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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/6584.txt b/6584.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b8f99fc --- /dev/null +++ b/6584.txt @@ -0,0 +1,4594 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Princess Polly's Gay Winter, 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's Gay Winter + +Author: Amy Brooks + +Posting Date: April 12, 2013 [EBook #6584] +Release Date: September, 2004 +First Posted: December 29, 2002 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCESS POLLY'S GAY WINTER *** + + + + +Produced by Vital Debroey, Phil McLaury, Juliet Sutherland, +Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + + + + + + PRINCESS POLLY'S GAY WINTER + + By AMY BROOKS + + + AUTHOR OF + "Princess Polly," "Princess Polly's Playmates," + "Princess Polly at School," "Princess Polly by the Sea," + "Princess Polly at Play," etc. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + I MERRY TIMES PROMISED + II THE SEA NYMPH + III GWEN + IV WHAT HAPPENED AT SCHOOL + V A BREATH OF THE SEA + VI A DELIGHTFUL CALL + VII AUNT JUDITH'S PARTY + VIII GYP'S AMBITION + IX A JOLLY TIME + X A HOLIDAY PARTY + XI UNCLE JOHN MAKES A PROMISE + XII AUNT ROSE'S CALL + + + + +CHAPTER I + +MERRY TIMES PROMISED + + +Little Rose Atherton sat on the lower step of the three broad ones +that led down from the piazza, and she wondered if there were, in all +the world, a lovelier spot than Avondale. + +"And we live in the finest part of Avondale," she said, continuing her +thoughts aloud. "Tho' wherever Uncle John is, seems better than anywhere +else." + +She had spent the bright, happy summer at the shore, and surely Uncle +John's fine residence, "The Cliffs," had been a delightful summer home. + +Then Uncle John had one morning told a bit of wonderful news. + +"I've something to tell you, my little girl," he said, drawing Rose +to him. + +"This is our summer home," he continued, "and a fine summer place it +is, but Rose, little girl, we're to spend the coming Winter at +Avondale." + +It had been very exciting! + +Before closing "The Cliffs," those treasures that Uncle John held +dearest were carefully packed to be sent to the new home, and then, +in the big, luxurious car, they had motored to Avondale. + +"Good-bye," Rose had said, as she looked back toward "The Cliffs," and +then, after throwing a kiss toward the house, she nestled back in the +car, and tried, for the twentieth time, to "guess" how the new home +would look. + +It had proved to be more grand, more beautiful than she had dreamed. +"And so near sweet Princess Polly," she said, "just the next house but +one." + +She sprang from the low step, and ran down to the sidewalk to see if +Princess Polly was yet in sight. "I think it is a little early," she +said, "for Polly said she'd come over at nine, and it isn't nine yet." + +The dainty Angora came down the walk to meet her, her tail like a great +plume, her soft coat as fluffy as thistle down. Proudly she walked as +if she knew her beauty. + +"Oh, you darling puss!" cried Rose. "You make this new home seem just +as if we'd always lived here." + +"That's right, Miss Rose," said the housekeeper, as she looked from +the window. + +"A cat does make a place seem homelike. She's not stared about, nor +acted wild as most cats do. She made herself at home, and seemed at +home the first day the captain brought her to you. Do you remember, +Miss Rose, she sprang from the basket, sat down on the rug, and began +to wash her face?" + +"I know she did, and that proves that she's a wonderful cat. She +couldn't act like a common cat. Could you, dear?" + +The cat rubbed lovingly against Rose. + +"We're going to choose a name for her to-day, and Princess Polly is +coming over to help me. Oh, there she comes now!" Rose ran down the +path to meet Polly, the white cat trotting along after her. + +"I wanted to bring Sir Mortimer over to get acquainted with her, but +he's just dear, in all but one thing. He isn't _always_ polite to other +cats, and _sometimes_ he's really horrid, and growls so dreadfully +that you'd think he hadn't any manners," said Polly. + +"I guess it's just as well," Rose said, "for we'll be pretty busy +choosing a name." + +Polly had written a list of fine names, and together they read them, +the white cat sitting and eagerly watching them for a time, and then +playing on the lawn with a ball that was her own especial toy. At last +after reading the list of imposing names again and again, they decided +that, after all, Beauty best suited the lovely creature. + +"To think that you are to live here at Avondale again!" Polly said, +when at last the name had been chosen. + +"Yes, and to think that there's only one house between yours and mine!" +said Rose. + +"You'll be happier in this handsome house with your Uncle John, than +you ever were when you lived here at Avondale before at the little wee +cottage with your Aunt Judith." + +"Oh, yes," Rose said quickly, "because _now_ I know that Aunt Judith +loves me, but _then_, I thought she didn't. With Uncle John,--why every +moment since I've lived at his house, I've known that he loved me." + +A moment she sat thinking, then she spoke again. + +"When I lived here at Avondale before, I lived _all_ the time at the +cottage, but now I'll live here, with dear Uncle John, and go down to +see Aunt Judith, oh, sometimes." + +Then she turned to look at her playmate. + +"Polly, _Dear_ Polly!" she cried. "You look more like a princess than +when we first called you 'Princess Polly.' Now, who ever thinks of +calling you Polly Sherwood, your real, _truly_ name?" + +"Who cares which they call me, so long as they love me?" cried Polly +with a merry laugh. + +They were in the garden at the rear of the house, but between trees +and shrubbery they could see a bit of the avenue. + +Something moving attracted their attention. + +"Look!" cried Rose. "What's _that_?" Polly did look. + +Something like a huge wheel, all spokes and hub, but no tire, was +whirling down the avenue. + +"It's Gyp!" said Polly. + +"What? _That_?" said Rose. + +"Yes, that's Gyp, and he's going down the avenue whirling first on his +hands, then on his feet," Polly said. + +"Oh, I wish he wasn't in this town," cried Rose, "because no one ever +can guess what horrid thing he'll do next. And he won't stay over by +the woods where he lives. He keeps coming over to this part of Avondale, +and I wonder someone doesn't stop him." + +"Who could stop Gyp?" Polly asked. + +And who, indeed, could stop him? He was one of a family that was more +than half Gypsy, and Gyp was, surely, the wildest of the clan. + +He _would_ steal, yet so crafty was he that no one ever caught him. +He was full of mischief, and nothing delighted him more than the +assurance that he had really frightened someone. + +As he usually felt very gay when he had done some especially annoying +bit of mischief, it was safe to say that he had spent a busy morning +somewhere, and now was turning handsprings to give vent to his hilarious +feelings. + +"Oh, what _do_ you s'pose he's been doing?" Polly asked. + +"I don't know," Rose said slowly, "but I remember that he always acted +just like that when he'd been _very_ naughty." + +"Rob Lindsey said yesterday that somebody ought to watch Gyp, and +whenever he seems to feel gay, just look around the neighborhood, and +learn what he has been doing," said Rose. + +"You'd have to watch him all the time, then," Polly replied, "for he +always acts as if he felt full of fun, and mischief." + +"Then whoever watched Gyp could do nothing else. He wouldn't have a +minute for--oh look!" Rose sprang up on to a low ledge that the gardener +had left showing because of its natural beauty. Flowers grew at its +base, and the little rock, or ledge, rose just enough to show its crest +above the blossoms. Something bright and fair was racing down the +street, as if pursuing Gyp. + +It shouted lustily. "You Gyp! You _mean_ old,--oh, I don't know what!" + +"Why, that's Gwen Harcourt!" said Polly, "and she's chasing Gyp!" + +Like a small whirlwind composed of muslin, lace, and ribbons, Gwen +tore down the avenue, shouting, and screaming as she ran. + +She had snatched a handful of gravel just as she started to chase him, +and she hurled the small, round stones after his flying figure. + +Not one of them hit him, and as he ran, he looked over his shoulder +to grin like an imp, as he shouted: + +"Oh, what a shot! Ye couldn't hit the side of the house!" + +That so maddened Gwen, that she forgot to run, and in the middle of +the street, stood stamping her foot, and shrieking. + +Of course Gyp was delighted! If he had not frightened her, he had, at +least, the joy of seeing how angry Gwen could be. He vaulted over a +low wall, and carelessly whistling, went at high speed across the lawn, +toward the river, crossed the bridge, and, as usual, hid in the forest +beyond. + +Gwen stood, where he had left her, watching him as he hurried away, +and finally disappeared. + +"Horrid thing!" she cried. "How I wish I knew of something I could do +to plague him!" + +Gwen was quickly angered, but her anger was never long-lived. + +She turned toward home. + +"_Let_ him run, if he wants to. Who cares? I don't." + +Already she was humming a merry tune. + +"I read a story yesterday 'bout a house that had a secret closet in +it. 'Twas a fine story, and I guess I'll tell it to the first girl I +meet," she said. + +It happened that Rose and Polly were walking down the avenue, on the +way to Sherwood Hall, just as Gwen Harcourt gave up chasing Gyp. + +"Hello!" she cried, "I wondered when you'd come to Avondale to live. +How long have you been here?" + +"Two weeks," said Rose. + +"Why didn't you let me know? I'd have been over to see you long before +this," Gwen replied. + +Polly looked at Rose. She knew that Rose was not at all fond of Gwen, +and wondered what reply she would make. + +Rose did not have to answer, for Gwen continued: + +"Sit down on this wall, and I'll tell you a story. I'll come over to +your house some day this week, but now listen, while we sit here. It's +a story I read yesterday, 'bout a house that had a secret closet, and +ours has one, do you hear?" She leaned forward and pointed her ringer, +first at Polly, then at Rose. + +"_Our_ house has a secret closet. Don't you both wish yours had?" + +"Why, Gwen Harcourt! What could we do with secret closets?" said Rose. + +"The girl in the story I read was locked into the closet by mistake, +and she couldn't get out!" said Gwen, looking quite as excited as if +she were telling something pleasant. Rose moved uneasily, and Polly +shivered. + +"Didn't they _ever_ find her?" Polly asked. + +"I guess not," said Gwen, "and the funny thing is that the story stopped +right there, so you see I'll never have any idea whether she ever got +out or not." + +"Oh, I like _pleasant_ stories," Rose said, as she slipped from the +wall. In an instant Polly stood beside her, and the two turned toward +home, but Gwen had no idea of losing her audience so soon. + +"Wait a minute," she cried, "and I'll tell you 'bout the girl that +fell into the ditch, and had to be pulled out by her hair!" + +"Oh, _don't_!" cried Polly, and clapping her hands over her ears, she +turned, and ran at top speed, followed by Rose. + +They soon outran Gwen, and were glad to rest. + +"Did you ever hear such _horrid_ stories?" Polly asked. + +"Never!" cried Rose, "unless it was other stories that she told at +other times. There's the one that she made us listen to when we were +over to Lena Lindsey's one day. The one about the ghost that rode down +the main street every night at twelve." + +"Oh, I remember," said Polly. "That was the time that Rob Lindsey said +the shivers ran up and down his spine until his back was all _humps_! +He said the shivers had become _chronic_! We laughed at Rob, but even +the funny things he said couldn't drive away the thoughts of the story +that Gwen Harcourt had told." + + * * * * * * * * + +The bright, sunny days sped as swiftly at Avondale, as they had at the +shore. + +Hints of pleasures that already were being planned for the coming +Winter were floating as freely as if the wind carried them, and all +over Avondale, wherever small girls and boys were at play, one might +hear scraps of conversation that told of anticipated pleasures. + +Some of the gossip reached Aunt Judith's cottage, and she resolved to +do a bit of entertaining, if not on the grand scale in which her +neighbors indulged, at least in a manner that her little friends would +enjoy. + +She laughed softly as she moved about the tiny rooms, and thought of +the quaint, merry party that would at least be original. + +"The cottage is small, and so it will have to be a little party, but +we'll call it 'small and select,'" she said. + +A light tap at the door, made her turn, and she hastened to open the +screen door, that Rose might enter. + +"The fine house, and fine friends don't make you forget your Aunt +Judith, dear," she said. + +"Oh, I'll never forget you," Rose said, "and I'll come to see you now +I'm to live so near. To-day I'll sit beside you while you sew. I'll +sit in the little chair that was always mine." + +"It is yours now, dear, and, whenever you come, I'll 'play,' as you +and Polly say, I'll 'play' that you are once more living here at the +cottage." + +There was news to be told. Uncle John was to have a fine conservatory +built, and later it would be stocked with beautiful flowering plants. + +Lena Lindsey was to give a fine party some time during the Winter, and +Leslie Grafton, and her brother Harry had already hinted that there +would be gaiety at their home. + +Mrs. Sherwood always gave some sort of party for Princess Polly, and +surely everyone remembered her beautiful party of the Winter before. + +All these things she told Aunt Judith. + +"And Uncle John says he will not permit his neighbors to do _all_ the +entertaining, and when he says that he laughs," said Rose. + +Aunt Judith stopped rocking and sat very straight. + +"And _I_ shall entertain in a small way myself," she said. + +"Oh, Aunt Judith!" cried Rose, her surprise making her eyes round, and +bright. + +"The wee party that I shall give will be in honor of my little niece, +Rose." + +Rose laid her warm hand on Aunt Judith's arm. + +"How good you are," she said. "And I'll come over the day of the party, +and help you get ready. I'll love to. 'Twill be half the fun. Oh, Aunt +Judith, please tell me what the dear little party is to be like." + +"Like a party that I once enjoyed when I was little," Aunt Judith said. + +"I remember it as perfectly as if it had occurred yesterday. To repeat +it now will be a quaint delight. I'll not tell you _all_ about it yet, +but when my plans are made, you shall come over here to the cottage, +and I'll tell you every detail. I believe the tiny party will do me +good. I shall feel once more like the little lass that I was when I +received the invitation, and then a week later, dressed in my best, +went to my friend's house. There were twelve guests, and I shall have +just twelve at _my_ party." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE SEA NYMPH + + +Little Sprite Seaford sat in the first car of the long train, her eyes +bright with excitement, a tear on her cheek, and her red lips quivering. + +One little hand nervously clutched her handkerchief, while the other +grasped the handles of her very new suitcase. + +She had wound her pretty arms tightly around her mother's neck, kissed +her, oh, so many times, and then, lest her courage fail her, had turned +and fled from the house, where on the beach, she clung to her father's +hand, and silently walked toward the station. + +She felt that if she tried to talk she would surely cry, but why was +the sturdy captain so silent? Did he feel, as his little daughter did, +that safety lay in silence? Did he fear to speak lest the tears might +come? It had been decided that Sprite should accept Mr. Sherwood's +invitation, and spend the Winter at Avondale, enjoying the early Winter +months at Sherwood Hall, and the latter part of the season as the guest +of Uncle John Atherton and his little niece, Rose. + +She had enjoyed the planning of her modest little wardrobe, she had +talked of the delight of having Rose and Princess Polly for her +playmates all Winter. + +She had promised to be a faithful little pupil at school, and she had +dreamed all night, and talked all day of the delightful Winter that +she was to enjoy. + +Now, seated in the car, ready to take her first journey from home, she +looked about her with frightened eyes. Captain Seaford stood beside +her. He had bought a box of candy, and a book, trusting that they might +help to cheer her. + +He looked down at the little daughter who was so dear to him. + +"I'd make the trip with ye, Sprite, but yer ma, I'm thinking, will +need me, 'bout the time she knows yer train has started," he said. + +"Oh, she will. You _must_ go back to her," cried Sprite. + +The conductor entered and stated that all who were intending to leave +the car must leave at once, or remain on board. Captain Seaford stooped +to kiss the little upturned face. + +"Oh, father, dear! If you and mother hadn't worked so hard to get me +ready for the long visit, I'd give it up now. I'd rather go back with +you." + +"Tut, tut, Sprite! Be a brave lassie, and try to make the trip bravely. +Ye need the good schooling and the merry playmates. The Winter at the +shore is always dull. Cheer up, now. We're to have a letter, remember, +as soon as ye reach Avondale." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" he said, as the conductor beckoned, impatiently, and +with another kiss, and a hasty "Good-bye," he left the car. + +Sprite knew that he would stand on the platform, and she turned toward +the window. + +Through blinding tears, she saw his stalwart form, and she tried to +smile, for his sake. + +Before she could chase away the tears, the train had started, she saw +through her tear-dimmed lashes a blurred landscape, and then,--why she +was actually riding away from her seashore home! For a time she sat, +as if in a dream, and then the conductor came along. Little Sprite +looked up into his pleasant face, and wondered why he paused. + +"Let me see your ticket, my dear," he said, and she blushed at her +forgetfulness, and drew it from her pocket. + +He punched it, and then, in a gentle, fatherly way, he said: + +"Your father, Captain Seaford, is a firm friend of mine. He asked me +to look out for you, and see that you got off the train at Avondale. +He said this was your first bit of travelling alone, but that your +friends would be waiting for you when you arrived." + +"They will, oh, they will!" she eagerly cried, "and thinking of that +makes me feel happier. I've never been away alone before." + +"I've a little girl at home who is much braver to talk about going +away from home, than she is when the time comes to start. But don't +worry, little Miss Seaford," he said, with a laugh, "for I'll be your +friend all the way to Avondale." + +"Oh, thank you," she said, and he thought that he had never seen a +lovelier face. She opened the new book, hoping that the story and the +pictures might make her forget her homesickness. It was evident that +she considered a good book a good friend. + +The story held her attention, the picture charmed her, and the box of +candy was an added comfort. She nestled close to the window, her long +golden hair fell over her shoulders, and framed her face, and the old +conductor smiled when he passed down the aisle, and looked at the dear +little figure. + +"The book has made her forget to worry," he said, softly. + +A little later, when he paused beside her seat, she looked up to smile +at him. + +"I keep right on reading," she said, "because if I stop to think, I +remember that all the time I'm going farther away from home." + +"Then whenever you look up from the page, just remember that you are +getting nearer, and nearer to Avondale, where you can write your first +letter home," he said in an effort to cheer her. + +"Oh, yes," said Sprite, "and I'll do that before I go to sleep to-night, +and post it early to-morrow morning." Then, for a long time, she read +the fascinating story. + +Just as she closed the book she realized that the train was slowing +down. + +The conductor was coming toward her. What was the brakeman saying? + +"The next station will be Avondale!" he shouted, and little Sprite's +heart beat faster. + +The conductor stood at her seat now. "I'll take your suit case," he +said. "Come with me." + +How her little heart beat! + +Would they be at the station? They had promised to be there when the +train arrived. + +She could not see from where she stood in the aisle. + +Ah, now the train had actually stopped! She was out on the platform! +She was going down the steps. The kindly conductor was saying something +about wishing her a pleasant visit. The train was starting off. + +Oh, was she utterly alone? + +"Sprite! Oh, you've come!" cried a sweet, familiar voice, and Princess +Polly caught both her hands. + +"I was _so_ afraid that something would happen, and you wouldn't come," +she cried. + +"And _I_ was wondering what I'd do if I didn't see you when I left the +car. Oh, _wouldn't_ I have been frightened?" said Sprite, with a nervous +little laugh. + +"Oh, how could you think I'd miss coming to meet you? Mamma said the +last moment, as I ran down the steps: + +"'I _do_ hope you will find Sprite at the station,' and I _did_," Polly +said. "Now, come over to the carriage, and we'll fly to Sherwood Hall." + +"This