Chapter Four AN EXCITING AFTERNOON
　　They all had a bathe that morning, and the boys found that George was a much better swimmer thanthey were. She was very strong and very fast, and she could swim under water, too, holding herbreath for ages.
　　"You're jolly good," said Julian, admiringly. "It's a pity Anne isn't a bit better. Anne, you'll have topractice your swimming strokes hard, or you'll never be able to swim out as far as we do."They were all very hungry at lunch time. They went back up the cliff-path, hoping there would be lotsto eat— and there was! Cold meat and salad, plum-pie and custard, and cheese afterwards. How thechildren tucked in!
　　"What are you going to do this afternoon?" asked George's mother.
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　　"George is going to take us out in a boat to see the wreck¹ on the other side of the island," said Anne.
　　Her aunt looked most surprised.
　　" George is going to take you!" she said. "Why George— what's come over you? You've never takena single person before, though I've asked you to dozens of times!"George said nothing, but went on eating her plum-pie. She hadn't said a word all through the meal.
　　Her father had not appeared at the table, much to the children's relief.
　　"Well, George, I must say I'm pleased that you want to try and do what your father said," began hermother again. But George shook her head.
　　"I'm not doing it because I've got to," she said. "I'm doing it because I want to. I wouldn't have takenanyone to see my wreck, not even the Queen of England, if I didn't like them."Her mother laughed. "Well, it's good news that you like your cousins," she said. "I hope they likeyou!"
　　"Oh yes!" said Anne, eagerly, anxious to stick up for her strange cousin. "We do like George, and welike Ti ..."
　　She was just about to say that they liked Timothy too, when she got such a kick on her ankle that shecried out in pain and the tears came into her eyes. George glared at her.
　　"George? Why did you kick Anne like that when she was saying nice things about you?" cried hermother. "Leave the table at once. I won't have such behaviour."George left the table without a word. She went out into the garden. She had just taken a piece ofbread and cut herself some cheese. It was all left on her plate. The other three stared at it in distress².
　　Anne was upset. How could she have been so silly as to forget she mustn't mention Tim?
　　"Oh, please call George back!" she said. "She didn't mean to kick me. It was an accident."But her aunt was very angry with George. "Finish your meal," she said to the others. "I expectGeorge will go into the sulks now. Dear, dear, she is such a difficult child!"The others didn't mind about George going into the sulks. What they did mind was that George mightrefuse to take them to see the wreck now!

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