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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/25456-h.zip b/25456-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2fcc8c8 --- /dev/null +++ b/25456-h.zip diff --git a/25456-h/25456-h.htm b/25456-h/25456-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ae9f1c1 --- /dev/null +++ b/25456-h/25456-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5050 @@ +<!-- saved from url=(0022)http://internet.e-mail --> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Princess Polly at Play, by Amy Brooks. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .5em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + h1 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h5,h6 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + h2 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* centered and coloured */ + } + h3 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* centered and coloured */ + } + h4 { + text-align: center; font-family: garamond, serif; /* all headings centered */ + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + body{margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + } + a {text-decoration: none} /* no lines under links */ + div.centered {text-align: center;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;} /* work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 2 */ + ul {list-style-type: none} /* no bullets on lists */ + ul.nest {margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em; text-indent: -1.5em;} /* spacing for nested list */ + li {margin-top: .15em; margin-bottom: .15em;} /* spacing for list */ + + .cen {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em;} /* centering paragraphs */ + .sc {font-variant: small-caps;} /* small caps */ + .noin {text-indent: 0em;} /* no indenting */ + .hang {text-indent: -2em;} /* hanging indents */ + .clear {clear: both;} /* clear both sides */ + .block {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} /* block indent */ + .block2 {margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 5%;} /* block indent */ + .right {text-align: right; padding-right: 2em;} /* right aligning paragraphs */ + .totoc {position: absolute; right: 2%; font-size: 75%; text-align: right;} /* Table of contents anchor */ + .img {text-align: center; padding: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} /* centering images */ + .imgl {float: left; padding: 1em; text-align: center;} /* floating image to the left of the paragraph */ + .tdr {text-align: right; padding-right: .5em;} /* right align cell */ + .tdc {text-align: center;} /* center align cell */ + .tdl {text-align: left;} /* left align cell */ + .tdlsc {text-align: left; font-variant: small-caps;} /* aligning cell content and small caps */ + .tr {margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 1em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} /* transcriber's notes */ + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 75%; + color: silver; + background-color: inherit; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal;} /* page numbers */ + + .poem {margin-left: 25%; margin-right: 15%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + .poem span.pn { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; right: 2%; + font-size: 75%; + text-align: right; + text-indent: 0em; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + color: silver; background-color: inherit; + font-variant: normal;} /* page numbers in poems */ + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Princess Polly At Play, by Amy Brooks + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Princess Polly At Play + +Author: Amy Brooks + +Release Date: May 15, 2008 [EBook #25456] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY *** + + + + +Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen" style="font-weight: bold;">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<br /> +<p class="noin" style="text-align: left;">Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. +For a complete list, please see the <span style="white-space: nowrap;"><a href="#TN">end of this document</a>.</span></p> +<p class="noin">Click on the images to see a larger version.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/cover.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/cover.jpg" width="60%" alt="Front Cover" /></a><br /> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h2>PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY</h2> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/frontis.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/frontis.jpg" width="60%" alt="They were out in the sunshine" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">"They were out in the sunshine.</p> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<h1>PRINCESS POLLY<br /> +AT PLAY</h1> + +<h2>By AMY BROOKS</h2> + +<h4><span class="sc">Author of</span><br /> +"Princess Polly," "Princess Polly's Playmates," "Princess<br /> +Polly at School," "Princess Polly by the Sea,"<br /> +"Princess Polly's Gay Winter," etc.</h4> + +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="img"> +<img border="0" src="images/polly.png" width="10%" alt="Polly" /> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> + + +<h5>A.L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +Publishers New York<br /> +Printed in U.S.A.</h5> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + + +<h5>Copyright, 1915, by<br /> +THE PLATT & PECK CO.<br /> +<br /> +Printed in U.S.A.</h5> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="toc" id="toc"></a><hr /> +<br /> + +<h3>CONTENTS</h3> +<br /> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="70%" summary="Table of Contents"> + <tr> + <td class="tdr" width="15%"><span style="font-size: 80%;">CHAPTER</span></td> + <td class="tdl" width="70%"> </td> + <td class="tdr" width="15%"><span style="font-size: 80%;">PAGE</span></td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">I</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">Polly, Rose and Gwen</a></td> + <td class="tdr">9</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">II</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">Who Was It</a></td> + <td class="tdr">28</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">III</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">Little Sea Nymphs</a></td> + <td class="tdr">48</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">IV</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">What Max Did</a></td> + <td class="tdr">68</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">V</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">What Max Found</a></td> + <td class="tdr">87</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">VI</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">The Sea King's Nymphs</a></td> + <td class="tdr">106</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">VII</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">A Wedding at Cliffmore</a></td> + <td class="tdr">125</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">VIII</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">Aunt Rose Calls</a></td> + <td class="tdr">144</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">IX</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">At Avondale</a></td> + <td class="tdr">163</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">X</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">The Ship Comes In</a></td> + <td class="tdr">182</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">XI</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">Little Pitchers</a></td> + <td class="tdr">201</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdr">XII</td> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">Max a Stowaway</a></td> + <td class="tdr">220</td> + </tr> +</table> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span><br /> + +<h2>PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY</h2> +<br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER I<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>POLLY, ROSE AND GWEN</h4> +<br /> + +<p>A Summer at Cliffmore!</p> + +<p>Princess Polly and Rose Atherton could think of little else.</p> + +<p>It was true that Avondale was a charming place in which to live, and +there were pleasant schoolmates and merry times when Winter came. +There were fine lawns and beautiful flowers everywhere, but Polly and +Rose loved the shore, and surely the salt air was delightful, and the +beach a lovely place on which to romp. There was Captain Seaford, +whose little daughter, Sprite, had spent the winter at <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span>Avondale, and +a pleasant little playmate and classmate she had been.</p> + +<p>She had returned to her home at Cliffmore, and now was counting the +days when Princess Polly and Rose would arrive, and every morning she +would stand in the doorway of her home on the beach, and look in the +direction in which Avondale lay.</p> + +<p>It happened one morning that at the same moment that Sprite opened the +door to look out, Princess Polly and Rose were talking of her. They, +too, were out in the sunshine.</p> + +<p>"How pretty Sprite looked last Summer when she played that she was a +little mermaid, and lay on the rocks looking down into the water, her +long yellow hair hanging down over her shoulders," Polly said.</p> + +<p>"And the day that she invited me over <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>to her house," said Rose, "her +dress was light green, and she wore a string of coral around her neck. +I thought she looked sweet then."</p> + +<p>"How we did enjoy her house! We never saw one like it. It was a ship's +hulk, turned upside down, and divided up into rooms. Oh, but it was +cosey!" Polly said.</p> + +<p>"And it won't be long before we'll be there at the shore, playing with +Sprite just as we did last Summer," said Rose.</p> + +<p>A long time they stood talking. There were such delightful memories of +Cliffmore, and so many pleasures to anticipate. There would be sailing +trips on the "Dolphin," the yacht belonging to Captain Atherton, and +Captain Atherton himself had hinted at some sort of merry-making that +would occur at his fine home on the shore.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>"Uncle John doesn't say whether it is to be a party, or what it will +be, but when I asked him if it would be fine, he took me on his knee, +and he said:</p> + +<p>"'Rose, little Rose, it will be the brightest, the happiest event that +I ever attended,' so I guess it will be fine, for Uncle John always +means what he says," Rose concluded.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we can't help wondering what it will be like, and just when it +will be," Princess Polly said, her hands tightly clasped and her eyes +bright with excitement.</p> + +<p>"It's a lovely place to stay in, even if there wasn't a single thing +planned for amusement, but when you know there'll be ever so many good +times happening during the Summer, it makes us wild to start for +Cliffmore."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>The sound of footsteps running made them turn, just as Gwen Harcourt +came racing toward them.</p> + +<p>She was a little neighbor, so bold, so regardless of the feelings of +others, so apt to tell outrageous stories, that Polly and Rose were +not fond of her. She never stopped to question if she were welcome, +but entered any house where the door stood open, and at once made +herself quite at home, always remaining until she chose to go.</p> + +<p>She was evidently quite excited. Her short, curling hair blew about +her face, and her cheeks were red.</p> + +<p>"What do you think?" she cried. "I've just come from that big house +over there, where the people have just moved in. I couldn't tell if +I'd like to know them, unless I went when I could see them, so this +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span>morning I went right up to the door, and as it wasn't locked, I opened +it, and went in."</p> + +<p>"Why, Gwen Harcourt!" Rose exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Well, what?" Gwen said pertly.</p> + +<p>"S'pose I was going to wait and wonder what those people were like? I +guess not. I went right straight in and looked at them, so now I know.</p> + +<p>"The lady isn't much to look at, and she wasn't dressed up the least +bit, and the baby that the nursemaid was holding was awful homely.</p> + +<p>"Its face was red, and its hair was sort of straight and stringy, and +when it cried, and that was most all the time I was there, it made a +perfectly horrid face.</p> + +<p>"There's a boy there, too, and I didn't like him very well," she +continued. "He <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>talked to me some, but he wants to do all the talking, +and I don't like that. I want to talk most of the time, myself."</p> + +<p>Polly and Rose managed not to laugh.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps if you had been willing to listen, and let him talk more, you +might have liked him better," Polly said.</p> + +<p>"No, I wouldn't!" Gwen said, stoutly, "for what little he did say made +me mad. Think how rude he was! When I told him my whole <i>truly</i> name +was Gwendolen Armitage Harcourt, he just said:</p> + +<p>"'H'm! Is that so? Well, my name is Jona Jonathan Ebenezer Montgomery, +and that beats your name all hollow.' The lady laughed, but she said: +'Don't tease the little girl. That is not your name at all. Why not +tell her what your real name is?'</p> + +<p>"He didn't do it. He just said: 'Oh, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>bother!' and ran out doors. I +didn't like the boy, but the big room seemed duller after he went out, +so after a while I slipped out, and when I saw you two talking, I came +over here. What were you talking about?"</p> + +<p>"We were talking about the fine times we'll have at Cliffmore this +Summer," Polly said, "and we can hardly wait to enjoy them."</p> + +<p>"I'd not care to go there," Gwen said, with a toss of her head.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said Rose, "it's lucky you don't have to go there."</p> + +<p>"Yes, isn't it?" Gwen said, cheerfully. "I could if I wanted to. Mamma +will go wherever I wish, that is if I just act horrid enough."</p> + +<p>"Why, what do you mean?" Polly asked, and Gwen laughed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>"You're funny girls," she said. "Don't either of you know that the way +to get your own way is to scream and be just as horrid as you can +until your mamma 'gives in?'"</p> + +<p>"I'd not care to act like that," Princess Polly said, and Rose said: +"Neither would I."</p> + +<p>"Well, I want my own way, all the time and everywhere, and that's the +way I get it," declared Gwen, and she danced off down the avenue, +humming as cheerfully as if she had told of doing pleasant things.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it queer'?" Rose said. "Gwen tells of being disagreeable, as if +she felt proud of it."</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Harcourt does the same thing," said Primrose Polly. "She's +always telling of horrid pranks, and rude things that Gwen says, and +she tells them as if she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>thought Gwen very smart to act so. It isn't +odd that Gwen behaves so badly, for she likes to act just perfectly +horrid. She says so, and if she thinks her mamma likes it, what is +there to make her stop?"</p> + +<p>"And Uncle John says, oh, I'd not tell exactly what he says, but he +said only yesterday that he could not understand how any woman could +let her little daughter grow up like a weed. He said Gwen was pretty +to look at, but as unpleasant as a nettlebush. I'd not like anyone to +say that of me," Rose said.</p> + +<p>"Well, no one ever would say that about you," Polly said lovingly.</p> + +<p>"Nor you," replied Rose.</p> + +<p>Then, their arms clasping each other, they slipped down the sidewalk.</p> + +<p>It was but a few days longer that they must wait before sailing to +Cliffmore.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span>The year before, they had made the trip by train, but this time they +were intending to go a short distance by rail, and then, on Captain +Atherton's yacht, complete the trip by water. It would be a delightful +sail, and as every member of the party loved the water, it was sure to +be a merry little sailing trip down the bay.</p> + +<p>Gwen Harcourt had not spoken truthfully when she had said that she +would not wish to go to Cliffmore. Indeed, that very morning she had +used her unpleasant method in an effort to coax her mother to go to +Cliffmore, and for the first time in her little life, it had not +worked.</p> + +<p>She had heard from Polly, Rose, and Sprite of the pleasure that they +had enjoyed there, and she had at once decided that no other place +could be as delightful.</p> + +<p>"I guess I can go there as well as they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>can," she had whispered to +herself, and then, running up to the big living room she had first +asked, then coaxed, and there, as a final effort, had screamed for a +half hour. Mrs. Harcourt would, as usual, have quickly agreed at once +to spend the Summer as Gwen wished, but it happened that other plans +already made, rendered it impossible. The silly woman offered +everything that she could think of to pacify Gwen, but Gwen declared +that nothing would make up to her for the refusal to go to Cliffmore.</p> + +<p>Then when she found her screaming wholly useless, she dried her eyes, +and rushed out and down the avenue to tell Polly and Rose that she +would not care to go there.</p> + +<p>If she had waited a day longer to tell them it would have been as +well, because <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span>Mrs. Harcourt, lest the disappointment might be too +hard for Gwen, had, at great inconvenience, changed her plans, and on +the following day she told Gwen that Cliffmore would be their summer +home.</p> + +<p>Gwen did not rush out this time to tell the news.</p> + +<p>Had she not just said that she would not care to go there?</p> + +<p>"I'll say nothing about it, and when they get to Cliffmore, they'll be +s'prised to find me there, but I'll act as if I'd known all along that +I'd be there," thought Gwen.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harcourt and Gwen went the next day, and thus it happened that +when the "Dolphin" sailed up to the pier, the first person that Rose +and Polly saw was Gwen, sitting high on the top of a tall post! It was +a most successful surprise.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>"Hello!" she cried, with impish laughter, "I got here 'fore you did!"</p> + +<p>"Why so you did," Polly replied. "When did you come?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I've been here some time," she said, laughing again.</p> + +<p>"Well, you've not been here a month, Gwen Harcourt!" said Rose. "It +was only three days ago that you were in Avondale, and you said then +that you'd not care to go to Cliffmore!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I didn't go," cried Gwen, "I've <i>come</i>, and I'm going to stay!"</p> + +<p>Of course Sprite had come to meet them, and as the three walked up the +pier they saw that Gwen made no attempt to follow.</p> + +<p>She wished them to know that she was at Cliffmore, but having enjoyed +their look of surprise, she preferred to keep her position on the +post.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>It was so conspicuous that she knew that everyone coming up from the +boats would surely see her, and beside that pleasure, she could stare +at all the arrivals. Oh yes, her perch on the post delighted her.</p> + +<p>Not satisfied with staring at the people, she commenced to make +remarks about them as they passed. As her remarks were largely +directed at their clothes, they were not much pleased.</p> + +<p>"Oh, what big feet!" she said, when a big woman passed her, and to +another she said: "What a funny hat."</p> + +<p>A fat man turned to frown at her when she said: "My! He must weigh a +ton," and a girl with long red braids blushed hotly when Gwen cried:</p> + +<p>"Red! Red! Fire! Fire!"</p> + +<p>Her mother would have thought any <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>other child uncouth and ill-bred, +if she did any one of the many outrageous things that Gwen was always +doing. In Gwen she thought it bright and smart, and Gwen held the same +opinion, but a young sailor, happening along just in time to hear her +say something about a Jack Tar, that was not quite pleasing, stopped +for an instant, and looked into her bold, blue eyes.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what you need, you little Monkey?" he cried. "You need to +have someone give you a big ducking, and then you'd learn not to be so +smart."</p> + +<p>Gwen was too frightened to speak. She thought the sailor meant to give +her the ducking that he said she needed, and she turned so pale that +he let go his hold upon her, leaving her still sitting upon the post, +but as he turned to go he shook his finger at her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span>"Not another word, sissy, or someone'll duck you, if I don't," he +said.</p> + +<p>A long time she sat motionless upon the post until not only the +sailor, but all of the people had left the pier. Then, looking +cautiously around to learn if anyone was near, she slipped to the +ground, and ran at top speed toward the hotel where she told a most +remarkable tale of the sailor's rudeness to her, winding up by telling +that he had been so mean as to duck her.</p> + +<p>"My dear little Gwen!" said her fond mamma.</p> + +<p>"Her serge frock seems rather dry for one that has just been plunged +into the water," said a lady who sat near them on the piazza.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look at her shoes! They're dry too!" cried a small boy. "Say! +When did you get your ducking?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>"You stop laughing, Max Deland!" cried Gwen. "I guess I could tell +whether he ducked me or not better than you could, for you weren't +there!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, you could <i>tell</i>!" cried the small boy, "but it might not be +so, for all that, Gwen Harcourt."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harcourt rose quickly, and taking Gwen by the hand, left the +piazza, and went up to her room.</p> + +<p>"Strange that any woman would be so foolish as to credit a yarn like +that even if it is her own child that tells it," said the lady who had +spoken of the dry frock that Gwen declared had just been plunged into +water.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is strange, but I've known other women who were nearly as +blind to their children's faults," her friend replied.</p> + +<p>"The child is really pretty, but so bold, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>and pert that although she +arrived less than a week ago, there is not a guest at this hotel who +does not feel relieved when she leaves the piazza. Only think," the +lady continued, "she was out here this morning, sitting in that big +chair that old Mr. Pendleton likes to have. He's ill, and Gwen knew +that he came out expecting to sit in it, but she looked up at him, and +did not stir. 'Gwen, dear,' Mrs. Harcourt said; 'I think Mr. Pendleton +would like that chair.' 'Well, I like it, and I'm going to keep it,' +Gwen said, swinging her legs, and settling back in the chair. 'You +really musn't mind her,' Mrs. Harcourt said.</p> + +<p>"'I don't intend to,' he said, and Mrs. Harcourt looked as if she +wondered what he meant."</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER II<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>WHO WAS IT</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that +something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house.</p> + +<p>He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of +eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened +something disturbing in the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>"Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a +knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, +a frown <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span>puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes.</p> + +<p>"I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, +someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out +the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess +that I've worked an hour to clear up. Have you noticed anyone around +the place?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't seen a soul," declared the Captain, "and I've been busy right +here since before you went out.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me I did hear someone moving about at one time, but I'm not +even sure of that."</p> + +<p>"Well, whoever it was managed to move about enough to make work for me +to clear up," Mrs. Seaford said.</p> + +<p>"There's only one door to this house so <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>how could anyone get out +without passing me? You must surely be mistaken."</p> + +<p>"The person, whoever it was, didn't care to pass you coming in, or +going out of the house, so climbed through the window. On his way out, +he knocked some plants from the window-sill. Nothing has been stolen, +so I can't see the object in ransacking the house."</p> + +<p>"'Taint poss'ble you're nervous, and imagine someone's been in, is +it?" he asked, anxiously scanning her face.</p> + +<p>"Imagine?" Mrs. Seaford said. "Well, come in, and see what you think. +I've cleared the worst of it, but here's enough left to convince you."</p> + +<p>He dropped the net on the sand, and went in. One look was enough.</p> + +<p>"What in the world——!" he said, and no more, but his face spoke +volumes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>It remained a mystery. Who would care to disturb the contents of the +odd dwelling of the Seafords? Not a thief, surely, for it was well +known that while the genial Captain had, at one time, been well to do, +he had, for the past few years, had a struggle for existence. The old +ship's hulk, inverted, and furnished for a home, held but one +treasure, love, and that, priceless as it was, could not be stolen.</p> + +<p>Who was the intruder? How had he come, and how had he vanished?</p> + +<p>Dwellers at Cliffmore talked of it, at their homes, at church, and on +the beach, but no one could give the slightest clue that might help in +detecting the intruder.</p> + +<p>Excitement usually lasted regarding one matter until another subject +was suggested, when the villagers would turn <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span>with fresh interest to +the latest bit of news.</p> + +<p>Generally, it was a happening of small importance, that gained its +prominence from having been frequently described, but one morning +something occurred that shook the little fishing village, as Captain +Seaford said, "from stem to stern."</p> + +<p>When Mrs. Wilton, the housekeeper at Captain Atherton's Summer home, +"The Cliffs," arose early one morning, she noticed that the Captain +had forgotten the French window that opened on the porch. It evidently +had been open on the evening before, and, by an oversight, had +remained open all night. At a glance she saw that someone had been +through the lower part of the house.</p> + +<p>Drawers were wide open, their contents strewn upon the floor.</p> + +<p>Flowers had been taken from the large <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>jars that held them, and left +with their wet foliage and stems lying upon the polished table.</p> + +<p>Delicate pieces of china had been lifted from the lower shelves of the +china closet, and placed upon the table, the window seats, and even +the piano boasted two dainty cups that the visitor, whoever it might +be, had placed upon the keyboard.</p> + +<p>"Nothing is stolen," the housekeeper said, in reporting the mischief +to Captain Atherton, "and all the queer doin's are on the first floor. +Do you see that it looks as if the same person that went all over +Captain Seaford's house, has been roving through this one? Nothing was +stolen there, but everything had been handled and pulled around."</p> + +<p>"I'll go out into the garden and think it over," he replied.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>He left the house, but as he reached the lower step that led from the +piazza he saw that the bold intruder, not satisfied with the mischief +perpetrated in the house, had tried his hand at the garden. Beautiful +plants had been lifted from their pots and thrown onto the walk, the +hose lay beside them, running a stream, the fountain had been set +running, and an old broom, used by the gardener, to sweep the walks, +lay in the lower basin of the fountain.</p> + +<p>The housekeeper followed him out onto the piazza.</p> + +<p>"If you please, sir, I'd like just to say that I locked every door and +window, except the one that opens onto this piazza, from the library. +I went upstairs, knowing that you were still reading, and thinking +you'd like that window open 'til you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>went to your room for the night, +when you'd be sure to shut and lock it."</p> + +<p>John Atherton nodded, and walked along the path. He knew that the +housekeeper was anxious to shift all responsibility from her broad +shoulders onto his.</p> + +<p>"I guess I left that French window open, so that fault is mine, but +who would be interested to rove through a home, pulling things to +pieces, and making disorder, solely for the fun of doing it? Whoever +it is, does not care to rob. It's a puzzle that must be looked into."</p> + +<p>The children were greatly excited, and inclined to look upon Polly and +Rose with envy.</p> + +<p>It was interesting to listen while older people talked and argued as +to how it happened, and what sort of person played the pranks. Before +the Summer guests had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>half finished discussing the happening at +Captain Atherton's house, they were again startled.</p> + +<p>It was early one morning, a half hour before breakfast would be +served, when a big, florid woman came down the stairway to the lower +hall, declaring that someone had been in her room, doing a deal of +mischief.</p> + +<p>"Every article in my bureau drawer has been pulled out and thrown upon +the floor, gowns have been removed from my closet, and are piled up on +chairs in a heap, and my hats have been taken from their boxes and +packed up on my bureau. Something must be done about it!" she declared +in anger, and really one could not blame her.</p> + +<p>The proprietor appeared, and promised all sorts of things to pacify +the woman and there the matter appeared to end, for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>search as they +would, no trace of the culprit could be found. The other guests felt +uneasy.</p> + +<p>"Who could possibly guess whose room will be ransacked next?" said one +lady, to another who sat beside her at breakfast, to which the other +replied:</p> + +<p>"A few more happenings of this kind, and I'll pack my trunks, and +leave for a place where I can, at least, expect law and order."</p> + +<p>The guests of the hotel found it an interesting theme for +conversation, and talked of it morning, noon and night, until old Mr. +Pendleton, the invalid, became so tired of hearing about it that his +patience at last gave way.</p> + +<p>"What a fuss! What a nuisance of a fuss! I declare. Women are upset if +their finery is tossed around a bit. Nothing was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>stolen, so why +complain? Why get excited?"</p> + +<p>No one replied to his outburst. It was well known that to reply to Mr. +Pendleton was apt to provoke a torrent of abuse, so he was allowed to +sit in his big chair in the corner of the piazza, looking with sharp, +black, bead-like eyes from one woman to the other, silently amused, +because he believed that they dared not answer.</p> + +<p>He was a tough, wiry old man, not really ill, but believing himself to +be an invalid, and enjoying the belief. Some one had heard a physician +say that an event, or happening of any sort that would startle him +into quick action would teach him that the health that he believed +lost, was still in his possession.</p> + +<p>One morning the queerest thing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>happened, and as it was just after +breakfast, all the guests of the hotel were present to share the great +excitement.</p> + +<p>While the guests were at breakfast, the maids had put their rooms in +order, and as it bid fair to be a hot day, nearly everyone decided to +spend the morning on the broad piazza.</p> + +<p>Mr. Pendleton, as usual, sat in his favorite corner. He was talking +with another man about some distant city that each had often visited. +Evidently there was something about which they could not agree, for +their voices rose in angry dispute.</p> + +<p>"I'm right in my opinion!" shouted Mr. Pendleton, in his thin, shrill +voice.</p> + +<p>"And, sir, let me tell you that <i>I</i> am right!" boomed the fat man in a +growling bass.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>"I'll get my map and prove what I say!" cried Mr. Pendleton, springing +from his chair, and starting toward the hall.</p> + +<p>The big man's laugh made him increase his speed. The other guests were +amused, but they were not prepared for the next thing that happened.</p> + +<p>Old Mr. Pendleton came tearing down the stairs, at the risk of +breaking his neck, his cheeks flushed, and his small, black eyes +blazing.</p> + +<p>"It's an outrage! It's disgusting! It's not to be endured!" he +shouted. "My room has been entered, and my belongings tossed about! My +pajamas are spread out on the floor as if someone meant to take a +pattern of them! My watch is soaking in the wash bowl, and my brush +and comb are each in a slipper. My topcoat is out of the window and +sprawling in the sun <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span>on the roof of this piazza, and every neck-tie I +own is hanging from the chandelier! I won't stand it!"</p> + +<p>He paused for breath, and the woman whom he had vexed a few days +before, was so unwise as to speak:</p> + +<p>"It might be well for you to realize just now that women are not the +only ones who are upset when their finery is tossed about. As nothing +was stolen, why complain? Why get excited?"</p> + +<p>"Madam! You haven't the least idea of tact," he cried. "If you had +you'd——" but before he could complete his speech, the proprietor +arrived, and a much harder task he had to appease the wrath of Mr. +Pendleton, than that of the fat woman whose room had been entered a +few days before.</p> + +<p>The mystery might never have been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>solved but for something that +occurred on the following morning.</p> + +<p>A room on the second floor had windows looking out upon the sea. The +door stood open, and a maid passing along the hall, paused to look in. +Guests were not in the habit of leaving their room doors wide open. +What she saw made her tip-toe softly away to a screen in the hall.</p> + +<p>From her position she could watch the inmate of the room.</p> + +<p>That room had been hired by the fat man with the big voice who often +talked, and oftener disputed with Mr. Pendleton.</p> + +<p>It was easy to touch a button on the wall close beside her, and the +bell-boy responded in a few seconds. The maid held up her finger, at +the same time pointing toward the open door, and whispering:</p> + +<p>"Sh—! Go quick and get Mr. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>Buffington. Tell him somebody is in his +room. Don't make a sound here. I'll watch while you're gone. Rush +now!"</p> + +<p>Mr. Buffington, big and ponderous, soon appeared, puffing like an +engine. The maid saw him as he appeared above the stairs, and quickly +held up her finger, as a signal to him to make no noise.</p> + +<p>Puzzled, yet impressed, the big man tip-toed along until he stood in +the doorway.</p> + +<p>The intruder stood, back toward the door, and for the moment, was so +occupied with pulling over the contents of a large trunk that +footsteps outside the door were unnoticed.</p> + +<p>"You little rascal!"</p> + +<p>These words shouted made the intruder actually jump.</p> + +<p>"Ah, now, Miss Gwen, how happened ye in there?" said the maid.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span>Gwen, thoroughly frightened, tried to rush from the room, but it was +useless. The big man filled the doorway. He did not intend to hurt +her, when he firmly grasped her arm, but he did intend to give her a +lesson, and he proceeded to do it, walking her along the hall on the +way to the stairway.</p> + +<p>Usually, Gwen's boldness was equal to any emergency, but this time she +was too frightened to object, to wriggle in the firm grasp, or indeed, +to do anything other than allow him to take her wherever he chose, and +he chose——the piazza filled with guests.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harcourt, at the farthest end of the piazza, busy with her +embroidery, did not look up when the two appeared.</p> + +<p>"I found <i>this</i> in my room!" said the angry man. "Anyone who owns it +may <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>claim it. <i>This</i> is what has been entering rooms, and handling +other people's property."</p> + +<p>"Oh, mamma! Why don't you come and tell them I don't do such things!"</p> + +<p>Of course Mrs. Harcourt dropped her embroidering frame, and rushed +forward, snatching Gwen from the big man's grasp.</p> + +<p>"'Twould be useless, because I caught her just as she had opened my +trunk, and was examining all my belongings. The best thing to do with +your smart girl, is to keep her away from hotels, unless you can keep +a chain on her to keep her from prowling," growled Mr. Buffington.</p> + +<p>"You don't understand children!" declared Mrs. Harcourt, as with Gwen, +she went up the stairway to her room, to which the big man responded: +"I shouldn't want to if they're all like that!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>Of course the piazza was alive with buzzing voices.</p> + +<p>"What a perfectly horrid child!"</p> + +<p>"I'd be ashamed of her if she were mine, the little imp!"</p> + +<p>These and similar remarks were to be heard on all sides.</p> + +<p>Gwen had been pert and saucy, bold, and annoying in many ways, but +that a little girl could be the person who had boldly entered any +house, or any room at the hotel, poking her impudent little nose into +any house or room that remained unlocked, was really a surprise.</p> + +<p>They had all believed it to be the work of a man, but no one could +understand what prompted him to handle every article in the place that +he entered, yet never steal a thing. Now it was easier to understand. +Gwen had everything that love could think <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>of, or that wealth could +provide, but her curiosity was great, and she could not keep her +mischievous hands off from things belonging to others.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harcourt, angry over what she thought was "outrageous rudeness," +packed her trunks, and in an hour's time, left the hotel.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER III<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>LITTLE SEA NYMPHS</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Polly and Rose were walking along the beach on the way to call for +Sprite. They had not decided how to spend the morning, but whatever +they chose to do, they surely would enjoy themselves, for never were +three playmates happier in each other's company.</p> + +<p>"A long time ago when you first came to Avondale to live at Sherwood +Hall, we named you Princess Polly. We never seemed to think of you as +Polly Sherwood, your truly name," Rose said.</p> + +<p>"And I liked you the first day I met you by the brook," Polly said, +"and I thought Rose Atherton was such a pretty name."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>"Sprite's name just fits her," said Rose, a moment later, "for she +looks like a sprite, or a sea nymph, and so Sprite Seaford seems just +the name for her.</p> + +<p>"There she is now, coming toward us. Let's run to meet her."</p> + +<p>"I took the telescope, and looked up the beach," Sprite said, when +they met, "and kept looking until I saw you. Then I put it back on the +mantel, and ran to meet you. Now come over to the place I call the +bay."</p> + +<p>She led the way, and they followed. The bay, as Sprite called it was a +place where a ledge projected into the water in such a way that the +incoming waves rushed past it, sweeping up onto the sand in a curving +line.</p> + +<p>It was not much of a bay, but it served as a name, and they always +knew what she meant when she spoke of it.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>Its shallow water was fine to play in, and when the tide went out, +there always remained a little pool that reflected floating clouds.</p> + +<p>On its clear surface they skipped flat stones, and they marvelled to +see how skillful was little Sprite.</p> + +<p>"Nine skips, and then a hop! That makes ten," said Polly, "and I can +only make mine skip seven times."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you can do as well as I if you practice enough. I've always +lived here at the shore," Sprite said, "and the flat stones have been +my toys."</p> + +<p>It was fine to compete with her, and Rose and Polly worked very hard +in their effort to make a better fling.</p> + +<p>"Eight!" declared Polly, and for a number of times, she sent the +stones skipping eight times across the glassy little pool.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span>"Seven!" cried Rose, "and it almost went eight, and then didn't. +Wasn't that provoking?"</p> + +<p>"Eight!" she shouted a moment later.</p> + +<p>"Nine!" squealed Polly. "Nine! Who'd have believed I could?"</p> + +<p>"I would," replied Sprite, "because you're trying so hard, and because +you can do anything."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can't!" Polly said.</p> + +<p>"Well, you sing, and play, and you dance beautifully; after all that, +just skipping stones doesn't seem so very much," Sprite answered +quickly.</p> + +<p>"It does to me because I've never done it before. It's great fun."</p> + +<p>The sun was higher, and warm from exercise, they sat down in the +shadow of the cliff to rest, and cool off.</p> + +<p>They talked of the ships that appeared <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>on the horizon, wondering what +their cargoes might be. They talked of all sorts of things, but it was +Sprite who gave a surprise.</p> + +<p>"Guess who has gone way, way over in that big yellow house on the +cliff to live. Guess!" she said, and her eyes were twinkling.</p> + +<p>"Oh, tell us," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you'd better tell us," said Rose. "We couldn't ever guess."</p> + +<p>"Won't you guess?" Sprite asked.</p> + +<p>"What's the use," said Polly. "We couldn't guess who it is in a +month!"</p> + +<p>"Well, it's Gwen Harcourt," Sprite said.</p> + +<p>"Gwen Harcourt!" cried Polly and Rose in the same breath. "Why, how +funny. Her mamma said she was tired of Cliffmore."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>"Yes, and she said she didn't like any of the people that were here +for the Summer," said Rose.</p> + +<p>"Gwen said her mamma said that, but she said the reason was because +she was provoked, and Gwen said she teased and teased her to stay, so +she did, and they truly are in that big yellow house on the cliff. +There's only about a dozen people boarding there, and Gwen said it +seemed more select than the place where she'd been staying."</p> + +<p>"I said: 'You like Polly Sherwood and Rose Atherton,' and she said, +'Yes, I like them, but it's the grown people that we don't care for,'" +concluded Sprite.</p> + +<p>"It was the grown people that didn't like Gwen, and no wonder," said +Rose. "Who would like to have her trunks and boxes emptied on the +floor, and all the hats <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>and dresses pulled over? I don't believe +anyone in that yellow house, or any other house will like to have her +do that."</p> + +<p>A cool breeze blew in from the ocean, and the three sprang to their +feet.</p> + +<p>"Let's pull off our shoes and stockings and dance on the thin edge of +the water," cried Sprite.</p> + +<p>"I'll sing a song mamma taught me."</p> + +<p>They clasped hands, and gracefully they skipped in time with the +pretty song.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"We are water nymphs so free,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">We are merry sisters three.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">When the sunbeams kiss the foam<br /></span> +<span class="i0">From our coral cave we roam,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And we float up to the strand<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Where we dance upon the sand.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"When the moon with silvery ray<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Glistens on the tossing spray,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Then upon the beach we dance,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Fleet of foot we whirl and prance.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Whirling, swaying, gay and free,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Merry water nymphs are we."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep053.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep053.jpg" width="60%" alt="Their graceful forms swaying" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">"Their graceful forms swaying."</p> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>It was a pretty sight.</p> + +<p>The three lovely faces, bright eyed, and rose tinted cheeks, their +graceful forms swaying, swinging, whirling, their white feet nimbly +keeping time to the song that Sprite sang.</p> + +<p>The guests at the big yellow house on the ledge had already found that +Mrs. Harcourt was a pleasant woman to talk with, but they also had +learned that she permitted her small daughter to be as rude and +unpleasant as she chose. It never required a great length of time for +anyone to learn that.</p> + +<p>At the breakfast table, the first morning after they had left the +hotel and had engaged rooms at the big house on the ledge, Gwen showed +her rudeness by declaring that she could not eat any of the food that +was served.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>Mrs. Harcourt looked around at the other guests, remarking:</p> + +<p>"Gwen has such refined taste that quite often really good food fails +to tempt her."