is my suit case, and, oh, there's my trunk," Sprite said. + +"Oh, the coachman will take care of those. We'll get seated so as to +reach home in just no time. I can't wait to take you to mamma." + +The color brightened in Sprite's dimpled cheeks. + +She was determined not to be homesick, and the ride along the fine +streets, and then up the long avenue, showed such grand residences, +such spacious piazzas, such velvet lawns and gorgeous masses of flowers, +that the sea captain's little daughter began to wonder if she were in +some new country, or at Avondale, where her new friends actually lived. + +"Here we are!" cried Polly, as the horse slackened his pace at the +broad gateway, "and this is Sherwood Hall, your new home for the +Winter." + +"For _part_ of the Winter!" called a merry voice, and Uncle John +Atherton with Rose beside him in his big motor, laughed gaily as Sprite +turned to learn who greeted her. + +For a moment the carriage and the motor stood side by side, while the +three small girls chatted gaily, then, believing that Mrs. Sherwood +and Polly should greet their guest, uninterrupted by neighbor or friend, +Uncle John bowled away down the avenue, they responded to Rose's waving +handkerchief, and then rode up the driveway. + +"Oh, what a lovely, _lovely_ house!" cried Sprite, "and what a dear +place to live in. I _know_ I'm to be happy here!" + +"Indeed you are!" cried Polly, "and here's mamma." + +"Dear little girl," Mrs. Sherwood said, as Sprite stepped from the +carriage, and ran up the steps. "I'm glad to see you, and I shall be +glad indeed to keep you as long as Captain Atherton will permit. He +was over here last evening, and he said that he would let us keep you +up to the first half of the Winter, as we agreed, but after that he +would have you at his home with Rose, if he had to steal you. He +laughed, but he meant it, so see how _very_ welcome you are at +Avondale." + +"Oh, it is sweet to have so many people love me," Sprite said, +gratefully, and her eyes were as bright as stars. She was tired with +the long car ride, and with Princess Polly, she sped to her room, there +to make her little self fresh, and fair for dinner. + +"We're to share this room, and these two pretty beds are yours and +mine," said Polly. + +"We could have had separate rooms, but I wanted you with me, and beside, +mamma said if you were with me, you couldn't be lonesome." + +"Oh, I'd rather be with you," said little Sprite, "and what a lovely +room it is!" + +She saw every dainty bit of color, every charming detail of the +furnishings, she saw the river as she looked from the windows, and the +vines peeping in at the windows, and she wondered how it had happened +that she now possessed such dear friends, who vied with each other in +making her their little guest. + +She opened her suit case, and took from it a pale blue frock, with a +ribbon of the same tint for her hair. + +The frock was of soft mull, and its coloring was like that of a pale +aqua marine. + +She combed out her long, waving hair, and quickly tied it with the +blue ribbon, then, her hand tightly clasped in Polly's, descended the +stairs. + +Arthur Sherwood entered the hall just in time to see the two pretty +figures on the stairway. + +"Well, well, and so the little sea nymph has come to live at Sherwood +Hall for a time. My dear little Sprite, I am truly glad to see you." + +He took the slender hand that she offered him, and the three chatted +gaily until dinner was served. + +The fine dinner, exquisitely served, was a rare treat for Sprite, and +the pleasant evening that followed made her at once feel that she was, +already, a part of the family. + +In her room, after the happy evening, Sprite wrote a loving letter to +the dear father and mother at the home by the sea. + +She addressed it, and placed the stamp upon it, and then gave it a +place on the dresser where she would surely see it in the morning, and +thus remember to post it. + +Princess Polly would liked to have kept awake to talk, but Sprite was +very tired, and soon her answers became so drowsy that Polly knew that +she needed sleep and rest. Little Sprite had been the first to drop +to sleep, but, accustomed to early rising, she was the first to wake. +She slipped from her bed, glanced at Polly, saw that she had not yet +awakened, and quietly began to dress. She had learned, the evening +before, that there was a mail box just across the street, and she now +picked up the letter, and made her way down to the lower hall. The +door stood wide open, only the screen door was fastened. + +The maid, a few moments before, had opened the door that the fresh air +might pass through the hall. Sprite slipped out into the garden, her +letter in her hand. + +She ran a short distance, then as the sunlight touched the glowing +blossoms, she paused and looked about her. + +Oh, what a fairy world it was! Her home at the shore had been placed +on a broad stretch of sand, and only a few of the residences at +Cliffmore boasted a flower, or tree on its grounds. + +Now, with the garden gay with geraniums, tall gladioli, dahlias, and +scarlet salvia, she looked in amazement and delight at the riot of +color. + +"Oh, how beautiful it is here!" she said. + +Suddenly she remembered her precious letter. + +She ran across the street, and slipped it in the box. + +"There you go, and you'll tell the two dearest people in the world +that I got here safely, and that everyone was dear to me. You'll tell +them that I love them too." + +Her heart was lighter, because now she knew that the letter that the +dear ones at home were looking for, would soon be on its way. + +She hurried back to the garden, where she sat for a long time watching +the bees as they hovered over the flowers. + +She would not go back to her room for fear of waking Polly, and she +knew that she should not wander about the vacant lower rooms, so she +decided to wait in the garden, until Princess Polly should come down. + +She clasped her hands about her knee, and sat lost in a day dream. Her +long rippling hair fell over her shoulders, and she made a lovely +picture as she sat thinking of her home at the shore. + +"The cliffs are white in the bright sunlight by this time," she said, +softly, lest someone might hear her, "and the big gulls are flying +over the water, or dropping to float on the crest of the waves. + +"It is beautiful at home, and grand here at Avondale. + +"I wonder if anyone knows if one is really finer than the other. They're +so different." + +Then again she sat dreaming. Sir Mortimer came around the corner of +the house, and went straight to Sprite for the caress everyone offered +him. He listened to her sweet voice as she told him what a fine cat +he was, he arched his back, and purred his loudest. + +After a time he lay down on the grass beside her, taking his morning +sunbath. + +Princess Polly, in the meantime, had awakened and missed Sprite. She +dressed hastily. + +As she passed the window a soft voice talking to Sir Mortimer made her +pause and look out. She leaned from the window. + +"Oh, there you are!" she cried. "I missed you, and I couldn't guess +where you were. I'll come right down to the garden." She flew down the +stairs, and out into the sunlight. + +Sprite ran to meet her, and with their arms about each other, they +paced up and down the broad piazza. + +Sir Mortimer blinked at them as he sat in the sunlight, as if he +approved of their merry chatter. Possibly he thought it fine that there +were to be two little girls at Sherwood Hall to pet him. + +"The garden is so lovely," Sprite said, as they paused to look out +across the lawn. + +"Come!" cried Polly. "I'll show you all the prettiest places." + +The big cat followed them, trotting along the gravel walk, pausing +whenever they did, as if all that Polly was showing was new to him. + +And when they had admired the rippling brook that ran through the +garden, the tall white lilies standing in queenly grace beside the +stone wall, the terraces crowned with rose bushes, and the gorgeous +beds of geraniums, they ran back to the piazza, and seated themselves +in the hammock that swung in the breeze. + +"Do you remember any of the pretty songs you used to sing last Summer +when we were out on the beach, or sitting on the ledge?" Polly asked. + +"There's one I always like to sing when I'm in a dory," Sprite said. + +"Then let's rock this hammock, and play it's a dory, and while we're +swinging, you sing," Polly said. + +With a voice in which a thrill of happiness made wondrous music, little +Sprite sang: + + "Bright is the sky above us, + Blue is the sea below. + Seagulls are hovering 'round us + Fluttering to and fro. + + Faith is the sky above us, + The sea is the earth below. + Gulls are the friends who love us, + Following where'er we go. + + Sunshine above, around us, + White caps floating by, + None in the world is happier + Than you, my love, and I." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +GWEN + + +Little Sprite Seaford felt so completely "at home," that it seemed to +her as if she had always lived at Avondale. There were times when she +felt homesick. At early morning, before Polly was awake, she would lie +with wide open eyes, gazing around the lovely room, and missing the +dear voices that always greeted her so cheerily. At twilight, when the +shadows grew deeper, there would be a longing for the dear ones at +home, and her loving little heart would ache, and she would have to +struggle to keep back the tears. + +She knew, however, that she must be a bright, cheerful little guest. +Had not dear father and mother said so? + +Throughout the sunny days she was the life of the merry playmates who +lived so near that they were always together. Polly and Rose she had +played with at the shore in the Summer, and at the children's party +that Mrs. Sherwood had given, she had met the boys and girls who had +come from Avondale for that evening. + +They had all liked the "little Sea Nymph," as they had called her, and +now were glad to renew the acquaintance. + +There was one small girl who, thus far, had shown no interest in Polly's +guest, and that was Gwen Harcourt. + +She had seen Sprite with Polly, and her playmates, but she had watched +them from a distance. + +From her own piazza she could look across to Sherwood Hall, and see +the children at play. + +In a few days she had tired of watching the merry friends, and she +longed to join them. She had heard Lena Lindsey say that Sprite was +charming. + +Leslie Grafton, only the day before, had said that one reason why she +enjoyed playing with Sprite was because she was so _different_ from +any girl that she knew. + +What was this "_difference_" that Leslie spoke of? + +Harry Grafton had declared that little Sprite was a trump. + +"What's a _trump_?" said Gwen, as she sat swinging her feet, and looking +up and down the avenue. + +"What's a _trump_?" + +She was perched on the top of the stone post at the entrance to the +driveway, and watching intently for a glimpse of little Sprite. + +She had been curious about the new little girl ever since the first +day that she arrived at Avondale. _Now_, she was _determined_ to know +her. + +"If she'd go by while I'm sitting here I'd _make_ her come into my +garden. I'd like to have her all to myself the first time I talk to +her," she said softly. + +Of course Gwen wished to meet Sprite when she was quite alone. Anyone +who had ever known Gwen would know why. + +She knew that all of her playmates were aware that she told very large +stories, and that none of them were true. + +If she had Sprite, quite by herself, she could tell what she chose. +Luck favored her, for she had sat on the great post but a moment longer, +when a soft voice singing made her look up. + +Sprite, her hands filled with flowers, was coming toward her. + +She was looking down at her blossoms, and did not notice the child on +the post. + + "Bright, glist'ning summer sea, + Bring thou a ship to me, + Sailing so gallantly over the main. + Down deep within its hold + Will there be bags of gold, + Or sparkling gems untold, + All, all for me? + Now my heart cries to thee; + Bring not from o'er the sea + Bright glitt'ring gems for me, nor bags of gold. + I'd rather have a heart, + Mine from all else apart, + From him I'd _never_ part, + Love's more than gold." + +Little Sprite Seaford had learned the song in her home by the sea. Its +words were tender, its melody graceful and sweet, but Gwen Harcourt +cared little for music. Her only thought was to startle Sprite. With +this delightful thought in her mind, she waited until Sprite was about +to pass the post, when she slipped to the ground directly in front of +her, causing her to "jump," and drop half of her flowers. + +"Oh, how you frightened me!" she cried, as Gwen peeped impudently right +into her face. + +"Mustn't be a 'fraidie cat'!" she cried, then--"Here! I'll pick up +your flowers." + +With haste she snatched the flowers from the sidewalk, and thrusting +them into Sprite's hand, she said: + +"This is where I live. Come in. I want to know you. My name is Gwen +Harcourt. What's yours?" + +"I am Sprite Seaford," was the gentle answer. + +"My whole name is Gwendolen Armitage Harcourt. Rather grand, isn't +it?" Gwen asked, her hands on her hips, and her feet wide apart. + +"Mine is just Sprite Seaford," she said, quietly. + +"Don't you wish you had a middle name?" said Gwen. "It sounds fine." + +"I don't think I care," said Sprite. + +Gwen was rather surprised that Sprite seemed little interested. + +"Come over here," she said, "and I'll show you something I guess you +never saw before." + +Without waiting to learn if Sprite cared to go, Gwen grasped her arm, +and literally tugged her inside the gateway. + +"See these rose bushes?" she asked. + +"Well, they're out of blossom now, but they had much as, oh, I guess +a hundred roses on them all at one time!" + +Then seeing Sprite's look of surprise, she decided to enlarge her +story. + +"I guess there must have been a _thousand_, now I think of it," she +said. "Papa paid twenty dollars a piece for them, and maybe it was +more than that. I'm not quite sure." + +Sprite made no comment. + +"And _I_ planted one of the bushes, and I'll tell you something real +funny about it," Gwen said. "I planted it upside down just to see what +it would do, and what do you s'pose? After it had been there 'bout a +month I dug it up, and there were roses on it! It had blossomed down +in the _dirt_! They were bigger than the ones that had been planted +the right way, and they _might_ have been even bigger if I hadn't dug +them up so soon." + +Sprite's truthful eyes were looking straight into Gwen's bold blue +ones. "Are you _sure_ that happened?" she asked. + +"Well, what do you s'pose?" Gwen asked pertly, and then, without waiting +for a reply she caught Sprite's hand and hurried with her into the +great hall. + +"I brought you in here to show you the pictures," she said, pointing +to the family portraits that adorned the walls. + +Sprite looked in admiration at the ladies in their quaint gowns of +stiff brocade, and at the men in their lace frills, and satin +waistcoats. + +"The pictures are lovely," she said, "and are they portraits of people +that really, truly lived once?" + +"Oh, yes," cried Gwen, "and I'll tell you all about them. + +"This lady with the pink gown was my great aunt Nora, and that man in +the yellow waistcoat was my great uncle Nathan. + +"That lady in green velvet was my great aunt Nina, and that young girl +beside her was her daughter, Arline. + +"That little old lady in velvet and lace was my great grandmother, and +the next picture was my own grandma, and I've forgotten who that next +one is, but the next lady's name was Jemima, and the one in yellow +silk was Elvira, and the one in pink muslin was Honoriah, and the next +one,--oh, let me think. What _was_ her name? Oh, I know, it was +Anastasia." + +"Why, their names grow worse, and worse the farther you go down the +hall!" cried Sprite. + +"Why no they don't," said Gwen, "for over on this wall, the first +picture, this one of the lady with the dog is called Lucretia, and +that next one's name was Abagail." + +"Well, their gowns are lovely," said Sprite, "but didn't they use to +have just horrid names?" + +"My mamma says those names are 'quaint,'" Gwen replied, "but come and +see this portrait of a little girl. Guess who that is?" + +"Oh, how could I?" said Sprite, "I've never known your people." + +Gwen moved along until she stood close beside her, then she looked +straight into Sprite Seaford's eyes, and nodding as she spoke, and +shaking her forefinger, she said in a whisper: + +"That's a portrait of _me!_" + +"Why--ee!" exclaimed Sprite. + +"That _is_ a picture of me!" declared Gwen. "Do you _dare_ to say it +doesn't look like me?" + +Gwen's eyes were flashing, but the sea captain's little daughter was +no coward. + +"Of course I dare," she said, "for your eyes are blue, and your hair +is light, while the little girl in the picture has brown eyes, and +brown curling hair." + +"How do you know that my hair hasn't been that color, some time or +other?" Gwen asked sharply. + +"I don't s'pose I do know," Sprite said simply, "but I don't _believe_ +folks have brown hair and have it turn light yellow, and I don't believe +brown eyes turn blue, so I don't see how that little girl in the picture +is you." + +Gwen was breathing fast. She was very angry, but she dared not say +harsh words yet. + +She wanted this little Miss Seaford to like her, and to be willing to +play with her, so she only repeated: "I say that that little girl in +the picture _is me_!" + +Sprite turned toward the door. + +"Princess Polly may be looking for me," she said, "so I'll go, now." + +As she stepped out into the sunshine she remembered something that she +should have said, and she turned. + +"Thank you for letting me see the portraits," she said. "I'm glad you +showed them to me." + +"Well, _I'm_ not," Gwen said, rudely. "I wish I _hadn't_, 'cause you +don't b'lieve that pretty portrait is me." + +Sprite looked at her with wondering eyes. She was thinking that it was +strange that a little girl who wore lovely frocks, and lived in a +handsome house was willing to be as rude as any little vagrant who +roamed the beach at Cliffmore, gathering sea weed. + +"Our house is just an old ship's hull turned upside down, and fixed +up for a house, but mother never let me speak like that to anyone, and +besides, I wouldn't want to," she thought. + +She walked toward the avenue, Gwen close beside her. + +"Good-bye," Sprite said, with a pleasant smile. + +"I'll not say 'good-bye!'" cried Gwen. "All I'll say is: 'That portrait +_is_ a picture of _me_!" + +Her voice had risen to a shriek, and she stamped her foot. + +Sprite, now wholly disgusted, turned and ran. + +Mrs. Harcourt, from an upper window, saw Sprite running away from the +house, just as Gwen's angry voice made itself heard. + +"Oh, dear!" she sighed, "What a pity that of all the children that +Gwen knows, not one really understands her." + +The lady, to whom she spoke, looked up into her handsome face, and +wondered how any intelligent woman could be so blind regarding her own +child. + +"She's so very high strung," continued Mrs. Harcourt, "that she is +easily excited, and she's so _very_ sensitive that her playmates are +constantly hurting her." + +"Why do you not urge her to bear with her little friends patiently, +and thus help matters to glide more smoothly?" + +"Ah, you, dear friend, like all the rest, fail to understand how fine, +how _extremely_ sensitive my little Gwen is," Mrs. Harcourt responded. + +At this point Gwen rushed up the stairs, stamping on every stair, and +dashed into the room. + +"I'm glad she's gone!" she cried, flinging herself down on a chair +near the window, a frown making her look as unpleasant as possible. + +"Who was that child?" her mother asked, as she bent over her, kissing +her flushed face, and brushing a yellow curl back from her forehead. + +"She's come to Avondale to stay all Winter with Princess Polly, and +with Rose Atherton. I wanted to know her, I mean I _thought_ I did, +but now I don't. I brought her in to see the portraits in our hall, +and just for fun I told her that the picture of the little brown eyed +girl was me. + +"She wouldn't believe it, and that made me mad. Of course it really +wasn't a portrait of me, but if I _said_ it was, she ought to believe +it?" + +"My precious darling!" cried Mrs. Harcourt, "the children _never_ seem +to be able to understand your wonderful imagination. The child was +absurd to go off leaving you so unhappy. I'll ask Mrs. Sherwood what +sort of child she is." + +Gwen, having been petted and assured that her mother thought her +perfect, ran from the room, and down to the garden where she sought +something with which to amuse herself. + +The cook, looking from the rear window, frowned darkly. + +Gwen did not see her, because, with her back toward the house, she was +trying to see if it would be possible to tie a knot in the cat's tail. + +The old cat objected, and struck at her, missing however, because Gwen +jumped back. + +"Ah, ye little varmint!" cried the cook, "if they's no person handy +fer yez ter pester, thin yez fall back on the owld cat, poor crayture." + +A few moments she watched Gwen in silence, then again she spoke. + +"There she goes tryin' to climb up onto the fountain basin. Sure I'll +hov ter shpake ter her, and I don't want ter, but she risks anything." + +Throwing up the window she shouted: + +"Hi! Miss Gwen! Coom down off'n there, 'fore ye do be gittin' a big +fall!" + +Gwen turned and made an outrageous face, thus giving proof of her +sweetness. + +"Coom doon!" shouted the cook, but Gwen only giggled and remained +exactly where she was. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WHAT HAPPENED AT SCHOOL + + +Little Sprite Seaford thought Avondale the brightest place that any +child ever lived in, and if the sky was blue, or if clouds hid the +sun, she smiled and still insisted that it was a cheery place. + +She had not forgotten the charm of her home at the shore, but she +remembered that she always felt very gay when the sunlight glistened +on the waves. + +She remembered that when the sky was overcast, the waves were dark and +sullen, and the great gulls flew far over the sea, her laugh lost its +gaiety, and she forgot to sing her merry songs. + +Here at Avondale were trees bright with leaves of red and yellow, +gardens glowing with gorgeous fall flowers, and Sprite thought Avondale +looked as if it were one huge garden, through which avenues had been +cut, and houses, surrounded by spacious lawns, had been built. + +School had opened a week earlier than usual, and Sprite already felt +"at home." + +She was a favorite with the boys and girls, and, to her great delight, +she found that she had progressed in her studies, under her mother's +guidance, so that, although a trifle younger than Princess Polly, she +would be a member of the same class. + +Polly, and Rose, and Sprite made a lovely trio, and older people meeting +them as they tripped along together, marvelled that three such beautiful +children, happened to be intimate neighbors. + +Gwen Harcourt had not entered school on the first day, but one morning +she appeared with the news that she should attend school all the year +if she chose, but that she could leave at any time if she wished. + +"Oh, but won't your mamma _make_ you go to school?" a small girl asked. + +"My mamma never _makes_ me do anything!" declared Gwen sharply. "I +guess that's so!" Rob Lindsey said, softly. + +"What did you say?" Gwen asked. + +"I don't _dare_ to tell," declared Rob, in a teasing voice. + +"You _needn't_!" cried Gwen, and she rudely turned her back toward +Rob, and commenced to talk to Leslie Grafton. + +She talked so fast that she hardly knew what she was saying, but she +wished Rob Lindsey to think that she had quite forgotten that he was +there. + +The bell rang, and while the others turned to hasten toward the school +house, Gwen walked along as if merely out for a stroll, and she entered +the schoolroom after all the others were seated. The new teacher thought +it a happening, but the pupils knew that Gwen had done it to learn if +the teacher would rebuke her. + +As her tardiness passed unnoticed, Gwen at once decided to do something +more striking. + +She was bright, and quick to learn, but she cared little for study, +and she would have been placed in a much lower class, but for her +mother's great influence. + +Mrs. Harcourt had listened very patiently while it had been made clear +to her that her small daughter was not fitted for the class in which +her little friends were placed. + +She was a charming woman, and she had begged, even insisted that Gwen +be placed in the class with Princess Polly, Rose Atherton, and Sprite +Seaford, and thus given the opportunity to prove that she could "keep +up" with her class. + +The new teacher was amused, and believing that Gwen's stay in the class +would be of short duration, she yielded. + +Gwen never studied, and on her first day, she decided that, as she +thought herself _very_ smart, she could, by listening to what others +were reciting, do very well without "bothering with books." + +That was what she said, and the first question in Geography that she +answered, made Rob Lindsey call her a "star pupil." + +"What is the capital of Brazil?" Gwen stared for a moment, then she +tossed her head as she said, pertly: + +"Oh, anyone knows _that_!" + +"_Next_!" said the teacher. + +Gwen was surprised. + +She had expected to be coaxed. + +A few moments later she heard a small girl talking of the great Amazon +river. She caught the name, and later when asked to name the largest +river in Africa, she sprang to her feet, and glibly shouted: + +"The Amazon!" + +"Well, why do you laugh?" she asked, turning angrily to stare at the +laughing class. + +She was offended, when told to sit down, and decided to tell her mother +that she had not received enough attention. + +"I guess I'll say 'snubbed,' because that will make mamma _sure_ to +take my part," she softly whispered. + +She changed her mind, she often did that, and thought that she would +not tell at home that she had been displeased. + +She chose to attend school a week longer, or perhaps a number of weeks +longer, because Miss Kenyon, just before closing for the afternoon, +stated that on Friday of each week an hour would be reserved for +recitations, and for the reading of compositions. + +Gwen thought she saw a chance to shine, and she meant to do it. + +She had heard a conversation, not intended for her ears, when a lady +calling at her home had inquired for the little daughter of the house. + +"Oh, Gwen is really a wonderful child," Mrs. Harcourt had said, "and +while she has a positive talent for reciting fine poetry, her +compositions are _so_ original that they are really _startling_!" + +"Oh, really!" the lady had replied, in a manner that showed that she +was bored. + +Gwen had leaned over the baluster in the upper hall, and drank in every +word of praise that had been uttered. + +The following Friday the pupils arrived with compositions that they +had prepared. + +As is usual, in any such school event, some were really good, others +were neither very good, nor very bad, but all others were forgotten +when Gwen Harcourt commenced to read. + +If Gwen Harcourt was vain, conceited, too much of a baby for a child +of her age, it was largely the fault of her silly mother, whose beauty, +and power to charm were great, but whose mind was exceedingly shallow. + +She loved Gwen deeply, even too deeply to see any faults, and so in +her blind love, she of course, could never correct these defects that +she could not see, and that made the pretty child exceedingly +unattractive. + +Her composition was a good example of what a silly child, with an even +sillier mother could do, in the way of original work, for surely the +essay was _original_. + +Gwen pranced up onto the platform, made a graceful little bow, and +then, nodding to the class she said: "This really, truly happened! +E'hem! + + "The Ostrich. + +"The ostrich that I'm to tell about was in the Zoo in a big city where +I went once, and he must have been the biggest ostrich that anyone +ever saw. + +"He was as big as a horse, and so he ought to have been called a +_hoss_trich. + +"His feathers were all the colors that folks wear on their hats,--" +She paused to note what impression she was making, and a doubting small +boy, murmured; + +"Oo--o--o!" + +Gwen frowned, and commenced to read again. + +"The ostrich didn't look much like the big white owl in a cage near +him, because the owl had bigger eyes." + +A few of the pupils giggled, and one in the front row muttered. + +"I don't suppose there was any difference in their _legs_!" + +"The ostrich is graceful,--" + +She paused again, because at this absurd statement Dick Minton laughed +aloud. + +"Oh, _graceful_!" whispered Dick. + +"_Richard_!" said Miss Kenyon, her voice deeply reproving. + +"Well, the idea!" said Dick. "_Graceful_!" + +"Gwen, tell me where you obtained these strange ideas about the +ostrich," Miss Kenyon said. + +"Did you read some book about birds, or did someone tell you these +things that you have written?" + +"These are _my own_ ideas," Gwen answered, proudly. + +"I didn't have to read or be told what to write. Mamma says I'm a +_genius_, and she read this composition, and _she_ said it was _fine_, +so I don't care what _you_ say about it!" + +"You may be seated," said the teacher, but Gwen, not heeding what she +said, rushed from the school-house, intent upon telling her mother how +very badly she had been treated. + +Miss Kenyon told the pupils that they had been rude to laugh, or make +comments when another pupil was taking any part in the exercises. + +They knew that, but they also knew that Gwen's composition had been +"funny." + +Gwen rushed home with her composition in her hand. + +Of course Mrs. Harcourt praised and comforted her. + +"Absurd!" she cried. "Did she wish you to consult a dictionary? Any +_ordinary_ child could do that, but to evolve such odd ideas! Why +_that_ is genius! She is dull if she doesn't know great creative genius +when she sees it!" + +"And _must_ I go to school again to-morrow?" Gwen asked. + +"No, indeed!" Mrs. Harcourt said, "I shall send you, hereafter, to +private school, where your talents will be appreciated." + +There was another pupil who was far more uncomfortable at school than +Gwen had ever been, and that was Gyp. + +Placed in a class with children of six or seven, the awkward boy felt +ill at ease, and out of place. Yet, while they were years younger than +he, they had already spent more hours in the class room than he ever +had, and pages that they read with ease, he struggled over. He was a +true gypsy, and he loved his freedom, and the fresh air. + +Now, as he sat at his desk, book in hand, he thought of his long tramps +over field and meadow, through forest and valley, and in his heart he +hated school, and the people who forced him to attend. + +"What's the use?" he muttered, under his breath. + +"I can catch woodchucks, and birds and squirrels," he said, softly, +"and _once_ I caught a fox, but what kin I do here? Nothing but hold +a ol' book!" A sharp command to "stop muttering, and sit still," served +to increase his wrath. + +He knew that it was not the teacher who was responsible for his presence +at school, but he thought that she _wished_ him to be there, because +she insisted that he sit still, and she would not let him leave the +room. + +"It was the p'liceman what _brung_ me here, but I'll bet 'twas her +_axed_ him to," he whispered, thus showing how angry were his thoughts, +and how greatly he needed the training that the teacher stood ready +to give. + +His mother had not dared to keep him at home, although she needed his +help. + +Gyp could not understand why she had agreed to let him go to a place +where he could neither _earn_ nor _steal_ food for the family. _He_ +felt that she had not stood by him. + +He dared not play truant, because he so feared the policeman who had +said that he _must_ attend school. + +Poor Gyp! Ignorant, and born of ignorant parents, he believed, as they +did, that if he did not go to school, he would be sent to jail! Jail +was the only thing that Gyp thought worse than school. He considered +himself a prisoner in school, but _after four_ he was _free_, so that +jail was worse only because one could not get out of jail at all! + +"If it's school or jail, I'll go to _school_!" he said. + +For weeks he appeared each morning and afternoon, sullen, and unhappy. +Then something occured that made him change his mind, and his eyes +grow bright, and his heart grow lighter. + +Out of all Avondale, Princess Polly was the only person who spoke +kindly to him. Wild, careless Gyp fairly worshipped the blue eyed, +golden haired little girl who always gave him a pleasant word, and a +smile. + +One morning, after a heavy storm, the avenues were in fair condition, +until the pupils reached a place where they must cross to the opposite +side of the street to enter the school yard. + +Gyp was not afraid of muddying his shoes, because they were so shabby +that a little mud could not make them look worse. He sat on the wall +and laughed as he saw the girls try to cross the puddle without wetting +their feet. + +"Oh, look at the ducks! No, geese!" he cried, adding: "Don't be 'fraid. +Water won't hurt ye!" + +After the other girls had reached the sidewalk, Princess Polly came +tripping along. + +She had intended to walk to school with Rose and Sprite, but Sprite, +not quite ready, had asked Polly to go along, and she would soon be +ready, and would overtake her. + +Gyp saw her coming, and stopped laughing. + +"_Jiminy_!" he ejaculated. "Somebody ought ter do _suthin'_!" + +A second later he cried: + +"Stop! Oh, stop just a minute, will ye? I'll _fix_ that puddle!" + +Polly _did_ stop. + +Snatching a piece of board that chanced to be lying on the ground just +over the wall, he flew to where Polly was standing, placed his tiny +plank over the puddle, and felt the greatest pride when he saw her +walk across, her dainty shoes without a spot upon them. + +"Oh, Gyp, you were nice to do that for me! Thank you, so much!" she +said. + +He hardly knew what to reply, but muttering something about being "no +bother at all," he ran around to the other side of the school-house +that she might not see his confusion. One thought filled his mind. He +would go to school! Yes, he would go to school every day, so that +morning and afternoon he might be where he could see her, and do any +little favor, or offer any aid, that she might need. + +Another thought soon followed. He would _work_ at his studies. He would +not be at the foot of the class. + +He must work for promotion! He must catch up with pupils of his own +age, for then he would be nearer Princess Polly, and thus able to do +any little favor, or any slight service that might please her. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A BREATH OF THE SEA + + +It was with Polly and Rose that Sprite was happiest. She liked Lena +and Leslie, and all the others. + +The boys were her trusted friends, and she looked forward to a gay +winter with these new friends. One sunny morning Uncle John Atherton, +with Rose in the motor beside him, drove over to Sherwood Hall to call +for Polly and Sprite. + +"We're going for a long ride, Rose, so tell Polly and Sprite to take +their coats." + +They were soon ready, and running down the walk, their coats on their +arms. + +"Where are we going?" they cried, as they reached the sidewalk. Without +waiting for an answer they clambered into the car. + +"Where are we going?" they asked again. "Oh, let's all three sit on +one seat!" + +Uncle John turned to look at the three eager faces. + +"Well, well! What a lucky man I am!" he cried. "Three fine young ladies +all out for a ride with me. Are you ready?" + +"All ready!" cried the merry chorus, "but where are we going?" + +"Now _that's_ my secret," Uncle John said, with a laugh, "but I will +say that some business took me to a very charming place this morning, +and I thought I'd like company on the way. I trust you're willing to +go?" + +"Oh, yes, yes!" cried three laughing voices. + +"Then we'll start at once," said Uncle John, as if he had been waiting +in order to be re-assured. + +Over the road they flew, talking and laughing gaily. + +"Rose, do you know where we're going?" Polly asked. + +"Oh, her Uncle John would tell her," said Sprite. + +"He _didn't_" declared Rose, then; "_did_ you, Uncle John?" she cried. + +"I certainly did not tell Rose," he said, "and after another half hour +has passed, you three little friends must commence to look about you, +and see if you see anything that looks at all familiar." + +"Tell us when the half hour is up," said Polly, "and we'll begin +looking." + +They were soon running along country roads, where men were busy in the +fields, and where early fall wild flowers bordered the roads. + +Then in a brief space, they began to miss the wild flowers, and to +notice bold bits of ledge, the roads became more sandy, and as they +swung around a bend, they caught a glimpse of the sea. + +"Cliffmore! Oh, it's Cliffmore!" cried Sprite her hands tightly clasped, +and her eyes bright as stars. + +"_Isn't_ it Cliffmore, Mr. Atherton?" she asked, her little hand patting +his shoulder nervously, as she waited his reply. + +He stopped the car, and turned to gaze up into the lovely, eager face. + +Sprite, standing, her long golden hair blowing back from her face, +looked for all the world like a sea fairy. Shading her eyes with her +hand, she looked out across the sea that she loved so well. + +Then she turned to find his kind brown eyes looking up at her, as if +he were about to speak. + +"Dear little girl, I have indeed brought you to Cliffmore. I was obliged +to come here on a little business trip to look after some of my +property, and I took you for sweet company, and because I thought we'd +give two very dear people who live at the 'Syren's Cave,' a great +surprise." + +"Oh, I hope father isn't out on the water," cried Sprite. "Mother will +be there, but I want to see them both!" + +"I looked out for that," was the cheery reply, "and I wrote to tell +Captain Seaford that I should call upon him to-day. I did not say that +I should bring some callers with me." + +"Oh, what fun!" cried Polly. + +"_Won't_ they be surprised?" said Rose. + +Uncle John turned from the road, and out onto the beach. + +The tide was low, and they bowled along over the hard white sand, +little Sprite sitting with her hands tightly clasped, and her eyes +riveted upon the distant speck that she knew to be her home, while +Rose on one side, and Polly on the other, closely watched her pretty, +eager face. + +Captain Seaford, sitting just outside the door, was endeavoring to +mend a net, but constant watching for the coming of Captain Atherton +made the task of mending progress slowly. + +"I must spunk up a little," he said, "for I want to use this net," but +in spite of his resolve, he was soon watching, as before, for the +coming of his friend. + +At last he arose from the low stool on which he had been sitting, +throwing the net down in a heap on the sand. + +Mrs. Seaford, seated indoors, was busy, her needle flying in and out, +darning one of the captain's socks. + +"I can't keep my mind on my work," he said. "I tie a knot, and then +look up to see if John Atherton is in sight. I never acted like that +before. I'm always glad to see him, but for some strange reason, I +can't wait patiently for him to arrive." + +"I'm doing the same thing," his wife said. "I can't keep my mind on +this mending. I take three stitches and then look out of the window. +Isn't it strange?" + +The honking of a horn made them hasten to the door. + +They saw the big car, they dimly saw Captain Atherton, Polly, and Rose, +but with startling clearness they saw the one thing on earth that they +held most dear,--little Sprite. + +She sprang from the car and ran to them, and what a greeting she +received! + +Captain Seaford declared that it was the sunlight that made his eyes +water, but gentle Mrs. Seaford made no excuse for her tear-wet lashes. + +When the first excitement was over, they were invited to come in and +rest in the quaint living-room of the Seafords' home. + +"I thought when I read your letter, Captain Seaford, that you and your +wife were missing little Sprite even more than you had dreamed possible. +I have watched Sprite closely, and sometimes I have thought that she +was homesick. If we make the trip once a fortnight, we shall all be +happier." + +"Including yourself, John Atherton," said Captain Seaford, "for I know +you as well as you know yourself. You are never quite content, unless +planning pleasure for others. Oh, I know it, and it's no use to deny +what I say." + +"As Captain Atherton is a truthful man, he's not likely to deny it," +said Mrs. Seaford, "and now if you will all enjoy a shore dinner, I'll +ask you to be my guests." + +"I know of nothing more tempting," Captain Atherton said, and then, +because he believed that Mrs. Seaford would enjoy an hour when she +could have Sprite quite by herself, he took Rose and Princess Polly +over to "The Cliffs," where they might amuse themselves, while he +inspected the work that was being done. + +The time passed swiftly, and when Polly and Rose had seen all the +places about the house where they had played during the summer, and +Uncle John had satisfied himself that repairs that were being made +wholly pleased him, they found that it was about the time that Mrs. +Seaford had set for their return. + +"Come, ladies," he said, and they ran down the driveway, laughing and +talking, and soon in the big car, were spinning down the beach. + +As they drew near to the "Syren's Cave," Captain Seaford at the door, +sounded a long, sweet note on the horn. Polly and Rose waved their +handkerchiefs, and Sprite ran out to greet them. + +It was a sunny day, with a fresh, cool breeze blowing from the East, +and when they were seated around the table, the big tureen filled with +hot chowder seemed just what their keen appetites craved. + +Boiled fish, garnished with cress followed the chowder, and simple +pudding, served with cream, furnished the dessert. + +It surely was not an elaborate dinner, but to the guests it seemed the +finest treat that they had ever enjoyed. + +The long ride in the fresh breeze had made them eager for the noon +meal, and the sea food, daintily cooked, was a feast. + +They lingered at the table, and Mrs. Seaford, and the three little +friends listened, and laughed at the merry stories that the two sea +captains told. + +They were all in the big car when Captain Atherton said: + +"Oh, now I think of it; there's a package, and a basket in this car +that I meant to leave here, if you'll kindly store them for me." + +Captain Seaford, never guessing what the parcel, or big basket +contained, answered heartily: + +"Of course I'll store them for you, dear friend, as long as you like," +and he hastened to take them, carrying them into the