July Twenty-sixth . I am the happiest girl in the world ! That is quite a different strain from yesterday . We leave Fir Cottage in an hour , but that does n't matter now . I did not sleep a wink last night and crawled miserably down to breakfast . Aunt took not the slightest notice of me , but to my surprise she told Mrs. Saxby that she intended taking a farewell walk to the shore . I knew I would be taken , too , to be kept out of mischief , and my heart gave a great bound of hope . Perhaps I would have a chance to send word to Francis , since Aunt did not know of the part my spyglass had played in my bad behaviour . I meekly followed my grim guardians to the shore and sat dejectedly on my rug while they paced the sand . Francis was on the rocks . As soon as Aunt Martha and Mrs. Saxby were at a safe distance , I began my message : `` All discovered . Aunt is very angry . We go home today . '' Then I snatched my glass . His face expressed the direst consternation and dismay . He signalled : `` I must see you before you go . '' `` Impossible . Aunt will never forgive me . Good-bye . '' I saw a look of desperate determination cross his face .
If forty Aunt Marthas had swooped down upon me , I could not have torn my eyes XXXXX that glass .
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