</p> + +<p>Thus encouraged, Gwen spoke for herself:</p> + +<p>"But there's nothing on this table that is good. I wonder any of you +can eat it."</p> + +<p>The guests were disgusted with the silly child, and sillier mother. +She had acted in about the same manner at every meal.</p> + +<p>It happened that she had been up in her room over the piazza on the +morning that her three little friends were dancing upon the beach.</p> + +<p>They were too far distant for her to guess who they might be.</p> + +<p>The field glasses lay on the dresser, and Gwen snatched them, ran to +the window, and peeped at the dancing figures.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>"Oo—oo! It's Princess Polly, and Rose and Sprite. I'm going right +over to see them, and dance with them, too!"</p> + +<p>She flung the glasses down into the nearest chair, and ran down the +stairs, across the lawn, and then commenced to make her way carefully +down the rough steps that had been cut in the ledge.</p> + +<p>Even Gwen could not descend those steps at high speed.</p> + +<p>Once on the sand she believed she could hasten, but the tide never +reached the ledge upon which the house stood, so the sand at its base +was dry, and anything but easy to hurry over.</p> + +<p>At last she reached the damp part, and then how her feet flew over the +firm, level surface.</p> + +<p>She seemed tireless as she sped along, and she ran without stopping +until she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>stood before them. They had not seen her approaching, +because a high cliff had hidden her until she sprang out from behind +it.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" they replied. "Going to dance with us?"</p> + +<p>"Of course," Gwen said shortly. "That's why I came here."</p> + +<p>She was a fine little dancer, and soon the four were tripping lightly +over the sand, the three bare footed, but Gwen with shoes and +stockings on, splashing as gaily through the shallow water as if she +did not know that she was ruining a fine pair of new shoes.</p> + +<p>Her pale blue stockings would hardly be improved by a drenching in +salt-water.</p> + +<p>The others had urged her to take them off, but for that very reason, +she stubbornly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>refused, and laughed as the water rushed about her +ankles at the first step.</p> + +<p>She knew that no reproof awaited her. Mrs. Harcourt hailed each new +prank as a sure sign of her small daughter's originality.</p> + +<p>Tormenting the pets that other guests had brought to the shore, hiding +the embroidery frames that any lady might chance to leave lying on a +chair, throwing hats or wraps over the piazza railing to drop at the +foot of the cliff, all these things Mrs. Harcourt thought extremely +amusing.</p> + +<p>A pair of wet shoes would, of course, be very funny. Gwen was sure of +that.</p> + +<p>"Where's that new girl?" she asked when they paused to rest.</p> + +<p>"She's gone out fishing with her brother," Rose replied, "and they +intend to be out all day."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>"Oh, well, I only asked for fun," Gwen said quickly. "She's pleasant, +and I like her, but she can't keep still a minute, and that makes me +tired."</p> + +<p>"Why, Gwen Harcourt, neither do you," said Rose, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Me?" said Gwen. "Well, who wants to keep still? I didn't say I wanted +to. I said it made me tired to watch her, because she,—because <i>she</i> +doesn't keep still. That's different!"</p> + +<p>A shout made them turn to look down the beach.</p> + +<p>A boy, using his hands as a speaking tube, stood looking toward them, +and calling loudly, "Gwen! Gwen!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's Max Deland," said Gwen. "I'll go and see why he's calling +me."</p> + +<p>Without saying "Good-bye," she turned, and raced down the beach, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>Polly and Rose and Sprite stood watching her flying figure.</p> + +<p>On, on she ran until at last, they saw that she had reached the boy +who had shouted to her.</p> + +<p>Then Princess Polly spoke:</p> + +<p>"I wonder why he didn't run to meet her," she said, "instead of +standing stock still and waiting 'till she'd run every step of the +way?"</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder," Sprite said, "because I've seen him do that so many +times, and he tells her to 'do this,' and 'do that,' and 'come here,' +and 'go there,' and she does just as he says every time."</p> + +<p>"That's queer," Rose said, "because she never lets us tell her even +how to play a new game. The minute we start to tell her how it is +played, she says: 'Oh, I know all about it,' so of course we stop, and +it <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>is Gwen who is always saying, 'Come and do this,' and 'You must do +it,' till we get tired of being 'bossed,' and never doing as we wish. +She didn't do that way to-day. She danced with us, and never once told +us how to do it."</p> + +<p>"Why, Polly!" cried Sprite, "she has always known that you were +trained for dancing, and that you know the prettiest dances."</p> + +<p>The three little friends still stood watching Gwen and Max.</p> + +<p>They seemed to be discussing something upon which they could not +agree, for as they watched, Max violently pointed toward some distant +point on the shore, and stamped his foot, and each time Gwen would +shake her curly head.</p> + +<p>The boy seemed determined, and the girl obstinate.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>"I wonder what he is telling her to do?" said Sprite, to which Polly +replied:</p> + +<p>"I don't. I wonder why she doesn't do it?"</p> + +<p>"Yesterday he dared her to go out on an old plank, and she did it and +got a ducking," said Sprite. "P'r'aps it's something like that."</p> + +<p>The two figures still stood out clearly, the boy evidently insisting, +and the girl still shaking her head as if unwilling to do as he +wished.</p> + +<p>Some bathers came running down to the water, their gay colored caps +covering their hair, their sandals tied with ribbons.</p> + +<p>Polly, Rose, and Sprite turned to see them take the first dip, and for +a few moments watched them romping in the surf.</p> + +<p>When they turned Max and Gwen had disappeared.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>"I do wonder what they were planning to do?" said Polly, "and why Gwen +seemed unwilling to do it, whatever it was."</p> + +<p>"So do I," said Rose, "because Max always wants to do the wildest +things," to which Sprite added; "And you can't often find anything +wilder than Gwen would enjoy."</p> + +<p>It happened that Max and Gwen had disappeared behind a rough shanty +that laborers were using for a toolhouse.</p> + +<p>"Now don't be a fraidie-cat!" Max was saying. "What makes you act so? +I called you a 'brick' the other day because I said you dared to do +things that any girl but you wouldn't dare to do. Now here you are, +acting just the way other girls act. 'Fore I'd be 'fraid to sail in a +tub!" He hoped to make her do it.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>"Well, if you're not afraid to, why don't you do it, instead of asking +me to do it?" snapped Gwen.</p> + +<p>"Oh, so I can tell the other boys how brave you are," replied Max.</p> + +<p>"They wouldn't think anything of me a doing it," he continued, quite +regardless of his grammar, "because I'm a boy, and I'm s'posed to be +brave, anyway, but you're a girl, and that's different.</p> + +<p>"Come! Get in! I'll shove it!"</p> + +<p>Gwen paused for a moment, then:</p> + +<p>"Give me your hand!" she said.</p> + +<p>She was afraid, but her silly vanity prompted her to do it. She knew +that neither of her playmates would dare, and Max had promised to tell +the other boys of the brave feat.</p> + +<p>Max took her hand, and she sprang into the tub, crouching on the +bottom, as he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>shoved it off into water a bit deeper than that in +which they had been standing.</p> + +<p>The tub was roughly made and anything but clean. The workmen had used +it for holding cement, but had emptied it, and left it on the beach +where Max had found it.</p> + +<p>He was very fond of coaxing others to do things that he himself would +never have done. Now, safe on dry land, he stood cheering Gwen for her +bravery.</p> + +<p>"Well, come and wade out here and get me back," she cried. "I've +proved that I dared to do it, and that's enough!"</p> + +<p>"Wait till I get the fellows to come and see you out there in the tub. +They might not believe me if I just told them!" shouted Max, and he +raced off at top speed, paying no heed to Gwen's shrieks. No one could +have guessed if Max heard her and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>yet kept on running, or whether the +sound of his own footfalls drowned her cries.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER IV<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>WHAT MAX DID</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Max ran up the beach at top speed, intent upon finding his "chum," and +telling him that Gwen was actually in the tub, and then, daring him to +race back and see her floating about in the shallow water.</p> + +<p>Max and Jack had wagered a quantity of marbles that no girl, not even +Gwen Harcourt, would dare to float in the rough old tub.</p> + +<p>When Max reached the place where Jack had promised to wait for him, +Jack was no where to be seen.</p> + +<p>"Scamp!" cried Max. "He's gone off so as not to pay over those marbles +I won. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>Well, he'll not get off so easy, for I'll find him, and <i>make</i> +him pay!"</p> + +<p>With never a thought of Gwen, he started along the beach to search for +Jack.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'd not be mean enough to skin out like that," he cried as he +hurried over the hard, damp sands. He thought it very mean to elude +paying the little bet, and as he ran, he told himself that he would +have promptly paid the marbles if he had owed them to Jack, which was +true.</p> + +<p>Jack was mischievous, but he would never have left a little girl in +the plight in which Max, with all his boasting, had left Gwen.</p> + +<p>And although Max Deland searched in every place where Jack was likely +to be, he did not find him.</p> + +<p>"I'll not hunt for him!" he cried at last, "but I'll make him pay when +I catch him!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span>"Max! Max Deland!"</p> + +<p>The voice was shrill and piping.</p> + +<p>"Hello! Where are you?" Max shouted in reply, and the trim waitress +from her position on the ledge, cried back;</p> + +<p>"It's not where I am, but where you are that's worrying your mother. +You're the first boy I ever saw that had to be called to dinner. Come +in!"</p> + +<p>She turned and ran into the house, while Max rushed toward the big +dining-room.</p> + +<p>He thought of Gwen during dinner, but he felt no fear for her safety. +He believed that she had soon become tired of floating in the shallow +water, had sprung from the leaky tub, and for hours had been playing +with her friends.</p> + +<p>That was not the case, however. Gwen, crouching in the tub, had waited +quite patiently, watching for Max who was to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>return with Jack, while +the tub bobbed and danced on the shallow water, and for a time she had +found it rather amusing.</p> + +<p>The clumsy craft had floated lightly, now toward the beach, now away, +and she felt no fear because as often as a receding wave took her a +few feet from the beach, an incoming wave brought her back.</p> + +<p>Then the unexpected happened.</p> + +<p>The tide had been turning, and a big wave snatched at the tub, bearing +it farther out than it had yet been, while the next inrolling wave +went up onto the beach without so much as touching it.</p> + +<p>Gwen screamed with fright, when she saw that now the tub was steadily +going away from the shore.</p> + +<p>There was no one in sight, and she sank in a little heap on the bottom +of the tub, too tired to continue shouting, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>frightened at the +thought of drifting out to sea.</p> + +<p>The gulls flew down and looked at her as if wondering what she might +be, and Gwen cowered, afraid of their great, flapping wings.</p> + +<p>No one could say what might have happened, but just at the moment when +her last bit of courage had fled, a fortunate thing occurred.</p> + +<p>A tiny fishing craft was coming in, and as it neared the shore, one of +the crew spied the floating tub, then a few moments later the man +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Why, there's a child in that leaky old tub, as true as I live!"</p> + +<p>"Hi, there!" he shouted, and Gwen looked up, and wildly waved her +hands.</p> + +<p>"Sit still!" he commanded, "or something'll happen. Keep still, an' +we'll pull ye in when ye come 'long side."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>Very thankful was Gwen when later, she found herself safe on the deck, +the rough tub bobbing away across the waves, while the fishermen +listened to her story of the trick that Max had played.</p> + +<p>"If that boy was mine I know what he'd get, for doing a mean trick +like that!" said one man, to which another responded:</p> + +<p>"And I'd be glad ter help ye give it ter him."</p> + +<p>One would have thought that Mrs. Harcourt might have been anxious +because of Gwen's long absence, and her non-appearance at the noon +meal, but such was not the case.</p> + +<p>Some one at the table spoke of Gwen, asking if she were ill.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear no!" Mrs. Harcourt said, with a light laugh; "Gwen is never +ill, but she is so very popular that when she does not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>appear at meal +time, I know that someone has urged her to lunch at her home. Gwen is +dearly loved, and so is constantly being coaxed to remain at this +house or that."</p> + +<p>The other guests could not be blamed if they wondered who it might be +who continually longed to have Gwen as a guest.</p> + +<p>When the noon meal was over, the guests made their way out onto the +piazza, seating themselves in little groups for an afternoon of chat +and gossip.</p> + +<p>Some of the ladies were doing fancy work with gay colored silks. Mrs. +Harcourt always brought her embroidery frame to the piazza. Not that +she did much needlework, but she thought it looked well to have it +with her, even if she talked for hours, while the frame lay idle in +her lap.</p> + +<p>Someone said that the same piece of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>work was in the frame that was in +it on the day of her arrival weeks before.</p> + +<p>She had taken a seat at the far end of the piazza, and she now looked +about her to see who might be near her.</p> + +<p>A tall matron, standing at a short distance, turned, and seeing a +large rocker behind Mrs. Harcourt, walked slowly over, and seated +herself in it. She had just arrived, and so had not yet seen Gwen.</p> + +<p>Here was a chance to talk to a listener who did not know her little +daughter, and Mrs. Harcourt grasped it.</p> + +<p>"You doubtless heard me telling the others how everyone loves my small +girl," she said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I heard what you said," the woman replied, in a manner that +implied her lack of interest, but Mrs. Harcourt did not notice that.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span>"Well, really, when you see Gwen, you will not wonder, for you, like +everyone else, will enjoy her. She's <i>so</i> original."</p> + +<p>Just at this point those who sat near the railing noticed two odd +looking figures toiling up the rough-hewn stairway on the cliff.</p> + +<p>Those who watched them turned to exchange amused glances, and then +look toward Mrs. Harcourt.</p> + +<p>Quite unaware of what was going on, Mrs. Harcourt continued:</p> + +<p>"As I was saying, Gwen is really very unusual, and original, and at +the same time, she is so very sweet tempered, that——," but the +sentence was interrupted by the appearance upon the piazza of a rough +looking fisherman, and a drenched, and very dirty small girl, whose +sailor frock was wet with sea water, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>and be-daubed with cement. Her +eyes were red and swollen with crying, her hair had lost its ribbon, +and hung about her face. Truly she did not look attractive.</p> + +<p>"Could any of you fine ladies put down your needles long 'nough ter +hear where I found this little lass?" said the man, "fer she looks +like she needed 'tendin' to."</p> + +<p>Gwen could at once have run to her mother, but she chose to cling to +the fisherman's rough hand, and be gazed upon as an abused child. Mrs. +Harcourt, trying to decide which shade of silk to use, did not even +look up. She did not dream that Gwen had returned.</p> + +<p>So surprised were the guests that, for the moment, no one spoke, and +the man continued:</p> + +<p>"Me'n' my mates found her floating out ter sea in a ol' tub what the +carpenters had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>been usin' fer cement, an' we pulled her in. As the +tub was a leakin', I guess 'twas 'bout time 'less ye wanted her ter be +drownded."</p> + +<p>A shrill cry from Mrs. Harcourt followed by the sound of hurrying +feet, and then:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Gwen, my dear! Come away from that rough man!" she cried, and the +instant silence showed the disgust that her words had provoked.</p> + +<p>"Wal, I s'pose that's the kind of thanks that a poor feller can expect +from a lady 'ristocrat!" said the fisherman as he turned to go, "but +I'll say one thing more, an' that is that the young lad named Max is +'sponsible for the mischief. It was him what coaxed the little lass +inter that ol' tub, an' then run off ter play."</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for this man!" cried a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>young fellow who had listened +intently, and the guests responded with a will, and Mrs. Harcourt from +the hall whence she had vanished with Gwen, wondered what it was all +about.</p> + +<p>She considered herself a cultured woman, yet she had not spoken one +grateful word to the man who had rescued Gwen from her perilous +position!</p> + +<p>Of course Max denied that he had intended to play a trick on Gwen. He +was a coward, and a coward rarely cares to "own up" when guilty.</p> + +<p>Instead, he insisted that he only "dared" her to get into the tub, but +that he never thought she would stay in it a moment after he was out +of sight.</p> + +<p>His mother believed him; the guests did not, but little cared Max. So +long as she thought him perfect, he was quite happy, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>because he could +do, at all times, exactly as he chose. That he usually chose to be +very disagreeable was not to be wondered at.</p> + +<p>His mother thought his pranks most amusing, and his saucy speeches, +smart, so he was quite content.</p> + +<p>The oddest part of all was that Gwen really liked Max Deland. He was +always getting her into scrapes, and as soon as she had escaped from +one, she was ready for another.</p> + +<p>Max never helped her. Instead, he left her to help herself. Gwen was +wilful with all of her girl playmates, but she would agree to anything +that Max proposed, so when, in the afternoon of the following day, he +told her that he was going to take a long tramp, Gwen was wild to know +just where he was going, and coaxed to go too.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>"<i>Where</i> are you going?" she asked for the third time.</p> + +<p>"Oh, somewhere great!" Max said with a provoking chuckle.</p> + +<p>"It would serve you just right if I said I didn't care where you went, +but I do care, because I want to go too," Gwen said.</p> + +<p>"I only wanted to tease you," Max replied, "and I'll let you go with +me, Gwen. Turn 'round and look at that high hill over back of the +house where we're staying. I'm going to climb to the top of that hill, +and go down on the other side, just to see what there is 'round behind +that hill."</p> + +<p>"Then why don't you walk around it, instead of climbing?" questioned +Gwen.</p> + +<p>"Smarty!" Max said, at he same time looking very unpleasant.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't care," Gwen hastened to say. "I like to climb. Come on!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span>It did not look like much of a hill, but it proved to be hard to +climb, for its sides were steep, and covered with wiry grass.</p> + +<p>The sun was hot, and long before reaching the top, Gwen wished that +she had not started at all.</p> + +<p>Twice she stopped to take short pieces of stems or dry twigs from her +slippers, and often the thorny branches of the low bushes scratched +her bare arms.</p> + +<p>Her sleeves were short, and thus her arms were unprotected. Max's arms +were covered by his jacket sleeves.</p> + +<p>"What a fuss you make over a little scratch!" he said, sharply.</p> + +<p>"I'm <i>not</i> fussing over <i>a</i> scratch!" snapped Gwen. "I'm fussing over +'bout a hundred scratches!"</p> + +<p>"Oh,—o—o!" Max drawled, as if he doubted the number.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>"Well, look!" cried Gwen, holding her little arms red with scratches.</p> + +<p>"Too bad," Max said, and Gwen, surprised, and pleased, followed him, +as he made his way just ahead of her, holding back the bushes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Max, you're good," she said, and Max blushed at her praise. He +thought himself exceedingly good, but he was delighted that Gwen +thought so.</p> + +<p>"This hill didn't look so very high, when we stood on the beach and +looked back at it," said Gwen.</p> + +<p>"N-no," admitted Max, "but all the same I'm glad we started early, and +we'll reach the top 'fore long. Then we'll see what's on the other +side, and when we climb down, we can just run around on the level +ground, and tell the folks where we've been, and what a climb we +had!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span>"Oh, yes," agreed Gwen, and once more they pushed forward, and up +toward the summit, that seemed, no matter how long they climbed, to be +not the least bit nearer.</p> + +<p>For a time they climbed in silence, when, all at once, Gwen tripped +over a loose root, and promptly sat down.</p> + +<p>"I'll have to rest a few minutes," she said.</p> + +<p>"I'll sit down because you do," Max said. He would not say that he, +too, was tired.</p> + +<p>He was not contented long to sit resting, and soon the two were once +more trudging up the steep incline, Max leading the way, and Gwen, +following close behind him.</p> + +<p>"We're 'most to the top," he said, at last, to which Gwen replied:</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it! The more we climb, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span>the farther away it seems, +and I do believe that horrid old hilltop moves away as fast as it sees +us coming!"</p> + +<p>"Now, Gwen, you know better! Just look!" Max said, and Gwen looked.</p> + +<p>"Well,—the top isn't any farther off than it was the last time I +looked up," she said, grudgingly.</p> + +<p>She knew that it looked nearer, but she could not bear to say that.</p> + +<p>"It's nearer, and you know it!" Max declared, stoutly. "Come on!"</p> + +<p>"Wait till I fix my shoe," wailed Gwen.</p> + +<p>"I'll bet that's the tenth time you've stopped to pull your shoe off +since we started to climb this hill," Max cried in disgust.</p> + +<p>Gwen was about to say that she should stop again if she wished to, but +a glance at Max caused her to change her mind. His <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>face was far from +pleasing, so without a word, she fastened her shoe, and silently the +two tramped on.</p> + +<p>Max was wishing that he had taken the trip alone.</p> + +<p>Gwen heartily wished that she had remained on the beach.</p> + +<p>She was not only tired, but her feet were sore and blistered.</p> + +<p>Max walked ahead, and Gwen found it hard work to keep up.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Max!" she cried at last, "Do wait for me!" but Max either did not +hear, or hearing, refused to wait, and Gwen, unable to take another +step, sank down on the coarse grass and burst into tears.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER V<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>WHAT MAX FOUND</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Gwen was very angry. Max had taken her on the long tramp, and now had +become impatient because she was tired, and had left her to choose +between immediately following him, or lagging behind.</p> + +<p>It was almost twilight, but Gwen was forced to rest for a few moments, +at least, before taking another step.</p> + +<p>"P'r'aps I can run, and catch up with Max, if I sit here and rest a +while," she said.</p> + +<p>Max, careless boy that he was, walked straight ahead, not even turning +to look back, to learn if Gwen were following.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>Gwen watched his sturdy little figure as it stood out against the sky, +and envied him because he seemed not the least bit weary, while Max, +sure that she was watching, took extra long steps to show what a +vigorous fellow he was.</p> + +<p>When he had reached the top of the hill, he would have been glad to +rest, but he wished to prove that he was tireless, so he at once +commenced to make his way across the level plain upon which he found +himself, and then to descend the rugged hillside.</p> + +<p>Sometimes a twig snapped overhead, and then he would next be surprised +by stepping upon what proved to be a rolling stone, that would slip +from under his foot, and go rattling on ahead of him.</p> + +<p>The long walk down the far side of the hill was less cheerful than the +upward <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>climb had been, and while he would not for the world have +admitted it, he missed Gwen, and her constant chatter.</p> + +<p>He was beginning to feel tired, and he would have been glad to sit +down and rest, but lest Gwen should be on her way to overtake him, and +laugh at him for resting, he kept on.</p> + +<p>Once he looked over his shoulder hoping to see that she was now +following, but she was not in sight, and again he pushed forward. Not +a bit cared he if Gwen were afraid.</p> + +<p>"If she'd kept up with me, she needn't have been afraid. Nothing would +scare her if I—— Oh—oo—oo!"</p> + +<p>With a frightened yell, he tripped over what appeared to be a long +bundle, which, however, proved to be the legs of a sleeping tramp.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>"Ye little varmint! Walkin' all over a man! I'd serve ye right if I +tied yer arms an' legs tergether, and pitched yer down inter the +valley beyant there!" howled the angry man, as he turned over for +another nap.</p> + +<p>Max, believing that the man was chasing him, raced down the steep +hillside, stumbling over roots, and twigs that lay in his way, sliding +on rolling stones, and catching at low hanging branches to save +himself, he at last, from weariness, stumbled, and fell sprawling over +a stump that the darkness had hidden.</p> + +<p>It happened that Gwen, becoming a bit timid because of the shadows of +twilight, had risen stiffly from her seat on a low rock, and was +hastening after Max, when she heard the boy's shout, and then the +angry words of the tramp, and quickly as she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>had come, she ran back +to her perch upon the rock.</p> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep091.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep091.jpg" width="60%" alt="Now, indeed, she was afraid" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">"Now, indeed, she was afraid."</p> +</div> + +<p>Now, indeed, she was afraid. Alone on a wooded hilltop! Would she have +to stay there all night? Would some one come for her? How would they +know where she was?</p> + +<p>She tried to think that Max, on reaching the house would tell of her +plight, and urge someone to come for her, but she knew that Max was a +coward, and that he never liked to tell anything that might cause +others to blame him.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the tramp slept soundly. No thought of the frightened boy +troubled his dreams, and of the little girl who had drawn back into +the shadow of the trees, he knew nothing.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>At the big yellow house on the Cliff, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>there was great excitement. +Mrs. Harcourt was so nearly frantic that the best efforts of her +friends failed to comfort her.</p> + +<p>Earlier in the day she had gaily laughed at Gwen's absence at the noon +meal, and if she was at all disturbed because of her sailing trip in +the leaky cement tub, she did not show it.</p> + +<p>But that twilight should be hanging over the sea, and night fast +approaching, and Gwen out of sight for the second time was really +enough to frighten any woman, even if she were far less nervous than +Mrs. Harcourt.</p> + +<p>A searching party was formed, not one of whom had the slightest idea +where to look, when, just as the men were about to start out, a small +boy appeared in the driveway; a boy who seemed to wish to be +unnoticed.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>"Hello! I say, Max! You usually know where the little Harcourt girl +is. Do you know now?" said a little man on the outside of the group.</p> + +<p>"Le'me go!" snarled Max, "I want some supper," and he tried to squirm +out of the firm grasp of the little man's hand.</p> + +<p>"Not till you've answered," said a tall, athletic fellow.</p> + +<p>"Come now, little chap, speak up!" Mrs. Deland, faultless dressed now +appeared.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is really absurd to think my little son has the least idea +where——"</p> + +<p>"It may be, Madam," the young man replied, "but I'll just ask him +again, and we'll see how he answers. Say, Max! Do you say you don't +know where she is?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know where she is just now," the boy answered sullenly.</p> + +<p>"Did you know a little while ago?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>"Oh, dear! Max is so sensitive. This sort of thing will quite upset +him I'm sure," said Mrs. Deland.</p> + +<p>The tall young man made no reply, but to Max he said:</p> + +<p>"Tell us where she is, and we'll go and get her, but if you won't tell +us, we'll take you along to show us the way. Which will you do?"</p> + +<p>More tired than he would have cared to admit, Max dared not refuse to +tell, for he had no desire to repeat the fearfully long walk that he +had taken.</p> + +<p>And when he told how little Gwen had declared herself unable to follow +him, the disgust of his listeners was complete.</p> + +<p>"So as the small girl was tired out with the long trip on which you +had taken her, you left her to be a little tenant of the lonely wooded +hilltop for the night!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span>"A brave act, truly. Your mother must be proud of such a manly boy!" +said a stout man who had joined the group.</p> + +<p>"I told her to come along, and I guess she could have if she'd wanted +to," Max said stolidly.</p> + +<p>In disgust, and without another word to the boy or his mother, the +group, with one accord, turned toward the sandy road that led toward +the narrow path up the steep hillside.</p> + +<p>They were sturdy men, well used to long tramps over rugged paths, and +soon they came upon Gwen, huddled close against a high ledge, in an +effort to keep warm.</p> + +<p>She had been too frightened to cry. She had heard the angry shout of +the tramp when Max had stumbled over him, and now, although he had not +uttered a word <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>since, nor had she heard a footstep, she trembled and +constantly looked about her to learn if he were approaching.</p> + +<p>As the searchers made their way toward the crest of the hill, the dry +twigs that lay upon the ground broke under their feet, and the +underbrush snapped as they pushed the low branches back. As they +approached the rock where Gwen was sitting, she heard their voices, +and believing that instead of one tramp, an entire band of tramps was +coming toward her, she screamed with fright, and slipping from the +rock, cowered on the grass, trying to make herself as small as +possible.</p> + +<p>They had heard her outcry, however, and now they called her name.</p> + +<p>"Gwen! Little Gwen! Where are you? We've come to find you!"</p> + +<p>Crying out to them, she hurried forward, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>her arms outstretched, as +she stumbled over the rough, coarse grass, over roots, and dry sticks +that lay in her path, until, in the effort to run, she pitched and +would have fallen, had not the big man of the party caught her, and +swung her to a safe place upon his shoulder.</p> + +<p>For once Gwen was truly grateful, and closely she clung about the big +man's neck, so glad was she, that he and his friends had clambered up +to her lonely perch on the big rock at the summit of the hill.</p> + +<p>Once she whispered in his ear. "There was a big, horrid tramp up on +that hill. I know, because I heard him shout at Max. I wonder if he +hurt Max, and I wonder where Max is now. Did some other men go hunting +for him, just as you hunted for me?"</p> + +<p>"No need of hunting for Max," the big <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>man replied, "for he took good +care of himself, and came sneaking home, safe and sound, while he left +you, little girl, to look out for yourself as well as you could."</p> + +<p>With care they made their way down the rugged hillside, and Gwen was +so happy that she sang snatches of songs, and someone in the rear +whistled to keep her company.</p> + +<p>Arrived at the house, Gwen had a fine welcome.</p> + +<p>She was not generally liked, because of her pert, saucy ways, but the +fact that she had been lost, and now had returned was surely a reason +for rejoicing.</p> + +<p>"Where's Max?" queried a young man who had been one of the searchers.</p> + +<p>"The dear boy was so tired with his tramp that he asked to go at once +to bed. He was really fatigued, for usually he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>coaxes to remain up," +Mrs. Deland said, "and really," she continued, "the only reason that +he did not take Gwen along with him was because she said that she +<i>must</i> rest a while."</p> + +<p>"I suppose it was impossible for him to wait with her," said someone +in the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Max is very tender hearted," Mrs. Deland responded, "and he said he +thought if he waited, she might start before she was sufficiently +rested."</p> + +<p>With much dignity, Mrs. Deland turned from the piazza, and entered the +house. She knew that Max was at fault, and that everyone in the group +thought so.</p> + +<p>She would not acknowledge that her little son could be in the wrong. +Max, according to her ideas, should be praised, and approved of at all +times.</p> + +<p>Gwen was the center of interest, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>that pleased her greatly. Mrs. +Harcourt was delighted, fairly beamed upon those who crowded around +her small daughter, to ask all about her long tramp and how it seemed +to be alone on the wooded hilltop.</p> + +<p>Of course the story lost nothing in the telling.</p> + +<p>Gwen made it really thrilling, but after a time, even her mother felt +that the tale was becoming rather lurid for a strictly truthful +account, and she dragged Gwen away to the hall, and up the stairway, +but she made herself absurd.</p> + +<p>"Really, Gwen, you should be a bit careful," she said, as gently as if +afraid of offending her small girl. "If your wonderful imagination +made you think you saw eyes peering at you from behind those +tree-trunks, you should remember that common people might not believe +you. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>Ordinary people could not understand."</p> + +<p>"I don't care if they don't!" Gwen said stoutly. "I shall tell what I +want to, and they can believe it or not, just as they choose."</p> + +<p>"I surely am the mother of a genius," murmured the silly woman.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>A few days later, great excitement prevailed among the children of the +Summer colony at Cliffmore, and their elders were sufficiently +interested to talk of the news on the piazza, the beach, the little +park, at breakfast, at lunch, and at dinner.</p> + +<p>"It is really to be quite an affair," said one lady, to which her +friend replied:</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't miss it for the world, for I heard that no expense had +been spared, and that the whole thing will be as beautiful as a +dream."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>"Who planned it, or who is managing it?" questioned another, to which +yet another who now joined the group replied:</p> + +<p>"Captain Atherton is 'backing' it, I hear, and so, of course, Rose +will be the central figure in the pageant."</p> + +<p>Yes, that was the cause of the excitement. There was to be a grand +pageant, and the children would be the principal actors.</p> + +<p>"Is Gwen Harcourt to be in the pageant?" someone asked, but before +anyone could reply Mrs. Harcourt joined them.</p> + +<p>"Is my little Gwen to be in it? Why, what a question!" she said. "They +would hardly have a pageant without her."</p> + +<p>"I suppose not," someone said, in a tone of disgust, but Mrs. Harcourt +did not notice that.</p> + +<p>"Well, no," she responded. "I hardly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>think they could, because beside +the part that Gwen will actually take, she will be a great help in +other ways. Her ideas are so original, and she is always so willing to +tell others how things should be done, that she, really, is a +wonderful help. The committee arranging the pageant constantly ask her +advice."</p> + +<p>"I wonder if they asked Gwen's permission to have the pageant at all?" +grumbled a small boy who stood near the ladies who had been talking.</p> + +<p>Yes, it was to be a great event at Cliffmore, and everyone was +interested.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to be, and what are you going to wear?" were the +questions oftenest asked, and groups of merry, laughing children sat +chatting on the piazzas, or strolling along the beach, talking, always +talking of the pageant.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>It was, indeed, to be a grand and beautiful procession that would make +its way along the beach.</p> + +<p>The children were greatly excited, and each was interested in the +costumes that her playmates were intending to wear, as well as that in +which she would herself appear.</p> + +<p>There had been an odd happening. Captain Atherton had chosen the list +of characters to be represented, and Mrs. Sherwood had written a clear +description of the costumes to be worn.</p> + +<p>All were pleased with the parts assigned them, save Gwen Harcourt and +Max Deland.</p> + +<p>"I shall not be one of the mermaids," Gwen had boldly declared. "If I +can't be the Water Queen, I'll not be a water fairy at all!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>"Very well," Captain Atherton had said quietly, "I will find someone +to take your place."</p> + +<p>Gwen was surprised. She had felt sure that Captain Atherton would beg +her to remain, and that he would also give to her the part of the +Water Queen.</p> + +<p>Max had had a similar experience. He had expressed his dislike for the +part given him, and had been told that the parts once given out could +not be changed.</p> + +<p>"Come on, Gwen!" he had said. "We can get up something for ourselves!"</p> + +<p>"What <i>do</i> you mean?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Come on over to the big lodge, and I'll tell you. We'll have fun +enough. You'll see!"</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER VI<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>THE SEA KING'S NYMPHS</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Everyone, everything was ready for the grand carnival and pageant.</p> + +<p>The children were more than ready. They were eager.</p> + +<p>Their costumes were completed, and they knew exactly how they were +expected to pose, so that each should do her part to make the +procession beautiful.</p> + +<p>Even the sun seemed intent upon doing his share, and as he rose from +the water, appeared to be smiling upon sea and land.</p> + +<p>At the far end of the beach was a huge canvas tent, and all of the +"trappings," or "properties" were stored beneath its shelter. From +this tent the procession would <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>start, and pass along the beach, where +hundreds of spectators would be watching from the tiers of seats that +had been erected along the route.</p> + +<p>Princess Polly, Rose, and Sprite stood waiting to take their places.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose Gwen and Max meant?" Polly asked.</p> + +<p>"When they said they'd get up something of their own?" said Rose.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," Polly said. "Don't you remember how they spoke?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I know," Rose replied, "but Gwen and Max often say they'll +do things, and then they don't do at all as they say they will. They +speak like that when they're provoked, and then they forget all about +it."</p> + +<p>"Do you know," Sprite said, "I think this time they'll remember what +they said, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>and I'm just wondering what they will do."</p> + +<p>A trumpet called the children to order, and soon all was bustle and +excitement.</p> + +<p>Then when all were ready, the long line of lovely children attired in +rainbow hues, with here and there an adult figure to add dignity to +the pageant, slowly made its way along the beach, receiving cheers and +applause from the delighted on-lookers.</p> + +<p>First came a group of thirty of the village children, dressed as water +sprites, and blowing on soft-toned silver horns.</p> + +<p>Their tunics were pale rose, and their cheeks were as pink as their +draperies.</p> + +<p>Gilded sandals were on their feet, and they blew their silvery notes +with a will.</p> + +<p>Following the water sprites, came a troop of small boys tripping +along, and dressed as little mermen, their green scales <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>glittering in +the warm sunlight, their caps of braided seaweed bordered with tiny +scallop shells.</p> + +<p>They carried triangles, and gaily they marked the time, laughing as +they tramped along.</p> + +<p>There were floats upon which were grouped children and grown-ups in +tableaux representing historical events.</p> + +<p>There was a tall may-pole carried by a man dressed as a jester, and +boys and girls in early English peasant costumes held the ends of the +long fluttering ribbons, laughing as the crowd applauded.</p> + +<p>Group after group passed along, and one that called forth loud +cheering was composed of boys and girls dressed as little farmers and +their chubby wives.</p> + +<p>The small boys wore overalls and straw hats, the girls wore pink +sunbonnets, pink <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>gowns, and blue aprons, but both boys and girls +carried rakes on their shoulders, and gay companions they seemed to +be.</p> + +<p>The greatest delight, the loudest cheering greeted the great gilded +chariot, drawn by six white horses hired for the occasion by Captain +Atherton.</p> + +<p>Each steed boasted a white harness, and from the head of each floated +streamers of green ribbon.</p> + +<p>Who would ever have dreamed that the imposing Sea King who stood so +proudly in his chariot firmly grasping the reins, was none other than +Captain Seaford, the father of little Sprite.</p> + +<p>A white wig and beard had changed him completely, and his costume of +sea-green draperies was most becoming.</p> + +<p>In his left hand he carried a gilded trident.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>In the chariot with him as his nymphs were Princess Polly, in pink, +Rose Atherton in blue, and little Sprite in yellow, three charming +nymphs, surely.</p> + +<p>Brownies, elves, gnomes, a crowd of small boys dressed to represent +any number of different kinds of fishes were followed by girls among +whom might be seen Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and a host of other +fairy tale heroines.</p> + +<p>There were little hunters, and fishermen, but all agreed that the Sea +King with his nymphs, his chariot and his fine horses was best of all.</p> + +<p>Polly, Rose, and Sprite were just saying that Gwen and Max had kept +out of sight in spite of their declaration that they would be in the +procession, in costumes of their own choosing, when Polly happened to +turn, and look back.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>"Oo—oo—oo! Look!" she cried, and Rose and Sprite, and even the +stately Sea King turned to learn what had startled her.</p> + +<p>Too surprised to speak, they watched a little team with two occupants, +approaching at headlong speed.</p> + +<p>A smart cart drawn by a gray donkey came tearing down the beach. Max +dressed as a farmer, with blue overalls and straw hat, was making a +desperate effort to control the donkey, while Gwen in a chintz frock +and pink sunbonnet sat close beside him, clinging to her seat in +abject fear.</p> + +<p>Evidently they had been late in getting started, and had endeavored to +gain sufficient speed to "catch up" with the procession.</p> + +<p>Max had been vexed that at first the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>balky little beast could not be +induced to hasten, and for a long time he continued to walk at a +fearfully slow pace, paying no heed to shouting, or a taste of the +whip.</p> + +<p>Then, when Max put down the whip, and let the reins lie loosely across +the little creature's back, Neddy suddenly decided to go, and go he +did, galloping along at a rate that set the light cart swaying from +side to side, and threatening, at any moment, to throw Max and Gwen +out.</p> + +<p>"Stop him! Do stop him!" cried Gwen, "He's running away!"</p> + +<p>"I <i>cant</i>!" screamed Max. "First he wouldn't go, and now he won't +stop!"</p> + +<p>The procession halted, and a big boy sprang forward, endeavoring to +snatch at the bridle.