house. + +"Good-byes" had been said, when John Atherton turned to say: + +"Oh, will you please open the parcel, and the basket. They're too +tightly wrapped, I think." + +"Ah, I know now that 'tis for myself you wish me to store the heavy +parcel, and the loaded basket. The heart within thy brave breast is +bigger, and warmer than that of any man I ever knew." + +It was as Captain Seaford had said. + +When, with his wife beside him, he opened the basket, he found it +filled with luscious fruit, beneath which lay a huge parcel of sugar. + +In the big bundle that the sturdy captain had found it a task to tug +to the house, was another large bag of sugar, a bag of flour, a parcel +containing beans, a giant squash, and tea and coffee. + +"Could he possibly know that at just this time, these gifts are +especially welcome?" Mrs. Seaford asked. + +"I can't imagine how he could find that out, but surely they could not +have come at a better time," was the earnest reply. + +He turned to hide the tears that had sprung to his honest eyes, when, +for the first time, he saw a large firkin, set just inside the door, +and, as if to keep it company, a large sack leaned against it. The +firkin, as the captain had called it, proved to be a huge tub of fine +butter, and the sack was filled with potatoes. + +A card was pinned to the sack. + +"These few articles I leave instead of my card. + John." + +"Ah, John Atherton, faithful friend, may every blessing be thine," +said Mrs. Seaford, with trembling lips, to which Captain Seaford, +gently breathed, "Amen." + +On the inside of the cover of the butter tub was tacked this note: + +"A load of coal for winter comfort will arrive this afternoon. I +_couldn't_ bring it in the auto. + John." + +"And see him make a joke by saying that he couldn't bring it in the +auto!" said Captain Seaford, "and thus try to make light of his +generosity. He doesn't blind us to his great goodness, though. He's +one man of a thousand!" + +In the auto the three playmates were gaily talking, singing snatches +of blithe little songs, as they sped along the beach, on the way to +Avondale. + +"I've loved to be with you before this trip," said Sprite, "but +sometimes I've longed to see home, but now that I'm to go there every +fortnight I'll be gay, and happy all the time. Oh, Mr. Atherton, I +thank you for promising that!" + +"And in return, little Sprite, I'll ask a favor," he said. "Call me +'Uncle John,' just as Rose does, and Polly does the same." + +"Oh, I will, I _will_!" she cried. "I've always wanted to." + +"You will feel more at home with an uncle so near," he said, gently. + + * * * * * * * * + +Already the boys and girls of Avondale were talking of the opening of +school. Of all the eager ones, Sprite Seaford was the most excited. +Her mother's careful training had fitted her for a class among girls +of her own age, but she did not know that. + +She hoped that she might be in the class with Princess Polly, and Rose, +but wherever her place in school might be, she was eager for the "first +day" to arrive. + +One morning Polly and Sprite were on the piazza, before breakfast, and +after pacing up and down for a while, they went down the steps, and +around behind the house to search for Sir Mortimer. + +"He's sometimes in under the bushes taking a nap," said Polly, and +they crouched to look under the shrubbery. An ear-piercing screech +made them spring to their feet, and there, flying down the road, was +Gyp, tearing along as if in fright, but what could so have startled +wild, careless Gyp? + +He did not stop running, nor did he slacken his pace, but looking +straight ahead, as if not daring to look back, to learn if he were +followed, he raced down the street, fear plainly showing in every +movement of his thin wiry legs. + +"What _could_ have frightened him?" Polly asked. Sprite could not +guess. + +Now, slowly going over his beat a patrolman passed, walking along as +if haste were a thing unheard of. + +"_That's_ what made him run!" cried Princess Polly. + +"What? The policeman!" cried Sprite. "Why he isn't chasing him." + +"Of course he isn't," Polly replied, "but Gyp is so afraid of any one +of the policemen in this town, that he runs screaming just like that +the minute he sees one." + +Together they watched, until Gyp was out of sight. + +"They say folks here in Avondale are going to _make_ Gyp go to school," +said Polly, "but I shouldn't think they could do it, and if they +_could_, just think how he'd act!" + +"I can't think," said Sprite, her eyes dancing, "but I know I'll like +to watch him the first day." + +"We couldn't watch him if we wanted to because he wouldn't be in our +room," Polly said. + +"Well, then he'll be above us, because he's bigger than we are," said +Sprite. Polly laughed as she said; + +"Oh, no he won't. He's _never_ been to school but a few months, as big +as he is. He'll be in some class below us." + +"Why, then he'll be with _little_ children," said Sprite, "and won't +he look funny when he's such a big boy?" + +"Well, that's where he'll have to be, _if_ they can make him go!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A DELIGHTFUL CALL + + +One Saturday morning, Rose skipped along the sidewalk on the way to +Aunt Judith's cottage. Her cheeks were very pink, and her eyes were +bright. + +Uncle John was to take her with him in the big automobile that +afternoon, and they were to call, he said, on a very dear friend of +his. + +"Do I know her?" Rose had asked. + +"You _will_, when you see her," was the laughing reply. + +"Is it some one I've seen?" she asked, her face alight with interest. + +"Yes, and no," Uncle John said. + +"And that is all I'll tell you," he continued, "because I'd like you +to recognize her at once, without any hint from me." + +"And I'll enjoy the forenoon with Aunt Judith," she said as she opened +the little gate. + +Aunt Judith, sitting by the window saw her coming, and hastened to the +door. + +"I've been watching a half hour to see you push open the gate, and +come in," she said. + +"Oh, Aunt Judith! I'm not late," Rose said, "for look! I said I'd come +over here at nine, and it's just nine by your clock." + +"Dear child, you are very prompt, and the only reason that I sat +watching is because I wanted to see you the moment you came in sight. +Now take off your things," she said, "and then we'll sit down, and +talk over the plans for our party." + +Rose was delighted. What little girl wouldn't be? + +"First of all, dear, I had a great surprise this morning. A very great +surprise, and your Uncle John Atherton gave it to me." + +"Oh, Uncle John is always doing something nice, for _somebody_!" cried +Rose. + +"I never knew how good, how kind he could be," Aunt Judith said, +brushing away a happy tear. "He came here one evening, and said he'd +come to cheer me, and he certainly succeeded. We talked a little while, +and in his pleasant way he questioned me, trying to learn if I was +feeling prosperous. I didn't like to tell him, but he _made_ me, and +Rose, my cellar is stocked with all the wood and coal that I could use +this Winter. There are winter vegetables, apples, two big hams, a +barrel of flour,--Rose! I never felt so rich in all my life! Think of +it! Winter coming, and my cellar full!" + +"Oh, Aunt Judith! Do you wonder that I love him?" + +"Who could help it?" was the eager question, "And that's not all, for +with the idea that he hadn't done _enough_, this morning when I opened +my back door a neat looking little maid stood there. + +"I'm sent here, m'am, by your relative, Mr. Atherton, who says I'm to +work for you until you get tired of me, which he says m'am, he hopes +won't be soon." + +"I was tired this morning and when I found a little maid engaged to +do my work for me, I couldn't speak for a moment, because I was so +full of thanks, that they _almost_ choked me." + +"Now, you can stay in the dear little sitting-room, while the work in +the kitchen is being done for you. No wonder you feel rich," cried +Rose. + +"And now," said Aunt Judith, "we'll talk about the party." + +"Wait just a minute, 'til I get my little stool. There! _Now_ I'll +listen, and I'm _wild_ to hear." + +"I wish this party to be as nearly as possible like the one that I +enjoyed when I was little. First of all, I shall make some draperies +for these windows of flowered chintz. I found a whole piece up in my +store room the other day, and its gay flowered pattern looked very +like the curtains in the home I so well remember. There are fine old +hand-made rugs in the store room. I've never cared for them, but now +I know that they will look right with the flowered chintz curtains. +Now come and see what I have here in this little cupboard." + +"There! Won't these look bright and pretty on my mantel?" she asked. + +"Oh, lovely! Lovely!" cried Rose. "Where did you get them, and what +are they called?" + +"They are called candelabra, and are really ornamental candlesticks. +These clear, finely cut pendants of glass will catch and reflect light. +We'll play old-fashioned games, we'll have an old-fashioned treat, and +we'll wear real old-time costumes. It will not be a grand party, but +I believe the children will enjoy it, for it will, at least, be +different from any party that they have ever attended." + +Aunt Judith worked all the morning, stitching the hems for the chintz +curtains, and Rose pulled out the bastings, threaded needles, and in +many ways helped to make the pretty things for the little front parlor. + +"If it wasn't for school I could come again Monday and help you," Rose +said. + +"I shall easily do all that is needed," Aunt Judith replied, "for now +I have a little maid, I have more time for myself, and she said she +would be pleased to help me decorate for the party. I think she really +wishes to have a part in the preparations." + +"You have beautiful old china," said Rose, "and the boys and girls +will like the nice things served on such pretty plates." + +"Now, go into the next room, and see what I left hanging over a chair. +You may try it on, and then come out here, and let me see you," Aunt +Judith said. + +"What fun!" cried Rose, and she laughed gaily as she ran to "try on" +the quaint costume. + +"Oh, the beautiful dress!" she said when she saw the dainty frock that +Aunt Judith had chosen for her. She quickly removed her own dress, and +soon she was looking at her reflection in the mirror. She took the +hand mirror, that she might see the back of the costume. + +The little maid peeped in. She, too, had been trying on the quaint +dress that Aunt Judith intended her to wear. + +And when at last the little clock chimed the hour at which she had +promised to leave the cottage that she might be at home to lunch with +Uncle John, she said "goodbye," and ran down the path, her mind filled +with thoughts of the promised party, and of the delight of her playmates +when they should be entertained by Aunt Judith, and for the first time, +be a part of an old-fashioned party. + +Uncle John was on the broad piazza waiting for her, and together they +went in to lunch. Later, in the big automobile, they rode in a different +direction from any that Rose had ever travelled over, and she looked +up at Uncle John, as if she were wondering if he had forgotten that +there was a call to be made before they turn homeward. + +He turned to the right, and then, after a short ride, drove up a long +private avenue bordered with odd, foreign-looking trees. Although the +foliage was gone, one could see by the form of the trunk and branches +that they were not the trees usually seen at Avondale. The house, a +stately homestead, stood well back from the street, and the porch, +with its colonial pillars, gave grandeur to the entrance. And when +they were seated in the handsome parlor, Rose looked about her, and +wondered who it might be that Uncle John had brought her to see. + +A slight sound, a rustling of silken drapery, and a young woman, lovely +as a vision, entered, offered her hand to Captain Atherton, and then +turning, she looked at the little girl whose brown eyes told of +admiration. + +"And this, John, is Rose? Little Rose Atherton?" + +"This truly is my little Rose. And now, Rose, this is Miss Iris +Vandmere, and I wish you two to be the best of friends. Tell me, do +you remember if you have ever met her, or seen her before to-day?" + +"Oh, yes, _yes_!" cried Rose. "She is the lovely lady in the locket +picture, I _know_ she is!" + +"I am, indeed, the girl in the locket miniature, and now, as you have +seen me before coming here, don't look upon me as a stranger. I want +you to learn to like me, dear." + +There was pleading in the sweet voice, and Rose took the slender white +hand in hers. + +"I won't have to learn to _like_ you, because I _love_ you now. Anyone +would love you, you are so sweet, so bright to look at," Rose said, +and Iris bent her lovely head, and kissed the upturned face. + + * * * * * * * * + +"Oh, Uncle John! There _never was_, there _never will be_ anyone so +dear, so lovely," sighed Rose, when they were once more in the +automobile. "See how sweet she looks, waving her hand to us! When will +you take me to her again?" + +"Rose, little girl, you have pleased me to-day, and you shall often +go with me to the beautiful old house, to see the beautiful girl who +lives there. As I said this afternoon, I wish you to be the best of +friends." + + * * * * * * * * + +Of course the news of Aunt Judith's party flew through the neighborhood, +and many were the questions that Rose was asked to answer. + +To each, she shook her curly head, and made the same reply. + +"Aunt Judith intends it to be quaint, and everything will be +old-fashioned, and we are all to wear real old-time costumes, but that +is all I will tell you, because Aunt Judith wishes it to seem quaint, +and a bit of a surprise when you come. It won't be any surprise at all +if I tell you all about it now." + +"Don't you tell it, Rose, not even to me," said Princess Polly. + +"Nor me!" cried Sprite. + +"If she's kind enough to plan a party for us children, we ought to let +her have it just as she wishes it to be." + +Gyp sat upon the wall, listening to all that was being said. He was +full of mischief, and often he had annoyed Aunt Judith with his pranks. + +"She's agoin' ter make a party fer 'em!" he said to himself. + +He still sat on the wall, swinging his skinny legs when those who had +stood talking of the event had walked together down the street. Polly +and Sprite had lagged behind to talk with Rose until a maid had called +to Polly that Mrs. Sherwood wished them to come in. + +Rose turned toward home, and was humming as she walked along, when she +heard her name called softly. + +She looked up and down the street. Then she saw Gyp. + +"Do you know who called me?" she asked. + +"Yep!" he answered, pertly. + +"Well, who did?" queried Rose. + +"I did," he said, watching her closely. "I axed yer is she going ter +have a _big_ party?" + +"She can't. It would be too costly, and the cottage is too small, but +she is generous and kind to give us any party at all, and oh, Gyp!" +she cried, moving nearer to him, "I _do_ wish you wouldn't tease her." + +Gyp wriggled. + +"She said she hated me!" he said. + +"Well, she _might_ have been angry, but she likes boys. I've heard her +say so," Rose replied. + +"I ain't just a boy. I'm a _Gypsy_ boy. That's _different_." + +"Princess Polly is always kind to her, and I _know_ it would please +her if you stopped teasing Aunt Judith," Rose said. + +That was just the thing to have said! + +Gyp was determined to win Polly's approval at all costs. He sprang +from the low wall, and rushed off to the old shanty that his family +called "home." + +There he found an old basket, and rushing off into the heart of the +woods, he returned with a quantity of fine shellbarks that he had +gathered and hoarded. Two days before the party was to occur he obtained +a flour bag, no one knew how, emptied the basket of nuts into it, +filling it about three-quarters full. + +Long and hard he labored over the note that he tied to the bag. Sneaking +to the back door of the cottage, he dropped the bag on the upper step, +gave a tremendous knock, and then raced off to the woods. + +Aunt Judith was more than half afraid to open the big bag, but finally, +gathering courage, she cut the string, and then peeped in. + +The laboriously written note fell to the floor. She picked it up, and +for a moment, stared at it in great surprise. + +"Ter Missis Ant Joodith Im sory ive evir plagd yer an them nutts is +4 yor party coss I want yer ter no I meen whut i say. Arftur this I +wil tri hard ter be yor frend, + + "Gyp." + +"Well, of all things!" she cried, when at last she had made sense out +of the fearfully spelled note. + +"Poor, wild Gyp! Who ever dreamed that he had a heart or a conscience! +Indeed he shall be my friend if that will keep him from annoying me, +and perhaps I can find a way to befriend him. + +"Everyone is ready to lift a hand against him, so that there is nothing +to tempt him to be really good, nor to encourage him to try. + +"Strange little Arab! I wonder what prompted him to give his store of +nuts to me, and really that fearfully spelled note has a bit of +sincerity in it. I must tell John Atherton about it. I'll keep the +note, and show it to him." + +Often she paused to take the note from its retreat behind the clock, +read it, and replace it. She looked from the window whenever she passed +it, but not a glimpse of Gyp did she obtain. + +She could not imagine what had caused the little imp to leave his gift +of nuts at her door, or yet more wonderful, what had prompted him to +write his friendly little note. Its outrageous spelling was droll, but +its kindly spirit was evident. He had attended school because he was +compelled to, but he had paid but little attention to his books. + +The note had kept him busy for fully a half hour, and he considered +it a fine specimen of letter writing when it was completed. + +He thought that few boys could have done better, and he felt that in +writing it, he had literally "covered himself with glory." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +AUNT JUDITH'S PARTY + + +The flowered chintz draperies hung at the windows, the pink roses, and +green leaves on its shiny surface looked fairly gaudy. The candles +danced and flickered in the candelabra, evergreen framed every picture +on the walls. + +Aunt Judith's quaint sofa and chairs had always been covered with +crimson repp, and the color seemed brighter in the evening light. + +The old hand-made rugs looked quaint upon the floor, and the logs in +the grate burned gaily, as if anticipating the arrival of the little +guests. + +Of all the fine, quaint things in the room, Aunt Judith was surely the +finest, and the quaintest. Her gown was of old-time print, a white +ground upon which bouquets of pansies, purple and yellow, had been +finely printed. Her black eyes were bright with excitement, and in her +glossy black hair, she had placed an old silver comb. + +Her sleeves were elbow length, and she wore long black silk mitts. She +had made her toilette with great care, and she now stood on the hearth +rug, nervously opening and shutting a small folding fan. + +The little maid peeped in. + +"Please ma'am, I hear 'em comin'," she said. + +"Wait 'til they ring, and then answer the bell," said Aunt Judith. + +The little maid looked very pretty, and she was delighted to be "in +costume," for the occasion. Her skirt, of heavy cotton, was white, +with wide pink stripes. Her waist was blue with a large white kerchief, +and on her flaxen head was a white cap with a frill that made her rosy +little face quite pleasing. + +Greta liked her new place. She liked her new mistress, too, and the +work at the little cottage was light. + +Aunt Judith was a worker, and together they kept the pretty rooms in +perfect order. + +The bell rang sharply, Greta opened the door, and the quaintest little +figures that ever were seen came tripping into the hall. + +It was not to be a ceremonious affair, so Greta took their wraps at +the door, and they entered the little parlor to greet Aunt Judith. + +Princess Polly in crisp print, with yellow primroses on a white ground, +a pale green kerchief, and yellow ribbons in her hair, was fair, and +lovely to look upon. + +Rob Lindsey in brown homespun with a yellow vest, walked beside her, +looking very like a lad of the olden time. + +Lena Lindsey, in a green and white striped gown, a wreath of white +roses and green leaves in her hair, with Leslie Grafton in scarlet +linen with white lace frills at her neck, and in her sleeves, were two +quaint lassies, and Harry Grafton in gray linen with huge white collar, +and gaily flowered tie, made a trio that delighted Aunt Judith. + +She had asked Rose to come as a guest, instead of standing with her +to receive. + +She had wished to see dear little Rose Atherton among her other guests, +simply because she thus could see her more in the same way that she +saw the other children, and she wanted to judge if she looked like +that other little Rose Atherton who once had worn that same gown. + +Uncle John knew that it was to be a children's party, but he decided +to accept Aunt Judith's invitation to be present, and enjoy their +pleasure with her. + +Shouts of laughter greeted his costume! Knee breeches of yellow linen, +a waistcoat of white linen damask, with lace frills on his bosom and +at his wrists, together with a coat of flowered striped material, made +him look like some old portrait suddenly alive. + +Rose close beside him, in the pretty frock that Aunt Judith had loaned +her, clung to his right arm as they entered together, little Sprite +Seaford on his left. + +Her gown was one that her great grand aunt had once worn, and it was +most becoming. Uncle John Atherton had especially asked her to go to +the party with Rose and himself. Her yellow hair was braided in two +long braids and crowned with a muslin cap. Her frock was blue, with +white blossoms upon it, and from its belt hung a steel bead bag that +held her handkerchief. + +Gwen was not invited. + +Aunt Judith detested her rude ways, and she would not choose a guest +who might spoil a pleasant evening by her bad behavior. + +A young friend of Uncle John's arrived a bit late, and surely his +costume was the most unusual of any of the guests. Captain Atherton +had seen the little suit in an antique shop in England. He had purchased +it, believing that some such occasion as the present might occur, when +the droll coat and trousers, the little waistcoat, and the comical cap +would be just the thing for a slender lad to wear. Walter Langdon was +indeed a quaint figure, as, with Captain Atherton, he went forward to +greet Aunt Judith, and be introduced to the other guests. + +His coat, a funny little "swallow tail," was of yellow green, his +trousers matched it, his waistcoat, or vest, was striped, lilac and +white, and his cap, green like the suit, had a long tassel hanging +down on one side. His fair hair, in a soft bang, showed below the edge +of his cap, and his eyes, wide open and merry, appeared to be just +ready for a gay laugh. + +He knew that he looked absolutely comical, and he thought it great fun +to appear at the party in a costume that provoked laughter. He proved +to be a bright, cheery boy, full of fun, and wit, and soon the other +boys and girls felt as if they had always known him. + +Uncle John wore a costume that had belonged to his great, great uncle, +and he looked very handsome in it. He made them all laugh by saying +that he wished that his ancestor had been just a wee bit larger, because +then the suit would have been somewhat easier, instead of such a _close +fit_. + +But while he seemed pleased with all of his new friends, it was Rose +Atherton whom Walter liked best of all. + +"And now," said Aunt Judith, "I've tried to make this party a truly +old-fashioned one, and what do you say to playing some very +old-fashioned games?" + +"Oh, yes, yes!" they cried. "What shall we play first?" + +"Blind Man's Buff," cried Uncle John, "and I'll blind first. Here, +Rose! Tie this handkerchief over my eyes!" + +Rose tied the handkerchief, and then the fun began. + +"He's peeking!" cried Walter, "so he can be sure to catch Rose." + +"I'm not peeking. Honest _Injun_!" declared Uncle John, exactly as he +had heard the boys say it. + +"Catch _me_!" cried Leslie, at the same time dodging him, and he grasped +empty air. + +"And _me_!" cried Lena, just behind him, springing past him as he +turned. + +Sprite made no sound as she tried to pass him, but was just a bit too +slow, and he caught her. + +"Ah, I know who I've found!" he cried, "because no other little girl +but Sprite has such long, silken braids." + +He lifted the handkerchief, and laughed to see her blushing cheeks. + +It was now Sprite's turn. Slowly she advanced, her pretty hands +outstretched, and oddly enough she at once caught Lena Lindsey. Her +little face was puzzled, and earnest, as she felt of the hair, the +cap, and the gown. Then, in an instant, she passed her slender fingers +over the chin. + +She laughed merrily. + +"It's Lena!" she cried gaily, "for it is Lena who has a deep dimple +in her chin!" + +Each took his turn at being blindfolded, and then "Post office" was +announced. + +Polly received a great batch of letters, and it was Rob, of course, +who "_mailed_" them. Polly sent five "letters" to Rose, Rose had ten +for Uncle John, Uncle John had two for Aunt Judith, who protested +that she was "not a child." + +"Neither am I," he said. + +Aunt Judith chose little Sprite, then Sprite chose Harry Grafton. Harry +had five letters for Polly, and Polly had one for Walter, who declared +that he _found two_! + +"Copenhagen" was the next, and "Pillow" was the next. + +Princess Polly, Rose and Sprite were the most favored of all the little +lassies, and it would have been hard to say which of the three was the +most popular. + +They were now a bit tired, and while they were resting, Aunt Judith +told a long story of a most exciting sleighing party that she once +experienced, when the horses became frightened, and went plunging over +the snow covered fields, having left the roadway far behind. + +Then Uncle John matched it with a vivid tale of an encounter with a +vessel manned by ocean outlaws. The children held their breath, and +they felt very warm and cosey and secure, as they sat watching the +dancing flames, and listening to tales of adventure. + +"Now let us all enjoy a simple, old-time treat," said Aunt Judith. She +tapped a tiny silver bell, and the pretty maid in her striped gown and +kerchief appeared with a tray on which were little sandwiches cut in +fancy shapes, and filled with chicken, others filled with lettuce, and +yet others with chopped nuts. Gyp did not dream that nuts were ever +served thus. + +There were plates of dainty cakes, and tiny wine glasses filled to the +brim with delicious raspberry shrub. How the children enjoyed the +simple treat! + +The sandwiches and cakes disappeared like magic, and the wee wine +glasses were filled again and again with the spiced raspberry juice. + +Greta piled her tray with an extra supply, and returned to the parlor, +where the children were chattering like sparrows while they enjoyed +the treat. + +"I think this is a lovely party," said Princess Polly. + +"So do I!" cried the others, as if with one voice. + +"I think these are the nicest boys and girls I ever met," said Walter, +adding, "_especially_ the girls." + +His merry gray eyes were laughing, and Uncle John said, as he looked +at the eager, boyish face: + +"You shall come often to my home here at Avondale, and become even +better acquainted with my young friends, and neighbors." + +"I'd like to, sir," Walter replied, "for I want them to be _my_ +friends." + +"We _will_! We _will_!" cried an eager chorus. + +It was later than they dreamed when the clock chimed the hour, and +they took leave of Aunt Judith telling her how quaint and delightful +the party had been, and how truly they had enjoyed the evening. Captain +Atherton took the entire party under his protection, and they walked +home together, talking all the way of the kindness of Aunt Judith in +planning the pleasure for them. + + * * * * * * * * + +Very early next morning an impish figure sat astride the old wooden +pump that stood near the door of the cottage. + +He seemed to have no interest in anything save that door, and he sat +very still, his eyes riveted upon it. + +The old pump had not been used in years, but it served for a fine +pedestal for Gyp. + +At last he heard the key turn in the lock, and he was all attention. + +The little maid opened it, and took in the milk jar. + +"Where's _her_?" he demanded. "I want ter see _her_!" + +Greta nodded, and ran in to call Aunt Judith. + +"There's the queerest looking boy sitting out on top of the old wooden +pump, and he says he wants to see you," said Greta. + +Half guessing who it was, for what other boy would make an early morning +call, and choose so odd a seat while he waited, Aunt Judith went to +the door, and looked out. + +"Did you wish to see me?" she asked with a pleasant smile, but Gyp had +apparently forgotten what he had intended to say. + +"The nuts were fine," Aunt Judith said, "and I want to thank you for +them." + +"_That's_ what I came fer. I wanted ter know if them nuts was any +good?" + +"They were very nice indeed, and Gyp, I'll give you something that +will show you just what I did with them. Wait a moment." + +Gyp waited, wondering if he had quite understood her. Who had ever +given him anything? + +Aunt Judith came to the door with a plate of sandwiches. + +"There, Gyp," she said, "those sandwiches on that side of the plate +are chicken but these on this side are filled with some of your nuts." + +"Oh, who ever heard of bread stuffed with nuts!" he cried. "They're +_great_!" he cried a moment later, "but I don't want the plate. We +take what we eat in our _hands_ at home." + +He suited the action to the words, for although the sandwiches were +small, he managed to grasp one with both hands, demonstrating that it +could be done. + +"That was a kind little note that you sent with the bag of nuts," Aunt +Judith said, "and since you've promised to be _my_ friend, Gyp, I +promise to be _yours_." + +"All right!" cried Gyp, "when does it begin?' + +"What?" she asked in surprise. + +"Why, _us_ bein' friends," said Gyp. + +"_Now_, Gyp, my boy. _Now_!" said Aunt Judith. "Come in and we'll talk +it over." + +"Oo-o-o! Not now!" cried Gyp, "but to-night, if I darest ter, I'll +dress up, and come." + +He slid down from the tall old wooden pump, gave three wild hops, and +then raced off across the field toward the old shed-like building that +he called home. + +She watched his flying figure from the doorway, and as he disappeared +behind a clump of bushes, she turned, and closed the door. + +"Strange, wild little fellow!" she said. "I wonder if he'll come!" And +when night came, she found herself listening for the sound of a quick +step. + +At last it came, and quickly Aunt Judith opened the door. Gyp walked +in very meekly, and sat on the edge of a chair seat, his old hat in +his hands. His hair was painfully smooth, and he wore a bright striped +shirt, an old red tie, and while his suit could hardly be called +"dressy," it certainly showed that the boy had brushed it, and that +he had tried to improve his appearance. + +At school he had learned that he must remove his hat when he entered +a room, a fact that had greatly surprised him, but he had remembered +it. + +Aunt Judith felt that she must work carefully, lest Gyp be seized with +fear, and bolt for the door, and freedom. + +Gently she told him how, by doing his best, he would find friends who +would deal kindly with him. That he might have friends if he chose, +and that he could, by good behavior, force them to respect him. + +"I will be your friend," she said, "and Gyp, let me prove it. Rose +tells me that you find your lessons hard to master. Bring them to me +evenings, and I will help you with them. You may come Wednesday, and +Saturday evenings, and perhaps you can win promotion, so as to climb +steadily up to a class of your own age." + +"Do you think I _could?_" he asked. "Would they _let_ me?" + +"_Make_ them do it, Gyp. You're smart enough. Come! What do you say? +Let's try," Aunt Judith said. + +"I'll do it," he said, "and if you help me, maybe I can get out of +that class. They laugh at me, and it makes me mad to be called 'baby.'" + +"Come over here with your books Saturday evening, and we'll see what +we two can do," was the earnest reply. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +GYP'S AMBITION + + +Gyp sauntered along on the way to school, a thoughtful expression +making his face less reckless than usual. + +"Looks 's if 'twould pay ter be decent," he said, half aloud. + +He was very quiet, and the teacher questioned if he were planning +mischief. The little pupils watched him, and wondered when his +restlessness would begin. + +His teacher wondered, too, but Gyp kept his eyes on his book, and +appeared not to know that he was being watched. + +For the first time since he had been forced to attend school, he had +a perfect spelling lesson. + +He stumbled over every long word in the reading lesson, however, and +the problems in arithmetic puzzled him completely. + +If the arithmetic had seemed easier he might not have appealed so +promptly to Aunt Judith for aid, but the young teacher was unable to +make it clear to him, and when evening came, he raced across the fields, +his book under his arm, and tapped at her door. + +"Ah, you've come, Gyp!" she said, smiling at him encouragingly, "I +hoped you would." + +"You said Wednesday and Saturday, an' this is only Tuesday, but I can't +get my lesson for termorrer 'less someone helps me," he said. + +"There is no reason why you may not stay to-night," Aunt Judith said, +kindly, "and now tell me what it was that made the arithmetic so hard +today." + +"She asked me if I had ten pears, and I wanted to keep one for myself, +and divide the others between two of my friends, how many would I give +each, and I told her I'd keep more than one for myself, and I didn't +know two _anybodies_ I'd want to give the others to, and then they all +laughed. I don't see why." + +Aunt Judith was trying not to laugh as heartily as the little pupils +whose merriment had so annoyed Gyp. + +"And the next thing she asked was about dividing pears, too. Don't +folks divide anything but _pears_? They don't in the arithmetic!" + +"Oh, Gyp, Gyp!" cried Aunt Judith, and the puzzled boy laughed with +her, because he could not help it. + +He did not mind her laughter. Indeed, he already felt better acquainted +with her, because they had laughed together. The laughter of the little +pupils had maddened him, but that was different. + +"_They_ laughed _at_ me, but _you_ laugh _with_ me," he said, with +quick understanding. + +"And I'll _work_ with you, Gyp," was the pleasant answer, and the boy +at once opened his book. + +When Gyp took his cap and started for home, after two hours spent at +the cottage, he had a better understanding of figures, and their use, +and the actual worth of arithmetic, than he had obtained, thus far, +in his daily attendance at school. + +"Why, Gyp," Aunt Judith had said, in reply to his statement that he +"didn't see any use for arithmetic," "you mustn't grow to manhood with +no knowledge of arithmetic, or knowledge of figures, or how to reckon. +When you go to work you will need this knowledge. There are few things +that you can do that will not be easier, or better done, and perhaps +be better paid for if you are 'quick at figures.' You must not always +live like a gypsy. You must learn all you can while you are at school, +and then you must work, and earn, and try to be a good, and useful +man. You _can_, I know, if you _try_." + +Gyp thought of Aunt Judith's words as he lay on his rude bed that +night. + +"She said I needn't always live like a gypsy," he murmured. "She said +I could learn, and then some time I could earn." + +He lay a long time, wide awake, repeating Aunt Judith's words of cheer, +and each time that he whispered them, he grew braver, and more +determined. + +"They've always said, 'Oh, he's only a gypsy,' but I'll learn, and +I'll earn, and I'll do something. I don't know what, but I'll do +something, see 'f I don't!" + +There was no one to dispute his statement, and he dropped to sleep, +and dreamed of doing great deeds. + +Ever since he could remember, he had heard the boys of Avondale speak +as if he were a gypsy, and as if that fact explained every bit of +mischief that he did. He had always felt that, being a gypsy, there +was no chance for him in any walk of life, and that, therefore, there +was simply no use to try. + +Now a new light had dawned, and with it came hope, cheer, determination, +to succeed. + +"I'll do it," he murmured in his sleep. + + * * * * * * * * + +Soon it was whispered that Gyp was working hard at school for promotion, +and when he took his place in a class higher, he held his head high, +and bravely worked at his lessons. Aunt Judith stood by him, and +Wednesday and Saturday evenings, rain or shine, he spent at her little +home, working with all his might to improve. + +In the middle of the term, because of extra work that he had done under +her instruction, he was again promoted. + +He was steadily "catching up" with the boys of his own age. Those boys +had now ceased to laugh at Gyp. He was winning their respect. + +Sprite Seaford was another pupil who was working faithfully. She knew +that her dear father and mother had made a great sacrifice when they +had decided to live through the Fall, the Winter and, the Spring in +the old house on the shore, without the little daughter, whose face +was like sunshine, whose voice was music in the home. + +There were times when Sprite was homesick, but those were the rare +occasions when she chanced to be alone. Just now she was very happy. +The weather was mild. All snow had vanished beneath the warm rays of +the sun, and she ran out to know if it were really as warm as it looked. +The tall evergreen trees and hedges shone dark against the sky, and +Sprite stood looking at them. She had taken part in a little play on +the week before, and some of the lines now flitted through her mind, +and she lifted her pretty arms in graceful gesture. With the dark trees +and low shrubbery behind her, she recited the lines with appropriate +gesture, and telling effect. + +Six small girls had taken part in the little play, and each had been +chosen by Miss Kenyon, because of her talent for speaking. Sprite, +with her long, golden hair, and her slender figure, had been cast for +the fairy queen, whose delight it was to grant the wishes of all good +children. + +Now she stepped out into an open space, the beautiful garden making +a lovely background for her figure. Gracefully she stood as she recited +a verse that had been a part of the fairy play. + + "If you're striving to excel, + And your very best you do, + You shall be rewarded well; + I will make your wish come true." + +A dark figure crouched behind a clump of underbrush that the gardener +had thought too pretty to cut down. + +Through snow and ice the red leaves had clung to the little scrub oak, +and now that a mild day had come, the leaves looked very bright as the +sun lay on them. + +The figure hiding there was Gyp, and his eyes grew brighter as he heard +the little verse. + +He stirred uneasily. + +Sprite, believing herself to be alone, repeated the verse with even +greater spirit than before, and as she spoke the last line, Gyp sprang +to his feet. + +"I will make your wish come true," said Sprite, whereat Gyp sprang +from his hiding-place, crying: + +"Oh, _will_ yer? _Will_ yer? _Are_ ye a fairy? _Kin_ yer grant my +wish?" + +All the superstition of his race showed in his eager face. + +Sprite seemed neither afraid nor startled, nor was she annoyed at the +interruption. For, a second she looked in gentle surprise at the boy's +dark, eager face. + +Then a look of pity made her eyes very soft. + +"Oh, Gyp!" she cried, "what is the wish you want granted? I'm not a +fairy, so of course I can't grant it, but,--Oh, Gyp! I'm awfully sorry. +Tell me what the wish is! Sometimes it helps to tell." + +Pityingly, and more like a little woman than like the child that she +was, she spoke to comfort him. + +For a moment he felt abashed that he had so plainly shown the longing +in his heart, then as she asked again, he cried: + +"I want to be _someone_. I want a chance to be _something_ besides +Gyp, the gypsy boy." + +"Oh, then that's almost granted _now_!" she cried in quick relief, +"because I heard the teacher say, the other day: + +"'That boy will get there! That boy will be someone worth while, and +I mean to help him.'" + +"Did she say _that_?" cried Gyp, his eyes showing how little he dreamed +that the work that he was doing was being noticed. + +"She truly did," said Sprite, "so while I couldn't grant your wish, +I _could_ tell you that it would come true, and I'm glad of that." + +"So'm I," agreed Gyp, "but don't yer tell any of the others that I +thought yer was a fairy, will yer?" + +She promised faithfully, and when he had thanked her for what she had +told him, and for the promise that she had just made, he turned and, +as usual, ran off to the woods. + +Sprite stood watching him as he ran, like the wind across the fields, +and even as she looked he turned, paused a moment, and waved his hand +to the little waiting figure. + +Quickly she lifted hers, and returned his salute. + +He stood just a second, waved his hand again, and then plunged into +the thicket. + + * * * * * * * * + +When he entered the old shack that he called "home," he found his +mother stirring a steaming mass that nearly filled the huge iron kettle +that stood on the rusty stove. + +His small brothers and sisters formed a half circle around her, watching +every movement that helped to prepare the dinner. They were all much +younger than Gyp, and only one, a girl, was yet of school age. + +"They'll be comin' after yer ter make me let ye go ter school same's +Gyp," the woman was saying, as the boy opened the door, "but I need +ye ter home this Winter ter help me, sure's my name is Gifford." + +"_Is_ yer name Gifford?" Gyp asked in surprise. + +"Of course 'tis, Gyp. Why d'ye ask? Ain't ye never heard that before?" +she asked, sharply. + +"Never heard us folks called anything but gypsies," he replied. + +"Well, how could ye? Don't no one never come here," his mother said, +with fearful disregard of grammar. + +"Then why isn't _my_ name Gifford, too?" he persisted. + +"Wal, _'tis_. Ye was named John, John Gifford, but ye couldn't seem +ter say that in yer baby days, so ye left off the 'John,' and called, +'Gifford,' 'Gyp,' an' 'Gyp' it has been ever since. Don't they call +ye that at school? I told the ol' feller what come ter say ye must +'tend school that that was yer name." + +Gyp did not reply. + +He thought best to be silent, and picking up one of his books, he +studied until dinner was ready. + +No time was wasted in serving. A very small low table was dragged to +the center of the floor, the kettle was placed upon it, and then, a +hungry circle, they swarmed around it. + +The soup was very hot, but each was provided with a long slice of +bread, and these they dipped into the soup, blowing it for a moment, +and then eating it ravenously. + +Gyp ate, as the others did. What else could he do? He had caught +glimpses, now and then, of a better way of living, and in his heart +he thought; + +"I will not always live like a gypsy." + +His teacher had called him "Gyp" as others did. + +The next day, he appeared very early at school, and astonished her by +asking shyly if she would call him, by his name, "John." + +"Certainly, if you wish it," she said. + +"I thought you liked to be called Gyp, and would feel more at home if +I called you that." + +"That's _just_ it!" he cried, in quick anger, "I _would_ 'feel at home' +with that old name, but I don't want to '_feel at home_.' I'll not +_always_ live like a gypsy, and I want a decent name, like other boys!" + +"That's _right_, Gyp, no _John_!" she said, and both smiled to see how +difficult it was to remember the new name. + +"You can be so good and useful that every man, woman and child in +Avondale will be forced to respect the name of John Gifford. I will +speak of this to the pupils, and now that they all see how hard you +are trying to gain knowledge, I think they will be willing to call you +by the name that is really yours. Remember this, however. Don't be +offended if sometimes we forget, and call you 'Gyp.' It may mean only +that we remember the boy who, while still thus addressed, made +persistent effort to improve." + + * * * * * * * * + +There was great excitement one Wednesday morning when dainty invitations +were received by all the boys and girls who usually played together, +requesting the pleasure of their company two weeks from that night, +at the home of John Atherton. + +"Festivities to commence at eight," was inscribed in gold letters at +the bottom of the page. + +"Oh, Rose, I ought not to ask," said Princess Polly, "and I won't ask +_what_ the festivities are to be, but I'll ask you if you know?' + +"Not the least thing," Rose replied, "and when I asked Uncle John, he +only laughed, and said that was his little secret, so we'll have to +wait 'til the night of the party to know what he has planned. The only +thing that he has told me is that on the night of the party, Sprite +is to remain at our house and that will be the first night of her visit +with us." + +"I know that," Princess Polly said, "because he told papa that the +time for Sprite to be with him was close at hand, and papa said that +he knew that we had had our share of her visit, but she has been so +sweet, so dear, that we'd never be ready to let her go." + +"That's just the reason we want her, for truly, Princess Polly, next +to you, Sprite is the sweetest girl I know. There's no girl quite so +dear as you, Polly, but surely Sprite comes the very next," Rose said. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A JOLLY TIME + + +Gwen Harcourt felt that in leaving school at Avondale, and entering +a small private school in the next town she was really doing something +quite fine. + +To be sure, the little school was not much of a school. Rather it +should have been called a private _class_, and the little pupils met +at the home of a young woman who was far from well equipped for the +task of directing their studies, or training their minds. + +She had acquired a fair education, but so little governing power had +she that the pupils did about as they chose, and that Gwen considered +the most charming fact regarding the class. + +She thought it very smart to go over to the station, walk up and down +the platform waiting for the train, and then, seated in the car, offer +her ticket to the conductor when he came down the aisle. + +"The Avondale girls and boys just walk to school, but I have to take +a train!" she said to herself one morning, as she hurried toward the +station. + +One might have thought it a _convenience_ to live at a distance from +the school. The next town was a mile from Avondale, and Gwen thought +it very daring to take the trip alone. + +"It makes me sick to listen when Gwen Harcourt is talking about going +to school," said Rob. "She thinks it a great thing to ride a mile! If +she had to ride twenty-five miles, she'd feel so big that Avondale +would not be big enough to hold her." + +Rob Lindsey had met Gwen near the station, and she had looked at him +as sharply as if she had not seen him for a year. + +"Do you _still_ go to school at Avondale?" she asked. + +"Why, yes," Rob said. "Did you think we commenced to stay at home when +_you_ left?" + +"Well, I wouldn't go back there for anything!" declared Gwen. "My mamma +calls me a very wonderful child, and when she told my new teacher that, +she said to mamma; 'I know she's an unusual child. I can see that at +a glance.'" + +"Perhaps she'd call _me_ wonderful if I engaged her to do so. I might +tell her to just look at me and say if she'd give me a prize." + +Lena laughed at Rob's disgust. + +"I wonder if she will think any parties that are given at Avondale are +too _near_ to be interesting?" she said. + +"I wouldn't risk inviting her if I didn't want her to accept," Rob +replied as he picked up his books and turned toward the door. + +"Oh, say, Lena!" he cried, "I just happened to think of Captain +Atherton's party. Do you suppose Gwen is invited?" + +"Why, Rob! What a question! Captain Atherton wouldn't slight any child +in this neighborhood. Of course Gwen will be invited," Lena said. + +"Then she'll be there," cried Rob. "She couldn't stay away." + +Lena was a little late in preparing for school, and as she ran down +the walk, she saw Leslie Grafton just ahead of her, hurrying down the +avenue. + +"Leslie!" she cried, and Leslie turned a laughing face toward her. + +"Come on!" she cried, "I can't wait. Catch up with me, Lena. I want +to ask you something." + +Lena was swift footed, and soon they were running along together. + +They were just in time to avoid being late, and as they entered, Leslie +whispered: + +"I'll ask the question at recess." + +It happened that at recess, everyone was ready to ask the same question. + +"Does anyone know what the 'festivities' are to be at Captain Atherton's +party?" + +That was the question that each asked the other, but while all asked +the question, no one could answer it, and Harry Grafton laughed as he +said; + +"We'll have to wait 'til the evening of the party, and we might as +well wait patiently." + +"Rose won't tell us," Lena said, reaching to give one of Rose's brown +curls just a little "tweak." + +"At first when you asked me, I said I didn't know," said Rose, "but +now I'll have to say that I know all of Uncle John's plans for the +party, but I won't tell." + +"And Sprite knows something about it, for see! She's laughing now," +said Rob. + +"Like Rose I know, but won't tell," Sprite said. + +"I won't tease then," said Princess Polly, "because they ought not to +tell, and I don't _really_ want them to. I'd like to know now, but I'd +rather have it a surprise when the evening comes." + +"Polly is right, as usual," said Rob Lindsey, to which Harry Grafton +replied in a teasing voice: + +"Does anyone believe that Rob would say that _anything_ that Polly +does is _anything_ but right?" + +"Quit teasing," cried Rob, "or I'll return the favor." + +Harry at once became silent, and the others laughed, for it was well +known that he admired Rose, and that he did not like to be teased. + +On the evening of the party the little guests arrived promptly. +"Festivities to commence at eight," the invitations had said, and there +was not a boy or girl who cared to miss any of the pleasures offered. + +Captain Atherton's new home was a blaze of light, and every room was +decorated with a wealth of greenery, and glowing blossoms. + +Mimic butterflies hovered among the flowers, and soft music sounded +through the halls. Silvery bells were vying with the triangle in +producing tinkling tones that chimed in sweet accord with the melody +that the strings were playing. + +At one end of the spacious parlor a tiny grove of palms and tall shrubs +looked as if transplanted from out of doors. + +Captain Atherton, tall and handsome, greeted his little friends gaily, +and when all had arrived, he led them toward the grove. + +"Wait here a moment," he said, "and see what happens. This is an +enchanted grove, and a sweet enchantress is in hiding here. + + "Come forth, oh lady fair, + Dear spirit of the air, + We long to see thy face, + Thy form of airy grace. + Some things we long to know + Thou well can'st tell, I trow." + +For a moment not a sound save the soft music was heard. Then,--a +rustling as of silken draperies, or like wind among the leaves, and +the branches parted, and Iris Vandmere, radiant, smiling, extended her +pretty hands in greeting. Clad in softest silk gauze in lilac, and +ivory white, she suggested the blossom for which she was named. Like +a fair iris bloom she appeared, diamonds on her neck and in her hair +representing dewdrops. + + "Dearest friends, I heard you call, + I have come to greet you all. + I am now your fairy queen, + And, beneath these branches green, + I will grant, to each of you + That your dearest wish come true." + +"Oh-o-o-o!" came like a sigh of delight from the excited children as +they gazed at the lovely figure. + +Each had a wish, and wisely she answered, for Iris was as quick witted +as she was beautiful. + +"I wish I could make everyone happy," said Princess Polly. + +"Be as loving and kind as I am told you now are, and your wish will +come true," said Queen Iris. + +"I'd like to do something _very_ nice for father and mother that would +be a sweet surprise," said Sprite. "I _wish_ I knew what to do." + +"Your wish is granted," said Iris. She wrote a few words on a slip of +pink paper. + +"Look at this to-morrow morning and you will know just what to do," +she said as she placed the tiny folded paper in Sprite's hand. + +In the same sweet manner Iris contrived to grant the wishes of all. + +Gwen held back. + +"Have you no wish?" Iris asked kindly, and Gwen hesitated, then she +said; + +"_Yes_. I want to be admired _all_ the time and _everywhere_." + +Iris looked searchingly at the pretty, but pert face. Then she said; + +"Be kind, be good, be sweet, be true, and all the world shall smile +on you." + +"Oh, I don't mean _that_ way!" said Gwen in disgust. + +"If you do as I tell you, you will be beautiful," said Iris. + +"Why, I'm beautiful _now_! My mamma says so!" cried Gwen. The children +stared in amazement at the child who could make such a silly speech. + +For a second no one spoke. To relieve the situation, Captain Atherton +spoke. + +"I think Queen Iris has granted your wishes most wisely. Now, let me +present to you the little Goddess of Plenty." + +He drew aside a brocade hanging and disclosed a huge half blown rose. + +Its large petals commenced to open, and from its center sprang Rose +Atherton, a "horn of plenty" in her hands, filled with bonbons. Laughing +gaily, she lifted her hands filled with bonbons and tossed them into +the center of the room. + +Many of them were caught, so that few fell to the floor. Wrapped in +tinsel, they shone like stars as they caught the light, and the boys +and girls vied with each other, laughing as they tried to see which +would be lucky, and secure the largest number. + +When the gilded horn was empty, Rose ran to where a giant scallop shell +was standing. It was formed of papier-mache, and decorated to look +like the texture of a shell. + +"Guess what's in this!" she said, looking over her shoulder to laugh +at them. + +"Oh, is it Sprite?" Princess Polly asked eagerly. "You were in the big +rose. Is Sprite in the beautiful shell?" + +Rose lightly touched the top edge of the shell. + +It opened wide, and there, sure enough sat Sprite all clad in soft +flesh pink gauze and coral, coral everywhere. + +Strings of coral beads held her golden hair in place, hung from her +neck and arms, encircled her slender waist. + +She extended her arms, and then as the musicians played a little +prelude, she commenced to sing. + + "I've lovely gifts for my dearest friends + I've something for each of you, + I've coral beads for the girls so fair, + I've scarfpins, dear boys, for you. + And always we will remember this, + That a gift has a value true, + But better far, than the finest gift + Is the love that we give to you." + +"Oh, Sprite, dear Sprite!" they cried, as they thronged around her to +accept the beautiful coral. The girls gaily clasped the necklaces, and +quite as eagerly, the boys accepted the pretty scarf pins. + +"Now, we'll have some magic!" Captain Atherton said, "and let us all +be seated here at this end of the parlor." + +Quickly they turned to do as he said, and to their surprise, they found +that while Iris, and Rose, and Sprite had been entertaining them, the +housekeeper had arranged the seats in rows, as if at a private theatre. + +They were soon seated, the musicians began to play some merry music, +and then two slender nimble fellows, all silk tights, and spangles, +ran in and began to balance great gilded balls on the tips of tiny +wands. + +Then they spun plates on those same slender wands, they brought a huge +globe, and walked upon it, rolling it, by treading it, quite across +that end of the room. They did clever tricks that made the children +laugh, and at last, they rolled themselves up like balls, and rolled +right out of the room! + +The children cheered, and generously applauded, whereupon the two +performers came back and repeated the last part of their act. + +The housekeeper now appeared, gowned in black silk, with a fine white +muslin cap, and apron. + +"Will all these little friends, led by Captain Atherton, and Miss +Vandmere, march out to the dining-room for refreshments?" she asked, +and the eager little friends waited for no urging. A spread had been +prepared especially suitable for a cold, wintry night, and how they +did enjoy it! + +Hot chicken boullion, wee, hot chicken pies in the dearest little round +nappies, ice cream in lovely shapes, and hot chocolate with whipped +cream. Oh, but nothing could have been chosen that would have been so +delicious for a treat to be enjoyed on a frosty evening! + +"Let us crack this huge nut," said Captain Atherton, and suiting the +action to the word, he hit the big nut that lay upon a salver in the +center of the table. + +With a "crack" like a toy pistol it opened, proving itself to be filled +with nuts of the usual size. + +Then what fun they had trying to open their nuts! Some were chocolate +nuts, with nut meats inside, while others were real nut shells filled +with bonbons. + +After the good things had been enjoyed, they hastened back to the large +drawing-room, where they danced to the merry music. + +It was an evening of fun and frolic, and when, in the midst of their +fun, they noticed that bright, handsome Uncle John Atherton was dancing +with Miss Iris Vandmere, they slyly formed a laughing ring around them +and danced, and sang to their hearts' content. + +It had been a bright, merry evening, and when the boys and girls told +Captain Atherton how he had delighted them, he said, heartily: + +"I have been very happy this evening, and if it is possible that you +have been even _half_ as happy as I have been, I shall feel well repaid +for having given this party." + + * * * * * * * * * + +Lessons were rather neglected next morning, for who could enjoy such +an evening of rare delight, and so soon forget to think of its many +pleasures? More than once the teacher had to speak rather sharply +because she realized that their minds were upon something that had +nothing to do with their lessons. + +Many were the notes that were written, and exchanged, and when, at +last, school was out, they walked along the avenue, their arms about +each other's waists, and all the way they talked about the party of +the night before. + +"Oh, Sprite! You did your part well!" said Harry Grafton. + +"And you looked just like a sea fairy!" said Lena Lindsey. + +"I mean always to keep my lovely necklace," said Princess Polly, "and +let's every one of us keep the pretty coral gifts to help us to remember +the fine party that we so enjoyed." + +"We'd never forget it," said Leslie, "but we'll all want to keep the +dainty corals." + +"And wasn't Miss Vandmere beautiful when she came to grant our wishes?" +Rose asked. "Already I love her." + +"_Already_?" Rob said, and his voice bespoke a question. + +"Why, yes," Rose said, "already." + +"That sounds odd, and queer," objected Gwen. "Why don't you tell us +just what you mean?" but Rose chose not to reply. + +She only laughed and shook her head. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A HOLIDAY PARTY + + +Sprite could not wait to dress on the morning after the party. Softly +she crept across the floor to the chair over which she had hung her +frock. + +From the folds of its girdle she drew the tinted paper, and opening +it she read: "Captain Atherton is to offer a prize to the boy or girl +who has highest rank at Christmas time. Try for it, and I believe that +you will obtain it. Will not that delight your dear father and mother?" + +"I _will_ try!" she whispered, "and oh, if it is possible, I'll get +it, just to repay them for letting me have this lovely Winter. I wonder +if it is to be a medal!" + +It was her first morning at the home of John Atherton, and as she +looked around the pretty chamber, she knew that she could be very happy +there. + +She had enjoyed her stay at Sherwood Hall. + +Now commenced another visit with dear Rose Atherton as her companion, +and Sprite wondered why such great good fortune had been given her. + +Once she had been a dear little lass by the sea, with two loving +parents, but no playmates. Now, she had Princess Polly, and Rose, +beside ever so many little schoolmates, and she was being cared for +by Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood, and Captain Atherton, who had asked her to +call him, "Uncle John." + +"I'm having so much pleasure," she whispered, "that I want to send +some down to the 'Mermaid's Cave.' I'll begin _to-day_ to work for the +prize!" + +She seemed unusually quiet at breakfast, and Uncle John wondered if +she were tired from the excitement of the night before, or if she were +a bit homesick. + +Gently he questioned her, and she laughed so gaily that at once his +fears were allayed. + +"I'm not tired, and not a bit homesick," she said, "but I've been +thinking that I mustn't waste one single minute before Christmas. I +mean to win that prize, and to do that I'll have to work very hard." + +"Why, Sprite!" cried Rose, "you've been working hard ever since school +opened." + +"I have," she said quietly, "but I'll have to work harder still, and +I'm willing to, if I have to work day and evening." + +"Oh, Uncle John!" cried Rose, "she won't have to do that. Her lessons +are _almost_ perfect now. A little more study, and she will easily be +at the head of the class." + +It was announced that day at school that Captain John Atherton had +offered a prize for the best average, and Sprite gasped when the teacher +said; + +"The prize is well worth working for. It is a large prize for any boy +or girl to win. It is fifty dollars in gold! Now work for it! You will +all gain by trying, for while but one can win the prize, every scholar +who works for it, has higher scholarship, and has acquired more +knowledge than if he had not entered the competition." + +The pupils were greatly interested, and it was evident that many +intended to strive for the prize. Harry Grafton, on the way home from +school, turned quickly to look at Rob as he asked; + +"What's Gwen Harcourt doing these days?" + +"I've no idea," Rob answered in a careless manner, and if he had spoken +his thoughts, he would have said that he did not greatly care. + +"Well, she's not going to school, and what is queerer than that, she +isn't coming over here to tell us all about it," Harry said. + +There were other matters of greater interest to be talked of, and the +two boys soon forgot Gwen. + +Gwen Harcourt never allowed herself to be long forgotten, and one +bright afternoon, she decided to run off by herself and have a little +fun of the kind that she liked best. + +She stopped first at Aunt Judith's cottage. + +She could not have told why she chose first to call there. Aunt Judith +and the little maid had gone down to the parsonage for a call, and +Gwen knocked until she was tired, then paused on the step, trying to +decide where next she would call. + +"Stupid that everyone is in school, and won't be out for an hour!" she +said. + +Then her eyes brightened. + +"I know where I'll go!" she cried. + +She turned from the avenue into a pretty street, and ran along until +she reached a house that set a little farther back than the others. + +"There's a lady who lives here who looks pleasant, and I've always +meant to see the inside of her house," thought Gwen. "I can stay a +little while there, and be just in time to meet the other girls when +they come out of school." + +She rang the bell. + +No one came to the door. After waiting a few moments she rang again. + +Again she waited, listening for approaching footsteps. Then she stooped, +and tried to peep through the keyhole. She turned, a crafty light in +her eyes, and she nodded until her curls danced as she softly said; + +"What if the door isn't locked? And what if I should walk right in, +and sit down? What would happen?" + +She looked elfish as she