ten o'clock
There 's an hour before rising time . '' Elizabeth crawled slowly back to her own cot , but she did not sleep again . Neither did Olga , and she was uncomfortably aware that a pair of timid blue eyes were on her face until she turned her back on them . At ten o'clock that morning the girls all trooped down to the water . Some in full knickerbockers and middy blouses were going to row or paddle , but most wore bathing suits . With some difficulty Laura persuaded Elizabeth to put on a bathing suit that Miss Grandis had left for her , but no urging or coaxing could induce her to go into the water even to wade , though other girls were swimming and splashing and frolicking like mermaids . Elizabeth sat on the sand , her eyes following Olga 's dark head as the girl swept through the water like a fish -- swimming , floating , diving -- she seemed as much at home in the water as on land .