</p> + +<p>The intention was good, but the donkey, maddened that anyone should +try to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>stop him, shied, and the boy and girl were hurled out upon the +sand.</p> + +<p>Max turned a complete somersault and came up on his feet, declaring +himself unhurt, but Gwen took an entirely different view of the +matter.</p> + +<p>She was not hurt, but her temper was decidedly ruffled.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare!" she cried, "I do think everyone is horrid, but I +think Max is just a <i>little</i> horrider than the rest!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Gwen, he did his best to stop, but the donkey just wouldn't," +said Sprite.</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't have been spilled if I hadn't been riding with Max, +would I?" cried Gwen. "Something always happens when I go anywhere +with Max. Funny I don't ever remember it. Just as soon as something's +happened, away I go somewhere else with him."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>Gwen could not imagine why they all laughed.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the donkey having run as far as he cared to, stood far down +the beach, looking out across the waves, as calmly as if he could +stand there for hours. Indeed one could hardly think that he was the +same little beast that, a short time before, had bolted so furiously.</p> + +<p>Captain Atherton, who had left the crowd, and quietly followed Neddy, +now quickly approached him. He made no attempt to escape, but instead, +allowed himself to be led as gently as if he really preferred to go +that way.</p> + +<p>Very meek he looked, as with the Captain's firm hand on the bridle, he +approached the crowd that had watched him when he ran wildly along the +beach.</p> + +<p>Max was more than willing to clamber <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>into the cart, and for the +remainder of the route, be a part of the procession. Gwen, first +flatly refused to ride, but after much coaxing she finally consented, +and took her place beside Max, and so odd was the expression of her +face that Max afterward said that he could not tell whether she was +"mad or scared."</p> + +<p>"Half mad and half scared," Gwen replied. "Mad to have to ride again +with you, and scared for fear Neddy would run away again."</p> + +<p>The donkey behaved very well, however. He had run all he cared to for +one while, and he walked along behind the Sea King's chariot, as +quietly as if he had never once dreamed of running away.</p> + +<p>After a while, Gwen began to be so glad that she was indeed, in the +pageant, that she looked about her, and actually smiled <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>when some of +the other children spoke to her.</p> + +<p>At the end of the route, a fine lunch was served in a pavilion that +looked out on the beach.</p> + +<p>Captain Atherton had provided it, and it was heartily enjoyed by all +who had taken part in the pageant, as well their friends who were also +invited.</p> + +<p>After the good things had been partaken of, the little guests danced +to the music furnished by an orchestra that had been playing during +the feasting, and eyes sparkled, and cheeks grew rosy with excitement.</p> + +<p>It had been a delightful day, and for days afterward the children and +those who had been spectators, talked of the lovely pageant, that had +made its glittering way along the beach.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>Captain Seaford sat just outside the door of his house, mending a net, +or rather, attempting to mend it, for his mind was not upon his work, +and from time to time he let the net lie on his knees, while he looked +out across the dancing waves as he was hoping to see a vessel appear +on the horizon.</p> + +<p>He would sit thus for a time, and then shake his head and resume his +work.</p> + +<p>A dancing, springing footstep brought Sprite to the door, and as soon +as she saw how eagerly he scanned the sea, she crept softly toward +him, and laying her hand upon his shoulder, peeped around into his +eyes.</p> + +<p>"What you thinking of, Pa?" she asked quickly.</p> + +<p>"Nothing much little girl," he said gently.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span>She lifted her fore-finger, nodding wisely as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"It might not be much," she said, "but it's enough so you worry about +it. Tell me, Pa, what's vexing you."</p> + +<p>After a moment in which both were silent, she spoke again, but with +her soft little arms about his neck.</p> + +<p>"Was it about Ma, or me you were thinking?" she asked. "You looked so +sober, that I know it was about someone that you cared for."</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of you both, Sprite," he said, as he drew her closer, +"and of the vessel that is almost a week overdue. If she comes in, the +venture that I made on her cargo, will bring what some folks would +call a small sum of money, but to us, it would be a small fortune."</p> + +<p>"A week overdue! I'm not so selfish <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>that I don't give a thought for +those on board that have perished if she's lost. That's simply doubled +the worry."</p> + +<p>A warm tear fell on his rough hand, and he looked up quickly.</p> + +<p>"Tut, tut! Little Sprite! Don't cry yet. It may be that she's only +delayed, and will sail into port, with all hands on board and her +cargo safe. You're too young to worry now. Cheer up! Pa's not really +worrying yet, only wondering, little Sprite, wondering."</p> + +<p>That would have settled the matter for some children, but Sprite saw +more clearly, thought more deeply than does the average child, and she +knew that he was trying to cheer and comfort her while at heart he was +deeply concerned, for the fate of the vessel for which he had been +eagerly waiting.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span>"But she could come in now and be all right, couldn't she?" Sprite +asked. "Or is it so late that you almost know that something has +happened to her?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, Sprite. It's not too late for her to arrive safe and sound, +but as the days pass I catch myself watching a bit closer for her +coming. Why did the tears come, Sprite? I never like to have you +grieving, dear."</p> + +<p>"The tears always come if I think anything has disappointed you, or +Ma," Sprite said, softly. "That's why I tried so hard to win the prize +last Spring, when all the other pupils were working for it, too. I +didn't care half so much about getting it for myself, as for you."</p> + +<p>He drew her yet closer.</p> + +<p>"Dear little Sprite," he said.</p> + +<p>"And now I'm going to hope that the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>vessel will come sailing in with +a big load of luck on board. I'll tell you one thing; I saw the moon +over my right shoulder last night, and all the sailors say that's +lucky."</p> + +<p>Captain Seaford laughed at this bit of superstition offered to him as +a crumb of comfort.</p> + +<p>She laughed with him, and stooping, picked up a small star fish.</p> + +<p>"I'll toss this up three times. If it comes down on the sand, twice +out of three times right side up, it will be the same as saying that +the vessel is safe, and will return all right."</p> + +<p>Three times she tossed it up, only a few inches from the sand lest it +break.</p> + +<p>"Once! Right side up!" she cried, a rippling laugh following her +words.</p> + +<p>"Twice! Wrong side up! Oh, Pa, which will it be next time?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>A moment she stood irresolute as if half fearing to test their luck +the third time. She turned the star fish over and over in her hand, +then, as if she thought waiting useless, she tossed it lightly up.</p> + +<p>"Oo—oo! Look! Look Pa!" she cried, "It's right side up! Pa, I do +believe the vessel will come in safely. My! Wouldn't it have been +awful if the star fish had fallen the other side up?"</p> + +<p>"My little Sprite is a great comfort," he said, "and the tossing of +the star fish is harmless fun, but I'd not like to think that you'd +believe all the superstitious yarns that the sailors tell."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," was the earnest reply. "I know that some of them could not +be true, but there's one funny one that a sailor down on the pier told +yesterday.</p> + +<p>"He said you could go down stairs <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>backwards after dark, and look into +a mirror you held in your hand, and see something, I don't know what, +but I'm going to try it. I'll try it just to know what I'd see, or to +find out what would happen. He said something was sure, just <i>sure</i> to +happen."</p> + +<p>"The something that would happen would be that you'd fall, and perhaps +break your pretty neck," Captain Seaford said, "but as to what you'd +see in the glass! Why, that is all nonsense. Here and there is a +sailor that's as full of such silly notions as a weather vane.</p> + +<p>"That sort of sailor listens to all the yarns he hears, believes them +all, tells them all, and generally he isn't any too careful to tell +them just as he heard them.</p> + +<p>"He's apt to add just a little of his own nonsense to the yarn he +heard to make it interesting."</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER VII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>A WEDDING AT CLIFFMORE</h4> +<br /> + +<p>The playmates who were at Cliffmore for the Summer were having a +delightful time, but in a quiet way, John Gifford, or "Gyp," as he was +still called, was very happy, and also very busy.</p> + +<p>At the end of the school year in June, he had stood at the head of his +class, and now, employed by Captain Atherton, he knew that he was +respected, and that he had honestly earned that respect.</p> + +<p>"I'm to be the hired 'man' on his place," he said, "so I'll be earning +something, while I study evenings, for I mean to get somewhere worth +while. I don't mind if anyone in Avondale who likes me, calls me +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>"Gyp." It sounds friendly, but I'll not always be known as Gyp, the +gypsy boy. When I get out in the world I'll be John Gifford, and I +mean business. I don't know yet just what I'll do, but Captain +Atherton will advise me, and with his help, I'll be able to decide."</p> + +<p>Of course there were a few who continued to shake their heads, and say +that "A gypsy is always a gypsy, and what can you expect of a boy +brought up, or rather permitted to grow up, as Gyp has been?"</p> + +<p>The larger number of the people of Avondale seemed determined to take +a more cheerful view of it, and to believe in the boy, even as he now +seemed to believe in himself.</p> + +<p>Gyp proved that he needed no watching, for he commenced work early +each day, and never stopped until night.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>The lawn was carefully clipped, the flowers and lawn were given an +abundance of water, vines were trained, and shrubs were trimmed, until +after a month of Gyp's care, the place looked finer than ever before.</p> + +<p>Captain Atherton left Cliffmore one day to visit Avondale, and get +some papers that he remembered having left in his safe.</p> + +<p>As he walked up the path he noticed what fine care the place had +received during his absence. The lawn had never looked so green, the +plants and shrubs had never blossomed so freely.</p> + +<p>As he stood looking about him the click of the lawn mower caused him +to turn just as Gyp came around the corner of the house.</p> + +<p>"You've worked wonders here, Gyp," the Captain said. "I always had a +fairly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span>good lawn, and much could be said of the vines and the +flowers, but everything looks far better than it ever did before. +Where did you get the knowledge to do the work so well, and so +successfully?"</p> + +<p>"I asked the gardener down in the Center, the one who takes care of +the parks, to tell me how to do my best for you, and then—I did it," +Gyp said, simply.</p> + +<p>"Work like that at whatever you undertake, and you'll be pretty sure +to achieve success," said Captain Atherton.</p> + +<p>"I mean to," Gyp replied, firmly, and as he looked after the fine +figure ascending the steps to the porch he murmured:</p> + +<p>"I'll do my very best for him," while Captain John Atherton said, as +he opened the door of his safe to take out the papers that he needed: +"That boy is worth helping, and I'll help him."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span>With the genial Captain away, the housekeeper felt free to enjoy a bit +of gossip, and seeing the cook in the garden of the next house, she +slipped out of the rear door, and across the lawn, where, that her +coming might look like a mere happening, she took a bit of paper from +her pocket, and commenced scribbling upon it.</p> + +<p>She wished the cook in the next garden to think that she was jotting +down a few things that she wished to remember.</p> + +<p>Curiosity was at once aroused, and the cook moved toward the hedge.</p> + +<p>"E'hem!" she coughed softly.</p> + +<p>The housekeeper turned coolly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, good morning," she said. "I just come out here for a bit of a +rest, there's so much going on just now, that I'm nearly wild with the +planning."</p> + +<p>"Do tell!" cried the cook. "I've heard <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>there was to be great doings +of some sort over at 'The Cliffs,' but I haven't yet heard what it is. +What's it all about? I'm wild to know."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wilton sighed, as if she were already very weary.</p> + +<p>"We're not more than half ready for the great event," she said, "but +Captain Atherton does not wish me to tell anyone the least thing about +it."</p> + +<p>"Mercy sakes! Why I came out purpose to hear!" said the cook, her +round face very red, and her little eyes snapping.</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll hear later," Mrs. Wilton said, and turning, she walked +across the lawn and entered the house.</p> + +<p>Inside the door she whispered:</p> + +<p>"There! I guess that paid her for being so private that she wouldn't +tell me a thing about the company that left their house in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>such a +hurry one day last week, and hustled off before daylight at that!"</p> + +<p>The cook, still standing with her fat arms akimbo, stared wrathfully +at the closed door where the housekeeper had vanished.</p> + +<p>"Well, of all the mean things not even telling a decent woman like +myself one bit of what's going on there! I'll find out, though, some +way. To-morrow is my afternoon off, and I'll go from one end of this +town to the other to see what I can hear."</p> + +<p>Even little Rose Atherton was pledged to keep the secret.</p> + +<p>"We're to have a lovely time at our house," she said to Polly and +Sprite, one morning. "We're to have a perfectly lovely time, and +you'll be there to enjoy it, but that is all I can tell. Uncle John +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>said I could say that if I wished to but that I musn't tell any more +just now."</p> + +<p>"Well, we won't mind waiting to hear just what it is," Polly said, +"because we know it will be nice, whatever sort of party it is. We +always have a nice time at your house."</p> + +<p>"And we'll like it all the better because there's to be a surprise of +some sort," said Sprite.</p> + +<p>"We can wonder and wonder, and then when the day comes we'll have the +fun of not guessing what it is, but just knowing what it is and +enjoying it."</p> + +<p>Rose looked very wise.</p> + +<p>"It's to be lovely, I told you that, and there's one thing more I can +tell, and that is that it will be different from any party we ever +went to, or any party any of us ever had."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>"Won't we be glad when we haven't to wait any longer to know just what +kind of a party it is?" said Sprite.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," agreed Princess Polly, "and so will ever so many other +people, for I've heard people talking about it, and saying that they +were tired of guessing, and that they wished they knew now, instead of +having to wait still longer to know."</p> + +<p>"It won't be very long now before they know," Rose said, laughing +gaily.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>The secret was out, because the invitations were out.</p> + +<p>Captain John Atherton, the genial master of the beautiful home at +Cliffmore, known as "The Cliffs," and of an equally beautiful estate +at Avondale, was to marry the girl whom he had always faithfully +loved.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span>The misunderstanding that had parted them had come about because of +the loss of a miniature of the girl, Iris Vandmere.</p> + +<p>Its loss had grieved John Atherton.</p> + +<p>He could not imagine how it could have so completely vanished. In +truth, it had been stolen, but Iris thought that her lover must have +valued it lightly, believing if he had properly guarded it, it could +not have been taken from him. One word had led to another, and she had +sent him away, grieving and wretched.</p> + +<p>Her own heart was not less sad, but she had endeavored to hide that. +Then, on that lucky day of the Summer before, Princess Polly had found +the exquisite miniature lying in the middle of the sandy road.</p> + +<p>How it came to be there, no one could say. Evidently someone, perhaps, +the one who had stolen it, had dropped it, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span>travelled on, unaware +that the famous miniature lay waiting a claimant, on the main road of +Cliffmore.</p> + +<p>The Summer colony was excited, but of all those who were invited to be +present, none were more lovingly interested than the children.</p> + +<p>John Atherton loved the children, and they dearly loved him.</p> + +<p>One would have thought that the grand old house of the Vandmere's +would have been chosen for the wedding, but Iris was quite alone +there, save for her servants.</p> + +<p>Both parents had but recently passed away, and the lonely girl felt +that the home with its sad memories was not at all the place for the +happy event.</p> + +<p>"Let it be at Cliffmore," she had said, and at Cliffmore it was to be.</p> + +<p>"Only think of it," Princess Polly said <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span>one morning, "Rose is to be +maid of honor, and Sprite and I are to be bridesmaids. Rose is to wear +pink, with pink roses, and we shall wear white with pink roses. Miss +Iris will wear white, because brides always wear white. Mamma, why +can't brides sometimes wear something else?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sherwood laughed.</p> + +<p>"This time the bride will wear 'something else.' Miss Vandmere's gown +will be of the palest blue satin, and beautiful lace," she said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how lovely!" cried Princess Polly.</p> + +<p>At last the great day arrived, just as the children felt that they +could not wait much longer.</p> + +<p>It was like a dream of Fairyland, for the great gardens at "The +Cliffs" had never looked finer, the rooms were bowers of flowers and +foliage, soft music floated <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>through the halls, and then, Iris in +shimmering blue satin, attended by her dainty little maids, came +forward to the floral arch, where handsome Captain Atherton stood +waiting.</p> + +<p>After the ceremony, the guests moved forward to kiss the lovely bride, +and Iris, bent to give her first kiss to her little maid of honor.</p> + +<p>"You are <i>my</i> little Rose, now," she whispered, and Rose, happy Rose, +clasped her arms about her soft, white neck.</p> + +<p>And quite as the weddings in the old fairy tales it was, for the +banquet was like an old time feast, and dancing, in which the Captain +and his bride took part, followed.</p> + +<p>When, after a gay, brilliant evening, the happy pair said "good-bye," +their friends gathered about them, wishing them <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>a pleasant voyage on +the <i>Dolphin</i>, a safe return, and all good fortune.</p> + +<p>Never a thought of loneliness had little Rose. During Uncle John's +absence, she was to be with her dear Princess Polly, and what could be +better than that?</p> + +<p>For a few more weeks they would be at the shore, and Rose would be at +the Sherwood's cottage, at play all day with Princess Polly and +Sprite.</p> + +<p>Then she would leave Cliffmore with the Sherwoods, and go with them to +Avondale, there to remain until, upon his return, Uncle John, and the +lovely, new Aunt Iris, should come for her. Rose was delighted to stay +with Princess Polly, and she looked forward to her home with Uncle +John, now to be even pleasanter than before, because of the sweet, new +relative, whom she already loved.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span>The day after the wedding, Gwen decided to go over to "The Cliffs" to +learn if Rose were there, and if she were so lucky as to find her, to +remain and play with her. It would be a fine way to spend the morning.</p> + +<p>She had quarreled with Max.</p> + +<p>She was always either vexed with him or just making up, and no one +could ever guess which had happened, because Gwen looked quite as +cheerful after a disagreement, as when the friendship had been +renewed.</p> + +<p>She hurried along the beach, rushing past a group of small girls whom +she often played with, because she meant surely to find Rose before +she might leave "The Cliffs" to go over to Princess Polly's house.</p> + +<p>She knew that the walk would be a long one, yet it seemed farther than +she thought.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>The sun was hot, and the sand seemed burning under the thin soles of +her dainty shoes.</p> + +<p>"How long it takes me to get there!" she said impatiently. "I couldn't +run all the way."</p> + +<p>She reached the low gate a few minutes later, however, and opening it, +swung it wide between the two stone posts, and ran up the path, +laughing when the gate swung to with a clang of its iron latch.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Wilton, the housekeeper, opened the door, believing that some +important person had arrived, for the bell had rung as if the opening +of the door were imperative.</p> + +<p>She was not pleased to see the small girl standing there.</p> + +<p>"No, Rose is not here," she said in answer to Gwen's question. "She is +to stay <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>with Polly while her Uncle John is away. She went over there +this morning."</p> + +<p>"Why this is 'this morning'," Gwen said, pertly.</p> + +<p>"It is ten o'clock, and Rose went over to the Sherwood house at +eight," the housekeeper said, at the same time stepping back, as if +she intended to close the door.</p> + +<p>She was free to close it as soon as she chose, for Gwen had turned, +and without a word or a glance, raced down the path, out of the +gateway and up the beach to join Rose and Polly whom she now saw +standing and talking.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" she cried, as she drew nearer. "I've been over to 'The +Cliffs' to find you, Rose, and then I came here. What you two talking +about?"</p> + +<p>"Trying to choose what to play," Rose said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span>Both wished that Gwen had remained away, but they could not be rude, +so she of course would join in the game, whatever it might be. It was +a warm morning, and Princess Polly was just thinking that it would be +fine to choose a shady spot, and sit there telling fairy tales, but +Gwen's arrival made that impossible.</p> + +<p>She never cared to listen while someone told a story. To be happy she +must be the story teller, and as her stories were always wildly +improbable, and always about her silly little self, they were never at +all interesting.</p> + +<p>For that matter, she was never willing to join in any game unless it +was very exciting.</p> + +<p>Several games were suggested by Rose and Polly, but to all Gwen shook +her head, and refused to play either one of them.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span>One she thought too stupid, another she declared that she had never +liked, and, yet another was "awfully dull" she said.</p> + +<p>At last Rose lost patience.</p> + +<p>"What <i>will</i> you play?" she asked sharply, her cheeks flushing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know," Gwen replied carelessly. "I guess I won't play at +all, anyway not with you two. I'll run back and find Max Deland. He's +good fun, and he'll surely be able to think of something I'll like to +play. He most always does, and I like him because he is wide awake. +Good-bye!" and she was off like a flash down the beach.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER VIII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>AUNT ROSE CALLS</h4> +<br /> + +<p>There had been many sunny days with blue skies, and never a cloud in +sight, when one day, to the surprise of everyone, the sky appeared to +be a solid mass of dark, leaden clouds, and the sea that for such a +long time had been glistening and sparkling, now showed only a dark +sullen surface, with here and there a whitecap to break its monotony.</p> + +<p>Rose and Polly had decided to remain indoors, and all the afternoon +they had been busy sorting the shells that they had been collecting.</p> + +<p>"I wish I had more of these," said Polly, pointing to a little heap of +oddly shaped <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>shells, white in color, with here and there markings of +soft brown.</p> + +<p>"I wish so too," Rose said. "We've less of that kind than we have of +any of the others. I wonder how it happened that we didn't get more of +those?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but if it is pleasant to-morrow, let's hunt for some," +said Polly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sherwood called, and Polly putting the tray full of shells upon +the table, went out across the hall to reply.</p> + +<p>Rose hurried down stairs to the hall, out onto the piazza, along the +flower bordered path to the gate, then out and off down the beach.</p> + +<p>Polly never liked to be out when the sky was cloudy and the wind raw, +but Rose cared not a bit, and she had gone out thinking to give Polly +a surprise.</p> + +<p>She meant to find some of the coveted <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>shells, and run home with them +before Polly should have missed her.</p> + +<p>She looked back at the Sherwood cottage. How pretty it was, and quite +like a country house with its well kept lawn, its flowers in the +gardens, and even at the gate, a rose vine clambering over.</p> + +<p>Swiftly she ran along the beach to a spot where usually they had found +the most shells.</p> + +<p>A few there were, but none like those that Polly wanted, and she +trudged along, looking sharply at every shell that lay imbedded in the +hard, wet sand, from which the tide had receded.</p> + +<p>She had been gone nearly an hour although she did not dream that it +was so long since she had left the house.</p> + +<p>She had known that Polly would not follow her, because of the cold +wind that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>was blowing so briskly. A rift in the clouds had let the +sunlight through, and when she reached the gate, the garden was bathed +in sunlight.</p> + +<p>Rose paused for a moment to look at the flowers, now gay in the bright +sunshine, when the sound of voices came toward her, and while one was +the pleasant voice of Mrs. Sherwood, the other was surely the voice +of—Great Aunt Rose!</p> + +<p>"Captain Atherton asked that Rose might remain with us while he is +away," Rose heard Mrs. Sherwood say to which the cold voice of Great +Aunt Rose replied sternly:</p> + +<p>"Well, and if he did, I see no reason why she can not spend a part of +the time with me at the old Atherton house which I have always felt +was her proper home."</p> + +<p>Little Rose Atherton's heart beat faster. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>She still stood at the +gate, and she wondered that, for a moment, neither spoke.</p> + +<p>Then Great Aunt Rose broke the silence.</p> + +<p>"I was away at the time of the wedding, but had I been present, I +should have at that time <i>insisted</i> that the Captain leave her with +me, not only during his cruise on the <i>Dolphin</i>, but after his return.</p> + +<p>"The young woman whom he has married is a beauty, and so of course, +will be too full of dress and society to have any interest in little +Rose. If John has chosen to wed a flighty beauty, he should at least +give Rose to me."</p> + +<p>"Miss Vandmere is indeed beautiful to look at, but she is lovely in +character as well, and I know that she loves Rose," Mrs. Sherwood said +quietly.</p> + +<p>She would not argue, but she felt that,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> in justice she must give +utterance to the fine regard in which she held Iris Vandmere.</p> + +<div class="img"> +<a href="images/imagep151.jpg"> +<img border="0" src="images/imagep151.jpg" width="60%" alt="She still stood at the gate" /></a><br /> +<p class="cen" style="margin-top: .2em;">"She still stood at the gate."</p> +</div> + +<p>"There are, I suppose, some beauties who are neither vain nor foolish, +but however that may be, I am determined to see Rose to-day, and to +ask her if she does not wish to return with me."</p> + +<p>At these words uttered in a shrill, angry voice, Rose turned and raced +down the beach.</p> + +<p>She dropped the shells that she had been tightly holding, and without +a thought of recovering them, she ran at top speed, as if, at that +very moment stately Great Aunt Rose had been actually chasing her.</p> + +<p>She had no idea how far she had run, she had not paused for even a +second, nor had she once looked back. Now as she looked up, she saw a +narrow side street <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>that commenced at the shore, but well up from the +water, and ran toward the center of the little village.</p> + +<p>She was almost breathless as she turned into the little street, but +she dared not stop running.</p> + +<p>The very thought of ever returning to the stately old Atherton house, +with its great dark halls, its formal drawing-room, and for companion, +gentle Aunt Lois, kind but so deaf that it was almost impossible to +talk with her, and cold, dignified, haughty Great Aunt Rose, filled +little Rose with terror.</p> + +<p>She was now completely tired out, and as she turned the corner of the +next street, she stumbled, and would have fallen but for two strong +arms that caught her. She looked up.</p> + +<p>"Why little Rose!"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span>"Oh, Aunt Judith! Dear Aunt Judith, take me home with you now, right +off, this very minute!" cried Rose. "Don't stop to ask why! Just take +me now! Come! They may be here any minute! Come!"</p> + +<p>"Why, Rose! What does this mean?" cried Aunt Judith.</p> + +<p>"I was on my way to call upon Mrs. Sherwood, and ask you and Polly to +come up to my little cottage and spend to-morrow with me, and here you +are, looking for all the world as if you were running away. I musn't +run off with you like this."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but <i>do</i>, Aunt Judith. Please do! It isn't safe to wait a minute. +I'll tell you everything when we're safe at your cottage. Come!"</p> + +<p>The fear in Rose's brown eyes was so evident, that although it seemed +a strange thing to do, Aunt Judith turned about, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>with Rose +clinging to her arm, started in the direction of the station. A train +was already made up, and about to start for Avondale.</p> + +<p>They were soon seated, and Rose drew a sigh of relief when the train +started.</p> + +<p>"Now, I'm safe," she said, leaning against Aunt Judith.</p> + +<p>It was not until they were inside the cottage at Avondale, at +twilight, the shades drawn and the lamps lighted that Rose told what +had frightened her, and why she had run away.</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder that you were frightened," Aunt Judith said. "If John +had been at home you would have been brave, but gentle Mrs. Sherwood +seemed to you to be no match for Great Aunt Rose. I do not think as +you do. For all her gentleness Mrs. Sherwood is a fine character, and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>I do not think she would permit anyone to take you from her home when +you had been left in her care by your Uncle John.</p> + +<p>"There is another thing to be thought of. Great Aunt Rose has left the +Sherwood cottage long before this, and Mrs. Sherwood and Princess +Polly I believe are greatly frightened by your absence. Don't you know +that they must have been searching for you now for at least two hours, +and not finding you, they will fear that you have come to harm.</p> + +<p>"If only you had told me what it was that had so frightened you, I +would have returned with you to Mrs. Sherwood, and have helped +convince your aunt that you could not go home with her.</p> + +<p>"Great Aunt Rose would not actually take you by force."</p> + +<p>"Oh, she would!" cried Rose, "and I'm <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>glad we're here, but we can let +them know that I am safe, and that I am here with you, and why I came. +I'd go back to them to-morrow if I knew Great Aunt Rose wouldn't go +there again, and try to get me.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the great old Atherton house is so grand, and yet so lonely, and +she doesn't love me. She was always telling me while I was there that +the reason she wanted me to live there was because I was an Atherton, +and she said the proper place for me to live was in the old Atherton +house.</p> + +<p>"She said there had always been a 'Rose Atherton' in the family even +'way, 'way back, and that every 'Rose Atherton' had lived in that +house, and when I said I pitied them, she was angry, and she said I'd +no reason to. She said the others were proud of this family, and glad +to live there, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>and that I was the odd one. She said it was strange +I'd rather live with Uncle John, and I said it <i>wasn't</i> strange +because he was so loving.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can't bear to think of the time that I lived there, and I'm +glad I ran away from Polly's house before Great Aunt Rose saw me. I +know she would have snatched me away from the Sherwood's.</p> + +<p>"I was peeping in at the gate when I heard her voice.</p> + +<p>"She was telling Mrs. Sherwood that I ought to go home and stay with +her while Uncle John is away.</p> + +<p>"I didn't wait a minute, but raced down the beach just as fast as I +could. Then I thought if she came out, she might see me on the beach +even at a distance, so I turned into a side street, and the next +corner I turned brought me straight to you."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>There was indeed consternation in the Sherwood cottage when, after the +unpleasant caller had left the house, Polly commenced to look for +Rose, and no Rose could be found, though thorough search was made, the +servants gladly assisting, and just as Polly was crying, and declaring +that she could not taste the least bit of food until Rose was found, +the telephone rang.</p> + +<p>Glad news it was that Rose was safe with Aunt Judith, and Mrs. +Sherwood and Polly accepted Aunt Judith's invitation to come and spend +the next day at her cottage.</p> + +<p>Aunt Judith had gone a short distance to Mrs. Grafton's house, and she +had sent her message from there.</p> + +<p>"Hurrah!" cried Harry, as Aunt Judith turned from the telephone. "I'm +glad it <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>happened that Rose had to run away, for we've missed her all +these weeks that she's been spending at the shore. We'll be over +to-morrow to see her, won't we, Leslie?" and he gave one of Leslie's +long curls a sly twitch.</p> + +<p>"We surely will, unless you pull all my hair out when I'd want to hide +my head," Leslie said, laughing.</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw! The way I pull your curls amounts to just love pats," +Harry cried.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't say so if I twitched your hair like that," Leslie +responded.</p> + +<p>"I guess I'll go down and get my hair shingled so you won't be able to +get hold of it," he said. "Lend me a quarter, Leslie? I spent all I +had to-day on candy and a new bat."</p> + +<p>Leslie refused and Harry chased her, the two laughing as they ran.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>"I never saw a brother and sister who played together so prettily," +Aunt Judith said.</p> + +<p>"They are great chums," Mrs. Grafton said. "Of course Harry has his +boy friends, and Leslie is very fond of Lena Lindsey, but for all that +my boy and girl are fast friends, and they love each other dearly."</p> + +<p>"I like to see it," Aunt Judith said.</p> + +<p>She hurried back to the cottage where Rose at the window was eagerly +watching for her.</p> + +<p>"Mrs. Sherwood's voice sounded very anxious when she replied to my +call at the telephone, and the tone of quick relief when I told her +that you were safe here at the cottage with me was very evident.</p> + +<p>"Polly had cried until she was about sick, but of course, she will be +all right <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>now, and they will both be with us here to-morrow, for the +day."</p> + +<p>"That will be fine," cried Rose, "and you'll set the larger table +to-morrow, and make it look fine, but to-night, Aunt Judith, just +to-night let's have the little tea table, just as we used to when I +lived here with you, with the pretty pale green dishes, and the dear +little sugar and cream set with the pink moss-rose buds on it. May we, +Aunt Judith?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Judith came and took the pretty face between her two hands, and +looked into the eager brown eyes for a moment.</p> + +<p>"We'll have our little tea just as we used to, because it will please +you, and because I'd like nothing better," she said.</p> + +<p>"And let me help at the table, just as I used to," Rose said, and +together they worked, Rose bringing the rosebud china, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>while Aunt +Judith brought the pale green plates, and cups and saucers from the +little china closet, and placed them upon the dainty, spindle-legged +table. There were tiny, fresh rolls, chocolate with cream, a dish of +raspberry jam of which Rose was very fond, and even the little round +pound cakes that Rose so well remembered. Aunt Judith had sent a small +boy to purchase them for her while she was telephoning at Mrs. +Grafton's.</p> + +<p>When all was ready, they took their places, Aunt Judith pouring the +chocolate, while Rose served the cream from the dainty jug, and +dropped the cubes of sugar from the quaint little silver tongs.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Judith, I'm so happy with Uncle John, that everything I have at +his home seems perfect, but there's one queer thing that I don't +understand. No raspberry <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span>jam ever seems just like the jam I always +had at this cottage."</p> + +<p>Aunt Judith was delighted.</p> + +<p>"To think that you would always remember the jam, and think it a bit +nicer than any other!" she said.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it was because we were choice of it, and served it on Sundays +and holidays that made you think it extra nice."</p> + +<p>Rose leaned toward her and laid her hand upon her arm. "And perhaps it +was because you always kept the jam in that lovely cream colored crock +that has the butterflies upon it. I do believe things taste nicer for +being kept in pretty jars like that."</p> + +<p>"I think so, too," Aunt Judith said, "but your Uncle John has +beautiful china, so doubtless his housekeeper could find plenty of +pretty dishes for serving."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span>"Oh, she does," Rose replied, "but in the closet, the jam is kept in a +stone crock, while yours was always in the butterfly jar that I always +thought so lovely."</p> + +<p>"The dearest thing about this cosy little tea is the fact——" Aunt +Judith bent to kiss her cheek, "that I have you for my guest, little +Rose."</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER IX<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>AT AVONDALE</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Harry was ready to go over to the cottage at eight the next morning, +but Leslie declared it a ridiculous hour to call.</p> + +<p>"Call!" cried Harry. "Who's going to make a prim old call, I'd like to +know? S'pose a fellow is going to lug a card case just to go and play +with Rose?"</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said Leslie, "but even if we are just going over to +the cottage to play, we'd not care to get there when she's eating +breakfast."</p> + +<p>"Well, I guess there's no chance of doing that, Leslie. Look at the +clock. It is after eight now, and we're still at table."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>"I'll go over with you at nine," Leslie said, and when the clock +struck nine, she found him just outside the door, his shrill whistle +having told her where to find him.</p> + +<p>"Come on!" he cried. "It's nine, and if you won't come with me now +I'll go over to see Rose without you."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll have to go back now," Leslie said, and turning, she ran +across the hall, and up the stairway, laughing as she went.</p> + +<p>"Good-bye!" shouted Harry, and off he sped, thinking it a great joke +on Leslie that he should keep his word, and because she was causing +the delay, run off to the cottage instead of waiting for her.</p> + +<p>Leslie, never dreaming but that he was waiting on the walk just +outside the door, wondered that he did not whistle or call to her to +hurry.</p> + +<p>She had gone back for a book that she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>intended to give Rose, and in +her haste she could not at once find it.</p> + +<p>At last she saw a bit of its cover beneath a mass of lace and ribbon, +in the corner of the drawer where she had placed it for safe keeping, +and catching it up, flew down the stairway and out upon the porch.</p> + +<p>For a moment she paused, wondering where Harry might be, when a merry +shout made her look up.</p> + +<p>Away up the avenue, just opening the cottage gate, was Harry, and even +as she looked, he disappeared behind the tall shrubbery in the garden.</p> + +<p>"Well, isn't he great?" Leslie said, as she started to run.</p> + +<p>Rose and Harry were just behind a tall shrub that overhung the +gateway, and as Leslie pushed the gate open they sprang <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>forward in a +fine attempt to startle her, but she only laughed.</p> + +<p>"You couldn't make me jump," she said, "because I saw a bit of Rose's +pink dress between the branches, and Harry moved his head so that I +saw his yellow hair."</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you speak, and tell us you knew where we were hiding?" +Harry asked, a nice bit vexed that Leslie had not "jumped."</p> + +<p>"I thought you ought to have the fun of springing out at me, after +you'd hidden so nicely," Leslie said.</p> + +<p>"Better luck next time," said Rose, and together they ran around +behind the cottage to learn if the little brook was as clear, and as +rippling as when Rose, in the early Summer, had sailed her little boat +upon it.</p> + +<p>"The brook is here!" cried Harry. "It hasn't run away yet."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>A ragged little chap now approached them, but they did not see him. +They were kneeling on the bank and looking at the reflections in a +little pool where no ripple stirred the surface.</p> + +<p>The comical little fellow might have kept away from them had they been +facing him, but as their backs were toward him, he felt quite brave.</p> + +<p>He was a droll looking urchin. His trousers evidently belonged to an +older brother, as the legs had been rolled over and over in an effort +to make them short enough so that he might walk without treading upon +them. His blouse must have been the property of the same person, for +the sleeves had received the same treatment as the trouser legs, that +he might be able to use his hands. Upon his head rested an old straw +hat. A big hole in the crown <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>permitted a sprout of red hair to pop +out, and a pair of shoes, not mates, completed his odd costume. He +continued to approach until he stood within a few feet of Harry +Grafton, and then he paused, as if wishing that one of the group might +turn, and greet him.</p> + +<p>With chubby hands clasped behind his back he waited. He was evidently +in no hurry, but after a time he became impatient.</p> + +<p>"Hello!" he said, and Harry turned.</p> + +<p>"Hello, little chap! Who are you?" Harry asked.</p> + +<p>Ignoring the question, the small boy eyed Harry for a second, then he +lisped:</p> + +<p>"Where'th Gyp? Ma thaid: 'Find Gyp.'"</p> + +<p>"Are you Gyp's little brother?" Harry asked.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>The small head in the big hat nodded.</p> + +<p>"What's your name?" inquired Harry.</p> + +<p>"Motheth," said the child.</p> + +<p>"<i>Moses!</i>" cried Harry. "You must be wise. Are you?"</p> + +<p>"I do' no', but I got to find Gyp, for Ma thaid I wouldn't have no +dinner unleth I found him, an' I want my dinner now."</p> + +<p>"And yet you haven't found Gyp," Harry said. "Well, I saw him a little +while ago at work on the lawn over at Captain Atherton's house. Run +over there and look for him. Scoot! He may go off while you're waiting +to think about it."</p> + +<p>Wee Moses waited for no urging, but raced across Aunt Judith's lawn, +out of the gate, and down the avenue, the tuft of red hair waving like +a flaming feather on the crown of his hat.</p> + +<p>"Just notice his speed," cried Harry, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>and Rose and Leslie laughed as +the comical figure turned, and bolted up the driveway of the Atherton +place.</p> + +<p>"That is only one of Gyp's small brothers," Leslie said.</p> + +<p>"I never knew that he had one named Moses," said Rose.</p> + +<p>"I've heard you tell their names, Harry," Leslie said, "but I never +remember them all. I know there is a Mike, and a Pete, and isn't one +named Hank?