hands and soon their
whole bodies in time to the swift movements of the little
dancers. At last, plucking up courage, first one, then
another, joined them, and were caught as they came and whirled
round and round in a manner quite new to them and which they
appeared to find very delightful. By and by I observed that
the little rosy-faced dumpy girl on my neighbour's knees was
taking the infection; she was staring, her blue eyes opened to
their widest in wonder and delight. Then suddenly she began
pleading, "Oh, mummy, do let me go to the little girls--oh, do
let me!" And her mother said "No," because she was so little,
and could never fly round like that, and so would fall and
hurt herself and cry. But she pleaded still, and was ready to
cry if refused, until the good anxious mother was compelled to
release her; and down she slipped, and after standing still
with her little arms and closed hands held up as if to collect
herself before plunging into the new tremendous adventure, she
rushed out towards the dancers.
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