Betty had been a wild, ungovernable girl at school, glorying in contempt for rules and daring “larks.”  She had not improved in that respect, and so far from being properly ashamed of her wild pranks and sometimes really disgraceful frolics, liked to describe them, and was charmed to find in Lulu a deeply interested listener.

It was thus they amused themselves as they strolled slowly along the bluff toward Sankaty.

When they reached there a number of carriages were standing about near the entrance, several visitors were in the tower, and others were waiting their turn.

“Let us go up too,” Betty said to her little companion; “the view must be finer to-day than it was when we were here before, for the atmosphere is clearer.”

“I’m afraid papa wouldn’t like me to,” objected Lulu; “he seemed to think the other time that I needed him to take care of me,” she added with a laugh, as if it were quite absurd that one so old and wise as herself should be supposed to need such protection.

“Pooh!” said Betty, “don’t be a baby; I can take care of myself and you too.  Come, I’m going up and round outside too; and I dare you to do the same.”

Poor proud Lulu was one of the silly people who are not brave enough to refuse to do a wrong or unwise thing if anybody dares them to do it.

“I’m not a bit afraid, Miss Johnson; you need not think that,” she said, bridling; “and I can take care of myself.  I’ll go.”

“Come on then; we’ll follow close behind that gentleman, and the keeper won’t suppose we are alone,” returned Betty, leading the way.

Lulu found the steep stairs very hard to climb without the help of her father’s hand, and reached the top quite out of breath.

Betty too was panting.  But they presently recovered themselves.  Betty stepped outside just behind the gentleman who had preceded them up the stairs, and Lulu climbed quickly after her, frightened enough at the perilous undertaking, yet determined to prove that she was equal to it.

But she had advanced only a few steps when a sudden rush of wind caught her skirts and nearly took her off her feet.

Both she and Betty uttered a cry of affright, and at the same instant Lulu felt herself seized from behind and dragged forcibly back and within the window from which she had just emerged.

It was the face of a stranger that met her gaze as she looked up with frightened eyes.

“Child,” he said, “that was a narrow escape; don’t try it again.  Where are your parents or guardians, that you were permitted to step out there with no one to take care of you?”

Lulu blushed and hung her head in silence.  Betty, who had followed her in as fast as she could, generously took all the blame upon herself.

“Don’t scold her, sir,” she said; “it was all my doing.  I brought her here without the knowledge of her parents, and dared her to go out there.”