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and there's Luke and a little fellow that they call Sonny while +they're trying to decide what to name him," said Harry, "and really +he's such a funny looking little fellow that it would be hard work to +think of a name that would fit him."</p> + +<p>"There is a girl over on the other part of the town whose name is +Tulip Rose <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>Lillian Buttrick, and she told the girls that her parents +gave her all those names because they couldn't decide which they liked +best."</p> + +<p>"What an idea!" cried Rose. "Well, I'm glad I haven't Tulip and +Lillian added to my name."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why those people stopped at all," Harry said, "for +there's dandelion, and phlox and marigold, and a whole lot of other +flower names. Seems sort of stingy to give her only three."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Harry! Nobody would name a girl 'Phlox,' think how it would look +written," Leslie said.</p> + +<p>"I guess they don't worry about how it would look written," Harry +said.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>It was when Rose and Leslie and Harry were resting after an exciting +game, that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span>Mrs. Sherwood and Princess Polly arrived.</p> + +<p>Then the fun began.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Sherwood went in to talk with Aunt Judith, and the four playmates +ran over to the Grafton's for a game of tennis. And while they were +playing, eagerly hoping to win, each trying to outdo the other, little +Sprite Seaford sat in the odd little living room of her home, sorting +her treasures, and at the same time thinking what a fine time Princess +Polly must be having at Aunt Judith's cottage with Rose and her other +playmates.</p> + +<p>The pretty shells, the coral, and the star fish, each had places of +their own, but they had been taken out to show to some callers the +afternoon before, and Sprite was now engaged in replacing them, each +in its own especial place.</p> + +<p>Captain Seaford was out fishing and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span>Mrs. Seaford had gone to the +village to do a few errands so Sprite was free to take her time about +the task.</p> + +<p>Softly she sang as she placed the white shells in one row, and the +pink shells in another.</p> + +<p>A smart tap at the door made her start, then she called:</p> + +<p>"Come in," and Gwen entered.</p> + +<p>Sprite wished that she had not answered the rap.</p> + +<p>"Goodness! What a heap of shells. What are you going to do with them? +Going to keep them?" Gwen asked, in a manner that implied that she +thought he lovely sea treasures simply rubbish.</p> + +<p>"<i>Keep</i> them!" echoed Sprite. "Why of course I'm going to keep them."</p> + +<p>"They're pretty of course," Gwen admitted, "but it must be a horrid +job to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span>keep them in order. Leave them where they are and come out on +the beach."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I can't," said Sprite, and she was about to say that she must +place her shells and coral in safe positions before going out, but +Gwen did not wait to hear what she had intended to say.</p> + +<p>Instead, she hurried out, banging the door behind her.</p> + +<p>"I'll find someone who'll do as I want to," she declared, and she ran +up the beach to find Princess Polly, but Princess Polly and Rose were +both at Avondale, and Gwen ran on to the center of the little coast +village.</p> + +<p>"I'll find someone to play with, I don't care who it is," she said, as +she raced along.</p> + +<p>When the sea trophies were all in their places, Sprite stepped back to +view her work.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span>A smile curved her lips, and her eyes grew brighter.</p> + +<p>"They look finer than they ever did before," she said softly, "and now +I'll try to keep them just as they are arranged."</p> + +<p>Sprite Seaford was often called a little "Water Witch," from the fact +that she was so much at home on the water.</p> + +<p>She could swim wonderfully well for so small a girl, and she managed +her boat with skill.</p> + +<p>After another approving glance at the rows of softly tinted shells, +she ran out onto the beach, and soon in her boat she was gliding along +on the shallow water near the shore, her oars moving with slow +precision, keeping time to the song that she was singing, or rather to +the songs that she was singing, for she was making a gay little medley +of many familiar tunes.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span>The light breeze lifted her long, waving hair, and let it flutter back +from her face, it kissed her cheeks, and made them pink like the +shells that she valued most.</p> + +<p>The great gulls hovered overhead, flapping their wings, and circling +about as if trying to determine what sort of little being it was that +boasted such long tresses.</p> + +<p>Skimming over a bit of shallow water, she chanced to look down and +there, on the sandy bottom, was a shell, different in shape from any +in her collection.</p> + +<p>"I must have it," she cried, and in a second she had drawn the oars +into the boat, had slipped into the shallow water, and having pushed +the light boat toward the shore, swam along under water until she came +to the spot where the shell lay.</p> + +<p>She came up to the surface to get the air, laughed, and swam downward +again, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span>snatched the coveted shell, and then made her way to where the +little boat rocked on the waves.</p> + +<p>She was in it in a moment, and again plying the oars, her shell on the +seat opposite that on which she was sitting.</p> + +<p>She had dressed herself in her little bathing suit, and she laughed as +she saw that the warm breeze playing with her hair, was drying it, +while her blouse and skirt were dripping and would continue to drip +until hung up where the wind could blow through them.</p> + +<p>Rarely a day passed that Sprite did not spend with Polly and Rose, but +to-day they were away, and she must amuse herself. They were her two +dearest playmates, but the dancing waves were the next best.</p> + +<p>"I love to play with Princess Polly, and with Rose Atherton, and when +I'm not <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span>playing with them, I like my boat," she said softly. "I would +have asked Gwen to stay but I didn't want to her to.</p> + +<p>"Gwen so often says unpleasant things. Polly and Rose never do, and +surely the boat doesn't. It never even answers back," she added with a +laugh. Then for a time she plied the oars in silence, rowing always +close along the shore, out from one little bay, and into another.</p> + +<p>Then someone hailed her.</p> + +<p>"Hi! Sprite! Sprite Seaford!"</p> + +<p>She turned on her seat, and there, on the beach, close to the water, +was Max Deland.</p> + +<p>"Say! Have you seen Gwen Harcourt?" he asked, his hands held +trumpet-wise, to carry his voice to her.</p> + +<p>"I saw her, oh, much as an hour ago, it may be longer," Sprite +answered.</p> + +<p>"Oh, pshaw! I mean have you seen her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span>within a short time?" cried Max, +impatiently.</p> + +<p>"I <i>said</i> I saw her an hour ago, and maybe longer," Sprite said.</p> + +<p>"I wonder it wasn't a week!" cried Max. "I want her now."</p> + +<p>With that he ran off down the beach, and Sprite wondered why he was in +such evident haste.</p> + +<p>She turned the boat about, and rowed along in the direction that Max +was going.</p> + +<p>She saw him run along the beach, then stop and take something, a small +book she thought, from his pocket, look steadfastly at it for a few +moments, and then, after thrusting it back into his pocket, run on +again.</p> + +<p>She wondered what sort of book it was, and why Max seemed so very +impatient in regard to seeing Gwen. He seemed bent <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span>upon running the +entire length of the beach, and she watched him until he either +entered, or ran behind the little shanty that some workmen were using +as a tool house.</p> + +<p>"I believe Max is as queer in some ways as Gwen is," mused Sprite.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what that little book was, and why he had to stop to read +it?"</p> + +<p>A moment later she laughed, as she said: "There's one thing everyone +knows, and that is that when Max and Gwen are together, they're sure +to get into mischief. No one ever spends a minute wondering about +that, because they <i>know</i>."</p> + +<p>She ran the boat into shallow water, made it fast to a pile that had +been placed there for the purpose, tying the rope through the iron +ring on the post. Then she stepped over the side of the boat into <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>the +water, and waded ashore. She wrung the water from her skirt, took off +her shoes and emptied the water from them, and then ran up the beach +toward home.</p> + +<p>She opened the door and ran in.</p> + +<p>The Captain would be out on the fishing trip all day, and it was +evident that Mrs. Seaford had not yet returned from her trip to the +store.</p> + +<p>Sprite changed her drenched bathing suit for dry clothing, and hung +the skirt and blouse up to dry.</p> + +<p>She wondered why it was that she kept thinking of Max and his little +book.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER X<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>THE SHIP COMES IN</h4> +<br /> + +<p>It had been a warm, sunny day, the little waves had danced gaily, and +the beach had been dazzling in the full glare of noonday, but the +afternoon had been cooler, and at twilight the wind had changed from +its warm quarter, to Northeast.</p> + +<p>Snug and warm in the "Syren's Cave," they heard the wind rising until +it became an actual gale.</p> + +<p>The Captain had built a fire of drift wood, the squatty lamp on the +table gave out a yellow glare, and around the table sat the three +members of the family, the cat occupying the tiny rug in front of the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>fire. Puss purred contentedly, blinking when the sparks snapped and +twinkled.</p> + +<p>Sprite bent over a fascinating book of fairy tales. The pictures were +charming, the stories held her captive.</p> + +<p>Usually she enjoyed playing with puss in front of the fire, saving her +book for stormy days, but she had opened the book to look at the +softly tinted pictures, and the first story that held her attention +was the "Tale of the Gold Children," and she became so interested in +their travels in search of their fortunes and of each other, that she +could not put the book aside.</p> + +<p>Her waving hair fell about her shoulders as she read, and the light +from the big lamp shimmered upon it.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Seaford, busy with her sewing, paused at times to look at the +child absorbed in her book.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>Captain Seaford, in a big arm chair, reading the "Cliffmore News," +looked exceedingly comfortable, but his wife knew that while he held +the paper before him, he was merely glancing at the reading matter, +while his mind was elsewhere.</p> + +<p>Often he put the paper down, laying it across his knees as if he were +done reading. For a few moments he would sit thus, then again he would +lift the paper as if he were endeavoring to keep his mind upon it, but +finding it a difficult task.</p> + +<p>A heavy gust of wind made the windows rattle, and shook the door as if +clamoring for admittance. A second later, something was hurled against +the side of the house, as if the gale were using small pieces of +driftwood for missiles.</p> + +<p>The Captain arose, dropped his paper in his chair, and strode to the +door.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span>He seemed to be trying to scan the horizon, as if looking for a sail, +but no object, far or near could possibly be distinguished in the +utter darkness that hung over land and sea.</p> + +<p>He turned about, closed the door, and picking up the paper, seated +himself once more before the fire, but he did not read, allowing the +paper to lie idly on his knees.</p> + +<p>"What is worrying you?" his wife asked gently, laying her hand upon +his arm, and looking intently at him. "Is it anything new?"</p> + +<p>"It's the same thing, dear, that has kept me fretting for the last +three weeks," he said slowly.</p> + +<p>"When the vessel was two weeks overdue I was more anxious than I cared +to admit, but now that the third week is nearly gone, I find myself +unable to keep my mind <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span>upon the paper that I try to read, or for that +matter upon anything else."</p> + +<p>"If any vessels intended coming in to-night, they would be obliged to +get into some harbor where they would be safe until the sea is calm," +said Mrs. Seaford, "and that would make them a few days later, so +we'll still hope to see the one we're looking for come sailing in with +flying colors."</p> + +<p>Sprite, listening, while they thought that she was reading, now came +around the table, and leaned against the Captain's sturdy shoulder.</p> + +<p>"Pa, I wish you wouldn't worry, for some way I'm sure she's coming in +all safe, I'll tell you why. Now don't you laugh. I dreamed last night +that she came sailing in with flags flying, and oh, her hull and her +masts were of shining gold, so let's <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>think that means good luck. Will +you, Pa?" she coaxed, winding her little arms around his neck.</p> + +<p>She could not bear to see him so worried.</p> + +<p>"You're a comfort, little Sprite, and your Ma is another. Don't seem +reasonable for a man to fret with two such blessings in his +possession, but the truth is I wanted the luck that I believed the +vessel would bring, for you two dear ones, far more than I wanted it +for myself."</p> + +<p>"Then don't say you <i>wanted</i> it, for that does not sound hopeful," +Mrs. Seaford said.</p> + +<p>"No, say you <i>want</i> it for us, for that sounds as if it were coming," +Sprite said, "and I'm sure it will come, only it's delayed."</p> + +<p>He summoned up a smile for the child who was endeavoring to cheer +him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span>"I surely can truthfully say, 'I want it for you'," he said.</p> + +<p>"I have ventured all that I had on that ship's cargo, because I +believed it was sure to bring back a little fortune that would enable +me to give greater comfort to your mother, Sprite, and you."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's coming! It's coming! I know it is. I saw the golden ship +last night in my dreams, and I sprang up and looked from the window, +and the moonlight was making a bright, glittering path on the waves, +just where, in my dream, the ship had been."</p> + +<p>She had left the Captain's side to skip and dance about in her +excitement, but now she came softly back to lean against him, as he +sat in his big chair.</p> + +<p>She laid her cheek against his a second, then looking into his kindly +eyes, she said:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span>"It is stormy to-night, and it may storm to-morrow, but when it +clears, I know, oh, I just <i>know</i> the ship will come in."</p> + +<p>It was later than Sprite usually sat up, and the Captain pointed to +the clock.</p> + +<p>"It's late even for a cheerful little prophet to be up," he said, and +Sprite danced away to her tiny chamber, happy in the thought that she +had really cheered them. The next day the storm continued, but at +night the gale diminished, and on the following day the sun rose +bright, and golden, giving promise of a fine day.</p> + +<p>Sprite ran out onto the beach.</p> + +<p>She looked far out across the dancing waves, to the horizon, where +plainly she could see the sails of incoming vessels.</p> + +<p>Was either one of these distant vessels the one for which the Captain +was so eagerly looking?</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span>"They all look alike 'way off there!" she murmured, but a moment later +she whispered in disgust:</p> + +<p>"What a goosie I am! Those vessels have only one sail! They're neither +of them ships. Who'd think I was a Captain's daughter?"</p> + +<p>Still she stood scanning the line where the sky and ocean met. At any +moment a big ship might come in sight, and she thought how quickly she +would run to tell the news. Then she hesitated.</p> + +<p>No, she would not hasten to tell it, for it might indeed be a ship, +and yet not the one for which the Captain had long been looking, or it +might be one that was not bound for Cliffmore, but instead would go +farther out to sea.</p> + +<p>There was one sail on which the bright sunlight lingered, making it +whiter than <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span>those of the other vessels, so that it was easier for her +to watch that one than either of the others.</p> + +<p>"Why! It has turned about!" she cried, "and now, oh now, I see other +masts and other sails! It's a ship! It's a ship! Oh, is it the one +that Pa longs to see?"</p> + +<p>She would gladly have stood watching until that vessel sailed into +Cliffmore, but a long, silvery note from the horn called her in to +breakfast.</p> + +<p>Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks pink with excitement, and the +Captain looking across the table, sighed as he thought of all that he +had planned to do with the money that he had so confidently expected. +He had built rosy air castles, had dreamed of comforts, and pleasures +for the two dear ones who now sat opposite him at the table, the one +full of hope, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span>and cheer, the other trying to summon cheer that she +did not feel, in order to comfort him. The forenoon passed swiftly, +because the three were busy.</p> + +<p>Captain Seaford was making some repairs that the gale had made +necessary. Indoors Mrs. Seaford had needed the help of little Sprite +in some work that she was doing, and when the noon hour came they +could hardly believe the clock.</p> + +<p>Sprite, usually eager to be out of doors, kept close at her mother's +side, pulling bastings from the garments that she was making.</p> + +<p>Sometimes she paused to look from the window, then again she would +busy herself with the bastings, and after a time, Mrs. Seaford, +looking up, noticed with what rapt attention Sprite was gazing out at +the ocean.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span>"What is it, Sprite?" she asked. "Are you thinking of the dream vessel +that you told us about last evening?"</p> + +<p>"I can't help thinking of it," Sprite answered, "and truly I do +believe the dream meant good luck." "I'd not wish you to believe very +strongly in dreams," Mrs. Seaford said, "but I'll confess that ever +since you told us that dream, I've been thinking of it, and, in some +way, it has given me hope."</p> + +<p>The afternoon was spent much as the forenoon had been, save that the +bastings were all out of the new garments, and while Mrs. Seaford +still plied her needle, Sprite picked up the book of fairy tales, and +tried to read.</p> + +<p>There was one story that attracted her attention because its +illustration showed a great ship, of ancient design. The name <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span>of the +story was "The Gift Ship," and Sprite began to read. Riches formed its +cargo, jewels studded its masts, and its figure head, representing a +mermaid, was of solid gold.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that is grander than our ship was to be," thought Sprite, and she +allowed the book to lie idly in her lap, while she looked out at the +floating clouds, and wondered where the white-sailed ship had gone +that, at early morning, had floated along that distant point where sky +and water met.</p> + +<p>The captain looked in at the open door, and for a moment seemed to be +studying the two who sat near the window. Then he spoke.</p> + +<p>"I'm going down to the wharf to see Jack Windom. He wants my opinion +of a fishing smack he's thinking of buying. I'll not be gone long."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span>He started off at a quick pace, but a few minutes later, Sprite saw, +from her window, that the captain had met his friend when but halfway +to the wharf.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Ma, Jack has come up halfway to meet Pa. I guess he was coming up +to see if Pa had forgotten about going down to look at the new fishing +smack.</p> + +<p>"Why, Ma, they're shaking hands. They never do that. Why, they are +both coming back!"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Seaford knew that something more than usual had happened. She +hurried to the door, just as the two men reached it, and then, the +captain grasped both her hands, crying out in his excitement:</p> + +<p>"It has come in, dear! It has come in! The vessel that I've been +looking for, longing for, worrying for is in safe and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span>sound, and the +cargo, if my friend Jack isn't wild, is even more valuable than I had +dreamed!</p> + +<p>"Sprite! Sprite! Little girl, your dream has come true!"</p> + +<p>What a day of rejoicing it was!</p> + +<p>"The dream came true! The dream came true! The golden ship has come +in!" cried Sprite, dancing about like a little wild thing, while Mrs. +Seaford laid her slender hands on the captain's shoulders, her eyes +filled with happy tears as she quietly said:</p> + +<p>"For your sake, dear, I am so glad."</p> + +<p>Jack Windom, hardy sailor, and bluff, kindly friend, was more moved +than he cared to admit. He drew the back of his hand across his eyes, +remarking that the sun was "tur'ble glarin'," but his friends knew +that he was fully in sympathy with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span>them, and that his honest eyes had +filled with tears, as happy as their own, because of the good luck +that had come to them.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad for ye, all three of ye, and I wish I could hev lent a hand +ter hurried her in, but she's here now, and I'm as glad as you be that +she's in safe an' sound. It's a great day fer ye, Cap'n, an' I'm glad, +I declare I am."</p> + +<p>Captain Seaford again started for the wharf, this time to see not only +the new fishing smack, but the vessel that had brought such great +cheer to the little home, and with his arm locked in Jack Windom's he +hurried down the beach.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Seaford and Sprite sat down to talk of their good fortune, and +after a time little Sprite said:</p> + +<p>"I know I'm not to believe in signs or dreams, but truly I <i>did</i> see +the new moon <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span>over my right shoulder, and I <i>did</i> dream of a golden +ship."</p> + +<p>"So you did, dear," Mrs. Seaford said, "and you cheered me wonderfully +last evening just by your telling of your lovely dream."</p> + +<p>"That's why I told it," Sprite said.</p> + +<p>"I thought while I was telling that, you'd not hear the gale, and by +to-day the storm would have cleared away, and maybe the ship would +come in, and it did."</p> + +<p>For a few moments the two sat thinking, then Sprite spoke again of the +thoughts that filled her mind.</p> + +<p>"Yesterday I tried to read a story in my fairy book, called 'The Gift +Ship,' but the ship's masts were studded with jewels, and its +figurehead was of pure gold, and some way it seemed too grand, too +fine, while Pa was longing for just a plain ship like <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span>the other ships +that we see every day. I knew it was its cargo that he was anxious +about, but the story seemed too good to be true, and I didn't care to +read it.</p> + +<p>"Now, oh, now I can read it, and enjoy it, too, for no matter how +grand the story ship is, Pa has seen the one that he has been looking +for, and now we are happy."</p> + +<p>"Indeed we are," Mrs. Seaford said; "we are thankful, too, Sprite. +Think how different would be our thoughts to-night if Jack Windom's +news had been that the vessel that your father had been looking for +had foundered!</p> + +<p>"We are thankful indeed, we are grateful, Sprite. Oh, we are blessed +with the best news that could have been brought to us," said Mrs. +Seaford.</p> + +<p>"I wish we could celebrate in some way when Pa comes back," Sprite +said.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span>"We shall have to be thinking of supper now. Suppose we go out +together to set the table, and you shall help me to make it +attractive.</p> + +<p>"Come! We'll use our prettiest dishes, and we'll set the rose-pink +geranium in the center, and then we'll see what we can do toward +providing a treat."</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER XI<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>LITTLE PITCHERS</h4> +<br /> + +<p>The day spent at Aunt Judith's cottage had been delightful, and Harry +and Leslie had been such fine playmates that Rose and Polly wished +that they, too, were staying at Cliffmore.</p> + +<p>A few days had passed since the visit, and Princess Polly, still +thinking of the day at Avondale, sat stringing shells on a long +rose-colored cord.</p> + +<p>She was sitting on a low seat in the garden, her box of shells beside +her. The shells were for Leslie, and Polly was selecting them with +much care, that they might be of nearly the same size.</p> + +<p>The garden was charming with its fine <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span>wall, and the lovely flowers +that blossomed within its enclosure.</p> + +<p>The house set well up on the beach, and its broad lawn and flower beds +were surely safe from any encroachment by the sea, yet as a +precaution, the massive wall had been built, and if by any chance a +storm should drive the waves a bit too far, they would break against +the wall, and then recede, leaving the garden unharmed.</p> + +<p>The string of shells was now nearly a half yard in length, and Polly +held it up for the admiration of Rose and Sprite, who had just +arrived, and were running along the path.</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't it lovely?" said Rose, "and the colors, how nice they look, +first bluish white and then cream white."</p> + +<p>"Leslie will like that," said Sprite.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span>"Anyone would, they're strung so prettily."</p> + +<p>"I've ten more shells to add to the string and then it will be all +ready for Leslie. Everybody keep still until I have the ten shells in +place," said Princess Polly, "and then I'll talk with you."</p> + +<p>Rose and Sprite pretended to be making a great effort to keep still, +but the task was evidently too much for them, and after a few seconds +of silence, Rose laughed, Sprite echoed, and then Polly laughed +because they did.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you two can't keep from talking," she said, "and neither can I, +that is, not for very long, but I did keep still until I put the tenth +shell on the string, and I'll put it in this little box. There, now +I'll listen, for I know you've something to tell."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span>The three little friends were now sitting on the long garden seat, the +tall shrubs behind them making a cool shade.</p> + +<p>Mr. Sherwood had had the space inside the fine wall filled with rich +loam, so that inside the garden gate was a genuine country garden, +while outside the wall lay the sandy beach, and the surf, and spray.</p> + +<p>The flowers in the garden seemed to like the breezes from the sea, for +their colors were glowing, and their perfume sweet.</p> + +<p>"There's such queer news this morning," Sprite said. "First, a sailor +that Pa knows came up from the wharf, and he said a vessel got 'way +out to sea, when they found a boy had hidden himself on board, a +regular stowaway, and the first fishing smack they met, that was +heading for Cliffmore, took him aboard and brought him back, and who +do you think that was?"</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span>"Why, how could we ever guess?" Polly asked in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Well, that was John Selby, the grocer's boy. You know the store over +at the Center," said Sprite, "and I guess you've seen the boy. He's +'bout fourteen, and has red hair, and he's the one that helps deliver +goods from his father's store."</p> + +<p>Yes, they remembered him.</p> + +<p>Good-tempered, happy-go-lucky John Selby. What could have tempted him +to leave home, and become a stowaway? Sprite knew why he had done it.</p> + +<p>"He said he didn't want to be a grocer when he grew up," she said. "He +said he loved the sea, and would rather be a sailor, so now his father +says if he'll stay at home and help in the store until he's a bit +older, he'll consent to his becoming a sailor, if he still thinks he'd +like a sailor's life."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span>The pronouns were a bit confused, but Rose and Polly understood.</p> + +<p>They hardly knew whether to be sorry for John or his father.</p> + +<p>"It seems hard for John to want to go and leave his father," Polly +said, "and it's hard that John can't be a sailor boy if he wants to."</p> + +<p>"And you can't know which is the harder," said Sprite.</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't think any boy would run away from home when he knew +that his father and mother would grieve for him," Rose said.</p> + +<p>"I'd think any boy would if he wanted to!" said a sharp voice.</p> + +<p>It was Max Deland who had entered the garden, and now, with a defiant +air, stood staring at the group of playmates, as if daring them to +disagree with him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span>His cap was tilted at a saucy angle, his hands were thrust into his +pockets, and his feet, wide apart, were firmly braced.</p> + +<p>He looked as if ready to quarrel with anyone who chanced to differ +with him.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say, Max, that you'd do such a thing?" Sprite asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't say I would, and I don't say I wouldn't," Max said in a +sullen voice.</p> + +<p>"Well, <i>would</i> you?" Princess Polly asked, but Max looked +disagreeable, and in a few moments had turned and left them, as +abruptly as he had come.</p> + +<p>For a moment Polly, Rose and Sprite sat very still, each looking into +the faces of the others.</p> + +<p>"What made him so cross?" Sprite asked, "and if he <i>did</i> feel cross, +and couldn't help it, then I should have thought he would have stayed +away."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span>"So should I," said Polly and Rose, and "so should I," echoed Sprite.</p> + +<p>Outside the garden wall eager ears were listening, and the ears +belonged to a little figure that crouched close by the gateway, just +out of sight of the three playmates, yet quite near enough to hear all +that had been said.</p> + +<p>It was Gwen Harcourt.</p> + +<p>She had been a bit too saucy to Max Deland, had called him a "sissy," +and what boy would bear that? Max had returned the favor by calling +her a "Tom-boy," and then he had made a horrid face, and raced off up +the beach.</p> + +<p>Then Gwen was sorry. She liked to play with Max, and while he could +run away, and laugh as he went, Gwen was ready to cry.</p> + +<p>He was quite as fond of Gwen as she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span>was of him, but he was a great +tease, and beside that, he liked to hear her calling to him to return.</p> + +<p>It flattered his vanity.</p> + +<p>"Come back, Max! Come <i>back</i>!" she had shouted.</p> + +<p>"Max dear, I take it back. You're not a sissy. Max! Oh, Max, I'm +sorry!"</p> + +<p>Max heard, but he chose to keep right on, and at last he reached the +Sherwood house, and pausing for breath near the gate, had overheard +the three friends talking about the boy who had run away from his home +at Cliffmore.</p> + +<p>A few moments later he had chosen to enter, especially because he was +feeling rather cross with Gwen, and as Gwen was not at hand to quarrel +with, he entered the garden to sneer at what his playmates were +saying.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span>Gwen had followed him, and the time that he had spent in the garden +had given her the chance to catch up. Six little stone steps led down +from the garden to the beach, and Max ran down, pushed the gate wide, +and sprang out onto the hard white sand.</p> + +<p>Gwen crouched at his left, but he shaded his eyes with his hand, and +looked to the right down the beach. She was pert and willful with all +the others, but with Max she was humble indeed.</p> + +<p>"Max, here I am, and I'm sorry I teased you. Do be nice to me now, +won't you? I won't ever call you 'sissy' again."</p> + +<p>"Guess you won't!" Max said, in anything but a pleasant tone. "I +wouldn't let you say it if I was here, but I've 'bout decided to run +away to sea!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Max, Max! I don't want you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span>to, and just think! What would your +mother say?"</p> + +<p>Gwen meant it rightly, but it did not please Max.</p> + +<p>"There you go!" he cried. "That's the same as saying 'sissy' again. I +guess I can go where I want to. A man can do as he likes without +asking."</p> + +<p>Again Gwen blundered.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but Max, you're not a man. You're just a boy, and I wish you +wouldn't talk as if you meant to go 'way off somewhere."</p> + +<p>Just a boy! That was aggravating. Max felt sure that in a moment more +she would call him a <i>little</i> boy, and that would indeed be too much +for any boy to ever overlook.</p> + +<p>Gwen laid her hand on his arm, intending to coax him to stay, but Max +was too angry to be easily pacified.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span>"See here!" he cried, roughly brushing her hand from his arm. "You +heard me say I'd <i>'bout</i> decided to run away to sea, but you don't +<i>know</i> whether I will or not, so look out and not be a tell-tale, for +if I do go, and ever come back, and find out you told, I'd never speak +to you!"</p> + +<p>Before Gwen could get over her surprise, and grasp the meaning of what +he had said, he was off at top speed down the beach.</p> + +<p>She started to follow, but he turned and shouted: "Don't you dare to +tag on!"</p> + +<p>Poor Gwen! Max was the only playmate with whom she had ever been +gentle. She had treated him far better than she had ever treated the +girls at Avondale, or the new acquaintances at Cliffmore, and now he +was going to run away, and she was not to ever mention it!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span>She reached home very tired, and also very unhappy.</p> + +<p>At lunch she refused to eat, but that was not unusual. She often did +that to attract the attention of the other boarders.</p> + +<p>As usual Mrs. Harcourt commenced to fuss, and to question her.</p> + +<p>"What is it, dear?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Is there nothing that looks tempting?"</p> + +<p>Then glancing at those who sat opposite, she said: "Gwen's appetite is +so very dainty and capricious, she rarely cares for what is served +here."</p> + +<p>The guests were a bit tired of that speech, as they had heard it at +every meal during the Summer.</p> + +<p>"You're too tired to eat, darling," Mrs. Harcourt said. "Did you play +too hard with Max this morning?"</p> + +<p>At the mention of Max, Gwen burst into <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span>tears, and ran from the table, +dropping her napkin on the floor, and walking upon it in her flight.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harcourt was really alarmed. She wondered what Max had done to so +upset Gwen. Perhaps he had struck her. He had a terrible disposition, +while Gwen had the temperament of an angel. So thought Mrs. Harcourt +as she left the dining room, her own lunch untasted, to follow Gwen, +and coax from her the reason for her distress.</p> + +<p>The cause of any disturbance that led Gwen to shed tears was +attributed to the outrageous temper of the other child, or children, +as the case happened to be, and Mrs. Harcourt never dreamed that +sometimes Gwen showed a temper that was rather far from angelic.</p> + +<p>Max was not at lunch, but that caused <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span>no surprise, because he often +was absent at one o'clock, returning at six for dinner with an +appetite that seemed more befitting a brawny tramp than a boy who was +always well fed.</p> + +<p>On this day, however, he did not appear at dinner, and when seven, and +eight, chimed forth from the hall clock, and still no Max in sight, +Mrs. Deland was frightened.</p> + +<p>"Do keep up your courage, Mrs. Deland," said a man who happened to +stand near her.</p> + +<p>"Your small boy will come prancing in before long, just as he always +does. He usually remains out until you are nearly wild, and then he +comes crawling in by the back door, and wonders why the chef isn't on +hand to cook a separate dinner for him."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span>It was the truth, but Mrs. Deland thought the speaker exceedingly +hard-hearted. She had telephoned to everyone whom she thought might +have seen Max, but all replied that he had not been noticed, and that +proved that he had not been near them, for the boy was so saucy, so +noisy, and so desperately active, that he must have been noticed if he +was anywhere within sight.</p> + +<p>"Nine!" chimed the clock, and a few of the guests of the house +organized a searching party, and started out to hunt for Max.</p> + +<p>They felt little interest in the matter, from the fact that the same +thing had happened so many times that they seemed always to be +searching for Max.</p> + +<p>The boy had made himself a nuisance in countless ways, and while +neither member wished any harm to come to Max, they <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span>felt that it +would be a great relief if he and his mother would leave Cliffmore, +and never think of returning.</p> + +<p>Once outside the house, however, they made thorough work of their +search, but although they looked in every place that a small boy might +get into, and in many that seemed impossible, they did not find him.</p> + +<p>One man, tired and disgusted, grumbled as he tramped along, and +several others who did not utter the thoughts that filled their minds, +felt every bit as disgusted as he did.</p> + +<p>"It's nonsense, clear nonsense, tramping all over the place, hunting +for a little run-away rascal, who, at this moment, is doubtless eating +a comfortable meal, after having returned when he felt like it."</p> + +<p>When they reached the house, they were <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span>surprised to find that Max was +not there.</p> + +<p>It was the first time that a party searching for the boy had returned +to learn that he was still missing.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Deland had become quite used to having Max away sometimes all +day, and often until after eight in the evening, and, as a rule, she +was reasonably calm, but that nine o'clock should have passed without +hearing from him seemed beyond belief.</p> + +<p>With the return of the searching party her courage gave way, and she +sank onto a low seat, her cheeks white, and her hands tightly +clenched.</p> + +<p>The women gathered about her, trying to comfort her, but she seemed +not to hear what they said.</p> + +<p>How still she sat, her hands still tightly clasped, her eyes looking +from one face to another.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span>Then her eyes closed. She had fainted, and gently they carried her to +her room, one woman promising to remain with her, after the doctor +should have gone.</p> + +<p>Gwen had acted so strangely that Mrs. Harcourt had ordered a light +lunch sent up to their room, saying that Gwen was too ill to go down +to dinner, and that she would remain with her. No sound of the +excitement reached them. It was in vain that she questioned Gwen. Gwen +only replied that she and Max had quarreled, and that he had been +"just perfectly horrid."</p> + +<p>When morning came, Gwen awoke feeling a bit better.</p> + +<p>Having remained in their room all the afternoon and evening, they had +heard nothing of the search for Max, nor did they know that he had +not, as usual, returned.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a><hr /> +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span><br /> + +<h3>CHAPTER XII<span class="totoc"><a href="#toc">ToC</a></span></h3> + +<h4>MAX A STOWAWAY</h4> +<br /> + +<p>Soon after breakfast, Gwen, looking for someone to play with, ran +across the broad piazza to where, pale and weary, Mrs. Deland sat.</p> + +<p>"I want Max," cried Gwen, in her usual pert manner.</p> + +<p>"Where is he? When is he coming out?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Deland uttered a low cry.</p> + +<p>"He's lost, little Gwen! Haven't you heard? They are searching +everywhere for him, and they force me, his mother, to remain here, and +wait with what patience I may."</p> + +<p>With a sudden impulse she threw her a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span>rms about Gwen, and held her +close, then more gently lifted her face so that their eyes met.</p> + +<p>"You loved my little Max," she said. "Are you sorry that he is not yet +found? Stop a moment; you played with him yesterday. When did you last +see him? When were you two children last together?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're hurting me, holding me so tight. Let go, and I'll tell +where I saw him," cried Gwen.</p> + +<p>"Why, child, I didn't dream I was really hurting you. Now tell me."</p> + +<p>"I saw him 'way over to Princess Polly's house," Gwen said slowly, +"and we,—we, oh, we quarreled some, and Max didn't stay with me."</p> + +<p>"Well, where did he go when he left you?" Mrs. Deland asked eagerly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span>A crowd had gathered about the two, and stood listening.</p> + +<p>"He told me not to tell," said Gwen, shutting her lips firmly +together.</p> + +<p>"What? You know where he is, and will not tell me, his own mother? +Why, child, I am sick with worrying. Tell me, this moment!"</p> + +<p>Gwen made no reply.</p> + +<p>She loved Max, but she had never liked his mother, and that she should +command her to tell made the little girl more stubborn than she had +ever been before.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't tell now even if Mrs. Deland and all those other women +stuck pins into me," thought Gwen.</p> + +<p>It was in vain that they questioned her. Pleading, threatening, +coaxing were equally unavailing, and when Mrs. Harcourt, seeing the +group, came out upon the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span>piazza, Gwen flew to her, saying that +everyone was teasing her.</p> + +<p>"It is an outrage!" cried Mrs. Harcourt, her voice shrill with anger.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what you can be thinking of? A half dozen grown people +tormenting one small girl."</p> + +<p>"My dear Mrs. Harcourt, you don't at all understand," said a tall, +haughty-looking woman. "Your little daughter knows where the lost boy, +Max Deland, is, and, although his mother is nearly wild with anxiety, +she will not tell, that we may know where to find him."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Harcourt hesitated. Then she looked at Gwen's flushed cheeks and +downcast eyes.</p> + +<p>"Do you know where Max is?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, I <i>don't</i>!" snapped Gwen.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span>Mrs. Harcourt turned and faced them. She extended her hands.</p> + +<p>"There!" she cried. "You see, do you not, that it was idle to tease +Gwen? She does not know where he is."</p> + +<p>"She certainly said that she knew where he went," said a stout lady. +"I do know where he <i>went</i>!" shouted Gwen, "but how do I know where he +is <i>now</i>?"</p> + +<p>"Where did he go?" questioned Mrs. Harcourt.</p> + +<p>"I promised him I wouldn't tell," said Gwen, "and I won't!"</p> + +<p>She wriggled from her mother's grasp, and racing across the piazza, +fled up the stairway to her room.</p> + +<p>"Gwen is too honorable to break a promise," sighed Mrs. Harcourt, as +she left the group of disgusted ladies, to follow her small girl to +her apartment.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span>"Too stubborn would be nearer the truth," muttered the stout lady.</p> + +<p>"That child should be made to tell," said another.</p> + +<p>"She shall be made to tell," Mrs. Deland said as she turned toward the +small room that served as an office.</p> + +<p>Gwen, as stubborn as a little mule, refused to tell the proprietor of +the house, when he called her into his office, and after talking for a +half hour on the naughtiness of being stubborn, and the especial +naughtiness of not telling where Max went, and thus helping the +searchers to find him, she again flatly refused.</p> + +<p>If it had been true honor in being determined to keep her promise that +made Gwen refuse, one could not but praise her courage, but her +impulse was wholly selfish.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span>Max had said that if he ever returned and found that she had told, he +would never speak to her again.</p> + +<p>She valued Max's friendship above that of any of her playmates, and +she refused to tell where he went, because he had insisted.</p> + +<br /> +<hr style='width: 15%;' /> +<br /> + +<p>There was great rejoicing at "The Syren's Cave."</p> + +<p>The "coming in" of the ship that Captain Seaford had long been looking +for proved to be even more fortunate than he had dreamed.</p> + +<p>Its cargo was indeed valuable, and as he obtained a much higher price +for it than he had expected, his kindly heart was filled with +gratefulness, and his eyes grew brighter, and he walked with a lighter +step.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Seaford went about the little <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span>house, singing at her work, and +Sprite, happy, laughing Sprite, danced upon the beach, played in the +surf, or rocked in her boat, singing, always singing of the water +sprites, the mermen and mermaids of whom she never tired of hearing.</p> + +<p>Princess Polly and Rose were both delighted when they heard of the +Seafords' good fortune, but of the disappearance of Max they had not +heard, because they had been away on a little ocean trip.</p> + +<p>It happened, on the day that Max decided to run away, that no steamer +lay at the wharf, nor was there so much as a ship in sight.</p> + +<p>There was, however, a coal barge, and Max, determined to go on that +very day, watched his chance, and at the first opportunity slipped +aboard, where in frantic haste he looked for a hiding place.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span>Steps approaching set him into panic, and an empty barrel standing in +a shadowy corner of the little cabin seemed his only refuge.</p> + +<p>"There's only a few er these ol' pertaters, so I'll chuck 'em inter +this barrel in the cabin," shouted a gruff voice, and in they went +onto Max's head and shoulders. Not a sound did he make, although the +potatoes felt decidedly hard, and evidently had been thrown in with +none too gentle a hand.</p> + +<p>It seemed to the boy in his cramped position as if the coal barge +would never start.</p> + +<p>At twilight, however, he felt the motion, and knew that he was sailing +away from Cliffmore, the empty barge to return with another load of +coal, but he, Max Deland, to keep straight on in search of a land +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span>where a fellow didn't have to mind his mother, but could seek and +easily find a fortune, and then return sufficiently independent to +have his own way.</p> + +<p>It happened that Max had been seen sneaking aboard the vessel, and a +bit later jumping into the empty barrel to hide, and the sailors had +first thought of putting him ashore with a sharp warning to keep away +from the barge in the future.</p> + +<p>Then it occurred to them that a better lesson could be given him by +letting him remain on board for a few days, and then placing him +aboard of the first fishing smack that they met, bound for Cliffmore.</p> + +<p>The potatoes had not been carelessly thrown in upon him. It had been +done intentionally, to act as a part of his punishment.</p> + +<p>Long before anyone on board was asleep, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span>Max was wishing that he had +never thought of running away.</p> + +<p>He thought of the fine dinner that had been served at Cliffmore hours +before, and here was he, Max Deland, in an old and dirty barrel that +vegetables had been stored in, very hungry, and with no way of +obtaining anything to eat.</p> + +<p>After a time, his cramped position became unbearable, and slowly but +surely he crept out of the barrel, and upon the cabin floor, where, +because he was so weary, he fell into sound sleep.</p> + +<p>At daylight a group of sailors were looking down at the sleeping boy.</p> + +<p>The captain of the barge spoke.</p> + +<p>"Good-looking little chap, but he must learn not to try this trick +again. Let him lie there until he wakes. Then give him some breakfast, +hard tack and water, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span>remember, and then give him the task I set for +him. When the first fishing smack, bound for Eastville appears, start +him for home."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, sir!" was the prompt reply, and the boy stirred as if he +had heard it.</p> + +<p>"Come now! Step lively!" cried the mate. "No loitering on shipboard."</p> + +<p>Max, hardly awake, barely grasped the meaning of the words, and +scrambled to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Now, then, forward march if you want something to eat."</p> + +<p>Max marched. He dared not refuse, but he did rebel when he saw what +was offered for his breakfast.</p> + +<p>"I can't eat that!" he said angrily.</p> + +<p>"All right! Forward, march! We'll let ye work on an empty stomach if +ye really hanker to."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span>All sorts of tasks were set for him, and for the next few days he was +kept exceedingly busy.</p> + +<p>He learned to do as he was told, and to do it promptly; to eat what +was given him without grumbling, and there was something else that he +learned by his hard experience. He learned what a fortunate boy he had +always been; to appreciate all the good things that had always been so +freely given him, and above all these, he longed for his mother's +love.</p> + +<p>He thought what a good boy he'd be if ever he reached the shore, and +he resolved never to run away, whatever happened that displeased him.</p> + +<p>A happy boy was Max when a passing smack stopped long enough so that +he could be taken on board, and then headed straight for Cliffmore.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span>Max thought nothing had ever looked so beautiful as the cliffs from +which Cliffmore took its name, when in the early morning they sailed +into the bay, and saw the warm sunlight kissing land and sea.</p> + +<p>Ah, he would never run away again, for now he knew the value of home +and love.</p> + +<p>He ran all the way from the wharf, and up the beach and climbed the +great ledge on which sat the house where with his mother he had been +staying. He rushed up the steps to the piazza, wildly crying:</p> + +<p>"Where are you? Where is everybody? I've come home! I've come home!"</p> + +<p>They came at once, and from every direction, like ants from an ant +hill, and swarmed around him, asking more questions than he could +answer.</p> + +<p>A tall, handsome woman rushed across the piazza, her eyes bright with +hope.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span>"Stand aside!" she cried. "It is Max! My little Max! I know his voice! +Oh, let me reach him!"</p> + +<p>The crowd parted, and the boy was instantly clasped in his mother's +arms.</p> + +<p>"My own! My darling!" she sobbed.</p> + +<p>"I won't ever run away again!" he responded, his arms about her neck.</p> + +<p>"Come!" said one of the crowd that had gathered. "Let them be alone +together for a while," and as with one accord the group melted, the +guests going far from the two who, for the time being, needed no other +company than each other.</p> + +<p>Of course, a bit later Max told his story to eager listeners, and when +he had finished the little tale, he said: "And you folks ought to know +that Gwen was a regular brick, to keep the secret I told her not to +let out. Any girl but Gwen would have <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span>told it first thing, but Gwen +is a brick. Don't all of you think so?"</p> + +<p>A gentleman on the outskirts of the little crowd proposed cheers.</p> + +<p>"Three cheers for Max and his brick!" he shouted, and they gave them +with a will.</p> + +<p>On the same morning that the little fishing smack brought Max home to +Cliffmore, the beautiful steam yacht, <i>Dolphin</i>, sailed into the bay, +with its owner, Captain John Atherton, and his beautiful bride +standing together on the deck, and returning the salutes of the host +of friends who awaited them on the wharf.</p> + +<p>Handkerchiefs were waved by the ladies, hats were swung by the men, +and foremost in the waiting crowd stood little Rose Atherton, a basket +of roses to offer them, and the housekeeper close beside her, lest <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span>in +her excitement she might actually be swept off the pier.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so glad, so glad!" cried Rose. "Dear Uncle John, and +dear——" she paused.</p> + +<p>What should she call this lovely young woman?</p> + +<p>Iris laughed.</p> + +<p>"You must learn to call me 'Aunt Iris,'" she said, stooping to kiss +the little blushing face.</p> + +<p>"I'll love to," Rose said, "and I won't have to learn, same's I won't +have to learn to love you, for I love you now, you are so sweet, so +lovely."</p> + +<p>"Oh, John, was there ever a sweeter welcome? I am so happy."</p> + +<p>At the reception a week later, Rose stood beside the dear, new aunt, +and felt very proud and happy "helping to receive."</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span>Princess Polly and Sprite were delighted that Rose was now to be so +happy.</p> + +<p>"Of course it is dearest to have one's own mamma," Polly said, "but +Rose had neither papa nor mamma, so lovely Mrs. Iris is next best, and +I do truly think she is dear."</p> + +<p>"So do I," agreed Sprite, "and of course if Rose was happy with her +Uncle John she'll be just so much happier with her new aunt, but who +told you to call her 'Mrs. Iris'?"</p> + +<p>"No one," said Polly, "but for that minute I couldn't think of +Atherton, and I couldn't call her Mrs. Captain John. Of course she is +Mrs. Atherton now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," agreed Sprite, "and my mamma says she's almost an angel. +She did truly say that this morning, and Pa said:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span>"That's just what she is, and Captain John Atherton is a lucky man and +I'm glad for him."</p> + +<p>Already, plans were being made for the return to Avondale, and Rose, +Princess Polly and Sprite were looking forward to the opening of +school when, with Harry and Leslie, Lena and Rob, Vivian, and all the +other playmates, they would be having the pleasant school days, and +the good times that were always enjoyed at Avondale.</p> + +<p>Gyp was to be "indoor man" on Captain Atherton's place, and study in +evening classes, taking a business course that would fit him for a +better position that the captain assured him should surely be his, if +he excelled in his class work.</p> + +<p>Sprite was indeed to be happy. The year before she had spent at the +Avondale <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span>school, making her home with Princess Polly and Rose. She +had been happy with them, but of course, at times, she was somewhat +homesick.</p> + +<p>This year would be so different. Captain Seaford's good fortune +enabled him to rent a small apartment for the Winter at Avondale, and +there Sprite could enjoy her school, and merry playmates, and yet be +with her parents.</p> + +<p>Gwen Harcourt was telling all whom she met at Cliffmore that she was +very tired of living at Avondale, and that she did not think she +should live there much longer. She said that if she fussed enough +about it, her mamma would take her somewhere else. All who knew Gwen +felt reasonably sure that she would "fuss."</p> + +<p>Rose knew that her home at Avondale would now be perfect. Uncle John +would <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span>love her as he always had loved her, and of her new aunt she +was already very fond.</p> + +<p>Surely it promised to be a bright and happy Winter for Princess Polly +and her friends, the merry playmates at Avondale, where good times and +gay spirits prevailed and kind and happy hearts worked with equal zeal +at study and at merry-making.</p> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<h4>THE END</h4> + +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="block"> + +<div class="imgl" style="width: 20%;"> +<img border="0" src="images/book1.png" width="95%" alt="Ad 2 image" /> +</div> + +<br /> + +<h1>The<br /> Girl Scouts<br /> Series</h1> + +<h4>BY EDITH LAVELL</h4> + +<p class="clear">A new copyright series of Girl Scouts stories by an author of wide +experience in Scouts' craft, as Director of Girl Scouts of +Philadelphia.</p> + +<p class="cen">Clothbound, with Attractive Color Designs.</p> + +<p class="cen">PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</p> + +<br /> + +<div class="block2"> +<p class="noin">THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLEN'S SCHOOL<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS' GOOD TURN<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS' CANOE TRIP<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS' RIVALS<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THE RANCH<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS' VACATION ADVENTURES<br /> +THE GIRL SCOUTS' MOTOR TRIP</p> +</div> + +<p class="cen">For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers</p> + +<h5>A.L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</h5> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="imgl" style="width: 20%;"> +<img border="0" src="images/book2.png" width="95%" alt="Ad 2 image" /> +</div> + +<br /> + +<h1>The Camp Fire<br /> Girls Series</h1> + +<h4>By HILDEGARD G. FREY</h4> + +<p class="cen clear">A Series of Outdoor Stories for Girls 12 to 16 Years.</p> + +<p class="cen">All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</p> + +<p class="cen">PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</p> + +<br /> + +<div class="block"> +<p class="noin">THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; +or, The Winnebagos go Camping.</p> + +<p class="noin">THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The +Wohelo Weavers.</p> + +<p class="noin">THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, +The Magic Garden.</p> + +<p class="noin">THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along +the Road That Leads the Way.</p> + +<p class="noin">THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' LARKS AND PRANKS; or, +The House of the Open Door.</p> + +<p class="noin">THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON ELLEN'S ISLE; or, The +Trail of the Seven Cedars.</p> + +<p class="noin">THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON THE OPEN ROAD; +or, Glorify Work.</p> + +<p class="noin">THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS DO THEIR BIT; or, Over +the Top with the Winnebagos.</p> + +<p class="noin">THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY; or, +The Christmas Adventure at Carver House.</p> + +<p class="noin">THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT CAMP KEEWAYDIN; +or, Down Paddles.</p> +</div> + +<p class="cen">For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers</p> + +<h5>A.L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</h5> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="imgl" style="width: 20%;"> +<img border="0" src="images/book3.png" width="95%" alt="Ad 3 image" /> +</div> + +<br /> + +<h1>Marjorie Dean<br /> +High School<br /> +Series</h1> + +<h4>BY PAULINE LESTER</h4> + +<p class="cen clear">Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean College Series</p> + +<p>These are clean, wholesome stories that will be of great interest to +all girls of high school age.</p> + +<p class="cen">All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles</p> + +<p class="cen">PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH</p> + +<br /> + +<div class="block2"> +<p class="noin">MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR</p> +</div> + +<p class="cen">For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers</p> + +<h5>A.L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</h5> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> +<br /> + +<div class="imgl" style="width: 20%;"> +<img border="0" src="images/book4.png" width="95%" alt="Ad 4 image" /> +</div> + +<br /> + +<h1>Marjorie Dean<br /> +College<br /> +Series</h1> + +<h4>BY PAULINE LESTER.</h4> + +<p class="cen clear">Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean High School Series.</p> + +<p>Those who have read the Marjorie Dean High School Series will be eager +to read this new series, as Marjorie Dean continues to be the heroine +in these stories.</p> + +<p class="cen">All Clothbound. Copyright Titles.</p> + +<p class="cen">PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH.</p> + +<br /> + +<div class="block2"> +<p class="noin">MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE FRESHMAN<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SOPHOMORE<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR<br /> +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SENIOR</p> +</div> + +<p class="cen">For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers</p> + +<h5>A.L. BURT COMPANY<br /> +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK</h5> +</div> + +<br /> +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + +<div class="tr"> +<p class="cen"><a name="TN" id="TN"></a>Typographical errors corrected in text:</p> +<br /> +Page 156: 'left he house' replaced with 'left the house'<br /> +Page 214: 'left he dining room' replaced with 'left the dining room'<br /> +</div> + +<br /> +<hr /> +<br /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Princess Polly At Play, by Amy Brooks + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY *** + +***** This file should be named 25456-h.htm or 25456-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/4/5/25456/ + +Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Princess Polly At Play + +Author: Amy Brooks + +Release Date: May 15, 2008 [EBook #25456] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY *** + + + + +Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + * * * * * + + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Transcriber's Note: | + | | + | Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For | + | a complete list, please see the end of this document. | + | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + +PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY + + + + +[Illustration: "They were out in the sunshine."] + + + + +PRINCESS POLLY +AT PLAY + +By AMY BROOKS + +AUTHOR OF +"Princess Polly," "Princess Polly's Playmates," "Princess +Polly at School," "Princess Polly by the Sea," +"Princess Polly's Gay Winter," etc. + + +[Illustration] + + +A.L. BURT COMPANY +Publishers New York +Printed in U.S.A. + + + + +Copyright, 1915, by +THE PLATT & PECK CO. + +Printed in U.S.A. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER PAGE + + I POLLY, ROSE AND GWEN 9 + + II WHO WAS IT 28 + + III LITTLE SEA NYMPHS 48 + + IV WHAT MAX DID 68 + + V WHAT MAX FOUND 87 + + VI THE SEA KING'S NYMPHS 106 + + VII A WEDDING AT CLIFFMORE 125 + +VIII AUNT ROSE CALLS 144 + + IX AT AVONDALE 163 + + X THE SHIP COMES IN 182 + + XI LITTLE PITCHERS 201 + + XII MAX A STOWAWAY 220 + + + + +PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY + + +CHAPTER I + +POLLY, ROSE AND GWEN + + +A Summer at Cliffmore! + +Princess Polly and Rose Atherton could think of little else. + +It was true that Avondale was a charming place in which to live, and +there were pleasant schoolmates and merry times when Winter came. +There were fine lawns and beautiful flowers everywhere, but Polly and +Rose loved the shore, and surely the salt air was delightful, and the +beach a lovely place on which to romp. There was Captain Seaford, +whose little daughter, Sprite, had spent the winter at Avondale, and +a pleasant little playmate and classmate she had been. + +She had returned to her home at Cliffmore, and now was counting the +days when Princess Polly and Rose would arrive, and every morning she +would stand in the doorway of her home on the beach, and look in the +direction in which Avondale lay. + +It happened one morning that at the same moment that Sprite opened the +door to look out, Princess Polly and Rose were talking of her. They, +too, were out in the sunshine. + +"How pretty Sprite looked last Summer when she played that she was a +little mermaid, and lay on the rocks looking down into the water, her +long yellow hair hanging down over her shoulders," Polly said. + +"And the day that she invited me over to her house," said Rose, "her +dress was light green, and she wore a string of coral around her neck. +I thought she looked sweet then." + +"How we did enjoy her house! We never saw one like it. It was a ship's +hulk, turned upside down, and divided up into rooms. Oh, but it was +cosey!" Polly said. + +"And it won't be long before we'll be there at the shore, playing with +Sprite just as we did last Summer," said Rose. + +A long time they stood talking. There were such delightful memories of +Cliffmore, and so many pleasures to anticipate. There would be sailing +trips on the "Dolphin," the yacht belonging to Captain Atherton, and +Captain Atherton himself had hinted at some sort of merry-making that +would occur at his fine home on the shore. + +"Uncle John doesn't say whether it is to be a party, or what it will +be, but when I asked him if it would be fine, he took me on his knee, +and he said: + +"'Rose, little Rose, it will be the brightest, the happiest event that +I ever attended,' so I guess it will be fine, for Uncle John always +means what he says," Rose concluded. + +"Oh, we can't help wondering what it will be like, and just when it +will be," Princess Polly said, her hands tightly clasped and her eyes +bright with excitement. + +"It's a lovely place to stay in, even if there wasn't a single thing +planned for amusement, but when you know there'll be ever so many good +times happening during the Summer, it makes us wild to start for +Cliffmore." + +The sound of footsteps running made them turn, just as Gwen Harcourt +came racing toward them. + +She was a little neighbor, so bold, so regardless of the feelings of +others, so apt to tell outrageous stories, that Polly and Rose were +not fond of her. She never stopped to question if she were welcome, +but entered any house where the door stood open, and at once made +herself quite at home, always remaining until she chose to go. + +She was evidently quite excited. Her short, curling hair blew about +her face, and her cheeks were red. + +"What do you think?" she cried. "I've just come from that big house +over there, where the people have just moved in. I couldn't tell if +I'd like to know them, unless I went when I could see them, so this +morning I went right up to the door, and as it wasn't locked, I opened +it, and went in." + +"Why, Gwen Harcourt!" Rose exclaimed. + +"Well, what?" Gwen said pertly. + +"S'pose I was going to wait and wonder what those people were like? I +guess not. I went right straight in and looked at them, so now I know. + +"The lady isn't much to look at, and she wasn't dressed up the least +bit, and the baby that the nursemaid was holding was awful homely. + +"Its face was red, and its hair was sort of straight and stringy, and +when it cried, and that was most all the time I was there, it made a +perfectly horrid face. + +"There's a boy there, too, and I didn't like him very well," she +continued. "He talked to me some, but he wants to do all the talking, +and I don't like that. I want to talk most of the time, myself." + +Polly and Rose managed not to laugh. + +"Perhaps if you had been willing to listen, and let him talk more, you +might have liked him better," Polly said. + +"No, I wouldn't!" Gwen said, stoutly, "for what little he did say made +me mad. Think how rude he was! When I told him my whole _truly_ name +was Gwendolen Armitage Harcourt, he just said: + +"'H'm! Is that so? Well, my name is Jona Jonathan Ebenezer Montgomery, +and that beats your name all hollow.' The lady laughed, but she said: +'Don't tease the little girl. That is not your name at all. Why not +tell her what your real name is?' + +"He didn't do it. He just said: 'Oh, bother!' and ran out doors. I +didn't like the boy, but the big room seemed duller after he went out, +so after a while I slipped out, and when I saw you two talking, I came +over here. What were you talking about?" + +"We were talking about the fine times we'll have at Cliffmore this +Summer," Polly said, "and we can hardly wait to enjoy them." + +"I'd not care to go there," Gwen said, with a toss of her head. + +"Well, then," said Rose, "it's lucky you don't have to go there." + +"Yes, isn't it?" Gwen said, cheerfully. "I could if I wanted to. Mamma +will go wherever I wish, that is if I just act horrid enough." + +"Why, what do you mean?" Polly asked, and Gwen laughed. + +"You're funny girls," she said. "Don't either of you know that the way +to get your own way is to scream and be just as horrid as you can +until your mamma 'gives in?'" + +"I'd not care to act like that," Princess Polly said, and Rose said: +"Neither would I." + +"Well, I want my own way, all the time and everywhere, and that's the +way I get it," declared Gwen, and she danced off down the avenue, +humming as cheerfully as if she had told of doing pleasant things. + +"Isn't it queer'?" Rose said. "Gwen tells of being disagreeable, as if +she felt proud of it." + +"Mrs. Harcourt does the same thing," said Primrose Polly. "She's +always telling of horrid pranks, and rude things that Gwen says, and +she tells them as if she thought Gwen very smart to act so. It isn't +odd that Gwen behaves so badly, for she likes to act just perfectly +horrid. She says so, and if she thinks her mamma likes it, what is +there to make her stop?" + +"And Uncle John says, oh, I'd not tell exactly what he says, but he +said only yesterday that he could not understand how any woman could +let her little daughter grow up like a weed. He said Gwen was pretty +to look at, but as unpleasant as a nettlebush. I'd not like anyone to +say that of me," Rose said. + +"Well, no one ever would say that about you," Polly said lovingly. + +"Nor you," replied Rose. + +Then, their arms clasping each other, they slipped down the sidewalk. + +It was but a few days longer that they must wait before sailing to +Cliffmore. + +The year before, they had made the trip by train, but this time they +were intending to go a short distance by rail, and then, on Captain +Atherton's yacht, complete the trip by water. It would be a delightful +sail, and as every member of the party loved the water, it was sure to +be a merry little sailing trip down the bay. + +Gwen Harcourt had not spoken truthfully when she had said that she +would not wish to go to Cliffmore. Indeed, that very morning she had +used her unpleasant method in an effort to coax her mother to go to +Cliffmore, and for the first time in her little life, it had not +worked. + +She had heard from Polly, Rose, and Sprite of the pleasure that they +had enjoyed there, and she had at once decided that no other place +could be as delightful. + +"I guess I can go there as well as they can," she had whispered to +herself, and then, running up to the big living room she had first +asked, then coaxed, and there, as a final effort, had screamed for a +half hour. Mrs. Harcourt would, as usual, have quickly agreed at once +to spend the Summer as Gwen wished, but it happened that other plans +already made, rendered it impossible. The silly woman offered +everything that she could think of to pacify Gwen, but Gwen declared +that nothing would make up to her for the refusal to go to Cliffmore. + +Then when she found her screaming wholly useless, she dried her eyes, +and rushed out and down the avenue to tell Polly and Rose that she +would not care to go there. + +If she had waited a day longer to tell them it would have been as +well, because Mrs. Harcourt, lest the disappointment might be too +hard for Gwen, had, at great inconvenience, changed her plans, and on +the following day she told Gwen that Cliffmore would be their summer +home. + +Gwen did not rush out this time to tell the news. + +Had she not just said that she would not care to go there? + +"I'll say nothing about it, and when they get to Cliffmore, they'll be +s'prised to find me there, but I'll act as if I'd known all along that +I'd be there," thought Gwen. + +Mrs. Harcourt and Gwen went the next day, and thus it happened that +when the "Dolphin" sailed up to the pier, the first person that Rose +and Polly saw was Gwen, sitting high on the top of a tall post! It was +a most successful surprise. + +"Hello!" she cried, with impish laughter, "I got here 'fore you did!" + +"Why so you did," Polly replied. "When did you come?" + +"Oh, I've been here some time," she said, laughing again. + +"Well, you've not been here a month, Gwen Harcourt!" said Rose. "It +was only three days ago that you were in Avondale, and you said then +that you'd not care to go to Cliffmore!" + +"Well, I didn't go," cried Gwen, "I've _come_, and I'm going to stay!" + +Of course Sprite had come to meet them, and as the three walked up the +pier they saw that Gwen made no attempt to follow. + +She wished them to know that she was at Cliffmore, but having enjoyed +their look of surprise, she preferred to keep her position on the +post. + +It was so conspicuous that she knew that everyone coming up from the +boats would surely see her, and beside that pleasure, she could stare +at all the arrivals. Oh yes, her perch on the post delighted her. + +Not satisfied with staring at the people, she commenced to make +remarks about them as they passed. As her remarks were largely +directed at their clothes, they were not much pleased. + +"Oh, what big feet!" she said, when a big woman passed her, and to +another she said: "What a funny hat." + +A fat man turned to frown at her when she said: "My! He must weigh a +ton," and a girl with long red braids blushed hotly when Gwen cried: + +"Red! Red! Fire! Fire!" + +Her mother would have thought any other child uncouth and ill-bred, +if she did any one of the many outrageous things that Gwen was always +doing. In Gwen she thought it bright and smart, and Gwen held the same +opinion, but a young sailor, happening along just in time to hear her +say something about a Jack Tar, that was not quite pleasing, stopped +for an instant, and looked into her bold, blue eyes. + +"Do you know what you need, you little Monkey?" he cried. "You need to +have someone give you a big ducking, and then you'd learn not to be so +smart." + +Gwen was too frightened to speak. She thought the sailor meant to give +her the ducking that he said she needed, and she turned so pale that +he let go his hold upon her, leaving her still sitting upon the post, +but as he turned to go he shook his finger at her. + +"Not another word, sissy, or someone'll duck you, if I don't," he +said. + +A long time she sat motionless upon the post until not only the +sailor, but all of the people had left the pier. Then, looking +cautiously around to learn if anyone was near, she slipped to the +ground, and ran at top speed toward the hotel where she told a most +remarkable tale of the sailor's rudeness to her, winding up by telling +that he had been so mean as to duck her. + +"My dear little Gwen!" said her fond mamma. + +"Her serge frock seems rather dry for one that has just been plunged +into the water," said a lady who sat near them on the piazza. + +"Oh, look at her shoes! They're dry too!" cried a small boy. "Say! +When did you get your ducking?" + +"You stop laughing, Max Deland!" cried Gwen. "I guess I could tell +whether he ducked me or not better than you could, for you weren't +there!" + +"Oh, yes, you could _tell_!" cried the small boy, "but it might not be +so, for all that, Gwen Harcourt." + +Mrs. Harcourt rose quickly, and taking Gwen by the hand, left the +piazza, and went up to her room. + +"Strange that any woman would be so foolish as to credit a yarn like +that even if it is her own child that tells it," said the lady who had +spoken of the dry frock that Gwen declared had just been plunged into +water. + +"Yes, it is strange, but I've known other women who were nearly as +blind to their children's faults," her friend replied. + +"The child is really pretty, but so bold, and pert that although she +arrived less than a week ago, there is not a guest at this hotel who +does not feel relieved when she leaves the piazza. Only think," the +lady continued, "she was out here this morning, sitting in that big +chair that old Mr. Pendleton likes to have. He's ill, and Gwen knew +that he came out expecting to sit in it, but she looked up at him, and +did not stir. 'Gwen, dear,' Mrs. Harcourt said; 'I think Mr. Pendleton +would like that chair.' 'Well, I like it, and I'm going to keep it,' +Gwen said, swinging her legs, and settling back in the chair. 'You +really musn't mind her,' Mrs. Harcourt said. + +"'I don't intend to,' he said, and Mrs. Harcourt looked as if she +wondered what he meant." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +WHO WAS IT + + +Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware that +something was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house. + +He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, of +eager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokened +something disturbing in the atmosphere. + +"Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with a +knowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace. + +Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, +a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes. + +"I've been over to the village," she said, "and while I've been gone, +someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled out +the contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general mess +that I've worked an hour to clear up. Have you noticed anyone around +the place?" + +"Haven't seen a soul," declared the Captain, "and I've been busy right +here since before you went out. + +"Seems to me I did hear someone moving about at one time, but I'm not +even sure of that." + +"Well, whoever it was managed to move about enough to make work for me +to clear up," Mrs. Seaford said. + +"There's only one door to this house so how could anyone get out +without passing me? You must surely be mistaken." + +"The person, whoever it was, didn't care to pass you coming in, or +going out of the house, so climbed through the window. On his way out, +he knocked some plants from the window-sill. Nothing has been stolen, +so I can't see the object in ransacking the house." + +"'Taint poss'ble you're nervous, and imagine someone's been in, is +it?" he asked, anxiously scanning her face. + +"Imagine?" Mrs. Seaford said. "Well, come in, and see what you think. +I've cleared the worst of it, but here's enough left to convince you." + +He dropped the net on the sand, and went in. One look was enough. + +"What in the world----!" he said, and no more, but his face spoke +volumes. + +It remained a mystery. Who would care to disturb the contents of the +odd dwelling of the Seafords? Not a thief, surely, for it was well +known that while the genial Captain had, at one time, been well to do, +he had, for the past few years, had a struggle for existence. The old +ship's hulk, inverted, and furnished for a home, held but one +treasure, love, and that, priceless as it was, could not be stolen. + +Who was the intruder? How had he come, and how had he vanished? + +Dwellers at Cliffmore talked of it, at their homes, at church, and on +the beach, but no one could give the slightest clue that might help in +detecting the intruder. + +Excitement usually lasted regarding one matter until another subject +was suggested, when the villagers would turn with fresh interest to +the latest bit of news. + +Generally, it was a happening of small importance, that gained its +prominence from having been frequently described, but one morning +something occurred that shook the little fishing village, as Captain +Seaford said, "from stem to stern." + +When Mrs. Wilton, the housekeeper at Captain Atherton's Summer home, +"The Cliffs," arose early one morning, she noticed that the Captain +had forgotten the French window that opened on the porch. It evidently +had been open on the evening before, and, by an oversight, had +remained open all night. At a glance she saw that someone had been +through the lower part of the house. + +Drawers were wide open, their contents strewn upon the floor. + +Flowers had been taken from the large jars that held them, and left +with their wet foliage and stems lying upon the polished table. + +Delicate pieces of china had been lifted from the lower shelves of the +china closet, and placed upon the table, the window seats, and even +the piano boasted two dainty cups that the visitor, whoever it might +be, had placed upon the keyboard. + +"Nothing is stolen," the housekeeper said, in reporting the mischief +to Captain Atherton, "and all the queer doin's are on the first floor. +Do you see that it looks as if the same person that went all over +Captain Seaford's house, has been roving through this one? Nothing was +stolen there, but everything had been handled and pulled around." + +"I'll go out into the garden and think it over," he replied. + +He left the house, but as he reached the lower step that led from the +piazza he saw that the bold intruder, not satisfied with the mischief +perpetrated in the house, had tried his hand at the garden. Beautiful +plants had been lifted from their pots and thrown onto the walk, the +hose lay beside them, running a stream, the fountain had been set +running, and an old broom, used by the gardener, to sweep the walks, +lay in the lower basin of the fountain. + +The housekeeper followed him out onto the piazza. + +"If you please, sir, I'd like just to say that I locked every door and +window, except the one that opens onto this piazza, from the library. +I went upstairs, knowing that you were still reading, and thinking +you'd like that window open 'til you went to your room for the night, +when you'd be sure to shut and lock it." + +John Atherton nodded, and walked along the path. He knew that the +housekeeper was anxious to shift all responsibility from her broad +shoulders onto his. + +"I guess I left that French window open, so that fault is mine, but +who would be interested to rove through a home, pulling things to +pieces, and making disorder, solely for the fun of doing it? Whoever +it is, does not care to rob. It's a puzzle that must be looked into." + +The children were greatly excited, and inclined to look upon Polly and +Rose with envy. + +It was interesting to listen while older people talked and argued as +to how it happened, and what sort of person played the pranks. Before +the Summer guests had half finished discussing the happening at +Captain Atherton's house, they were again startled. + +It was early one morning, a half hour before breakfast would be +served, when a big, florid woman came down the stairway to the lower +hall, declaring that someone had been in her room, doing a deal of +mischief. + +"Every article in my bureau drawer has been pulled out and thrown upon +the floor, gowns have been removed from my closet, and are piled up on +chairs in a heap, and my hats have been taken from their boxes and +packed up on my bureau. Something must be done about it!" she declared +in anger, and really one could not blame her. + +The proprietor appeared, and promised all sorts of things to pacify +the woman and there the matter appeared to end, for search as they +would, no trace of the culprit could be found. The other guests felt +uneasy. + +"Who could possibly guess whose room will be ransacked next?" said one +lady, to another who sat beside her at breakfast, to which the other +replied: + +"A few more happenings of this kind, and I'll pack my trunks, and +leave for a place where I can, at least, expect law and order." + +The guests of the hotel found it an interesting theme for +conversation, and talked of it morning, noon and night, until old Mr. +Pendleton, the invalid, became so tired of hearing about it that his +patience at last gave way. + +"What a fuss! What a nuisance of a fuss! I declare. Women are upset if +their finery is tossed around a bit. Nothing was stolen, so why +complain? Why get excited?" + +No one replied to his outburst. It was well known that to reply to Mr. +Pendleton was apt to provoke a torrent of abuse, so he was allowed to +sit in his big chair in the corner of the piazza, looking with sharp, +black, bead-like eyes from one woman to the other, silently amused, +because he believed that they dared not answer. + +He was a tough, wiry old man, not really ill, but believing himself to +be an invalid, and enjoying the belief. Some one had heard a physician +say that an event, or happening of any sort that would startle him +into quick action would teach him that the health that he believed +lost, was still in his possession. + +One morning the queerest thing happened, and as it was just after +breakfast, all the guests of the hotel were present to share the great +excitement. + +While the guests were at breakfast, the maids had put their rooms in +order, and as it bid fair to be a hot day, nearly everyone decided to +spend the morning on the broad piazza. + +Mr. Pendleton, as usual, sat in his favorite corner. He was talking +with another man about some distant city that each had often visited. +Evidently there was something about which they could not agree, for +their voices rose in angry dispute. + +"I'm right in my opinion!" shouted Mr. Pendleton, in his thin, shrill +voice. + +"And, sir, let me tell you that _I_ am right!" boomed the fat man in a +growling bass. + +"I'll get my map and prove what I say!" cried Mr. Pendleton, springing +from his chair, and starting toward the hall. + +The big man's laugh made him increase his speed. The other guests were +amused, but they were not prepared for the next thing that happened. + +Old Mr. Pendleton came tearing down the stairs, at the risk of +breaking his neck, his cheeks flushed, and his small, black eyes +blazing. + +"It's an outrage! It's disgusting! It's not to be endured!" he +shouted. "My room has been entered, and my belongings tossed about! My +pajamas are spread out on the floor as if someone meant to take a +pattern of them! My watch is soaking in the wash bowl, and my brush +and comb are each in a slipper. My topcoat is out of the window and +sprawling in the sun on the roof of this piazza, and every neck-tie I +own is hanging from the chandelier! I won't stand it!" + +He paused for breath, and the woman whom he had vexed a few days +before, was so unwise as to speak: + +"It might be well for you to realize just now that women are not the +only ones who are upset when their finery is tossed about. As nothing +was stolen, why complain? Why get excited?" + +"Madam! You haven't the least idea of tact," he cried. "If you had +you'd----" but before he could complete his speech, the proprietor +arrived, and a much harder task he had to appease the wrath of Mr. +Pendleton, than that of the fat woman whose room had been entered a +few days before. + +The mystery might never have been solved but for something that +occurred on the following morning. + +A room on the second floor had windows looking out upon the sea. The +door stood open, and a maid passing along the hall, paused to look in. +Guests were not in the habit of leaving their room doors wide open. +What she saw made her tip-toe softly away to a screen in the hall. + +From her position she could watch the inmate of the room. + +That room had been hired by the fat man with the big voice who often +talked, and oftener disputed with Mr. Pendleton. + +It was easy to touch a button on the wall close beside her, and the +bell-boy responded in a few seconds. The maid held up her finger, at +the same time pointing toward the open door, and whispering: + +"Sh--! Go quick and get Mr. Buffington. Tell him somebody is in his +room. Don't make a sound here. I'll watch while you're gone. Rush +now!" + +Mr. Buffington, big and ponderous, soon appeared, puffing like an +engine. The maid saw him as he appeared above the stairs, and quickly +held up her finger, as a signal to him to make no noise. + +Puzzled, yet impressed, the big man tip-toed along until he stood in +the doorway. + +The intruder stood, back toward the door, and for the moment, was so +occupied with pulling over the contents of a large trunk that +footsteps outside the door were unnoticed. + +"You little rascal!" + +These words shouted made the intruder actually jump. + +"Ah, now, Miss Gwen, how happened ye in there?" said the maid. + +Gwen, thoroughly frightened, tried to rush from the room, but it was +useless. The big man filled the doorway. He did not intend to hurt +her, when he firmly grasped her arm, but he did intend to give her a +lesson, and he proceeded to do it, walking her along the hall on the +way to the stairway. + +Usually, Gwen's boldness was equal to any emergency, but this time she +was too frightened to object, to wriggle in the firm grasp, or indeed, +to do anything other than allow him to take her wherever he chose, and +he chose----the piazza filled with guests. + +Mrs. Harcourt, at the farthest end of the piazza, busy with her +embroidery, did not look up when the two appeared. + +"I found _this_ in my room!" said the angry man. "Anyone who owns it +may claim it. _This_ is what has been entering rooms, and handling +other people's property." + +"Oh, mamma! Why don't you come and tell them I don't do such things!" + +Of course Mrs. Harcourt dropped her embroidering frame, and rushed +forward, snatching Gwen from the big man's grasp. + +"'Twould be useless, because I caught her just as she had opened my +trunk, and was examining all my belongings. The best thing to do with +your smart girl, is to keep her away from hotels, unless you can keep +a chain on her to keep her from prowling," growled Mr. Buffington. + +"You don't understand children!" declared Mrs. Harcourt, as with Gwen, +she went up the stairway to her room, to which the big man responded: +"I shouldn't want to if they're all like that!" + +Of course the piazza was alive with buzzing voices. + +"What a perfectly horrid child!" + +"I'd be ashamed of her if she were mine, the little imp!" + +These and similar remarks were to be heard on all sides. + +Gwen had been pert and saucy, bold, and annoying in many ways, but +that a little girl could be the person who had boldly entered any +house, or any room at the hotel, poking her impudent little nose into +any house or room that remained unlocked, was really a surprise. + +They had all believed it to be the work of a man, but no one could +understand what prompted him to handle every article in the place that +he entered, yet never steal a thing. Now it was easier to understand. +Gwen had everything that love could think of, or that wealth could +provide, but her curiosity was great, and she could not keep her +mischievous hands off from things belonging to others. + +Mrs. Harcourt, angry over what she thought was "outrageous rudeness," +packed her trunks, and in an hour's time, left the hotel. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +LITTLE SEA NYMPHS + + +Polly and Rose were walking along the beach on the way to call for +Sprite. They had not decided how to spend the morning, but whatever +they chose to do, they surely would enjoy themselves, for never were +three playmates happier in each other's company. + +"A long time ago when you first came to Avondale to live at Sherwood +Hall, we named you Princess Polly. We never seemed to think of you as +Polly Sherwood, your truly name," Rose said. + +"And I liked you the first day I met you by the brook," Polly said, +"and I thought Rose Atherton was such a pretty name." + +"Sprite's name just fits her," said Rose, a moment later, "for she +looks like a sprite, or a sea nymph, and so Sprite Seaford seems just +the name for her. + +"There she is now, coming toward us. Let's run to meet her." + +"I took the telescope, and looked up the beach," Sprite said, when +they met, "and kept looking until I saw you. Then I put it back on the +mantel, and ran to meet you. Now come over to the place I call the +bay." + +She led the way, and they followed. The bay, as Sprite called it was a +place where a ledge projected into the water in such a way that the +incoming waves rushed past it, sweeping up onto the sand in a curving +line. + +It was not much of a bay, but it served as a name, and they always +knew what she meant when she spoke of it. + +Its shallow water was fine to play in, and when the tide went out, +there always remained a little pool that reflected floating clouds. + +On its clear surface they skipped flat stones, and they marvelled to +see how skillful was little Sprite. + +"Nine skips, and then a hop! That makes ten," said Polly, "and I can +only make mine skip seven times." + +"Oh, but you can do as well as I if you practice enough. I've always +lived here at the shore," Sprite said, "and the flat stones have been +my toys." + +It was fine to compete with her, and Rose and Polly worked very hard +in their effort to make a better fling. + +"Eight!" declared Polly, and for a number of times, she sent the +stones skipping eight times across the glassy little pool. + +"Seven!" cried Rose, "and it almost went eight, and then didn't. +Wasn't that provoking?" + +"Eight!" she shouted a moment later. + +"Nine!" squealed Polly. "Nine! Who'd have believed I could?" + +"I would," replied Sprite, "because you're trying so hard, and because +you can do anything." + +"Oh, I can't!" Polly said. + +"Well, you sing, and play, and you dance beautifully; after all that, +just skipping stones doesn't seem so very much," Sprite answered +quickly. + +"It does to me because I've never done it before. It's great fun." + +The sun was higher, and warm from exercise, they sat down in the +shadow of the cliff to rest, and cool off. + +They talked of the ships that appeared on the horizon, wondering what +their cargoes might be. They talked of all sorts of things, but it was +Sprite who gave a surprise. + +"Guess who has gone way, way over in that big yellow house on the +cliff to live. Guess!" she said, and her eyes were twinkling. + +"Oh, tell us," said Polly. + +"Yes, you'd better tell us," said Rose. "We couldn't ever guess." + +"Won't you guess?" Sprite asked. + +"What's the use," said Polly. "We couldn't guess who it is in a +month!" + +"Well, it's Gwen Harcourt," Sprite said. + +"Gwen Harcourt!" cried Polly and Rose in the same breath. "Why, how +funny. Her mamma said she was tired of Cliffmore." + +"Yes, and she said she didn't like any of the people that were here +for the Summer," said Rose. + +"Gwen said her mamma said that, but she said the reason was because +she was provoked, and Gwen said she teased and teased her to stay, so +she did, and they truly are in that big yellow house on the cliff. +There's only about a dozen people boarding there, and Gwen said it +seemed more select than the place where she'd been staying." + +"I said: 'You like Polly Sherwood and Rose Atherton,' and she said, +'Yes, I like them, but it's the grown people that we don't care for,'" +concluded Sprite. + +"It was the grown people that didn't like Gwen, and no wonder," said +Rose. "Who would like to have her trunks and boxes emptied on the +floor, and all the hats and dresses pulled over? I don't believe +anyone in that yellow house, or any other house will like to have her +do that." + +A cool breeze blew in from the ocean, and the three sprang to their +feet. + +"Let's pull off our shoes and stockings and dance on the thin edge of +the water," cried Sprite. + +"I'll sing a song mamma taught me." + +They clasped hands, and gracefully they skipped in time with the +pretty song. + + "We are water nymphs so free, + We are merry sisters three. + When the sunbeams kiss the foam + From our coral cave we roam, + And we float up to the strand + Where we dance upon the sand. + + "When the moon with silvery ray + Glistens on the tossing spray, + Then upon the beach we dance, + Fleet of foot we whirl and prance. + Whirling, swaying, gay and free, + Merry water nymphs are we." + + [Illustration: "Their graceful forms swaying."] + +It was a pretty sight. + +The three lovely faces, bright eyed, and rose tinted cheeks, their +graceful forms swaying, swinging, whirling, their white feet nimbly +keeping time to the song that Sprite sang. + +The guests at the big yellow house on the ledge had already found that +Mrs. Harcourt was a pleasant woman to talk with, but they also had +learned that she permitted her small daughter to be as rude and +unpleasant as she chose. It never required a great length of time for +anyone to learn that. + +At the breakfast table, the first morning after they had left the +hotel and had engaged rooms at the big house on the ledge, Gwen showed +her rudeness by declaring that she could not eat any of the food that +was served. + +Mrs. Harcourt looked around at the other guests, remarking: + +"Gwen has such refined taste that quite often really good food fails +to tempt her." + +Thus encouraged, Gwen spoke for herself: + +"But there's nothing on this table that is good. I wonder any of you +can eat it." + +The guests were disgusted with the silly child, and sillier mother. +She had acted in about the same manner at every meal. + +It happened that she had been up in her room over the piazza on the +morning that her three little friends were dancing upon the beach. + +They were too far distant for her to guess who they might be. + +The field glasses lay on the dresser, and Gwen snatched them, ran to +the window, and peeped at the dancing figures. + +"Oo--oo! It's Princess Polly, and Rose and Sprite. I'm going right +over to see them, and dance with them, too!" + +She flung the glasses down into the nearest chair, and ran down the +stairs, across the lawn, and then commenced to make her way carefully +down the rough steps that had been cut in the ledge. + +Even Gwen could not descend those steps at high speed. + +Once on the sand she believed she could hasten, but the tide never +reached the ledge upon which the house stood, so the sand at its base +was dry, and anything but easy to hurry over. + +At last she reached the damp part, and then how her feet flew over the +firm, level surface. + +She seemed tireless as she sped along, and she ran without stopping +until she stood before them. They had not seen her approaching, +because a high cliff had hidden her until she sprang out from behind +it. + +"Hello!" she cried. + +"Hello!" they replied. "Going to dance with us?" + +"Of course," Gwen said shortly. "That's why I came here." + +She was a fine little dancer, and soon the four were tripping lightly +over the sand, the three bare footed, but Gwen with shoes and +stockings on, splashing as gaily through the shallow water as if she +did not know that she was ruining a fine pair of new shoes. + +Her pale blue stockings would hardly be improved by a drenching in +salt-water. + +The others had urged her to take them off, but for that very reason, +she stubbornly refused, and laughed as the water rushed about her +ankles at the first step. + +She knew that no reproof awaited her. Mrs. Harcourt hailed each new +prank as a sure sign of her small daughter's originality. + +Tormenting the pets that other guests had brought to the shore, hiding +the embroidery frames that any lady might chance to leave lying on a +chair, throwing hats or wraps over the piazza railing to drop at the +foot of the cliff, all these things Mrs. Harcourt thought extremely +amusing. + +A pair of wet shoes would, of course, be very funny. Gwen was sure of +that. + +"Where's that new girl?" she asked when they paused to rest. + +"She's gone out fishing with her brother," Rose replied, "and they +intend to be out all day." + +"Oh, well, I only asked for fun," Gwen said quickly. "She's pleasant, +and I like her, but she can't keep still a minute, and that makes me +tired." + +"Why, Gwen Harcourt, neither do you," said Rose, laughing. + +"Me?" said Gwen. "Well, who wants to keep still? I didn't say I wanted +to. I said it made me tired to watch her, because she,--because _she_ +doesn't keep still. That's different!" + +A shout made them turn to look down the beach. + +A boy, using his hands as a speaking tube, stood looking toward them, +and calling loudly, "Gwen! Gwen!" + +"Oh, that's Max Deland," said Gwen. "I'll go and see why he's calling +me." + +Without saying "Good-bye," she turned, and raced down the beach, and +Polly and Rose and Sprite stood watching her flying figure. + +On, on she ran until at last, they saw that she had reached the boy +who had shouted to her. + +Then Princess Polly spoke: + +"I wonder why he didn't run to meet her," she said, "instead of +standing stock still and waiting 'till she'd run every step of the +way?" + +"I don't wonder," Sprite said, "because I've seen him do that so many +times, and he tells her to 'do this,' and 'do that,' and 'come here,' +and 'go there,' and she does just as he says every time." + +"That's queer," Rose said, "because she never lets us tell her even +how to play a new game. The minute we start to tell her how it is +played, she says: 'Oh, I know all about it,' so of course we stop, and +it is Gwen who is always saying, 'Come and do this,' and 'You must do +it,' till we get tired of being 'bossed,' and never doing as we wish. +She didn't do that way to-day. She danced with us, and never once told +us how to do it." + +"Why, Polly!" cried Sprite, "she has always known that you were +trained for dancing, and that you know the prettiest dances." + +The three little friends still stood watching Gwen and Max. + +They seemed to be discussing something upon which they could not +agree, for as they watched, Max violently pointed toward some distant +point on the shore, and stamped his foot, and each time Gwen would +shake her curly head. + +The boy seemed determined, and the girl obstinate. + +"I wonder what he is telling her to do?" said Sprite, to which Polly +replied: + +"I don't. I wonder why she doesn't do it?" + +"Yesterday he dared her to go out on an old plank, and she did it and +got a ducking," said Sprite. "P'r'aps it's something like that." + +The two figures still stood out clearly, the boy evidently insisting, +and the girl still shaking her head as if unwilling to do as he +wished. + +Some bathers came running down to the water, their gay colored caps +covering their hair, their sandals tied with ribbons. + +Polly, Rose, and Sprite turned to see them take the first dip, and for +a few moments watched them romping in the surf. + +When they turned Max and Gwen had disappeared. + +"I do wonder what they were planning to do?" said Polly, "and why Gwen +seemed unwilling to do it, whatever it was." + +"So do I," said Rose, "because Max always wants to do the wildest +things," to which Sprite added; "And you can't often find anything +wilder than Gwen would enjoy." + +It happened that Max and Gwen had disappeared behind a rough shanty +that laborers were using for a toolhouse. + +"Now don't be a fraidie-cat!" Max was saying. "What makes you act so? +I called you a 'brick' the other day because I said you dared to do +things that any girl but you wouldn't dare to do. Now here you are, +acting just the way other girls act. 'Fore I'd be 'fraid to sail in a +tub!" He hoped to make her do it. + +"Well, if you're not afraid to, why don't you do it, instead of asking +me to do it?" snapped Gwen. + +"Oh, so I can tell the other boys how brave you are," replied Max. + +"They wouldn't think anything of me a doing it," he continued, quite +regardless of his grammar, "because I'm a boy, and I'm s'posed to be +brave, anyway, but you're a girl, and that's different. + +"Come! Get in! I'll shove it!" + +Gwen paused for a moment, then: + +"Give me your hand!" she said. + +She was afraid, but her silly vanity prompted her to do it. She knew +that neither of her playmates would dare, and Max had promised to tell +the other boys of the brave feat. + +Max took her hand, and she sprang into the tub, crouching on the +bottom, as he shoved it off into water a bit deeper than that in +which they had been standing. + +The tub was roughly made and anything but clean. The workmen had used +it for holding cement, but had emptied it, and left it on the beach +where Max had found it. + +He was very fond of coaxing others to do things that he himself would +never have done. Now, safe on dry land, he stood cheering Gwen for her +bravery. + +"Well, come and wade out here and get me back," she cried. "I've +proved that I dared to do it, and that's enough!" + +"Wait till I get the fellows to come and see you out there in the tub. +They might not believe me if I just told them!" shouted Max, and he +raced off at top speed, paying no heed to Gwen's shrieks. No one could +have guessed if Max heard her and yet kept on running, or whether the +sound of his own footfalls drowned her cries. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WHAT MAX DID + + +Max ran up the beach at top speed, intent upon finding his "chum," and +telling him that Gwen was actually in the tub, and then, daring him to +race back and see her floating about in the shallow water. + +Max and Jack had wagered a quantity of marbles that no girl, not even +Gwen Harcourt, would dare to float in the rough old tub. + +When Max reached the place where Jack had promised to wait for him, +Jack was no where to be seen. + +"Scamp!" cried Max. "He's gone off so as not to pay over those marbles +I won. Well, he'll not get off so easy, for I'll find him, and _make_ +him pay!" + +With never a thought of Gwen, he started along the beach to search for +Jack. + +"Well, I'd not be mean enough to skin out like that," he cried as he +hurried over the hard, damp sands. He thought it very mean to elude +paying the little bet, and as he ran, he told himself that he would +have promptly paid the marbles if he had owed them to Jack, which was +true. + +Jack was mischievous, but he would never have left a little girl in +the plight in which Max, with all his boasting, had left Gwen. + +And although Max Deland searched in every place where Jack was likely +to be, he did not find him. + +"I'll not hunt for him!" he cried at last, "but I'll make him pay when +I catch him!" + +"Max! Max Deland!" + +The voice was shrill and piping. + +"Hello! Where are you?" Max shouted in reply, and the trim waitress +from her position on the ledge, cried back; + +"It's not where I am, but where you are that's worrying your mother. +You're the first boy I ever saw that had to be called to dinner. Come +in!" + +She turned and ran into the house, while Max rushed toward the big +dining-room. + +He thought of Gwen during dinner, but he felt no fear for her safety. +He believed that she had soon become tired of floating in the shallow +water, had sprung from the leaky tub, and for hours had been playing +with her friends. + +That was not the case, however. Gwen, crouching in the tub, had waited +quite patiently, watching for Max who was to return with Jack, while +the tub bobbed and danced on the shallow water, and for a time she had +found it rather amusing. + +The clumsy craft had floated lightly, now toward the beach, now away, +and she felt no fear because as often as a receding wave took her a +few feet from the beach, an incoming wave brought her back. + +Then the unexpected happened. + +The tide had been turning, and a big wave snatched at the tub, bearing +it farther out than it had yet been, while the next inrolling wave +went up onto the beach without so much as touching it. + +Gwen screamed with fright, when she saw that now the tub was steadily +going away from the shore. + +There was no one in sight, and she sank in a little heap on the bottom +of the tub, too tired to continue shouting, and frightened at the +thought of drifting out to sea. + +The gulls flew down and looked at her as if wondering what she might +be, and Gwen cowered, afraid of their great, flapping wings. + +No one could say what might have happened, but just at the moment when +her last bit of courage had fled, a fortunate thing occurred. + +A tiny fishing craft was coming in, and as it neared the shore, one of +the crew spied the floating tub, then a few moments later the man +exclaimed: + +"Why, there's a child in that leaky old tub, as true as I live!" + +"Hi, there!" he shouted, and Gwen looked up, and wildly waved her +hands. + +"Sit still!" he commanded, "or something'll happen. Keep still, an' +we'll pull ye in when ye come 'long side." + +Very thankful was Gwen when later, she found herself safe on the deck, +the rough tub bobbing away across the waves, while the fishermen +listened to her story of the trick that Max had played. + +"If that boy was mine I know what he'd get, for doing a mean trick +like that!" said one man, to which another responded: + +"And I'd be glad ter help ye give it ter him." + +One would have thought that Mrs. Harcourt might have been anxious +because of Gwen's long absence, and her non-appearance at the noon +meal, but such was not the case. + +Some one at the table spoke of Gwen, asking if she were ill. + +"Oh, dear no!" Mrs. Harcourt said, with a light laugh; "Gwen is never +ill, but she is so very popular that when she does not appear at meal +time, I know that someone has urged her to lunch at her home. Gwen is +dearly loved, and so is constantly being coaxed to remain at this +house or that." + +The other guests could not be blamed if they wondered who it might be +who continually longed to have Gwen as a guest. + +When the noon meal was over, the guests made their way out onto the +piazza, seating themselves in little groups for an afternoon of chat +and gossip. + +Some of the ladies were doing fancy work with gay colored silks. Mrs. +Harcourt always brought her embroidery frame to the piazza. Not that +she did much needlework, but she thought it looked well to have it +with her, even if she talked for hours, while the frame lay idle in +her lap. + +Someone said that the same piece of work was in the frame that was in +it on the day of her arrival weeks before. + +She had taken a seat at the far end of the piazza, and she now looked +about her to see who might be near her. + +A tall matron, standing at a short distance, turned, and seeing a +large rocker behind Mrs. Harcourt, walked slowly over, and seated +herself in it. She had just arrived, and so had not yet seen Gwen. + +Here was a chance to talk to a listener who did not know her little +daughter, and Mrs. Harcourt grasped it. + +"You doubtless heard me telling the others how everyone loves my small +girl," she said. + +"Yes, I heard what you said," the woman replied, in a manner that +implied her lack of interest, but Mrs. Harcourt did not notice that. + +"Well, really, when you see Gwen, you will not wonder, for you, like +everyone else, will enjoy her. She's _so_ original." + +Just at this point those who sat near the railing noticed two odd +looking figures toiling up the rough-hewn stairway on the cliff. + +Those who watched them turned to exchange amused glances, and then +look toward Mrs. Harcourt. + +Quite unaware of what was going on, Mrs. Harcourt continued: + +"As I was saying, Gwen is really very unusual, and original, and at +the same time, she is so very sweet tempered, that----," but the +sentence was interrupted by the appearance upon the piazza of a rough +looking fisherman, and a drenched, and very dirty small girl, whose +sailor frock was wet with sea water, and be-daubed with cement. Her +eyes were red and swollen with crying, her hair had lost its ribbon, +and hung about her face. Truly she did not look attractive. + +"Could any of you fine ladies put down your needles long 'nough ter +hear where I found this little lass?" said the man, "fer she looks +like she needed 'tendin' to." + +Gwen could at once have run to her mother, but she chose to cling to +the fisherman's rough hand, and be gazed upon as an abused child. Mrs. +Harcourt, trying to decide which shade of silk to use, did not even +look up. She did not dream that Gwen had returned. + +So surprised were the guests that, for the moment, no one spoke, and +the man continued: + +"Me'n' my mates found her floating out ter sea in a ol' tub what the +carpenters had been usin' fer cement, an' we pulled her in. As the +tub was a leakin', I guess 'twas 'bout time 'less ye wanted her ter be +drownded." + +A shrill cry from Mrs. Harcourt followed by the sound of hurrying +feet, and then: + +"Oh, Gwen, my dear! Come away from that rough man!" she cried, and the +instant silence showed the disgust that her words had provoked. + +"Wal, I s'pose that's the kind of thanks that a poor feller can expect +from a lady 'ristocrat!" said the fisherman as he turned to go, "but +I'll say one thing more, an' that is that the young lad named Max is +'sponsible for the mischief. It was him what coaxed the little lass +inter that ol' tub, an' then run off ter play." + +"Three cheers for this man!" cried a young fellow who had listened +intently, and the guests responded with a will, and Mrs. Harcourt from +the hall whence she had vanished with Gwen, wondered what it was all +about. + +She considered herself a cultured woman, yet she had not spoken one +grateful word to the man who had rescued Gwen from her perilous +position! + +Of course Max denied that he had intended to play a trick on Gwen. He +was a coward, and a coward rarely cares to "own up" when guilty. + +Instead, he insisted that he only "dared" her to get into the tub, but +that he never thought she would stay in it a moment after he was out +of sight. + +His mother believed him; the guests did not, but little cared Max. So +long as she thought him perfect, he was quite happy, because he could +do, at all times, exactly as he chose. That he usually chose to be +very disagreeable was not to be wondered at. + +His mother thought his pranks most amusing, and his saucy speeches, +smart, so he was quite content. + +The oddest part of all was that Gwen really liked Max Deland. He was +always getting her into scrapes, and as soon as she had escaped from +one, she was ready for another. + +Max never helped her. Instead, he left her to help herself. Gwen was +wilful with all of her girl playmates, but she would agree to anything +that Max proposed, so when, in the afternoon of the following day, he +told her that he was going to take a long tramp, Gwen was wild to know +just where he was going, and coaxed to go too. + +"_Where_ are you going?" she asked for the third time. + +"Oh, somewhere great!" Max said with a provoking chuckle. + +"It would serve you just right if I said I didn't care where you went, +but I do care, because I want to go too," Gwen said. + +"I only wanted to tease you," Max replied, "and I'll let you go with +me, Gwen. Turn 'round and look at that high hill over back of the +house where we're staying. I'm going to climb to the top of that hill, +and go down on the other side, just to see what there is 'round behind +that hill." + +"Then why don't you walk around it, instead of climbing?" questioned +Gwen. + +"Smarty!" Max said, at he same time looking very unpleasant. + +"Oh, I don't care," Gwen hastened to say. "I like to climb. Come on!" + +It did not look like much of a hill, but it proved to be hard to +climb, for its sides were steep, and covered with wiry grass. + +The sun was hot, and long before reaching the top, Gwen wished that +she had not started at all. + +Twice she stopped to take short pieces of stems or dry twigs from her +slippers, and often the thorny branches of the low bushes scratched +her bare arms. + +Her sleeves were short, and thus her arms were unprotected. Max's arms +were covered by his jacket sleeves. + +"What a fuss you make over a little scratch!" he said, sharply. + +"I'm _not_ fussing over _a_ scratch!" snapped Gwen. "I'm fussing over +'bout a hundred scratches!" + +"Oh,--o--o!" Max drawled, as if he doubted the number. + +"Well, look!" cried Gwen, holding her little arms red with scratches. + +"Too bad," Max said, and Gwen, surprised, and pleased, followed him, +as he made his way just ahead of her, holding back the bushes. + +"Oh, Max, you're good," she said, and Max blushed at her praise. He +thought himself exceedingly good, but he was delighted that Gwen +thought so. + +"This hill didn't look so very high, when we stood on the beach and +looked back at it," said Gwen. + +"N-no," admitted Max, "but all the same I'm glad we started early, and +we'll reach the top 'fore long. Then we'll see what's on the other +side, and when we climb down, we can just run around on the level +ground, and tell the folks where we've been, and what a climb we +had!" + +"Oh, yes," agreed Gwen, and once more they pushed forward, and up +toward the summit, that seemed, no matter how long they climbed, to be +not the least bit nearer. + +For a time they climbed in silence, when, all at once, Gwen tripped +over a loose root, and promptly sat down. + +"I'll have to rest a few minutes," she said. + +"I'll sit down because you do," Max said. He would not say that he, +too, was tired. + +He was not contented long to sit resting, and soon the two were once +more trudging up the steep incline, Max leading the way, and Gwen, +following close behind him. + +"We're 'most to the top," he said, at last, to which Gwen replied: + +"I don't believe it! The more we climb, the farther away it seems, +and I do believe that horrid old hilltop moves away as fast as it sees +us coming!" + +"Now, Gwen, you know better! Just look!" Max said, and Gwen looked. + +"Well,--the top isn't any farther off than it was the last time I +looked up," she said, grudgingly. + +She knew that it looked nearer, but she could not bear to say that. + +"It's nearer, and you know it!" Max declared, stoutly. "Come on!" + +"Wait till I fix my shoe," wailed Gwen. + +"I'll bet that's the tenth time you've stopped to pull your shoe off +since we started to climb this hill," Max cried in disgust. + +Gwen was about to say that she should stop again if she wished to, but +a glance at Max caused her to change her mind. His face was far from +pleasing, so without a word, she fastened her shoe, and silently the +two tramped on. + +Max was wishing that he had taken the trip alone. + +Gwen heartily wished that she had remained on the beach. + +She was not only tired, but her feet were sore and blistered. + +Max walked ahead, and Gwen found it hard work to keep up. + +"Oh, Max!" she cried at last, "Do wait for me!" but Max either did not +hear, or hearing, refused to wait, and Gwen, unable to take another +step, sank down on the coarse grass and burst into tears. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +WHAT MAX FOUND + + +Gwen was very angry. Max had taken her on the long tramp, and now had +become impatient because she was tired, and had left her to choose +between immediately following him, or lagging behind. + +It was almost twilight, but Gwen was forced to rest for a few moments, +at least, before taking another step. + +"P'r'aps I can run, and catch up with Max, if I sit here and rest a +while," she said. + +Max, careless boy that he was, walked straight ahead, not even turning +to look back, to learn if Gwen were following. + +Gwen watched his sturdy little figure as it stood out against the sky, +and envied him because he seemed not the least bit weary, while Max, +sure that she was watching, took extra long steps to show what a +vigorous fellow he was. + +When he had reached the top of the hill, he would have been glad to +rest, but he wished to prove that he was tireless, so he at once +commenced to make his way across the level plain upon which he found +himself, and then to descend the rugged hillside. + +Sometimes a twig snapped overhead, and then he would next be surprised +by stepping upon what proved to be a rolling stone, that would slip +from under his foot, and go rattling on ahead of him. + +The long walk down the far side of the hill was less cheerful than the +upward climb had been, and while he would not for the world have +admitted it, he missed Gwen, and her constant chatter. + +He was beginning to feel tired, and he would have been glad to sit +down and rest, but lest Gwen should be on her way to overtake him, and +laugh at him for resting, he kept on. + +Once he looked over his shoulder hoping to see that she was now +following, but she was not in sight, and again he pushed forward. Not +a bit cared he if Gwen were afraid. + +"If she'd kept up with me, she needn't have been afraid. Nothing would +scare her if I---- Oh--oo--oo!" + +With a frightened yell, he tripped over what appeared to be a long +bundle, which, however, proved to be the legs of a sleeping tramp. + +"Ye little varmint! Walkin' all over a man! I'd serve ye right if I +tied yer arms an' legs tergether, and pitched yer down inter the +valley beyant there!" howled the angry man, as he turned over for +another nap. + +Max, believing that the man was chasing him, raced down the steep +hillside, stumbling over roots, and twigs that lay in his way, sliding +on rolling stones, and catching at low hanging branches to save +himself, he at last, from weariness, stumbled, and fell sprawling over +a stump that the darkness had hidden. + +It happened that Gwen, becoming a bit timid because of the shadows of +twilight, had risen stiffly from her seat on a low rock, and was +hastening after Max, when she heard the boy's shout, and then the +angry words of the tramp, and quickly as she had come, she ran back +to her perch upon the rock. + + [Illustration: "Now, indeed, she was afraid."] + +Now, indeed, she was afraid. Alone on a wooded hilltop! Would she have +to stay there all night? Would some one come for her? How would they +know where she was? + +She tried to think that Max, on reaching the house would tell of her +plight, and urge someone to come for her, but she knew that Max was a +coward, and that he never liked to tell anything that might cause +others to blame him. + +Meanwhile the tramp slept soundly. No thought of the frightened boy +troubled his dreams, and of the little girl who had drawn back into +the shadow of the trees, he knew nothing. + + * * * * * + +At the big yellow house on the Cliff, there was great excitement. +Mrs. Harcourt was so nearly frantic that the best efforts of her +friends failed to comfort her. + +Earlier in the day she had gaily laughed at Gwen's absence at the noon +meal, and if she was at all disturbed because of her sailing trip in +the leaky cement tub, she did not show it. + +But that twilight should be hanging over the sea, and night fast +approaching, and Gwen out of sight for the second time was really +enough to frighten any woman, even if she were far less nervous than +Mrs. Harcourt. + +A searching party was formed, not one of whom had the slightest idea +where to look, when, just as the men were about to start out, a small +boy appeared in the driveway; a boy who seemed to wish to be +unnoticed. + +"Hello! I say, Max! You usually know where the little Harcourt girl +is. Do you know now?" said a little man on the outside of the group. + +"Le'me go!" snarled Max, "I want some supper," and he tried to squirm +out of the firm grasp of the little man's hand. + +"Not till you've answered," said a tall, athletic fellow. + +"Come now, little chap, speak up!" Mrs. Deland, faultless dressed now +appeared. + +"Oh, it is really absurd to think my little son has the least idea +where----" + +"It may be, Madam," the young man replied, "but I'll just ask him +again, and we'll see how he answers. Say, Max! Do you say you don't +know where she is?" + +"I don't know where she is just now," the boy answered sullenly. + +"Did you know a little while ago?" + +"Oh, dear! Max is so sensitive. This sort of thing will quite upset +him I'm sure," said Mrs. Deland. + +The tall young man made no reply, but to Max he said: + +"Tell us where she is, and we'll go and get her, but if you won't tell +us, we'll take you along to show us the way. Which will you do?" + +More tired than he would have cared to admit, Max dared not refuse to +tell, for he had no desire to repeat the fearfully long walk that he +had taken. + +And when he told how little Gwen had declared herself unable to follow +him, the disgust of his listeners was complete. + +"So as the small girl was tired out with the long trip on which you +had taken her, you left her to be a little tenant of the lonely wooded +hilltop for the night!" + +"A brave act, truly. Your mother must be proud of such a manly boy!" +said a stout man who had joined the group. + +"I told her to come along, and I guess she could have if she'd wanted +to," Max said stolidly. + +In disgust, and without another word to the boy or his mother, the +group, with one accord, turned toward the sandy road that led toward +the narrow path up the steep hillside. + +They were sturdy men, well used to long tramps over rugged paths, and +soon they came upon Gwen, huddled close against a high ledge, in an +effort to keep warm. + +She had been too frightened to cry. She had heard the angry shout of +the tramp when Max had stumbled over him, and now, although he had not +uttered a word since, nor had she heard a footstep, she trembled and +constantly looked about her to learn if he were approaching. + +As the searchers made their way toward the crest of the hill, the dry +twigs that lay upon the ground broke under their feet, and the +underbrush snapped as they pushed the low branches back. As they +approached the rock where Gwen was sitting, she heard their voices, +and believing that instead of one tramp, an entire band of tramps was +coming toward her, she screamed with fright, and slipping from the +rock, cowered on the grass, trying to make herself as small as +possible. + +They had heard her outcry, however, and now they called her name. + +"Gwen! Little Gwen! Where are you? We've come to find you!" + +Crying out to them, she hurried forward, her arms outstretched, as +she stumbled over the rough, coarse grass, over roots, and dry sticks +that lay in her path, until, in the effort to run, she pitched and +would have fallen, had not the big man of the party caught her, and +swung her to a safe place upon his shoulder. + +For once Gwen was truly grateful, and closely she clung about the big +man's neck, so glad was she, that he and his friends had clambered up +to her lonely perch on the big rock at the summit of the hill. + +Once she whispered in his ear. "There was a big, horrid tramp up on +that hill. I know, because I heard him shout at Max. I wonder if he +hurt Max, and I wonder where Max is now. Did some other men go hunting +for him, just as you hunted for me?" + +"No need of hunting for Max," the big man replied, "for he took good +care of himself, and came sneaking home, safe and sound, while he left +you, little girl, to look out for yourself as well as you could." + +With care they made their way down the rugged hillside, and Gwen was +so happy that she sang snatches of songs, and someone in the rear +whistled to keep her company. + +Arrived at the house, Gwen had a fine welcome. + +She was not generally liked, because of her pert, saucy ways, but the +fact that she had been lost, and now had returned was surely a reason +for rejoicing. + +"Where's Max?" queried a young man who had been one of the searchers. + +"The dear boy was so tired with his tramp that he asked to go at once +to bed. He was really fatigued, for usually he coaxes to remain up," +Mrs. Deland said, "and really," she continued, "the only reason that +he did not take Gwen along with him was because she said that she +_must_ rest a while." + +"I suppose it was impossible for him to wait with her," said someone +in the crowd. + +"Max is very tender hearted," Mrs. Deland responded, "and he said he +thought if he waited, she might start before she was sufficiently +rested." + +With much dignity, Mrs. Deland turned from the piazza, and entered the +house. She knew that Max was at fault, and that everyone in the group +thought so. + +She would not acknowledge that her little son could be in the wrong. +Max, according to her ideas, should be praised, and approved of at all +times. + +Gwen was the center of interest, and that pleased her greatly. Mrs. +Harcourt was delighted, fairly beamed upon those who crowded around +her small daughter, to ask all about her long tramp and how it seemed +to be alone on the wooded hilltop. + +Of course the story lost nothing in the telling. + +Gwen made it really thrilling, but after a time, even her mother felt +that the tale was becoming rather lurid for a strictly truthful +account, and she dragged Gwen away to the hall, and up the stairway, +but she made herself absurd. + +"Really, Gwen, you should be a bit careful," she said, as gently as if +afraid of offending her small girl. "If your wonderful imagination +made you think you saw eyes peering at you from behind those +tree-trunks, you should remember that common people might not believe +you. Ordinary people could not understand." + +"I don't care if they don't!" Gwen said stoutly. "I shall tell what I +want to, and they can believe it or not, just as they choose." + +"I surely am the mother of a genius," murmured the silly woman. + + * * * * * + +A few days later, great excitement prevailed among the children of the +Summer colony at Cliffmore, and their elders were sufficiently +interested to talk of the news on the piazza, the beach, the little +park, at breakfast, at lunch, and at dinner. + +"It is really to be quite an affair," said one lady, to which her +friend replied: + +"I wouldn't miss it for the world, for I heard that no expense had +been spared, and that the whole thing will be as beautiful as a +dream." + +"Who planned it, or who is managing it?" questioned another, to which +yet another who now joined the group replied: + +"Captain Atherton is 'backing' it, I hear, and so, of course, Rose +will be the central figure in the pageant." + +Yes, that was the cause of the excitement. There was to be a grand +pageant, and the children would be the principal actors. + +"Is Gwen Harcourt to be in the pageant?" someone asked, but before +anyone could reply Mrs. Harcourt joined them. + +"Is my little Gwen to be in it? Why, what a question!" she said. "They +would hardly have a pageant without her." + +"I suppose not," someone said, in a tone of disgust, but Mrs. Harcourt +did not notice that. + +"Well, no," she responded. "I hardly think they could, because beside +the part that Gwen will actually take, she will be a great help in +other ways. Her ideas are so original, and she is always so willing to +tell others how things should be done, that she, really, is a +wonderful help. The committee arranging the pageant constantly ask her +advice." + +"I wonder if they asked Gwen's permission to have the pageant at all?" +grumbled a small boy who stood near the ladies who had been talking. + +Yes, it was to be a great event at Cliffmore, and everyone was +interested. + +"What are you going to be, and what are you going to wear?" were the +questions oftenest asked, and groups of merry, laughing children sat +chatting on the piazzas, or strolling along the beach, talking, always +talking of the pageant. + +It was, indeed, to be a grand and beautiful procession that would make +its way along the beach. + +The children were greatly excited, and each was interested in the +costumes that her playmates were intending to wear, as well as that in +which she would herself appear. + +There had been an odd happening. Captain Atherton had chosen the list +of characters to be represented, and Mrs. Sherwood had written a clear +description of the costumes to be worn. + +All were pleased with the parts assigned them, save Gwen Harcourt and +Max Deland. + +"I shall not be one of the mermaids," Gwen had boldly declared. "If I +can't be the Water Queen, I'll not be a water fairy at all!" + +"Very well," Captain Atherton had said quietly, "I will find someone +to take your place." + +Gwen was surprised. She had felt sure that Captain Atherton would beg +her to remain, and that he would also give to her the part of the +Water Queen. + +Max had had a similar experience. He had expressed his dislike for the +part given him, and had been told that the parts once given out could +not be changed. + +"Come on, Gwen!" he had said. "We can get up something for ourselves!" + +"What _do_ you mean?" she asked. + +"Come on over to the big lodge, and I'll tell you. We'll have fun +enough. You'll see!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE SEA KING'S NYMPHS + + +Everyone, everything was ready for the grand carnival and pageant. + +The children were more than ready. They were eager. + +Their costumes were completed, and they knew exactly how they were +expected to pose, so that each should do her part to make the +procession beautiful. + +Even the sun seemed intent upon doing his share, and as he rose from +the water, appeared to be smiling upon sea and land. + +At the far end of the beach was a huge canvas tent, and all of the +"trappings," or "properties" were stored beneath its shelter. From +this tent the procession would start, and pass along the beach, where +hundreds of spectators would be watching from the tiers of seats that +had been erected along the route. + +Princess Polly, Rose, and Sprite stood waiting to take their places. + +"What do you suppose Gwen and Max meant?" Polly asked. + +"When they said they'd get up something of their own?" said Rose. + +"Why, yes," Polly said. "Don't you remember how they spoke?" + +"Oh, yes, I know," Rose replied, "but Gwen and Max often say they'll +do things, and then they don't do at all as they say they will. They +speak like that when they're provoked, and then they forget all about +it." + +"Do you know," Sprite said, "I think this time they'll remember what +they said, and I'm just wondering what they will do." + +A trumpet called the children to order, and soon all was bustle and +excitement. + +Then when all were ready, the long line of lovely children attired in +rainbow hues, with here and there an adult figure to add dignity to +the pageant, slowly made its way along the beach, receiving cheers and +applause from the delighted on-lookers. + +First came a group of thirty of the village children, dressed as water +sprites, and blowing on soft-toned silver horns. + +Their tunics were pale rose, and their cheeks were as pink as their +draperies. + +Gilded sandals were on their feet, and they blew their silvery notes +with a will. + +Following the water sprites, came a troop of small boys tripping +along, and dressed as little mermen, their green scales glittering in +the warm sunlight, their caps of braided seaweed bordered with tiny +scallop shells. + +They carried triangles, and gaily they marked the time, laughing as +they tramped along. + +There were floats upon which were grouped children and grown-ups in +tableaux representing historical events. + +There was a tall may-pole carried by a man dressed as a jester, and +boys and girls in early English peasant costumes held the ends of the +long fluttering ribbons, laughing as the crowd applauded. + +Group after group passed along, and one that called forth loud +cheering was composed of boys and girls dressed as little farmers and +their chubby wives. + +The small boys wore overalls and straw hats, the girls wore pink +sunbonnets, pink gowns, and blue aprons, but both boys and girls +carried rakes on their shoulders, and gay companions they seemed to +be. + +The greatest delight, the loudest cheering greeted the great gilded +chariot, drawn by six white horses hired for the occasion by Captain +Atherton. + +Each steed boasted a white harness, and from the head of each floated +streamers of green ribbon. + +Who would ever have dreamed that the imposing Sea King who stood so +proudly in his chariot firmly grasping the reins, was none other than +Captain Seaford, the father of little Sprite. + +A white wig and beard had changed him completely, and his costume of +sea-green draperies was most becoming. + +In his left hand he carried a gilded trident. + +In the chariot with him as his nymphs were Princess Polly, in pink, +Rose Atherton in blue, and little Sprite in yellow, three charming +nymphs, surely. + +Brownies, elves, gnomes, a crowd of small boys dressed to represent +any number of different kinds of fishes were followed by girls among +whom might be seen Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and a host of other +fairy tale heroines. + +There were little hunters, and fishermen, but all agreed that the Sea +King with his nymphs, his chariot and his fine horses was best of all. + +Polly, Rose, and Sprite were just saying that Gwen and Max had kept +out of sight in spite of their declaration that they would be in the +procession, in costumes of their own choosing, when Polly happened to +turn, and look back. + +"Oo--oo--oo! Look!" she cried, and Rose and Sprite, and even the +stately Sea King turned to learn what had startled her. + +Too surprised to speak, they watched a little team with two occupants, +approaching at headlong speed. + +A smart cart drawn by a gray donkey came tearing down the beach. Max +dressed as a farmer, with blue overalls and straw hat, was making a +desperate effort to control the donkey, while Gwen in a chintz frock +and pink sunbonnet sat close beside him, clinging to her seat in +abject fear. + +Evidently they had been late in getting started, and had endeavored to +gain sufficient speed to "catch up" with the procession. + +Max had been vexed that at first the balky little beast could not be +induced to hasten, and for a long time he continued to walk at a +fearfully slow pace, paying no heed to shouting, or a taste of the +whip. + +Then, when Max put down the whip, and let the reins lie loosely across +the little creature's back, Neddy suddenly decided to go, and go he +did, galloping along at a rate that set the light cart swaying from +side to side, and threatening, at any moment, to throw Max and Gwen +out. + +"Stop him! Do stop him!" cried Gwen, "He's running away!" + +"I _cant_!" screamed Max. "First he wouldn't go, and now he won't +stop!" + +The procession halted, and a big boy sprang forward, endeavoring to +snatch at the bridle. + +The intention was good, but the donkey, maddened that anyone should +try to stop him, shied, and the boy and girl were hurled out upon the +sand. + +Max turned a complete somersault and came up on his feet, declaring +himself unhurt, but Gwen took an entirely different view of the +matter. + +She was not hurt, but her temper was decidedly ruffled. + +"Well, I declare!" she cried, "I do think everyone is horrid, but I +think Max is just a _little_ horrider than the rest!" + +"Why, Gwen, he did his best to stop, but the donkey just wouldn't," +said Sprite. + +"Well, I wouldn't have been spilled if I hadn't been riding with Max, +would I?" cried Gwen. "Something always happens when I go anywhere +with Max. Funny I don't ever remember it. Just as soon as something's +happened, away I go somewhere else with him." + +Gwen could not imagine why they all laughed. + +Meanwhile the donkey having run as far as he cared to, stood far down +the beach, looking out across the waves, as calmly as if he could +stand there for hours. Indeed one could hardly think that he was the +same little beast that, a short time before, had bolted so furiously. + +Captain Atherton, who had left the crowd, and quietly followed Neddy, +now quickly approached him. He made no attempt to escape, but instead, +allowed himself to be led as gently as if he really preferred to go +that way. + +Very meek he looked, as with the Captain's firm hand on the bridle, he +approached the crowd that had watched him when he ran wildly along the +beach. + +Max was more than willing to clamber into the cart, and for the +remainder of the route, be a part of the procession. Gwen, first +flatly refused to ride, but after much coaxing she finally consented, +and took her place beside Max, and so odd was the expression of her +face that Max afterward said that he could not tell whether she was +"mad or scared." + +"Half mad and half scared," Gwen replied. "Mad to have to ride again +with you, and scared for fear Neddy would run away again." + +The donkey behaved very well, however. He had run all he cared to for +one while, and he walked along behind the Sea King's chariot, as +quietly as if he had never once dreamed of running away. + +After a while, Gwen began to be so glad that she was indeed, in the +pageant, that she looked about her, and actually smiled when some of +the other children spoke to her. + +At the end of the route, a fine lunch was served in a pavilion that +looked out on the beach. + +Captain Atherton had provided it, and it was heartily enjoyed by all +who had taken part in the pageant, as well their friends who were also +invited. + +After the good things had been partaken of, the little guests danced +to the music furnished by an orchestra that had been playing during +the feasting, and eyes sparkled, and cheeks grew rosy with excitement. + +It had been a delightful day, and for days afterward the children and +those who had been spectators, talked of the lovely pageant, that had +made its glittering way along the beach. + +Captain Seaford sat just outside the door of his house, mending a net, +or rather, attempting to mend it, for his mind was not upon his work, +and from time to time he let the net lie on his knees, while he looked +out across the dancing waves as he was hoping to see a vessel appear +on the horizon. + +He would sit thus for a time, and then shake his head and resume his +work. + +A dancing, springing footstep brought Sprite to the door, and as soon +as she saw how eagerly he scanned the sea, she crept softly toward +him, and laying her hand upon his shoulder, peeped around into his +eyes. + +"What you thinking of, Pa?" she asked quickly. + +"Nothing much little girl," he said gently. + +She lifted her fore-finger, nodding wisely as she spoke. + +"It might not be much," she said, "but it's enough so you worry about +it. Tell me, Pa, what's vexing you." + +After a moment in which both were silent, she spoke again, but with +her soft little arms about his neck. + +"Was it about Ma, or me you were thinking?" she asked. "You looked so +sober, that I know it was about someone that you cared for." + +"I was thinking of you both, Sprite," he said, as he drew her closer, +"and of the vessel that is almost a week overdue. If she comes in, the +venture that I made on her cargo, will bring what some folks would +call a small sum of money, but to us, it would be a small fortune." + +"A week overdue! I'm not so selfish that I don't give a thought for +those on board that have perished if she's lost. That's simply doubled +the worry." + +A warm tear fell on his rough hand, and he looked up quickly. + +"Tut, tut! Little Sprite! Don't cry yet. It may be that she's only +delayed, and will sail into port, with all hands on board and her +cargo safe. You're too young to worry now. Cheer up! Pa's not really +worrying yet, only wondering, little Sprite, wondering." + +That would have settled the matter for some children, but Sprite saw +more clearly, thought more deeply than does the average child, and she +knew that he was trying to cheer and comfort her while at heart he was +deeply concerned, for the fate of the vessel for which he had been +eagerly waiting. + +"But she could come in now and be all right, couldn't she?" Sprite +asked. "Or is it so late that you almost know that something has +happened to her?" + +"No, no, Sprite. It's not too late for her to arrive safe and sound, +but as the days pass I catch myself watching a bit closer for her +coming. Why did the tears come, Sprite? I never like to have you +grieving, dear." + +"The tears always come if I think anything has disappointed you, or +Ma," Sprite said, softly. "That's why I tried so hard to win the prize +last Spring, when all the other pupils were working for it, too. I +didn't care half so much about getting it for myself, as for you." + +He drew her yet closer. + +"Dear little Sprite," he said. + +"And now I'm going to hope that the vessel will come sailing in with +a big load of luck on board. I'll tell you one thing; I saw the moon +over my right shoulder last night, and all the sailors say that's +lucky." + +Captain Seaford laughed at this bit of superstition offered to him as +a crumb of comfort. + +She laughed with him, and stooping, picked up a small star fish. + +"I'll toss this up three times. If it comes down on the sand, twice +out of three times right side up, it will be the same as saying that +the vessel is safe, and will return all right." + +Three times she tossed it up, only a few inches from the sand lest it +break. + +"Once! Right side up!" she cried, a rippling laugh following her +words. + +"Twice! Wrong side up! Oh, Pa, which will it be next time?" + +A moment she stood irresolute as if half fearing to test their luck +the third time. She turned the star fish over and over in her hand, +then, as if she thought waiting useless, she tossed it lightly up. + +"Oo--oo! Look! Look Pa!" she cried, "It's right side up! Pa, I do +believe the vessel will come in safely. My! Wouldn't it have been +awful if the star fish had fallen the other side up?" + +"My little Sprite is a great comfort," he said, "and the tossing of +the star fish is harmless fun, but I'd not like to think that you'd +believe all the superstitious yarns that the sailors tell." + +"Oh, no," was the earnest reply. "I know that some of them could not +be true, but there's one funny one that a sailor down on the pier told +yesterday. + +"He said you could go down stairs backwards after dark, and look into +a mirror you held in your hand, and see something, I don't know what, +but I'm going to try it. I'll try it just to know what I'd see, or to +find out what would happen. He said something was sure, just _sure_ to +happen." + +"The something that would happen would be that you'd fall, and perhaps +break your pretty neck," Captain Seaford said, "but as to what you'd +see in the glass! Why, that is all nonsense. Here and there is a +sailor that's as full of such silly notions as a weather vane. + +"That sort of sailor listens to all the yarns he hears, believes them +all, tells them all, and generally he isn't any too careful to tell +them just as he heard them. + +"He's apt to add just a little of his own nonsense to the yarn he +heard to make it interesting." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +A WEDDING AT CLIFFMORE + + +The playmates who were at Cliffmore for the Summer were having a +delightful time, but in a quiet way, John Gifford, or "Gyp," as he was +still called, was very happy, and also very busy. + +At the end of the school year in June, he had stood at the head of his +class, and now, employed by Captain Atherton, he knew that he was +respected, and that he had honestly earned that respect. + +"I'm to be the hired 'man' on his place," he said, "so I'll be earning +something, while I study evenings, for I mean to get somewhere worth +while. I don't mind if anyone in Avondale who likes me, calls me +"Gyp." It sounds friendly, but I'll not always be known as Gyp, the +gypsy boy. When I get out in the world I'll be John Gifford, and I +mean business. I don't know yet just what I'll do, but Captain +Atherton will advise me, and with his help, I'll be able to decide." + +Of course there were a few who continued to shake their heads, and say +that "A gypsy is always a gypsy, and what can you expect of a boy +brought up, or rather permitted to grow up, as Gyp has been?" + +The larger number of the people of Avondale seemed determined to take +a more cheerful view of it, and to believe in the boy, even as he now +seemed to believe in himself. + +Gyp proved that he needed no watching, for he commenced work early +each day, and never stopped until night. + +The lawn was carefully clipped, the flowers and lawn were given an +abundance of water, vines were trained, and shrubs were trimmed, until +after a month of Gyp's care, the place looked finer than ever before. + +Captain Atherton left Cliffmore one day to visit Avondale, and get +some papers that he remembered having left in his safe. + +As he walked up the path he noticed what fine care the place had +received during his absence. The lawn had never looked so green, the +plants and shrubs had never blossomed so freely. + +As he stood looking about him the click of the lawn mower caused him +to turn just as Gyp came around the corner of the house. + +"You've worked wonders here, Gyp," the Captain said. "I always had a +fairly good lawn, and much could be said of the vines and the +flowers, but everything looks far better than it ever did before. +Where did you get the knowledge to do the work so well, and so +successfully?" + +"I asked the gardener down in the Center, the one who takes care of +the parks, to tell me how to do my best for you, and then--I did it," +Gyp said, simply. + +"Work like that at whatever you undertake, and you'll be pretty sure +to achieve success," said Captain Atherton. + +"I mean to," Gyp replied, firmly, and as he looked after the fine +figure ascending the steps to the porch he murmured: + +"I'll do my very best for him," while Captain John Atherton said, as +he opened the door of his safe to take out the papers that he needed: +"That boy is worth helping, and I'll help him." + +With the genial Captain away, the housekeeper felt free to enjoy a bit +of gossip, and seeing the cook in the garden of the next house, she +slipped out of the rear door, and across the lawn, where, that her +coming might look like a mere happening, she took a bit of paper from +her pocket, and commenced scribbling upon it. + +She wished the cook in the next garden to think that she was jotting +down a few things that she wished to remember. + +Curiosity was at once aroused, and the cook moved toward the hedge. + +"E'hem!" she coughed softly. + +The housekeeper turned coolly. + +"Oh, good morning," she said. "I just come out here for a bit of a +rest, there's so much going on just now, that I'm nearly wild with the +planning." + +"Do tell!" cried the cook. "I've heard there was to be great doings +of some sort over at 'The Cliffs,' but I haven't yet heard what it is. +What's it all about? I'm wild to know." + +Mrs. Wilton sighed, as if she were already very weary. + +"We're not more than half ready for the great event," she said, "but +Captain Atherton does not wish me to tell anyone the least thing about +it." + +"Mercy sakes! Why I came out purpose to hear!" said the cook, her +round face very red, and her little eyes snapping. + +"Well, you'll hear later," Mrs. Wilton said, and turning, she walked +across the lawn and entered the house. + +Inside the door she whispered: + +"There! I guess that paid her for being so private that she wouldn't +tell me a thing about the company that left their house in such a +hurry one day last week, and hustled off before daylight at that!" + +The cook, still standing with her fat arms akimbo, stared wrathfully +at the closed door where the housekeeper had vanished. + +"Well, of all the mean things not even telling a decent woman like +myself one bit of what's going on there! I'll find out, though, some +way. To-morrow is my afternoon off, and I'll go from one end of this +town to the other to see what I can hear." + +Even little Rose Atherton was pledged to keep the secret. + +"We're to have a lovely time at our house," she said to Polly and +Sprite, one morning. "We're to have a perfectly lovely time, and +you'll be there to enjoy it, but that is all I can tell. Uncle John +said I could say that if I wished to but that I musn't tell any more +just now." + +"Well, we won't mind waiting to hear just what it is," Polly said, +"because we know it will be nice, whatever sort of party it is. We +always have a nice time at your house." + +"And we'll like it all the better because there's to be a surprise of +some sort," said Sprite. + +"We can wonder and wonder, and then when the day comes we'll have the +fun of not guessing what it is, but just knowing what it is and +enjoying it." + +Rose looked very wise. + +"It's to be lovely, I told you that, and there's one thing more I can +tell, and that is that it will be different from any party we ever +went to, or any party any of us ever had." + +"Won't we be glad when we haven't to wait any longer to know just what +kind of a party it is?" said Sprite. + +"Oh, yes," agreed Princess Polly, "and so will ever so many other +people, for I've heard people talking about it, and saying that they +were tired of guessing, and that they wished they knew now, instead of +having to wait still longer to know." + +"It won't be very long now before they know," Rose said, laughing +gaily. + + * * * * * + +The secret was out, because the invitations were out. + +Captain John Atherton, the genial master of the beautiful home at +Cliffmore, known as "The Cliffs," and of an equally beautiful estate +at Avondale, was to marry the girl whom he had always faithfully +loved. + +The misunderstanding that had parted them had come about because of +the loss of a miniature of the girl, Iris Vandmere. + +Its loss had grieved John Atherton. + +He could not imagine how it could have so completely vanished. In +truth, it had been stolen, but Iris thought that her lover must have +valued it lightly, believing if he had properly guarded it, it could +not have been taken from him. One word had led to another, and she had +sent him away, grieving and wretched. + +Her own heart was not less sad, but she had endeavored to hide that. +Then, on that lucky day of the Summer before, Princess Polly had found +the exquisite miniature lying in the middle of the sandy road. + +How it came to be there, no one could say. Evidently someone, perhaps, +the one who had stolen it, had dropped it, and travelled on, unaware +that the famous miniature lay waiting a claimant, on the main road of +Cliffmore. + +The Summer colony was excited, but of all those who were invited to be +present, none were more lovingly interested than the children. + +John Atherton loved the children, and they dearly loved him. + +One would have thought that the grand old house of the Vandmere's +would have been chosen for the wedding, but Iris was quite alone +there, save for her servants. + +Both parents had but recently passed away, and the lonely girl felt +that the home with its sad memories was not at all the place for the +happy event. + +"Let it be at Cliffmore," she had said, and at Cliffmore it was to be. + +"Only think of it," Princess Polly said one morning, "Rose is to be +maid of honor, and Sprite and I are to be bridesmaids. Rose is to wear +pink, with pink roses, and we shall wear white with pink roses. Miss +Iris will wear white, because brides always wear white. Mamma, why +can't brides sometimes wear something else?" + +Mrs. Sherwood laughed. + +"This time the bride will wear 'something else.' Miss Vandmere's gown +will be of the palest blue satin, and beautiful lace," she said. + +"Oh, how lovely!" cried Princess Polly. + +At last the great day arrived, just as the children felt that they +could not wait much longer. + +It was like a dream of Fairyland, for the great gardens at "The +Cliffs" had never looked finer, the rooms were bowers of flowers and +foliage, soft music floated through the halls, and then, Iris in +shimmering blue satin, attended by her dainty little maids, came +forward to the floral arch, where handsome Captain Atherton stood +waiting. + +After the ceremony, the guests moved forward to kiss the lovely bride, +and Iris, bent to give her first kiss to her little maid of honor. + +"You are _my_ little Rose, now," she whispered, and Rose, happy Rose, +clasped her arms about her soft, white neck. + +And quite as the weddings in the old fairy tales it was, for the +banquet was like an old time feast, and dancing, in which the Captain +and his bride took part, followed. + +When, after a gay, brilliant evening, the happy pair said "good-bye," +their friends gathered about them, wishing them a pleasant voyage on +the _Dolphin_, a safe return, and all good fortune. + +Never a thought of loneliness had little Rose. During Uncle John's +absence, she was to be with her dear Princess Polly, and what could be +better than that? + +For a few more weeks they would be at the shore, and Rose would be at +the Sherwood's cottage, at play all day with Princess Polly and +Sprite. + +Then she would leave Cliffmore with the Sherwoods, and go with them to +Avondale, there to remain until, upon his return, Uncle John, and the +lovely, new Aunt Iris, should come for her. Rose was delighted to stay +with Princess Polly, and she looked forward to her home with Uncle +John, now to be even pleasanter than before, because of the sweet, new +relative, whom she already loved. + +The day after the wedding, Gwen decided to go over to "The Cliffs" to +learn if Rose were there, and if she were so lucky as to find her, to +remain and play with her. It would be a fine way to spend the morning. + +She had quarreled with Max. + +She was always either vexed with him or just making up, and no one +could ever guess which had happened, because Gwen looked quite as +cheerful after a disagreement, as when the friendship had been +renewed. + +She hurried along the beach, rushing past a group of small girls whom +she often played with, because she meant surely to find Rose before +she might leave "The Cliffs" to go over to Princess Polly's house. + +She knew that the walk would be a long one, yet it seemed farther than +she thought. + +The sun was hot, and the sand seemed burning under the thin soles of +her dainty shoes. + +"How long it takes me to get there!" she said impatiently. "I couldn't +run all the way." + +She reached the low gate a few minutes later, however, and opening it, +swung it wide between the two stone posts, and ran up the path, +laughing when the gate swung to with a clang of its iron latch. + +Mrs. Wilton, the housekeeper, opened the door, believing that some +important person had arrived, for the bell had rung as if the opening +of the door were imperative. + +She was not pleased to see the small girl standing there. + +"No, Rose is not here," she said in answer to Gwen's question. "She is +to stay with Polly while her Uncle John is away. She went over there +this morning." + +"Why this is 'this morning'," Gwen said, pertly. + +"It is ten o'clock, and Rose went over to the Sherwood house at +eight," the housekeeper said, at the same time stepping back, as if +she intended to close the door. + +She was free to close it as soon as she chose, for Gwen had turned, +and without a word or a glance, raced down the path, out of the +gateway and up the beach to join Rose and Polly whom she now saw +standing and talking. + +"Hello!" she cried, as she drew nearer. "I've been over to 'The +Cliffs' to find you, Rose, and then I came here. What you two talking +about?" + +"Trying to choose what to play," Rose said. + +Both wished that Gwen had remained away, but they could not be rude, +so she of course would join in the game, whatever it might be. It was +a warm morning, and Princess Polly was just thinking that it would be +fine to choose a shady spot, and sit there telling fairy tales, but +Gwen's arrival made that impossible. + +She never cared to listen while someone told a story. To be happy she +must be the story teller, and as her stories were always wildly +improbable, and always about her silly little self, they were never at +all interesting. + +For that matter, she was never willing to join in any game unless it +was very exciting. + +Several games were suggested by Rose and Polly, but to all Gwen shook +her head, and refused to play either one of them. + +One she thought too stupid, another she declared that she had never +liked, and, yet another was "awfully dull" she said. + +At last Rose lost patience. + +"What _will_ you play?" she asked sharply, her cheeks flushing. + +"Oh, I don't know," Gwen replied carelessly. "I guess I won't play at +all, anyway not with you two. I'll run back and find Max Deland. He's +good fun, and he'll surely be able to think of something I'll like to +play. He most always does, and I like him because he is wide awake. +Good-bye!" and she was off like a flash down the beach. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +AUNT ROSE CALLS + + +There had been many sunny days with blue skies, and never a cloud in +sight, when one day, to the surprise of everyone, the sky appeared to +be a solid mass of dark, leaden clouds, and the sea that for such a +long time had been glistening and sparkling, now showed only a dark +sullen surface, with here and there a whitecap to break its monotony. + +Rose and Polly had decided to remain indoors, and all the afternoon +they had been busy sorting the shells that they had been collecting. + +"I wish I had more of these," said Polly, pointing to a little heap of +oddly shaped shells, white in color, with here and there markings of +soft brown. + +"I wish so too," Rose said. "We've less of that kind than we have of +any of the others. I wonder how it happened that we didn't get more of +those?" + +"I don't know, but if it is pleasant to-morrow, let's hunt for some," +said Polly. + +Mrs. Sherwood called, and Polly putting the tray full of shells upon +the table, went out across the hall to reply. + +Rose hurried down stairs to the hall, out onto the piazza, along the +flower bordered path to the gate, then out and off down the beach. + +Polly never liked to be out when the sky was cloudy and the wind raw, +but Rose cared not a bit, and she had gone out thinking to give Polly +a surprise. + +She meant to find some of the coveted shells, and run home with them +before Polly should have missed her. + +She looked back at the Sherwood cottage. How pretty it was, and quite +like a country house with its well kept lawn, its flowers in the +gardens, and even at the gate, a rose vine clambering over. + +Swiftly she ran along the beach to a spot where usually they had found +the most shells. + +A few there were, but none like those that Polly wanted, and she +trudged along, looking sharply at every shell that lay imbedded in the +hard, wet sand, from which the tide had receded. + +She had been gone nearly an hour although she did not dream that it +was so long since she had left the house. + +She had known that Polly would not follow her, because of the cold +wind that was blowing so briskly. A rift in the clouds had let the +sunlight through, and when she reached the gate, the garden was bathed +in sunlight. + +Rose paused for a moment to look at the flowers, now gay in the bright +sunshine, when the sound of voices came toward her, and while one was +the pleasant voice of Mrs. Sherwood, the other was surely the voice +of--Great Aunt Rose! + +"Captain Atherton asked that Rose might remain with us while he is +away," Rose heard Mrs. Sherwood say to which the cold voice of Great +Aunt Rose replied sternly: + +"Well, and if he did, I see no reason why she can not spend a part of +the time with me at the old Atherton house which I have always felt +was her proper home." + +Little Rose Atherton's heart beat faster. She still stood at the +gate, and she wondered that, for a moment, neither spoke. + +Then Great Aunt Rose broke the silence. + +"I was away at the time of the wedding, but had I been present, I +should have at that time _insisted_ that the Captain leave her with +me, not only during his cruise on the _Dolphin_, but after his return. + +"The young woman whom he has married is a beauty, and so of course, +will be too full of dress and society to have any interest in little +Rose. If John has chosen to wed a flighty beauty, he should at least +give Rose to me." + +"Miss Vandmere is indeed beautiful to look at, but she is lovely in +character as well, and I know that she loves Rose," Mrs. Sherwood said +quietly. + +She would not argue, but she felt that, in justice she must give +utterance to the fine regard in which she held Iris Vandmere. + + [Illustration: "She still stood at the gate."] + +"There are, I suppose, some beauties who are neither vain nor foolish, +but however that may be, I am determined to see Rose to-day, and to +ask her if she does not wish to return with me." + +At these words uttered in a shrill, angry voice, Rose turned and raced +down the beach. + +She dropped the shells that she had been tightly holding, and without +a thought of recovering them, she ran at top speed, as if, at that +very moment stately Great Aunt Rose had been actually chasing her. + +She had no idea how far she had run, she had not paused for even a +second, nor had she once looked back. Now as she looked up, she saw a +narrow side street that commenced at the shore, but well up from the +water, and ran toward the center of the little village. + +She was almost breathless as she turned into the little street, but +she dared not stop running. + +The very thought of ever returning to the stately old Atherton house, +with its great dark halls, its formal drawing-room, and for companion, +gentle Aunt Lois, kind but so deaf that it was almost impossible to +talk with her, and cold, dignified, haughty Great Aunt Rose, filled +little Rose with terror. + +She was now completely tired out, and as she turned the corner of the +next street, she stumbled, and would have fallen but for two strong +arms that caught her. She looked up. + +"Why little Rose!" + +"Oh, Aunt Judith! Dear Aunt Judith, take me home with you now, right +off, this very minute!" cried Rose. "Don't stop to ask why! Just take +me now! Come! They may be here any minute! Come!" + +"Why, Rose! What does this mean?" cried Aunt Judith. + +"I was on my way to call upon Mrs. Sherwood, and ask you and Polly to +come up to my little cottage and spend to-morrow with me, and here you +are, looking for all the world as if you were running away. I musn't +run off with you like this." + +"Oh, but _do_, Aunt Judith. Please do! It isn't safe to wait a minute. +I'll tell you everything when we're safe at your cottage. Come!" + +The fear in Rose's brown eyes was so evident, that although it seemed +a strange thing to do, Aunt Judith turned about, and with Rose +clinging to her arm, started in the direction of the station. A train +was already made up, and about to start for Avondale. + +They were soon seated, and Rose drew a sigh of relief when the train +started. + +"Now, I'm safe," she said, leaning against Aunt Judith. + +It was not until they were inside the cottage at Avondale, at +twilight, the shades drawn and the lamps lighted that Rose told what +had frightened her, and why she had run away. + +"I don't wonder that you were frightened," Aunt Judith said. "If John +had been at home you would have been brave, but gentle Mrs. Sherwood +seemed to you to be no match for Great Aunt Rose. I do not think as +you do. For all her gentleness Mrs. Sherwood is a fine character, and +I do not think she would permit anyone to take you from her home when +you had been left in her care by your Uncle John. + +"There is another thing to be thought of. Great Aunt Rose has left the +Sherwood cottage long before this, and Mrs. Sherwood and Princess +Polly I believe are greatly frightened by your absence. Don't you know +that they must have been searching for you now for at least two hours, +and not finding you, they will fear that you have come to harm. + +"If only you had told me what it was that had so frightened you, I +would have returned with you to Mrs. Sherwood, and have helped +convince your aunt that you could not go home with her. + +"Great Aunt Rose would not actually take you by force." + +"Oh, she would!" cried Rose, "and I'm glad we're here, but we can let +them know that I am safe, and that I am here with you, and why I came. +I'd go back to them to-morrow if I knew Great Aunt Rose wouldn't go +there again, and try to get me. + +"Oh, the great old Atherton house is so grand, and yet so lonely, and +she doesn't love me. She was always telling me while I was there that +the reason she wanted me to live there was because I was an Atherton, +and she said the proper place for me to live was in the old Atherton +house. + +"She said there had always been a 'Rose Atherton' in the family even +'way, 'way back, and that every 'Rose Atherton' had lived in that +house, and when I said I pitied them, she was angry, and she said I'd +no reason to. She said the others were proud of this family, and glad +to live there, and that I was the odd one. She said it was strange +I'd rather live with Uncle John, and I said it _wasn't_ strange +because he was so loving. + +"Oh, I can't bear to think of the time that I lived there, and I'm +glad I ran away from Polly's house before Great Aunt Rose saw me. I +know she would have snatched me away from the Sherwood's. + +"I was peeping in at the gate when I heard her voice. + +"She was telling Mrs. Sherwood that I ought to go home and stay with +her while Uncle John is away. + +"I didn't wait a minute, but raced down the beach just as fast as I +could. Then I thought if she came out, she might see me on the beach +even at a distance, so I turned into a side street, and the next +corner I turned brought me straight to you." + +There was indeed consternation in the Sherwood cottage when, after the +unpleasant caller had left the house, Polly commenced to look for +Rose, and no Rose could be found, though thorough search was made, the +servants gladly assisting, and just as Polly was crying, and declaring +that she could not taste the least bit of food until Rose was found, +the telephone rang. + +Glad news it was that Rose was safe with Aunt Judith, and Mrs. +Sherwood and Polly accepted Aunt Judith's invitation to come and spend +the next day at her cottage. + +Aunt Judith had gone a short distance to Mrs. Grafton's house, and she +had sent her message from there. + +"Hurrah!" cried Harry, as Aunt Judith turned from the telephone. "I'm +glad it happened that Rose had to run away, for we've missed her all +these weeks that she's been spending at the shore. We'll be over +to-morrow to see her, won't we, Leslie?" and he gave one of Leslie's +long curls a sly twitch. + +"We surely will, unless you pull all my hair out when I'd want to hide +my head," Leslie said, laughing. + +"Oh, pshaw! The way I pull your curls amounts to just love pats," +Harry cried. + +"You wouldn't say so if I twitched your hair like that," Leslie +responded. + +"I guess I'll go down and get my hair shingled so you won't be able to +get hold of it," he said. "Lend me a quarter, Leslie? I spent all I +had to-day on candy and a new bat." + +Leslie refused and Harry chased her, the two laughing as they ran. + +"I never saw a brother and sister who played together so prettily," +Aunt Judith said. + +"They are great chums," Mrs. Grafton said. "Of course Harry has his +boy friends, and Leslie is very fond of Lena Lindsey, but for all that +my boy and girl are fast friends, and they love each other dearly." + +"I like to see it," Aunt Judith said. + +She hurried back to the cottage where Rose at the window was eagerly +watching for her. + +"Mrs. Sherwood's voice sounded very anxious when she replied to my +call at the telephone, and the tone of quick relief when I told her +that you were safe here at the cottage with me was very evident. + +"Polly had cried until she was about sick, but of course, she will be +all right now, and they will both be with us here to-morrow, for the +day." + +"That will be fine," cried Rose, "and you'll set the larger table +to-morrow, and make it look fine, but to-night, Aunt Judith, just +to-night let's have the little tea table, just as we used to when I +lived here with you, with the pretty pale green dishes, and the dear +little sugar and cream set with the pink moss-rose buds on it. May we, +Aunt Judith?" + +Aunt Judith came and took the pretty face between her two hands, and +looked into the eager brown eyes for a moment. + +"We'll have our little tea just as we used to, because it will please +you, and because I'd like nothing better," she said. + +"And let me help at the table, just as I used to," Rose said, and +together they worked, Rose bringing the rosebud china, while Aunt +Judith brought the pale green plates, and cups and saucers from the +little china closet, and placed them upon the dainty, spindle-legged +table. There were tiny, fresh rolls, chocolate with cream, a dish of +raspberry jam of which Rose was very fond, and even the little round +pound cakes that Rose so well remembered. Aunt Judith had sent a small +boy to purchase them for her while she was telephoning at Mrs. +Grafton's. + +When all was ready, they took their places, Aunt Judith pouring the +chocolate, while Rose served the cream from the dainty jug, and +dropped the cubes of sugar from the quaint little silver tongs. + +"Aunt Judith, I'm so happy with Uncle John, that everything I have at +his home seems perfect, but there's one queer thing that I don't +understand. No raspberry jam ever seems just like the jam I always +had at this cottage." + +Aunt Judith was delighted. + +"To think that you would always remember the jam, and think it a bit +nicer than any other!" she said. + +"Perhaps it was because we were choice of it, and served it on Sundays +and holidays that made you think it extra nice." + +Rose leaned toward her and laid her hand upon her arm. "And perhaps it +was because you always kept the jam in that lovely cream colored crock +that has the butterflies upon it. I do believe things taste nicer for +being kept in pretty jars like that." + +"I think so, too," Aunt Judith said, "but your Uncle John has +beautiful china, so doubtless his housekeeper could find plenty of +pretty dishes for serving." + +"Oh, she does," Rose replied, "but in the closet, the jam is kept in a +stone crock, while yours was always in the butterfly jar that I always +thought so lovely." + +"The dearest thing about this cosy little tea is the fact----" Aunt +Judith bent to kiss her cheek, "that I have you for my guest, little +Rose." + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +AT AVONDALE + + +Harry was ready to go over to the cottage at eight the next morning, +but Leslie declared it a ridiculous hour to call. + +"Call!" cried Harry. "Who's going to make a prim old call, I'd like to +know? S'pose a fellow is going to lug a card case just to go and play +with Rose?" + +"Of course not," said Leslie, "but even if we are just going over to +the cottage to play, we'd not care to get there when she's eating +breakfast." + +"Well, I guess there's no chance of doing that, Leslie. Look at the +clock. It is after eight now, and we're still at table." + +"I'll go over with you at nine," Leslie said, and when the clock +struck nine, she found him just outside the door, his shrill whistle +having told her where to find him. + +"Come on!" he cried. "It's nine, and if you won't come with me now +I'll go over to see Rose without you." + +"Well, I'll have to go back now," Leslie said, and turning, she ran +across the hall, and up the stairway, laughing as she went. + +"Good-bye!" shouted Harry, and off he sped, thinking it a great joke +on Leslie that he should keep his word, and because she was causing +the delay, run off to the cottage instead of waiting for her. + +Leslie, never dreaming but that he was waiting on the walk just +outside the door, wondered that he did not whistle or call to her to +hurry. + +She had gone back for a book that she intended to give Rose, and in +her haste she could not at once find it. + +At last she saw a bit of its cover beneath a mass of lace and ribbon, +in the corner of the drawer where she had placed it for safe keeping, +and catching it up, flew down the stairway and out upon the porch. + +For a moment she paused, wondering where Harry might be, when a merry +shout made her look up. + +Away up the avenue, just opening the cottage gate, was Harry, and even +as she looked, he disappeared behind the tall shrubbery in the garden. + +"Well, isn't he great?" Leslie said, as she started to run. + +Rose and Harry were just behind a tall shrub that overhung the +gateway, and as Leslie pushed the gate open they sprang forward in a +fine attempt to startle her, but she only laughed. + +"You couldn't make me jump," she said, "because I saw a bit of Rose's +pink dress between the branches, and Harry moved his head so that I +saw his yellow hair." + +"Why didn't you speak, and tell us you knew where we were hiding?" +Harry asked, a nice bit vexed that Leslie had not "jumped." + +"I thought you ought to have the fun of springing out at me, after +you'd hidden so nicely," Leslie said. + +"Better luck next time," said Rose, and together they ran around +behind the cottage to learn if the little brook was as clear, and as +rippling as when Rose, in the early Summer, had sailed her little boat +upon it. + +"The brook is here!" cried Harry. "It hasn't run away yet." + +A ragged little chap now approached them, but they did not see him. +They were kneeling on the bank and looking at the reflections in a +little pool where no ripple stirred the surface. + +The comical little fellow might have kept away from them had they been +facing him, but as their backs were toward him, he felt quite brave. + +He was a droll looking urchin. His trousers evidently belonged to an +older brother, as the legs had been rolled over and over in an effort +to make them short enough so that he might walk without treading upon +them. His blouse must have been the property of the same person, for +the sleeves had received the same treatment as the trouser legs, that +he might be able to use his hands. Upon his head rested an old straw +hat. A big hole in the crown permitted a sprout of red hair to pop +out, and a pair of shoes, not mates, completed his odd costume. He +continued to approach until he stood within a few feet of Harry +Grafton, and then he paused, as if wishing that one of the group might +turn, and greet him. + +With chubby hands clasped behind his back he waited. He was evidently +in no hurry, but after a time he became impatient. + +"Hello!" he said, and Harry turned. + +"Hello, little chap! Who are you?" Harry asked. + +Ignoring the question, the small boy eyed Harry for a second, then he +lisped: + +"Where'th Gyp? Ma thaid: 'Find Gyp.'" + +"Are you Gyp's little brother?" Harry asked. + +The small head in the big hat nodded. + +"What's your name?" inquired Harry. + +"Motheth," said the child. + +"_Moses!_" cried Harry. "You must be wise. Are you?" + +"I do' no', but I got to find Gyp, for Ma thaid I wouldn't have no +dinner unleth I found him, an' I want my dinner now." + +"And yet you haven't found Gyp," Harry said. "Well, I saw him a little +while ago at work on the lawn over at Captain Atherton's house. Run +over there and look for him. Scoot! He may go off while you're waiting +to think about it." + +Wee Moses waited for no urging, but raced across Aunt Judith's lawn, +out of the gate, and down the avenue, the tuft of red hair waving like +a flaming feather on the crown of his hat. + +"Just notice his speed," cried Harry, and Rose and Leslie laughed as +the comical figure turned, and bolted up the driveway of the Atherton +place. + +"That is only one of Gyp's small brothers," Leslie said. + +"I never knew that he had one named Moses," said Rose. + +"I've heard you tell their names, Harry," Leslie said, "but I never +remember them all. I know there is a Mike, and a Pete, and isn't one +named Hank?" + +"Yes, and there's Luke and a little fellow that they call Sonny while +they're trying to decide what to name him," said Harry, "and really +he's such a funny looking little fellow that it would be hard work to +think of a name that would fit him." + +"There is a girl over on the other part of the town whose name is +Tulip Rose Lillian Buttrick, and she told the girls that her parents +gave her all those names because they couldn't decide which they liked +best." + +"What an idea!" cried Rose. "Well, I'm glad I haven't Tulip and +Lillian added to my name." + +"I don't see why those people stopped at all," Harry said, "for +there's dandelion, and phlox and marigold, and a whole lot of other +flower names. Seems sort of stingy to give her only three." + +"Oh, Harry! Nobody would name a girl 'Phlox,' think how it would look +written," Leslie said. + +"I guess they don't worry about how it would look written," Harry +said. + + * * * * * + +It was when Rose and Leslie and Harry were resting after an exciting +game, that Mrs. Sherwood and Princess Polly arrived. + +Then the fun began. + +Mrs. Sherwood went in to talk with Aunt Judith, and the four playmates +ran over to the Grafton's for a game of tennis. And while they were +playing, eagerly hoping to win, each trying to outdo the other, little +Sprite Seaford sat in the odd little living room of her home, sorting +her treasures, and at the same time thinking what a fine time Princess +Polly must be having at Aunt Judith's cottage with Rose and her other +playmates. + +The pretty shells, the coral, and the star fish, each had places of +their own, but they had been taken out to show to some callers the +afternoon before, and Sprite was now engaged in replacing them, each +in its own especial place. + +Captain Seaford was out fishing and Mrs. Seaford had gone to the +village to do a few errands so Sprite was free to take her time about +the task. + +Softly she sang as she placed the white shells in one row, and the +pink shells in another. + +A smart tap at the door made her start, then she called: + +"Come in," and Gwen entered. + +Sprite wished that she had not answered the rap. + +"Goodness! What a heap of shells. What are you going to do with them? +Going to keep them?" Gwen asked, in a manner that implied that she +thought he lovely sea treasures simply rubbish. + +"_Keep_ them!" echoed Sprite. "Why of course I'm going to keep them." + +"They're pretty of course," Gwen admitted, "but it must be a horrid +job to keep them in order. Leave them where they are and come out on +the beach." + +"Oh, I can't," said Sprite, and she was about to say that she must +place her shells and coral in safe positions before going out, but +Gwen did not wait to hear what she had intended to say. + +Instead, she hurried out, banging the door behind her. + +"I'll find someone who'll do as I want to," she declared, and she ran +up the beach to find Princess Polly, but Princess Polly and Rose were +both at Avondale, and Gwen ran on to the center of the little coast +village. + +"I'll find someone to play with, I don't care who it is," she said, as +she raced along. + +When the sea trophies were all in their places, Sprite stepped back to +view her work. + +A smile curved her lips, and her eyes grew brighter. + +"They look finer than they ever did before," she said softly, "and now +I'll try to keep them just as they are arranged." + +Sprite Seaford was often called a little "Water Witch," from the fact +that she was so much at home on the water. + +She could swim wonderfully well for so small a girl, and she managed +her boat with skill. + +After another approving glance at the rows of softly tinted shells, +she ran out onto the beach, and soon in her boat she was gliding along +on the shallow water near the shore, her oars moving with slow +precision, keeping time to the song that she was singing, or rather to +the songs that she was singing, for she was making a gay little medley +of many familiar tunes. + +The light breeze lifted her long, waving hair, and let it flutter back +from her face, it kissed her cheeks, and made them pink like the +shells that she valued most. + +The great gulls hovered overhead, flapping their wings, and circling +about as if trying to determine what sort of little being it was that +boasted such long tresses. + +Skimming over a bit of shallow water, she chanced to look down and +there, on the sandy bottom, was a shell, different in shape from any +in her collection. + +"I must have it," she cried, and in a second she had drawn the oars +into the boat, had slipped into the shallow water, and having pushed +the light boat toward the shore, swam along under water until she came +to the spot where the shell lay. + +She came up to the surface to get the air, laughed, and swam downward +again, snatched the coveted shell, and then made her way to where the +little boat rocked on the waves. + +She was in it in a moment, and again plying the oars, her shell on the +seat opposite that on which she was sitting. + +She had dressed herself in her little bathing suit, and she laughed as +she saw that the warm breeze playing with her hair, was drying it, +while her blouse and skirt were dripping and would continue to drip +until hung up where the wind could blow through them. + +Rarely a day passed that Sprite did not spend with Polly and Rose, but +to-day they were away, and she must amuse herself. They were her two +dearest playmates, but the dancing waves were the next best. + +"I love to play with Princess Polly, and with Rose Atherton, and when +I'm not playing with them, I like my boat," she said softly. "I would +have asked Gwen to stay but I didn't want to her to. + +"Gwen so often says unpleasant things. Polly and Rose never do, and +surely the boat doesn't. It never even answers back," she added with a +laugh. Then for a time she plied the oars in silence, rowing always +close along the shore, out from one little bay, and into another. + +Then someone hailed her. + +"Hi! Sprite! Sprite Seaford!" + +She turned on her seat, and there, on the beach, close to the water, +was Max Deland. + +"Say! Have you seen Gwen Harcourt?" he asked, his hands held +trumpet-wise, to carry his voice to her. + +"I saw her, oh, much as an hour ago, it may be longer," Sprite +answered. + +"Oh, pshaw! I mean have you seen her within a short time?" cried Max, +impatiently. + +"I _said_ I saw her an hour ago, and maybe longer," Sprite said. + +"I wonder it wasn't a week!" cried Max. "I want her now." + +With that he ran off down the beach, and Sprite wondered why he was in +such evident haste. + +She turned the boat about, and rowed along in the direction that Max +was going. + +She saw him run along the beach, then stop and take something, a small +book she thought, from his pocket, look steadfastly at it for a few +moments, and then, after thrusting it back into his pocket, run on +again. + +She wondered what sort of book it was, and why Max seemed so very +impatient in regard to seeing Gwen. He seemed bent upon running the +entire length of the beach, and she watched him until he either +entered, or ran behind the little shanty that some workmen were using +as a tool house. + +"I believe Max is as queer in some ways as Gwen is," mused Sprite. + +"I wonder what that little book was, and why he had to stop to read +it?" + +A moment later she laughed, as she said: "There's one thing everyone +knows, and that is that when Max and Gwen are together, they're sure +to get into mischief. No one ever spends a minute wondering about +that, because they _know_." + +She ran the boat into shallow water, made it fast to a pile that had +been placed there for the purpose, tying the rope through the iron +ring on the post. Then she stepped over the side of the boat into the +water, and waded ashore. She wrung the water from her skirt, took off +her shoes and emptied the water from them, and then ran up the beach +toward home. + +She opened the door and ran in. + +The Captain would be out on the fishing trip all day, and it was +evident that Mrs. Seaford had not yet returned from her trip to the +store. + +Sprite changed her drenched bathing suit for dry clothing, and hung +the skirt and blouse up to dry. + +She wondered why it was that she kept thinking of Max and his little +book. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE SHIP COMES IN + + +It had been a warm, sunny day, the little waves had danced gaily, and +the beach had been dazzling in the full glare of noonday, but the +afternoon had been cooler, and at twilight the wind had changed from +its warm quarter, to Northeast. + +Snug and warm in the "Syren's Cave," they heard the wind rising until +it became an actual gale. + +The Captain had built a fire of drift wood, the squatty lamp on the +table gave out a yellow glare, and around the table sat the three +members of the family, the cat occupying the tiny rug in front of the +fire. Puss purred contentedly, blinking when the sparks snapped and +twinkled. + +Sprite bent over a fascinating book of fairy tales. The pictures were +charming, the stories held her captive. + +Usually she enjoyed playing with puss in front of the fire, saving her +book for stormy days, but she had opened the book to look at the +softly tinted pictures, and the first story that held her attention +was the "Tale of the Gold Children," and she became so interested in +their travels in search of their fortunes and of each other, that she +could not put the book aside. + +Her waving hair fell about her shoulders as she read, and the light +from the big lamp shimmered upon it. + +Mrs. Seaford, busy with her sewing, paused at times to look at the +child absorbed in her book. + +Captain Seaford, in a big arm chair, reading the "Cliffmore News," +looked exceedingly comfortable, but his wife knew that while he held +the paper before him, he was merely glancing at the reading matter, +while his mind was elsewhere. + +Often he put the paper down, laying it across his knees as if he were +done reading. For a few moments he would sit thus, then again he would +lift the paper as if he were endeavoring to keep his mind upon it, but +finding it a difficult task. + +A heavy gust of wind made the windows rattle, and shook the door as if +clamoring for admittance. A second later, something was hurled against +the side of the house, as if the gale were using small pieces of +driftwood for missiles. + +The Captain arose, dropped his paper in his chair, and strode to the +door. + +He seemed to be trying to scan the horizon, as if looking for a sail, +but no object, far or near could possibly be distinguished in the +utter darkness that hung over land and sea. + +He turned about, closed the door, and picking up the paper, seated +himself once more before the fire, but he did not read, allowing the +paper to lie idly on his knees. + +"What is worrying you?" his wife asked gently, laying her hand upon +his arm, and looking intently at him. "Is it anything new?" + +"It's the same thing, dear, that has kept me fretting for the last +three weeks," he said slowly. + +"When the vessel was two weeks overdue I was more anxious than I cared +to admit, but now that the third week is nearly gone, I find myself +unable to keep my mind upon the paper that I try to read, or for that +matter upon anything else." + +"If any vessels intended coming in to-night, they would be obliged to +get into some harbor where they would be safe until the sea is calm," +said Mrs. Seaford, "and that would make them a few days later, so +we'll still hope to see the one we're looking for come sailing in with +flying colors." + +Sprite, listening, while they thought that she was reading, now came +around the table, and leaned against the Captain's sturdy shoulder. + +"Pa, I wish you wouldn't worry, for some way I'm sure she's coming in +all safe, I'll tell you why. Now don't you laugh. I dreamed last night +that she came sailing in with flags flying, and oh, her hull and her +masts were of shining gold, so let's think that means good luck. Will +you, Pa?" she coaxed, winding her little arms around his neck. + +She could not bear to see him so worried. + +"You're a comfort, little Sprite, and your Ma is another. Don't seem +reasonable for a man to fret with two such blessings in his +possession, but the truth is I wanted the luck that I believed the +vessel would bring, for you two dear ones, far more than I wanted it +for myself." + +"Then don't say you _wanted_ it, for that does not sound hopeful," +Mrs. Seaford said. + +"No, say you _want_ it for us, for that sounds as if it were coming," +Sprite said, "and I'm sure it will come, only it's delayed." + +He summoned up a smile for the child who was endeavoring to cheer +him. + +"I surely can truthfully say, 'I want it for you'," he said. + +"I have ventured all that I had on that ship's cargo, because I +believed it was sure to bring back a little fortune that would enable +me to give greater comfort to your mother, Sprite, and you." + +"Well, it's coming! It's coming! I know it is. I saw the golden ship +last night in my dreams, and I sprang up and looked from the window, +and the moonlight was making a bright, glittering path on the waves, +just where, in my dream, the ship had been." + +She had left the Captain's side to skip and dance about in her +excitement, but now she came softly back to lean against him, as he +sat in his big chair. + +She laid her cheek against his a second, then looking into his kindly +eyes, she said: + +"It is stormy to-night, and it may storm to-morrow, but when it +clears, I know, oh, I just _know_ the ship will come in." + +It was later than Sprite usually sat up, and the Captain pointed to +the clock. + +"It's late even for a cheerful little prophet to be up," he said, and +Sprite danced away to her tiny chamber, happy in the thought that she +had really cheered them. The next day the storm continued, but at +night the gale diminished, and on the following day the sun rose +bright, and golden, giving promise of a fine day. + +Sprite ran out onto the beach. + +She looked far out across the dancing waves, to the horizon, where +plainly she could see the sails of incoming vessels. + +Was either one of these distant vessels the one for which the Captain +was so eagerly looking? + +"They all look alike 'way off there!" she murmured, but a moment later +she whispered in disgust: + +"What a goosie I am! Those vessels have only one sail! They're neither +of them ships. Who'd think I was a Captain's daughter?" + +Still she stood scanning the line where the sky and ocean met. At any +moment a big ship might come in sight, and she thought how quickly she +would run to tell the news. Then she hesitated. + +No, she would not hasten to tell it, for it might indeed be a ship, +and yet not the one for which the Captain had long been looking, or it +might be one that was not bound for Cliffmore, but instead would go +farther out to sea. + +There was one sail on which the bright sunlight lingered, making it +whiter than those of the other vessels, so that it was easier for her +to watch that one than either of the others. + +"Why! It has turned about!" she cried, "and now, oh now, I see other +masts and other sails! It's a ship! It's a ship! Oh, is it the one +that Pa longs to see?" + +She would gladly have stood watching until that vessel sailed into +Cliffmore, but a long, silvery note from the horn called her in to +breakfast. + +Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks pink with excitement, and the +Captain looking across the table, sighed as he thought of all that he +had planned to do with the money that he had so confidently expected. +He had built rosy air castles, had dreamed of comforts, and pleasures +for the two dear ones who now sat opposite him at the table, the one +full of hope, and cheer, the other trying to summon cheer that she +did not feel, in order to comfort him. The forenoon passed swiftly, +because the three were busy. + +Captain Seaford was making some repairs that the gale had made +necessary. Indoors Mrs. Seaford had needed the help of little Sprite +in some work that she was doing, and when the noon hour came they +could hardly believe the clock. + +Sprite, usually eager to be out of doors, kept close at her mother's +side, pulling bastings from the garments that she was making. + +Sometimes she paused to look from the window, then again she would +busy herself with the bastings, and after a time, Mrs. Seaford, +looking up, noticed with what rapt attention Sprite was gazing out at +the ocean. + +"What is it, Sprite?" she asked. "Are you thinking of the dream vessel +that you told us about last evening?" + +"I can't help thinking of it," Sprite answered, "and truly I do +believe the dream meant good luck." "I'd not wish you to believe very +strongly in dreams," Mrs. Seaford said, "but I'll confess that ever +since you told us that dream, I've been thinking of it, and, in some +way, it has given me hope." + +The afternoon was spent much as the forenoon had been, save that the +bastings were all out of the new garments, and while Mrs. Seaford +still plied her needle, Sprite picked up the book of fairy tales, and +tried to read. + +There was one story that attracted her attention because its +illustration showed a great ship, of ancient design. The name of the +story was "The Gift Ship," and Sprite began to read. Riches formed its +cargo, jewels studded its masts, and its figure head, representing a +mermaid, was of solid gold. + +"Oh, that is grander than our ship was to be," thought Sprite, and she +allowed the book to lie idly in her lap, while she looked out at the +floating clouds, and wondered where the white-sailed ship had gone +that, at early morning, had floated along that distant point where sky +and water met. + +The captain looked in at the open door, and for a moment seemed to be +studying the two who sat near the window. Then he spoke. + +"I'm going down to the wharf to see Jack Windom. He wants my opinion +of a fishing smack he's thinking of buying. I'll not be gone long." + +He started off at a quick pace, but a few minutes later, Sprite saw, +from her window, that the captain had met his friend when but halfway +to the wharf. + +"Oh, Ma, Jack has come up halfway to meet Pa. I guess he was coming up +to see if Pa had forgotten about going down to look at the new fishing +smack. + +"Why, Ma, they're shaking hands. They never do that. Why, they are +both coming back!" + +Mrs. Seaford knew that something more than usual had happened. She +hurried to the door, just as the two men reached it, and then, the +captain grasped both her hands, crying out in his excitement: + +"It has come in, dear! It has come in! The vessel that I've been +looking for, longing for, worrying for is in safe and sound, and the +cargo, if my friend Jack isn't wild, is even more valuable than I had +dreamed! + +"Sprite! Sprite! Little girl, your dream has come true!" + +What a day of rejoicing it was! + +"The dream came true! The dream came true! The golden ship has come +in!" cried Sprite, dancing about like a little wild thing, while Mrs. +Seaford laid her slender hands on the captain's shoulders, her eyes +filled with happy tears as she quietly said: + +"For your sake, dear, I am so glad." + +Jack Windom, hardy sailor, and bluff, kindly friend, was more moved +than he cared to admit. He drew the back of his hand across his eyes, +remarking that the sun was "tur'ble glarin'," but his friends knew +that he was fully in sympathy with them, and that his honest eyes had +filled with tears, as happy as their own, because of the good luck +that had come to them. + +"I'm glad for ye, all three of ye, and I wish I could hev lent a hand +ter hurried her in, but she's here now, and I'm as glad as you be that +she's in safe an' sound. It's a great day fer ye, Cap'n, an' I'm glad, +I declare I am." + +Captain Seaford again started for the wharf, this time to see not only +the new fishing smack, but the vessel that had brought such great +cheer to the little home, and with his arm locked in Jack Windom's he +hurried down the beach. + +Mrs. Seaford and Sprite sat down to talk of their good fortune, and +after a time little Sprite said: + +"I know I'm not to believe in signs or dreams, but truly I _did_ see +the new moon over my right shoulder, and I _did_ dream of a golden +ship." + +"So you did, dear," Mrs. Seaford said, "and you cheered me wonderfully +last evening just by your telling of your lovely dream." + +"That's why I told it," Sprite said. + +"I thought while I was telling that, you'd not hear the gale, and by +to-day the storm would have cleared away, and maybe the ship would +come in, and it did." + +For a few moments the two sat thinking, then Sprite spoke again of the +thoughts that filled her mind. + +"Yesterday I tried to read a story in my fairy book, called 'The Gift +Ship,' but the ship's masts were studded with jewels, and its +figurehead was of pure gold, and some way it seemed too grand, too +fine, while Pa was longing for just a plain ship like the other ships +that we see every day. I knew it was its cargo that he was anxious +about, but the story seemed too good to be true, and I didn't care to +read it. + +"Now, oh, now I can read it, and enjoy it, too, for no matter how +grand the story ship is, Pa has seen the one that he has been looking +for, and now we are happy." + +"Indeed we are," Mrs. Seaford said; "we are thankful, too, Sprite. +Think how different would be our thoughts to-night if Jack Windom's +news had been that the vessel that your father had been looking for +had foundered! + +"We are thankful indeed, we are grateful, Sprite. Oh, we are blessed +with the best news that could have been brought to us," said Mrs. +Seaford. + +"I wish we could celebrate in some way when Pa comes back," Sprite +said. + +"We shall have to be thinking of supper now. Suppose we go out +together to set the table, and you shall help me to make it +attractive. + +"Come! We'll use our prettiest dishes, and we'll set the rose-pink +geranium in the center, and then we'll see what we can do toward +providing a treat." + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +LITTLE PITCHERS + + +The day spent at Aunt Judith's cottage had been delightful, and Harry +and Leslie had been such fine playmates that Rose and Polly wished +that they, too, were staying at Cliffmore. + +A few days had passed since the visit, and Princess Polly, still +thinking of the day at Avondale, sat stringing shells on a long +rose-colored cord. + +She was sitting on a low seat in the garden, her box of shells beside +her. The shells were for Leslie, and Polly was selecting them with +much care, that they might be of nearly the same size. + +The garden was charming with its fine wall, and the lovely flowers +that blossomed within its enclosure. + +The house set well up on the beach, and its broad lawn and flower beds +were surely safe from any encroachment by the sea, yet as a +precaution, the massive wall had been built, and if by any chance a +storm should drive the waves a bit too far, they would break against +the wall, and then recede, leaving the garden unharmed. + +The string of shells was now nearly a half yard in length, and Polly +held it up for the admiration of Rose and Sprite, who had just +arrived, and were running along the path. + +"Oh, isn't it lovely?" said Rose, "and the colors, how nice they look, +first bluish white and then cream white." + +"Leslie will like that," said Sprite. + +"Anyone would, they're strung so prettily." + +"I've ten more shells to add to the string and then it will be all +ready for Leslie. Everybody keep still until I have the ten shells in +place," said Princess Polly, "and then I'll talk with you." + +Rose and Sprite pretended to be making a great effort to keep still, +but the task was evidently too much for them, and after a few seconds +of silence, Rose laughed, Sprite echoed, and then Polly laughed +because they did. + +"Oh, you two can't keep from talking," she said, "and neither can I, +that is, not for very long, but I did keep still until I put the tenth +shell on the string, and I'll put it in this little box. There, now +I'll listen, for I know you've something to tell." + +The three little friends were now sitting on the long garden seat, the +tall shrubs behind them making a cool shade. + +Mr. Sherwood had had the space inside the fine wall filled with rich +loam, so that inside the garden gate was a genuine country garden, +while outside the wall lay the sandy beach, and the surf, and spray. + +The flowers in the garden seemed to like the breezes from the sea, for +their colors were glowing, and their perfume sweet. + +"There's such queer news this morning," Sprite said. "First, a sailor +that Pa knows came up from the wharf, and he said a vessel got 'way +out to sea, when they found a boy had hidden himself on board, a +regular stowaway, and the first fishing smack they met, that was +heading for Cliffmore, took him aboard and brought him back, and who +do you think that was?" + +"Why, how could we ever guess?" Polly asked in surprise. + +"Well, that was John Selby, the grocer's boy. You know the store over +at the Center," said Sprite, "and I guess you've seen the boy. He's +'bout fourteen, and has red hair, and he's the one that helps deliver +goods from his father's store." + +Yes, they remembered him. + +Good-tempered, happy-go-lucky John Selby. What could have tempted him +to leave home, and become a stowaway? Sprite knew why he had done it. + +"He said he didn't want to be a grocer when he grew up," she said. "He +said he loved the sea, and would rather be a sailor, so now his father +says if he'll stay at home and help in the store until he's a bit +older, he'll consent to his becoming a sailor, if he still thinks he'd +like a sailor's life." + +The pronouns were a bit confused, but Rose and Polly understood. + +They hardly knew whether to be sorry for John or his father. + +"It seems hard for John to want to go and leave his father," Polly +said, "and it's hard that John can't be a sailor boy if he wants to." + +"And you can't know which is the harder," said Sprite. + +"Well, I wouldn't think any boy would run away from home when he knew +that his father and mother would grieve for him," Rose said. + +"I'd think any boy would if he wanted to!" said a sharp voice. + +It was Max Deland who had entered the garden, and now, with a defiant +air, stood staring at the group of playmates, as if daring them to +disagree with him. + +His cap was tilted at a saucy angle, his hands were thrust into his +pockets, and his feet, wide apart, were firmly braced. + +He looked as if ready to quarrel with anyone who chanced to differ +with him. + +"Do you mean to say, Max, that you'd do such a thing?" Sprite asked. + +"I don't say I would, and I don't say I wouldn't," Max said in a +sullen voice. + +"Well, _would_ you?" Princess Polly asked, but Max looked +disagreeable, and in a few moments had turned and left them, as +abruptly as he had come. + +For a moment Polly, Rose and Sprite sat very still, each looking into +the faces of the others. + +"What made him so cross?" Sprite asked, "and if he _did_ feel cross, +and couldn't help it, then I should have thought he would have stayed +away." + +"So should I," said Polly and Rose, and "so should I," echoed Sprite. + +Outside the garden wall eager ears were listening, and the ears +belonged to a little figure that crouched close by the gateway, just +out of sight of the three playmates, yet quite near enough to hear all +that had been said. + +It was Gwen Harcourt. + +She had been a bit too saucy to Max Deland, had called him a "sissy," +and what boy would bear that? Max had returned the favor by calling +her a "Tom-boy," and then he had made a horrid face, and raced off up +the beach. + +Then Gwen was sorry. She liked to play with Max, and while he could +run away, and laugh as he went, Gwen was ready to cry. + +He was quite as fond of Gwen as she was of him, but he was a great +tease, and beside that, he liked to hear her calling to him to return. + +It flattered his vanity. + +"Come back, Max! Come _back_!" she had shouted. + +"Max dear, I take it back. You're not a sissy. Max! Oh, Max, I'm +sorry!" + +Max heard, but he chose to keep right on, and at last he reached the +Sherwood house, and pausing for breath near the gate, had overheard +the three friends talking about the boy who had run away from his home +at Cliffmore. + +A few moments later he had chosen to enter, especially because he was +feeling rather cross with Gwen, and as Gwen was not at hand to quarrel +with, he entered the garden to sneer at what his playmates were +saying. + +Gwen had followed him, and the time that he had spent in the garden +had given her the chance to catch up. Six little stone steps led down +from the garden to the beach, and Max ran down, pushed the gate wide, +and sprang out onto the hard white sand. + +Gwen crouched at his left, but he shaded his eyes with his hand, and +looked to the right down the beach. She was pert and willful with all +the others, but with Max she was humble indeed. + +"Max, here I am, and I'm sorry I teased you. Do be nice to me now, +won't you? I won't ever call you 'sissy' again." + +"Guess you won't!" Max said, in anything but a pleasant tone. "I +wouldn't let you say it if I was here, but I've 'bout decided to run +away to sea!" + +"Oh, Max, Max! I don't want you to, and just think! What would your +mother say?" + +Gwen meant it rightly, but it did not please Max. + +"There you go!" he cried. "That's the same as saying 'sissy' again. I +guess I can go where I want to. A man can do as he likes without +asking." + +Again Gwen blundered. + +"Oh, but Max, you're not a man. You're just a boy, and I wish you +wouldn't talk as if you meant to go 'way off somewhere." + +Just a boy! That was aggravating. Max felt sure that in a moment more +she would call him a _little_ boy, and that would indeed be too much +for any boy to ever overlook. + +Gwen laid her hand on his arm, intending to coax him to stay, but Max +was too angry to be easily pacified. + +"See here!" he cried, roughly brushing her hand from his arm. "You +heard me say I'd _'bout_ decided to run away to sea, but you don't +_know_ whether I will or not, so look out and not be a tell-tale, for +if I do go, and ever come back, and find out you told, I'd never speak +to you!" + +Before Gwen could get over her surprise, and grasp the meaning of what +he had said, he was off at top speed down the beach. + +She started to follow, but he turned and shouted: "Don't you dare to +tag on!" + +Poor Gwen! Max was the only playmate with whom she had ever been +gentle. She had treated him far better than she had ever treated the +girls at Avondale, or the new acquaintances at Cliffmore, and now he +was going to run away, and she was not to ever mention it! + +She reached home very tired, and also very unhappy. + +At lunch she refused to eat, but that was not unusual. She often did +that to attract the attention of the other boarders. + +As usual Mrs. Harcourt commenced to fuss, and to question her. + +"What is it, dear?" she asked. + +"Is there nothing that looks tempting?" + +Then glancing at those who sat opposite, she said: "Gwen's appetite is +so very dainty and capricious, she rarely cares for what is served +here." + +The guests were a bit tired of that speech, as they had heard it at +every meal during the Summer. + +"You're too tired to eat, darling," Mrs. Harcourt said. "Did you play +too hard with Max this morning?" + +At the mention of Max, Gwen burst into tears, and ran from the table, +dropping her napkin on the floor, and walking upon it in her flight. + +Mrs. Harcourt was really alarmed. She wondered what Max had done to so +upset Gwen. Perhaps he had struck her. He had a terrible disposition, +while Gwen had the temperament of an angel. So thought Mrs. Harcourt +as she left the dining room, her own lunch untasted, to follow Gwen, +and coax from her the reason for her distress. + +The cause of any disturbance that led Gwen to shed tears was +attributed to the outrageous temper of the other child, or children, +as the case happened to be, and Mrs. Harcourt never dreamed that +sometimes Gwen showed a temper that was rather far from angelic. + +Max was not at lunch, but that caused no surprise, because he often +was absent at one o'clock, returning at six for dinner with an +appetite that seemed more befitting a brawny tramp than a boy who was +always well fed. + +On this day, however, he did not appear at dinner, and when seven, and +eight, chimed forth from the hall clock, and still no Max in sight, +Mrs. Deland was frightened. + +"Do keep up your courage, Mrs. Deland," said a man who happened to +stand near her. + +"Your small boy will come prancing in before long, just as he always +does. He usually remains out until you are nearly wild, and then he +comes crawling in by the back door, and wonders why the chef isn't on +hand to cook a separate dinner for him." + +It was the truth, but Mrs. Deland thought the speaker exceedingly +hard-hearted. She had telephoned to everyone whom she thought might +have seen Max, but all replied that he had not been noticed, and that +proved that he had not been near them, for the boy was so saucy, so +noisy, and so desperately active, that he must have been noticed if he +was anywhere within sight. + +"Nine!" chimed the clock, and a few of the guests of the house +organized a searching party, and started out to hunt for Max. + +They felt little interest in the matter, from the fact that the same +thing had happened so many times that they seemed always to be +searching for Max. + +The boy had made himself a nuisance in countless ways, and while +neither member wished any harm to come to Max, they felt that it +would be a great relief if he and his mother would leave Cliffmore, +and never think of returning. + +Once outside the house, however, they made thorough work of their +search, but although they looked in every place that a small boy might +get into, and in many that seemed impossible, they did not find him. + +One man, tired and disgusted, grumbled as he tramped along, and +several others who did not utter the thoughts that filled their minds, +felt every bit as disgusted as he did. + +"It's nonsense, clear nonsense, tramping all over the place, hunting +for a little run-away rascal, who, at this moment, is doubtless eating +a comfortable meal, after having returned when he felt like it." + +When they reached the house, they were surprised to find that Max was +not there. + +It was the first time that a party searching for the boy had returned +to learn that he was still missing. + +Mrs. Deland had become quite used to having Max away sometimes all +day, and often until after eight in the evening, and, as a rule, she +was reasonably calm, but that nine o'clock should have passed without +hearing from him seemed beyond belief. + +With the return of the searching party her courage gave way, and she +sank onto a low seat, her cheeks white, and her hands tightly +clenched. + +The women gathered about her, trying to comfort her, but she seemed +not to hear what they said. + +How still she sat, her hands still tightly clasped, her eyes looking +from one face to another. + +Then her eyes closed. She had fainted, and gently they carried her to +her room, one woman promising to remain with her, after the doctor +should have gone. + +Gwen had acted so strangely that Mrs. Harcourt had ordered a light +lunch sent up to their room, saying that Gwen was too ill to go down +to dinner, and that she would remain with her. No sound of the +excitement reached them. It was in vain that she questioned Gwen. Gwen +only replied that she and Max had quarreled, and that he had been +"just perfectly horrid." + +When morning came, Gwen awoke feeling a bit better. + +Having remained in their room all the afternoon and evening, they had +heard nothing of the search for Max, nor did they know that he had +not, as usual, returned. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +MAX A STOWAWAY + + +Soon after breakfast, Gwen, looking for someone to play with, ran +across the broad piazza to where, pale and weary, Mrs. Deland sat. + +"I want Max," cried Gwen, in her usual pert manner. + +"Where is he? When is he coming out?" + +Mrs. Deland uttered a low cry. + +"He's lost, little Gwen! Haven't you heard? They are searching +everywhere for him, and they force me, his mother, to remain here, and +wait with what patience I may." + +With a sudden impulse she threw her arms about Gwen, and held her +close, then more gently lifted her face so that their eyes met. + +"You loved my little Max," she said. "Are you sorry that he is not yet +found? Stop a moment; you played with him yesterday. When did you last +see him? When were you two children last together?" + +"Oh, you're hurting me, holding me so tight. Let go, and I'll tell +where I saw him," cried Gwen. + +"Why, child, I didn't dream I was really hurting you. Now tell me." + +"I saw him 'way over to Princess Polly's house," Gwen said slowly, +"and we,--we, oh, we quarreled some, and Max didn't stay with me." + +"Well, where did he go when he left you?" Mrs. Deland asked eagerly. + +A crowd had gathered about the two, and stood listening. + +"He told me not to tell," said Gwen, shutting her lips firmly +together. + +"What? You know where he is, and will not tell me, his own mother? +Why, child, I am sick with worrying. Tell me, this moment!" + +Gwen made no reply. + +She loved Max, but she had never liked his mother, and that she should +command her to tell made the little girl more stubborn than she had +ever been before. + +"I wouldn't tell now even if Mrs. Deland and all those other women +stuck pins into me," thought Gwen. + +It was in vain that they questioned her. Pleading, threatening, +coaxing were equally unavailing, and when Mrs. Harcourt, seeing the +group, came out upon the piazza, Gwen flew to her, saying that +everyone was teasing her. + +"It is an outrage!" cried Mrs. Harcourt, her voice shrill with anger. + +"I wonder what you can be thinking of? A half dozen grown people +tormenting one small girl." + +"My dear Mrs. Harcourt, you don't at all understand," said a tall, +haughty-looking woman. "Your little daughter knows where the lost boy, +Max Deland, is, and, although his mother is nearly wild with anxiety, +she will not tell, that we may know where to find him." + +Mrs. Harcourt hesitated. Then she looked at Gwen's flushed cheeks and +downcast eyes. + +"Do you know where Max is?" she asked. + +"No, I _don't_!" snapped Gwen. + +Mrs. Harcourt turned and faced them. She extended her hands. + +"There!" she cried. "You see, do you not, that it was idle to tease +Gwen? She does not know where he is." + +"She certainly said that she knew where he went," said a stout lady. +"I do know where he _went_!" shouted Gwen, "but how do I know where he +is _now_?" + +"Where did he go?" questioned Mrs. Harcourt. + +"I promised him I wouldn't tell," said Gwen, "and I won't!" + +She wriggled from her mother's grasp, and racing across the piazza, +fled up the stairway to her room. + +"Gwen is too honorable to break a promise," sighed Mrs. Harcourt, as +she left the group of disgusted ladies, to follow her small girl to +her apartment. + +"Too stubborn would be nearer the truth," muttered the stout lady. + +"That child should be made to tell," said another. + +"She shall be made to tell," Mrs. Deland said as she turned toward the +small room that served as an office. + +Gwen, as stubborn as a little mule, refused to tell the proprietor of +the house, when he called her into his office, and after talking for a +half hour on the naughtiness of being stubborn, and the especial +naughtiness of not telling where Max went, and thus helping the +searchers to find him, she again flatly refused. + +If it had been true honor in being determined to keep her promise that +made Gwen refuse, one could not but praise her courage, but her +impulse was wholly selfish. + +Max had said that if he ever returned and found that she had told, he +would never speak to her again. + +She valued Max's friendship above that of any of her playmates, and +she refused to tell where he went, because he had insisted. + + * * * * * + +There was great rejoicing at "The Syren's Cave." + +The "coming in" of the ship that Captain Seaford had long been looking +for proved to be even more fortunate than he had dreamed. + +Its cargo was indeed valuable, and as he obtained a much higher price +for it than he had expected, his kindly heart was filled with +gratefulness, and his eyes grew brighter, and he walked with a lighter +step. + +Mrs. Seaford went about the little house, singing at her work, and +Sprite, happy, laughing Sprite, danced upon the beach, played in the +surf, or rocked in her boat, singing, always singing of the water +sprites, the mermen and mermaids of whom she never tired of hearing. + +Princess Polly and Rose were both delighted when they heard of the +Seafords' good fortune, but of the disappearance of Max they had not +heard, because they had been away on a little ocean trip. + +It happened, on the day that Max decided to run away, that no steamer +lay at the wharf, nor was there so much as a ship in sight. + +There was, however, a coal barge, and Max, determined to go on that +very day, watched his chance, and at the first opportunity slipped +aboard, where in frantic haste he looked for a hiding place. + +Steps approaching set him into panic, and an empty barrel standing in +a shadowy corner of the little cabin seemed his only refuge. + +"There's only a few er these ol' pertaters, so I'll chuck 'em inter +this barrel in the cabin," shouted a gruff voice, and in they went +onto Max's head and shoulders. Not a sound did he make, although the +potatoes felt decidedly hard, and evidently had been thrown in with +none too gentle a hand. + +It seemed to the boy in his cramped position as if the coal barge +would never start. + +At twilight, however, he felt the motion, and knew that he was sailing +away from Cliffmore, the empty barge to return with another load of +coal, but he, Max Deland, to keep straight on in search of a land +where a fellow didn't have to mind his mother, but could seek and +easily find a fortune, and then return sufficiently independent to +have his own way. + +It happened that Max had been seen sneaking aboard the vessel, and a +bit later jumping into the empty barrel to hide, and the sailors had +first thought of putting him ashore with a sharp warning to keep away +from the barge in the future. + +Then it occurred to them that a better lesson could be given him by +letting him remain on board for a few days, and then placing him +aboard of the first fishing smack that they met, bound for Cliffmore. + +The potatoes had not been carelessly thrown in upon him. It had been +done intentionally, to act as a part of his punishment. + +Long before anyone on board was asleep, Max was wishing that he had +never thought of running away. + +He thought of the fine dinner that had been served at Cliffmore hours +before, and here was he, Max Deland, in an old and dirty barrel that +vegetables had been stored in, very hungry, and with no way of +obtaining anything to eat. + +After a time, his cramped position became unbearable, and slowly but +surely he crept out of the barrel, and upon the cabin floor, where, +because he was so weary, he fell into sound sleep. + +At daylight a group of sailors were looking down at the sleeping boy. + +The captain of the barge spoke. + +"Good-looking little chap, but he must learn not to try this trick +again. Let him lie there until he wakes. Then give him some breakfast, +hard tack and water, remember, and then give him the task I set for +him. When the first fishing smack, bound for Eastville appears, start +him for home." + +"Aye, aye, sir!" was the prompt reply, and the boy stirred as if he +had heard it. + +"Come now! Step lively!" cried the mate. "No loitering on shipboard." + +Max, hardly awake, barely grasped the meaning of the words, and +scrambled to his feet. + +"Now, then, forward march if you want something to eat." + +Max marched. He dared not refuse, but he did rebel when he saw what +was offered for his breakfast. + +"I can't eat that!" he said angrily. + +"All right! Forward, march! We'll let ye work on an empty stomach if +ye really hanker to." + +All sorts of tasks were set for him, and for the next few days he was +kept exceedingly busy. + +He learned to do as he was told, and to do it promptly; to eat what +was given him without grumbling, and there was something else that he +learned by his hard experience. He learned what a fortunate boy he had +always been; to appreciate all the good things that had always been so +freely given him, and above all these, he longed for his mother's +love. + +He thought what a good boy he'd be if ever he reached the shore, and +he resolved never to run away, whatever happened that displeased him. + +A happy boy was Max when a passing smack stopped long enough so that +he could be taken on board, and then headed straight for Cliffmore. + +Max thought nothing had ever looked so beautiful as the cliffs from +which Cliffmore took its name, when in the early morning they sailed +into the bay, and saw the warm sunlight kissing land and sea. + +Ah, he would never run away again, for now he knew the value of home +and love. + +He ran all the way from the wharf, and up the beach and climbed the +great ledge on which sat the house where with his mother he had been +staying. He rushed up the steps to the piazza, wildly crying: + +"Where are you? Where is everybody? I've come home! I've come home!" + +They came at once, and from every direction, like ants from an ant +hill, and swarmed around him, asking more questions than he could +answer. + +A tall, handsome woman rushed across the piazza, her eyes bright with +hope. + +"Stand aside!" she cried. "It is Max! My little Max! I know his voice! +Oh, let me reach him!" + +The crowd parted, and the boy was instantly clasped in his mother's +arms. + +"My own! My darling!" she sobbed. + +"I won't ever run away again!" he responded, his arms about her neck. + +"Come!" said one of the crowd that had gathered. "Let them be alone +together for a while," and as with one accord the group melted, the +guests going far from the two who, for the time being, needed no other +company than each other. + +Of course, a bit later Max told his story to eager listeners, and when +he had finished the little tale, he said: "And you folks ought to know +that Gwen was a regular brick, to keep the secret I told her not to +let out. Any girl but Gwen would have told it first thing, but Gwen +is a brick. Don't all of you think so?" + +A gentleman on the outskirts of the little crowd proposed cheers. + +"Three cheers for Max and his brick!" he shouted, and they gave them +with a will. + +On the same morning that the little fishing smack brought Max home to +Cliffmore, the beautiful steam yacht, _Dolphin_, sailed into the bay, +with its owner, Captain John Atherton, and his beautiful bride +standing together on the deck, and returning the salutes of the host +of friends who awaited them on the wharf. + +Handkerchiefs were waved by the ladies, hats were swung by the men, +and foremost in the waiting crowd stood little Rose Atherton, a basket +of roses to offer them, and the housekeeper close beside her, lest in +her excitement she might actually be swept off the pier. + +"Oh, I'm so glad, so glad!" cried Rose. "Dear Uncle John, and +dear----" she paused. + +What should she call this lovely young woman? + +Iris laughed. + +"You must learn to call me 'Aunt Iris,'" she said, stooping to kiss +the little blushing face. + +"I'll love to," Rose said, "and I won't have to learn, same's I won't +have to learn to love you, for I love you now, you are so sweet, so +lovely." + +"Oh, John, was there ever a sweeter welcome? I am so happy." + +At the reception a week later, Rose stood beside the dear, new aunt, +and felt very proud and happy "helping to receive." + +Princess Polly and Sprite were delighted that Rose was now to be so +happy. + +"Of course it is dearest to have one's own mamma," Polly said, "but +Rose had neither papa nor mamma, so lovely Mrs. Iris is next best, and +I do truly think she is dear." + +"So do I," agreed Sprite, "and of course if Rose was happy with her +Uncle John she'll be just so much happier with her new aunt, but who +told you to call her 'Mrs. Iris'?" + +"No one," said Polly, "but for that minute I couldn't think of +Atherton, and I couldn't call her Mrs. Captain John. Of course she is +Mrs. Atherton now." + +"Oh, yes," agreed Sprite, "and my mamma says she's almost an angel. +She did truly say that this morning, and Pa said: + +"That's just what she is, and Captain John Atherton is a lucky man and +I'm glad for him." + +Already, plans were being made for the return to Avondale, and Rose, +Princess Polly and Sprite were looking forward to the opening of +school when, with Harry and Leslie, Lena and Rob, Vivian, and all the +other playmates, they would be having the pleasant school days, and +the good times that were always enjoyed at Avondale. + +Gyp was to be "indoor man" on Captain Atherton's place, and study in +evening classes, taking a business course that would fit him for a +better position that the captain assured him should surely be his, if +he excelled in his class work. + +Sprite was indeed to be happy. The year before she had spent at the +Avondale school, making her home with Princess Polly and Rose. She +had been happy with them, but of course, at times, she was somewhat +homesick. + +This year would be so different. Captain Seaford's good fortune +enabled him to rent a small apartment for the Winter at Avondale, and +there Sprite could enjoy her school, and merry playmates, and yet be +with her parents. + +Gwen Harcourt was telling all whom she met at Cliffmore that she was +very tired of living at Avondale, and that she did not think she +should live there much longer. She said that if she fussed enough +about it, her mamma would take her somewhere else. All who knew Gwen +felt reasonably sure that she would "fuss." + +Rose knew that her home at Avondale would now be perfect. Uncle John +would love her as he always had loved her, and of her new aunt she +was already very fond. + +Surely it promised to be a bright and happy Winter for Princess Polly +and her friends, the merry playmates at Avondale, where good times and +gay spirits prevailed and kind and happy hearts worked with equal zeal +at study and at merry-making. + + + + +THE END + + + + +[Illustration] + +The Girl Scouts Series + +BY EDITH LAVELL + + +A new copyright series of Girl Scouts stories by an author of wide +experience in Scouts' craft, as Director of Girl Scouts of +Philadelphia. + +Clothbound, with Attractive Color Designs. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + + +THE GIRL SCOUTS AT MISS ALLENS SCHOOL +THE GIRL SCOUTS AT CAMP +THE GIRL SCOUTS' GOOD TURN +THE GIRL SCOUTS' CANOE TRIP +THE GIRL SCOUTS' RIVALS +THE GIRL SCOUTS ON THE RANCH +THE GIRL SCOUTS' VACATION ADVENTURES +THE GIRL SCOUTS' MOTOR TRIP + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers + +A.L. BURT COMPANY +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK + + + + +[Illustration] + +The Camp Fire Girls Series + +By HILDEGARD G. FREY + +A Series of Outdoor Stories for Girls 12 to 16 Years. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE MAINE WOODS; +or, The Winnebagos go Camping. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SCHOOL; or, The +Wohelo Weavers. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT ONOWAY HOUSE; or, +The Magic Garden. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS GO MOTORING; or, Along +the Road That Leads the Way. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' LARKS AND PRANKS; or, +The House of the Open Door. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON ELLEN'S ISLE; or, The +Trail of the Seven Cedars. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ON THE OPEN ROAD; +or, Glorify Work. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS DO THEIR BIT; or, Over +the Top with the Winnebagos. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS SOLVE A MYSTERY; or, +The Christmas Adventure at Carver House. + +THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT CAMP KEEWAYDIN; +or, Down Paddles. + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers + +A.L. BURT COMPANY +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK + + + + +[Illustration] + +Marjorie Dean + +High School + +Series + +BY PAULINE LESTER + +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean College Series + +These are clean, wholesome stories that will be of great interest to +all girls of high school age. + +All Cloth Bound Copyright Titles + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH + +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMAN +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SOPHOMORE +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR +MARJORIE DEAN, HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers + +A.L. BURT COMPANY +114-120 EAST 23rd STREET NEW YORK + + + + +[Illustration] + +Marjorie Dean College Series + +BY PAULINE LESTER. + +Author of the Famous Marjorie Dean High School Series. + +Those who have read the Marjorie Dean High School Series will be eager +to read this new series, as Marjorie Dean continues to be the heroine +in these stories. + +All Clothbound. Copyright Titles. + +PRICE, 65 CENTS EACH. + +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE FRESHMAN +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SOPHOMORE +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE JUNIOR +MARJORIE DEAN, COLLEGE SENIOR + +For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by +the Publishers. + +A.L. BURT COMPANY +114-120 East 23rd Street, New York + + + * * * * * + + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + | Typographical errors corrected in text: | + | | + | Page 156: 'left he house' replaced with 'left the house' | + | Page 214: 'left he dining room' replaced with | + | 'left the dining room' | + | | + +-----------------------------------------------------------+ + + * * * * * + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Princess Polly At Play, by Amy Brooks + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY *** + +***** This file should be named 25456.txt or 25456.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/4/5/25456/ + +Produced by Bruce Albrecht, Jeannie Howse and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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