asked the questions, a smile parting her lips. + +Carefully she turned the knob and then, a gentle push opened the door, +and on tiptoe, she entered, making her way along the hall to a room +where the sunlight streamed across the floor. + +The hall had been dark, and coming suddenly upon the broad band of +sunlight, Gwen was almost blinded, and for a few seconds, she did not +see other objects in the room. A chair stood near the door, and she +climbed upon it, squirming around, and sitting down as if it were +exactly what she had come intending to do. + +She wondered why the house was so still. + +She also wondered where the pleasant faced lady was. She felt strangely +nervous, and a bit afraid. + +She could not have told why she felt afraid to move, and so sat +absolutely still. Her eyes roved from one object to another, first +looking at the pictures on the wall, then the ornaments upon the mantel, +then the lamp upon the table just before her, then,-- + +Between the lamp, and a tall vase that stood near it, a pair of eyes +were looking sharply at her. + +Gwen clutched the arms of her chair, caught her breath in terror, and +then screamed. + +"Strange that I can't read without being interrupted by a child who +knows no better than to poke her impudent little nose in here, +uninvited!" + +The voice low and angry made her tremble with fear, and she slid from +the chair, raced out through the hall, ran down the street, never once +looked behind her. + +"I won't _ever_ go _anywhere_ again, unless somebody asks me to," she +said to herself. Who that ever had known Gwen would believe that she +could refrain from doing just the same thing, the first time that her +curiosity prompted her? She had been frightened, and, for the moment, +would have promised anything. + +The man, a studious, quiet man, with an unpleasant disposition, had +been annoyed when Gwen had interrupted his reading. + +Knowing little of children, he had not dreamed that he would frighten +her, and when she ran out, he simply turned another page, and continued +reading. + +He had wished her to fully realize that she was an intruder, and when +she turned and ran, he felt that she understood. + +The first person that she met was the private teacher who, for the +past few weeks had been endeavoring to have at least a few hours each +day devoted study. + +Gwen had refused to look at a lesson book in the forenoon, and when +afternoon had arrived, she had left the house to escape instruction. + +"Miss Gwen, I've been looking everywhere for you, and your mamma is +really quite nervous, because you've been gone so long. Where have you +been?" the young woman asked. + +"I don't _have_ to tell you," Gwen replied rudely, "but I will because +I want to. I made some calls, and the last one was funny, and queer +too. I was frightened _some_, and I ran out of the house where a cross +man just shouted at me!" + +"Was he a neighbor?" the teacher asked, looking curiously at Gwen. + +"Of course not," cried Gwen. "What fun would it be to call on neighbors? +I'd rather go to houses where I _don't know_ the people, just for the +sake of seeing what they look like, and how their houses look." + +The young teacher was not surprised. That very morning, soon after +breakfast, upon returning to her room, she had found Gwen on her knees +searching her trunk. Gwen had neither blushed, nor looked abashed. + +"I wanted to know how many dresses you brought with you," she had said +coolly, "and I don't see but one in the closet, two in this trunk, and +one you have on. Is that all you have?" + +Mrs. Harcourt passing the door, looked in to smile at Gwen. + +"You mustn't mind if my little daughter examines your belongings in +your trunks or bureau drawers. She's only deeply interested in you," +she said. + +The young governess felt like saying that she did not enjoy the sort +of interest that made a child feel free to handle and examine the +property of others, but she said nothing. + +She knew that Mrs. Harcourt considered Gwen faultless. + + * * * * * * * * + +Weeks had passed since the little pupils had commenced to strive to +win the prize. Now there was great excitement. At the end of the +afternoon session the name of the winner was to be announced, and in +the evening the Holiday party at Sherwood Hall was to be enjoyed. + +Of all the boys and girls at school, Sprite Seaford was surely the +most restless. + +At one time her cheeks would be hot, and soon after the color would +leave them. + +She had worked very, _very_ hard to win the prize. + +Oh, whose was it to be? + +She clasped, and unclasped her nervous hands. + +And when at last the teacher went to the board just back of her desk +and wrote: + +"Sprite Seaford, Prize winner," Sprite leaned back in her seat, pale, +and almost breathless. For a moment not a sound broke the silence. + +Sprite stared at the written words as if half stunned with surprise. + +"Three cheers for Sprite Seaford!" shouted Rob Lindsey, forgetting +that he was in school, and the teacher laughed outright. + +"Give them, every one of you," she cried, and they gave them with a +will. + + * * * * * * * * + +Evening had come, starlight, moonlight in the great garden at Sherwood +Hall, and a blaze of light indoors, where little feet kept time to +sweet music, and sweeter voices laughed and talked in merry mood. + +Princess Polly in white with silver spangles, a silver bandeau holding +her powdered curls in place, looked like a little lady of the time of +Watteau. + +Faces and forms were different in character, but the costumes were +similar, because Mrs. Sherwood had asked both boys and girls to come +clad in white, with powdered hair. + +It was a Holiday party, and the white costumes suggested the snowy +season. + +The walls were hung with holly and mistletoe, and the wreaths and +garlands were tied with scarlet ribbons, while portieres and hangings +were of scarlet brocade. + +Rosy cheeks and red lips looked well with the powdered hair, and bright +eyes twinkled beneath snowy bangs. + +A slender figure dressed in the gaudy colors of a court jester, skipped +here and there between the dancers making comical jokes, while he +tossed, and nimbly caught a bright colored ball. + +Still they danced to merry measures, and from behind a damask curtain +came a slender girl in hues as bright as that of the jester. + +A basket of beautiful flowers hung from her arm, and these she offered +to the little guests. + +The boys placed them in their buttonholes, and the girls tucked the +roses and lilies in their girdles. + +Hark! A flourish of silvery trumpets announced the arrival of some +great personage! + +Another long, sweet note, and there strode into the room a tall figure +in crimson velvet and white fur, with snowy beard, and kindly face, +across whose breast gold letters bespoke his name: + +"King Christmas." + +A great pack was on his back, which when opened, gave forth beautiful +gifts for all. + +There were bangles for the girls, there were rings, or silver pencils +for the boys, and a kindly word he spoke to each as he presented the +gift. + +"Now here's a little purse of fifty gold dollars for the little lass +who won it by faithful study, and the giver permits me to present it. +Come, little lass, and take it, for now it belongs to you." + +Sprite ran to him, as he stood waiting. + +"Oh, I know you, King Christmas! You are good, kind Uncle John! I know +your pleasant voice that I've learned to love so well!" she said. + +"Even as I love you, dear child," he cried, placing a strong arm around +her slender little form, while with the other hand he tore off the +beard that so disguised him. + +"I am King Christmas," he said, laughing gaily as he pointed proudly +to the golden letters on his breast. + +"Also Baron Goodfellow!" said Mr. Sherwood. "That name fits you just +as well." + +"Prince Give Give wouldn't be half bad," said Rob Lindsey, "for he's +wild to give _somebody something_, all the time." + +"Everyone in this house to-night is dear," said Sprite. + +"Including you, Sprite Seaford," said Rose, and little Sprite felt +that she had never been so happy. + +There were merry games, and then refreshments, and then more games in +which the elders joined, and when "good nights" were said, the guests +turned homeward with happy hearts. + +The moonlight shimmered on the snow, and glittered on the pendant +icicles, and the keen, frosty air proved it to be true Holiday weather. + +Jingling sleigh bells, tooting auto horns, voices talking, and laughing +at the same time told of a gay evening that all had enjoyed. + +They would dream of the party that night, and talk of it on the morrow. + +There was one thing that no one thought of until some time after the +party, and it was Leslie who spoke of it, to Rose and Princess Polly. + +"Only think!" she said, "Mrs. Harcourt has had three different teachers +for Gwen this Winter, because Gwen has acted so that the first and +second left, and Gwen said yesterday that the one they have now is to +leave next Monday." + +"Why _does_ she act so horrid?" said Rose. + +"I'll tell you one nice thing about Gwen," said Princess Polly, "and +that is that she didn't do one single thing at my party that wasn't +nice." + +"Why, truly she didn't!" cried Rose and Sprite together. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +UNCLE JOHN MAKES A PROMISE + + +Rain or shine, every Wednesday and Saturday evening found Gyp at the +table in the sitting-room at Aunt Judith's cottage, bending over his +books. + +Aunt Judith, busy with a bit of needlework, looked often at the boy +as he bent eagerly over his book, and marvelled that this was the same +boy who less than a year ago was a trial to every owner of a garden +or orchard. + +A puzzled frown puckered his forehead one evening as he worked. + +"What is it?" she asked. "Can I help you?" + +"Maybe I'll _have_ to let you, but I _think_ I can do it. I'd like to +work it out if I can, and I'll try _hard_ before I give up." + +For a time he worked in silence, covering his slate with figures. + +The clock ticked loudly on the mantel, and seemed to be trying to outdo +Gyp's busy pencil. + +"Scratch! Scratch!" went the pencil, and "Tick! Tick!" chirped the +little clock, and then the boy looked up, his eyes bright with +excitement. + +"I've done it, Mrs. Aunt Judith!" he cried, "I've done it, and it's +right! You said it was better for me to do everything that I _could_ +do, by studying and working, instead of being helped." + +"It is better, because you will fully understand what you have done, +and you will be more likely to remember it. + +"But tell me," she said, laying her hand on his shoulder, "why do you +call me _Mrs._ Aunt Judith?" + +He looked frankly up into her face as he answered. + +"You aren't my Aunt Judith, tho' I wish you were, so I think I ought +to call you something beside the name, so I say _Mrs._ with it." + +"Dear boy, you meant to be respectful," she said, "but you are such +a good, hard working boy now that you shall call me 'Aunt Judith' just +as the other children do." + +He hesitated, and she understood. + +"They shall not wonder why you do. I'll tell them that I asked you +to," she said. + +Without a word he picked up his books, took his old cap, and crossed +the room. + +Wondering that he did not speak she followed him. + +At the door he turned, and looking up at her with eyes in which tears +glistened he said: + +"I'm going to work with all my might, and I mean to be a decent man, +and _then_ I'll do something for you,--Aunt Judith." + +"Gyp, come back and let me thank you!" she cried when, after her +surprise, she caught her breath, but a fit of his old shyness had come +over him, and having said what was in his heart, he had at once raced +off across the fields, and soon was out of sight or hearing in the +dark woods. + +Aunt Judith told Captain Atherton all about Gyp's ambition, of his +hard work at school, and the evenings spent at the cottage. + +"He is determined to get on, and he says that he will not always live +like a gypsy. + +"He declares that he will be a decent man," she said, "but will not +people be so prejudiced that they will not care to employ him?" she +asked. + +"_No_!" cried the captain, "for I will set aside any notions that they +may have by employing him _myself_. + +"_I_ will trust him, and this very week I'll tell him so!" + +It happened that he met the boy on his way from school. + +"How go the lessons, boy?" he asked kindly. + +For some reason Gyp was not afraid. + +"This is Friday, and I've had every lesson perfect this week. I'm going +over to tell Aunt Judith. _She'll_ be glad!" + +"Don't you tell the folks at home?" queried Captain Atherton. + +"They don't care much," Gyp said with downcast eyes. Then, as if to +excuse their lack of interest, he said: + +"I guess they don't understand why I'm _bound_ to study." + +"_I_ understand, my boy, just why you are working so hard, and I'm +proud of you! Come, and tell _me_ about the weeks like this, when +things go smoothly, and come just as quickly if things, instead, go +roughly. Let me help you over the hard places, Gyp, for when you are +out of school _I'll_ employ you. Now, work hard at school, knowing +that when you have completed the course you're to be employed by _me_." + +"Oh, sir, I'll work for you with all my strength," cried the grateful +boy. "You _believe_ in me, you _trust_ me, and I'll be _true_!" + +"I know you will, Gyp," said Captain Atherton, almost as greatly moved +as Gyp himself. + +When he reached the cottage, he was almost breathless, so swiftly had +he run. + +He dropped upon a chair near the door, and told first of the week's +work at school, and then of the promise that Captain Atherton had made. + +Neither Aunt Judith nor the genial captain knew how close was the tie +that bound Gyp to be faithful to them. They had befriended him, and +for that he was grateful. They believed in him, and that gave him +courage to make persistent effort, but deep in his heart lay the memory +of the first kind, caressing words that had ever been said to him. + +"She sometimes says 'Dear boy' to me, and _he_ said, 'My boy,'" he +would often whisper to himself. + +Gyp was now very happy. He was doing good work at school, he had won +the respect of teacher and pupils. + +Now Aunt Judith was interested in him, Captain Atherton believed in +him, and oh, pleasant promise, the kindly captain would prove his faith +by employing him! + +"Folks in Avondale will have to think I'm something more decent than +a gypsy!" he said. + + * * * * * * * * + +The days were growing longer, the warm sun had chased away the last +bit of ice, and now the fields were green, and the trees and shrubs +were showing fine foliage. + +In the gardens the early blossoms made soft color that told how soon +the summer would appear. + +Princess Polly sat waiting for Rose, and Sprite. + +The soft breeze stirred the leaves, making them rustle as if they were +whispering to each other the great news that summer would soon reach +Avondale. + +Polly turned to look toward the avenue. They were not in sight. + +"I might walk over to call for them," she thought. + +Then she remembered that she had promised to wait at a spot where they +had often met, and from which they were now to set out for a walk. + +"Why don't they come?" she said aloud. + +A long time she sat waiting for her playmates to appear. At last a +shout made her turn. + +"Did you think we were never coming?" cried Rose. + +"Oh, she must have thought just that," said Sprite, "so tell her what +it was that kept us." + +"Polly has been waiting so long, we'll start for our walk, and I'll +tell the news as we go along," said Rose. + +"Then let's hurry," said Polly, "because I'm wild to know what it was." + +The three little friends tramped along the path that was always their +favorite for a walk, and when they had reached a spot where a brook +was spanned by a tiny bridge, they sat down to rest. It was then that +Rose turned toward Polly. + +"I'm not going to ask you to guess who was at our house, or why I could +not meet you at two, as I promised, because you never could guess that, +so I'll tell you. It was,--Great Aunt Rose!" + +"Oh, Rose, why _did_ she come?" Polly gasped. "_Not_ to take you back +with her!" + +"That's just what I said, when I heard that she was in the parlor," +said Sprite. + +"Well, when I saw her carriage coming up the avenue," Rose said, "the +shivers went up and down my back, but Uncle John, when he got up to +go in to see her, stooped and whispered in my ear: 'Don't be frightened, +little girl, for remember that you now belong to me, and I shall not +easily give you up. Now, come in with me, dear. You know I can not +refuse to let her see you.' + +"So he took my hand, and we went in together. + +"Great Aunt Rose sat stiff and prim in the center of the sofa. + +"'How do you do, Aunt Rose?' I said, but she kept looking at me without +speaking. + +"'Doesn't Rose look as if the air at Avondale had done her a world of +good?' Uncle John asked. + +"'Really, John, I'm not sure,' Aunt Rose said, looking at me through +her glasses, just as if I were a queer bug, or butterfly such as she'd +never seen before. Uncle John looked vexed. + +"'You certainly see that her cheeks are rosy, and she is rounder than +when she first came to me,' he said. + +"That's what I was thinking of,' she said, 'and when she was at our +home, she was more delicate in her appearance. More slender, and pale, +as an Atherton should be. + +"'No "Rose Atherton" ever was what country people call "buxom"! I'm +_not_ countrified!' I said, half expecting to be scolded, but Uncle +John put his arm around me, and drew me closer as he said: + +"'Indeed you are not, unless fresh color, and dimples, mean countrified, +when I should think the term a compliment.' Then he turned to Great +Aunt Rose. + +"'I have endeavored, ever since I have had little Rose under my care, +to keep her much in the open air, and she has gained strength from +sunshine and breeze,' he said. + +"'I knew it! I knew it!' she said, springing from the sofa, and looking +dreadfully excited, 'and that is the reason for my call. You'll have +her tanned with the sun, and her complexion ruined by the wind, and +she'll look like anything but an Atherton by the time she's a young +lady! + +"'You must let her return to the old Atherton house with me, and in +its quiet, refining influence she will regain the delicate appearance +that was so charming. + +"'Rose, will you come with me?' + +"She put out her hand as if she meant to take me, whether I wanted to +go with her or not, and for the moment I forgot that Uncle John was +big enough, and brave enough, to keep me with him. + +"I screamed, and ran from the room, and oh, I know it was rude, and +I'm afraid unkind, but I didn't stop to think, and just kept on running +until I found Sprite waiting for me at the gate." + +"And she clasped my hand," said Sprite, continuing the story, "and she +never told me a word of all this, but, instead, she said: 'Come quick! +Oh, come quick!' and together we raced along until we met you, Polly. + +"Wasn't it funny? Rose knew why we were running, but I didn't. I ran +because she told me to, and I had to, to keep up with her!" + +Princess Polly looked thoughtful. "You don't really believe she could +make you live with her again, do you?" she asked. + +"Oh, Rose, you haven't but just begun to live at Avondale!" + +"Uncle John said she'd not easily get me away from him," Rose said, +"and it may be that I needn't have been so frightened, but I feel +better out here, and I'll stay out until I know that she must have +gone home. Come! We won't let it spoil our fun. We'll have a fine long +walk, and when I get back, Great Aunt Rose will have surely gone." + +One part of the road over which they walked was bordered on either +side by white birches. Yet a bit farther willows took the place of +birches, and there they left the road to cross the meadows, coming out +into the bright sunlight. + +The three little playmates had walked rapidly, and now began to slacken +their pace, and when they reached a clump of trees, they sat down to +enjoy the cool shade, and to talk for a while. + +"You'll be happier, Rose, if we talk of something else," said Polly, +"so I'll tell you that Sir Mortimer is strutting around our garden +this morning with a new collar that I bought for him, and the big pink +satin bow upon it is very becoming." + +"And _I'll_ tell a bit of news. I sent my prize right straight to the +'Mermaid's Cave,'" said Sprite, "and pa put it in the Cliffmore bank +for me." + +"Why, Sprite Seaford!" cried Rose. "How did you dare to send fifty +dollars in gold?" + +"Because," said Sprite, "I didn't send it by mail. I gave it to one +of the very best men in this world, and that is Uncle John, to take +it to pa for me, and he did. He rode over to Cliffmore last Saturday. +That's a week ago, and don't you know it was a stormy day? Well, that's +why we didn't go with him." + +Sprite nodded her head wisely as she spoke, and the sunbeams danced +on her rippling hair. + +"And I'll tell you something I've thought of," she said. "It was Friday +after school that I asked him about sending it, and he said we'd all +take the trip to Cliffmore. And when Saturday came it was so stormy +we couldn't go. I didn't say a thing, but I must have looked +disappointed, for he said: 'Cheer up, little Sprite, for your prize +shall reach Cliffmore to-day. I'm going over there, and I'll take it +with me.' + +"_Now_ I believe he wouldn't have gone so far on such a day for himself. +I think he went for me." + +"It would be just like Uncle John to do that," Rose said. "He's always +doing something to make people happy." + +As if to prove that his little niece spoke truly, he now appeared on +the road in his big motor car, laughing when he espied the three +playmates, and gaily calling: + +"Has anyone seen a small girl straying around this part of Avondale? +Girl with brown curls, and rosy cheeks, answers to the name of Rose?" + +"You needn't laugh, Uncle John, for truly I was afraid Great Aunt Rose +would try to make you say that I must spend, at least, a part of my +time with her, and oh, I didn't want to." + +"Do I look as if anyone could _make_ me give up what I considered +mine?" + +"No, _no_!" they cried in chorus. + +"Then climb into my car, you three little tramps, and I'll take you +for a ride." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AUNT ROSE'S CALL + + +A week's vacation! + +All of the pupils were delighted, but Princess Polly was especially +happy, because with Rose, and Sprite, the week would be a week of +pleasure, no lessons, and all play. + +"What shall we do on Monday?" she asked, as they skipped along the +sidewalk. + +It was Monday morning, and she did not wish to have a moment wasted. + +"Come over to my house, and we'll sit in the big hammock and talk, and +perhaps something will happen that will just tell us what to do." + +The gay-colored hammock had been hung on the sunny side of the house, +and the three little friends sat swinging and talking, and soon they +had planned enough doings to occupy a month, instead of a week. + +They were talking of Lena, and Leslie, when Sprite asked: + +"When have you seen Gwen Harcourt?" + +"They haven't seen me for ever so long!" cried an answering voice, and +Gwen appeared around the corner, laughing saucily, because she had +been listening, and had heard Sprite's question. + +Of course she had some very large stories to tell regarding the private +school that she was attending, and her classmates there. + +"I wouldn't care to go to any other school," she said, "and I love to +take the train every morning. I'd stay at home some days if I was near +school and walked, but I like to ride on the trains so I never miss +a day. + +"Guess what I did just now," she said, laughing as if to imply that +what she had done was an absolutely clever joke. + +"What did you do?" Polly asked, not because she really cared, but +rather from curiosity as to what especially abominable thing it had +pleased Gwen to do. + +Gwen never waited to be urged. + +Seating herself on the piazza, railing, she swung her legs as she +recounted the morning's happenings, making the list as long as possible. + +"Just before I came over here I went into the room upstairs that mamma +calls the 'Picture Gallery,' and I looked around for a while just to +see which I liked the best. + +"It seemed to me that the one that was on the first line, was looking +right at me, and I _almost_ thought the pink feathers on her hat bobbed +just a little. + +"The longer I looked at her the more it seemed to me that she really +was looking at me, and _once_ I thought she smiled. I had a lovely new +knife that my cousin Jack had given me. I went close to the picture, +and more than ever it seemed as if she smiled at me, and I thought if +I had her out of the frame she'd be lovelier than any doll I own. + +"It didn't take me more than ten minutes to whip out my little knife, +and cut her right out from the background, but say! After I'd cut her +out, she didn't look nearly as pretty as I had thought she would. Just +look at her! + +"The paint looks real dauby when you get close up to her." + +"Why, Gwen Harcourt!" cried Princess Polly; "you truly did cut her +from the picture!" + +"Of course I did. Did you really s'pose I'd tell you I did if I didn't?" + +"You might have been joking when you said it," said Polly. + +"Well, I wasn't joking," Gwen replied, "and now I don't know where to +put this, now I have it." + +"What did you mean to do, when you first thought of cutting the picture +out?" questioned Rose. + +"Oh, I thought I'd keep her in the dolls' house, but she looks bigger +in my hand than she did in the frame. I don't believe she'd go into +the doll's house, and I don't b'lieve I want her to, for really I don't +care for her. Do either of you want her?" + +She extended her arm, holding the picture at arm's length, while she +looked from one to the other. + +"We don't want her," said Polly, "and oh, _this_ time, Gwen, your mamma +will surely be angry!" + +"Pooh! See 'f she is. I guess I'll run home and see what she says," +chirped Gwen, and gaily humming, she ran down the walk, and hurried +home. + + * * * * * * * * + +Mrs. Harcourt had been entertaining guests for a few days, and it +happened that soon after Gwen had left the house, the mischief had +been discovered. + +"Oh, can it be possible that there have been thieves prowling about +the house in the night?" cried Mrs. Harcourt. "It really makes me feel +quite ill to think of it." + +At that moment, Gwen came flying into the house, and up the stairway. + +"Somebody take this old picture and stick it back in the hole it came +from. I thought it would make a nice big doll, but I guess I don't +want her!" + +"Oh, what a naughty thing for a child to do!" cried one of the ladies. +"That fine picture is absolutely ruined." + +"_Naughty_!" cried Mrs. Harcourt, "no, indeed! As you say, the picture +is ruined, but Gwen has proved her love for Art, and her artistic +nature. She felt so attracted to the picture that she was actually +obliged to take it with her when she went out. She surely loves Art. +As I have always said: 'Gwen is a most _unusual_ child. She shows great +force of character, and I can overlook the _mistake_ she made in cutting +the canvas, because the act showed me another fine trait,--the love +of Art. I _do_ wonder if she will be an artist?" + +The guests were disgusted. They wondered how any mother could be so +foolish as to think a piece of costly mischief showed either love of +art or talent, instead of wilful wrong-doing. + +"Gwen is a pretty child," said one woman, "and some one who had sense +enough to correct her and make her behave, could train her to be a +pleasing young girl, when she is a few years older, but her mother +could never do that!" + +"No, indeed," the other replied. "Mrs. Harcourt is spoiling her little +daughter as fast as she can. I had promised to stay a week," she +continued, "but I think I will make some excuse and leave here day +after to-morrow. I am very fond of Mrs. Harcourt, but the child is so +unpleasant that I can not remain." + +The two friends were in the room that they had shared during their +visit. In another room Mrs. Harcourt was changing Gwen's frock, and +ribbons, to make her yet more attractive when she should appear at +lunch. A less beautiful costume, and a bit of training in ordinary +rules of courtesy, would have been far more beneficial. Mrs. Harcourt +felt that Gwen must, at all times, be daintily dressed, but she +permitted her to do or say whatever she chose, and at times when she +was hopelessly rude, the silly mother thought her charming. + +In the big hammock the three playmates still were swinging. + +"Come!" said Polly, "let's walk around the garden, and when we come +to the terrace, we'll sit down, and listen to the story that Rose +promised to tell." + +"No, the story that Sprite was to tell!" cried Rose. + +"No, the story that Princess Polly found in the red book yesterday," +Sprite said, laughing because the others did. + +"We'll run a race!" cried Polly, "and the one that gets there last +will be the one to tell the story." + +The others agreed, and Polly counted: + +"One! Two! _Three_!" + +They were off like the wind, past the fountain, the gates, the big +clump of rose bushes, and it happened that Rose and Sprite were the +first to reach the terrace. + +"All right!" cried Princess Polly, "I'll tell the story of the 'Big, +Brave Knight.'" + +"Does it begin with: 'Once upon a time'?" Sprite asked, eagerly. + +"Oh, yes," Polly said. "Once upon a time there lived a knight who was +big, and brave, and he loved a princess who was so beautiful that it +was like looking at the sun to look at her face, because her beauty +was so dazzling. + +"She wasn't very happy, for who'd be happy when an old witch had +enchanted her?" + +"Oh, oo!" purred little Sprite, "I love a story that tells about folks +that are enchanted." + +"So do I," agreed Rose. "Now go on, Polly. How was she enchanted?" + +"Oh, I wish I had the book right here, so I could read every word of +it to you, but I let Leslie Grafton take it home to read, so I'll tell +it as well as I can. + +"Where did I stop? Oh, I know. I'd just told you that the lovely +princess was enchanted. Lora was her name, and she lived in a fine +castle way up on a great, high mountain. The picture showed the castle, +and it looked as if the side of the mountain was all ledges. + +"On sunny days, she wandered around the castle gardens, picking the +flowers, or feeding her pets, and when storm clouds hung over the +mountain, she strolled through the great halls, playing her guitar, +and sweetly singing. + +"Often she leaned on the wall that bordered the gardens, and for hours +she would gaze at the far distant plains. + +"'Across those plains will come the prince who will set you free,' the +old witch had said, and then she had laughed, and under her breath had +muttered: 'That is, if he has the bravery to ride his charger up this +steep mountain side.'" + +"Did a prince come?" questioned Sprite. + +"And was he fine, and brave?" Rose asked. + +Princess Polly laughed at their eager questions. + +"The book says: + +"'Many princes came, but when they saw the ledge going straight up to +the castle, they turned back, saying: + +"'"No man could keep in the saddle, and no horse could climb such a +huge crag as that. Both would fall and be dashed to pieces."' + +"One day, when the sun was bright and the air was very clear, the +princess became restless, and tired of roaming through hall, and garden, +and she ran to the wall, once more to look off across the plain. + +"A long time she stood watching, when, far, far over where the sky and +land seemed to meet, she saw something flashing in the sunlight. + +"At first it appeared to stand still, but after a little while, she +saw that it was coming nearer. + +"Brighter and brighter flashed the spot that she had been watching, +and a moment later, she saw that it was a spear held aloft, in the +hand of a man in armor. + +"On, on he came, and soon she saw that his armor was of silver, and +that the plumes on his helmet were white. + +"Nearer and nearer he rode, and now, as he reached the foot of the +cliff, the Princess Lora saw that he was handsome, for his visor was +up, and even from that height she could see that his eyes were dark, +and fine. He had seen her portrait that a great artist had painted, +and he had vowed that he would win her. + +"Bravely he urged his white steed up the side of the cliff, and the +charger, placing his hoofs in the crevices, climbed steadily higher +until, at last, the brave knight stood at the castle gate, blowing his +bugle to demand admittance. + +"At the sound of the bugle, the iron gates flew open, he rode boldly +into the courtyard, and up to the door. He had shown himself to be so +brave that no one dared oppose him, and after staying a month at the +castle, he rode away, carrying the lovely Princess Lora as his bride, +and they lived happy ever after." + +"There!" cried Polly, "I've told that almost word for word." + +"That was a lovely story," said Rose, "and I always like them when +they commence, 'Once upon a time,' and end with, 'They lived happy +ever after.'" + +"So do I," said Sprite, "and just think of the lovely times we'll have +this Summer, when we're _all_ at the Cliffs, at Cliffmore, that is, +if you're coming down to the shore. Oh, _are_ you?" + +"Uncle John says we'll enjoy the earlier part of the Summer here, and +then go over to his lovely house at Cliffmore for the rest of the +Summer." + +"Why, that's just what my papa said, last evening," said Princess +Polly, "and I do believe they've planned it together." + +"I'll go home just as soon as school closes," said Sprite, "and I'll +be company for ma, I'll gather lovely shells for you to keep, I'll +read to pa evenings, but most of all, I'll be watching the long white +road that leads from the pier. + +"Oh, let's play this hammock is the boat to Cliff more!" she cried, +"and we'll call the different landings." + +"All right!" cried Rose, "and do you hear that funny creak?" she asked. +"Well, that is the steamer just starting off." + +They swung a while, and then Sprite shouted the name of the first +stopping-place. + +"Seaman's Port!" she cried. "This is where they always roll off lots +of barrels." + +"What's in them?" Polly asked. + +"Oh, salt pork, and vegetables, and, oh, all sorts of things that they +can't buy on the island." + +"Seafarm Ledge!" she next shouted. + +"All of us get out here!" cried Sprite, "because this is the place +where the gentlemen sit around and do nothing, while the ladies dress +up, and walk, and walk, and walk up and down the board walk." + +There must have been a very rough sea, for the hammock rolled and +pitched, until it seemed as if the little voyagers would surely be +thrown overboard, so violently did the steamer lurch. + +The passengers were evidently but little frightened. In truth, they +appeared to think the trip a huge joke, for they laughed gaily; at +last Sprite cried: + +"Cliffmore! Cliffmore! Every one get out, because this steamer goes +no farther!" + +"Is that true, Sprite, that the steamer _Queen of the Ocean_ stops at +Cliffmore, and then turns and goes back?" + +"Oh, yes," said Sprite. "Some of the boats go farther, but that vessel +never does." + +"Well, we had a fine trip in our hammock-steamer," said Princess Polly, +"and if our vessel did pitch pretty badly, what did we care, while the +sky was blue and cloudless overhead?" + +"It has been bright and sunny here at Avondale," said Sprite, "and +I've had a lovely time, and I only long to go home, just because it +_is_ home." + +"But soon after you go back to Cliffmore, Rose and I will come, and +then we three will play together, and play all day, because it will +be vacation, no lessons, and no school." + +"Mamma is sure that this Summer at Cliffmore is to be delightful," +said Polly. + +"And Uncle John says that there will be lots of good times, but that +he knows of one happening that will be a surprise for everyone!" said +Rose. + +Those who would like to meet Princess Polly again at Avondale, with +her dearest friend Rose Atherton, to be with them again at Cliffmore, +where they are constantly with little Sprite, may enjoy all their +"good-times" in-- + +"Princess Polly at Play." + + + END + + + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Princess Polly's Gay Winter, by Amy Brooks + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCESS POLLY'S GAY WINTER *** + +***** This file should be named 6584.txt or 6584.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/6/5/8/6584/ + +Produced by Vital Debroey, Phil McLaury, Juliet Sutherland, +Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +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 can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: Princess Polly's Gay Winter + +Author: Amy Brooks + +Release Date: September, 2004 [EBook #6584] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on December 29, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCESS POLLY'S GAY WINTER *** + + + + +Produced by Vital Debroey, Phil McLaury, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + PRINCESS POLLY'S GAY WINTER + + By AMY BROOKS + + + AUTHOR OF + "Princess Polly," "Princess Polly's Playmates," + "Princess Polly at School," "Princess Polly by the Sea," + "Princess Polly at Play," etc. + + + + +CONTENTS + + +CHAPTER + I MERRY TIMES PROMISED + II THE SEA NYMPH + III GWEN + IV WHAT HAPPENED AT SCHOOL + V A BREATH OF THE SEA + VI A DELIGHTFUL CALL + VII AUNT JUDITH'S PARTY + VIII GYP'S AMBITION + IX A JOLLY TIME + X A HOLIDAY PARTY + XI UNCLE JOHN MAKES A PROMISE + XII AUNT ROSE'S CALL + + + + +CHAPTER I + +MERRY TIMES PROMISED + + +Little Rose Atherton sat on the lower step of the three broad ones +that led down from the piazza, and she wondered if there were, in all +the world, a lovelier spot than Avondale. + +"And we live in the finest part of Avondale," she said, continuing her +thoughts aloud. "Tho' wherever Uncle John is, seems better than anywhere +else." + +She had spent the bright, happy summer at the shore, and surely Uncle +John's fine residence, "The Cliffs," had been a delightful summer home. + +Then Uncle John had one morning told a bit of wonderful news. + +"I've something to tell you, my little girl," he said, drawing Rose +to him. + +"This is our summer home," he continued, "and a fine summer place it +is, but Rose, little girl, we're to spend the coming Winter at +Avondale." + +It had been very exciting! + +Before closing "The Cliffs," those treasures that Uncle John held +dearest were carefully packed to be sent to the new home, and then, +in the big, luxurious car, they had motored to Avondale. + +"Good-bye," Rose had said, as she looked back toward "The Cliffs," and +then, after throwing a kiss toward the house, she nestled back in the +car, and tried, for the twentieth time, to "guess" how the new home +would look. + +It had proved to be more grand, more beautiful than she had dreamed. +"And so near sweet Princess Polly," she said, "just the next house but +one." + +She sprang from the low step, and ran down to the sidewalk to see if +Princess Polly was yet in sight. "I think it is a little early," she +said, "for Polly said she'd come over at nine, and it isn't nine yet." + +The dainty Angora came down the walk to meet her, her tail like a great +plume, her soft coat as fluffy as thistle down. Proudly she walked as +if she knew her beauty. + +"Oh, you darling puss!" cried Rose. "You make this new home seem just +as if we'd always lived here." + +"That's right, Miss Rose," said the housekeeper, as she looked from +the window. + +"A cat does make a place seem homelike. She's not stared about, nor +acted wild as most cats do. She made herself at home, and seemed at +home the first day the captain brought her to you. Do you remember, +Miss Rose, she sprang from the basket, sat down on the rug, and began +to wash her face?" + +"I know she did, and that proves that she's a wonderful cat. She +couldn't act like a common cat. Could you, dear?" + +The cat rubbed lovingly against Rose. + +"We're going to choose a name for her to-day, and Princess Polly is +coming over to help me. Oh, there she comes now!" Rose ran down the +path to meet Polly, the white cat trotting along after her. + +"I wanted to bring Sir Mortimer over to get acquainted with her, but +he's just dear, in all but one thing. He isn't _always_ polite to other +cats, and _sometimes_ he's really horrid, and growls so dreadfully +that you'd think he hadn't any manners," said Polly. + +"I guess it's just as well," Rose said, "for we'll be pretty busy +choosing a name." + +Polly had written a list of fine names, and together they read them, +the white cat sitting and eagerly watching them for a time, and then +playing on the lawn with a ball that was her own especial toy. At last +after reading the list of imposing names again and again, they decided +that, after all, Beauty best suited the lovely creature. + +"To think that you are to live here at Avondale again!" Polly said, +when at last the name had been chosen. + +"Yes, and to think that there's only one house between yours and mine!" +said Rose. + +"You'll be happier in this handsome house with your Uncle John, than +you ever were when you lived here at Avondale before at the little wee +cottage with your Aunt Judith." + +"Oh, yes," Rose said quickly, "because _now_ I know that Aunt Judith +loves me, but _then_, I thought she didn't. With Uncle John,--why every +moment since I've lived at his house, I've known that he loved me." + +A moment she sat thinking, then she spoke again. + +"When I lived here at Avondale before, I lived _all_ the time at the +cottage, but now I'll live here, with dear Uncle John, and go down to +see Aunt Judith, oh, sometimes." + +Then she turned to look at her playmate. + +"Polly, _Dear_ Polly!" she cried. "You look more like a princess than +when we first called you 'Princess Polly.' Now, who ever thinks of +calling you Polly Sherwood, your real, _truly_ name?" + +"Who cares which they call me, so long as they love me?" cried Polly +with a merry laugh. + +They were in the garden at the rear of the house, but between trees +and shrubbery they could see a bit of the avenue. + +Something moving attracted their attention. + +"Look!" cried Rose. "What's _that_?" Polly did look. + +Something like a huge wheel, all spokes and hub, but no tire, was +whirling down the avenue. + +"It's Gyp!" said Polly. + +"What? _That_?" said Rose. + +"Yes, that's Gyp, and he's going down the avenue whirling first on his +hands, then on his feet," Polly said. + +"Oh, I wish he wasn't in this town," cried Rose, "because no one ever +can guess what horrid thing he'll do next. And he won't stay over by +the woods where he lives. He keeps coming over to this part of Avondale, +and I wonder someone doesn't stop him." + +"Who could stop Gyp?" Polly asked. + +And who, indeed, could stop him? He was one of a family that was more +than half Gypsy, and Gyp was, surely, the wildest of the clan. + +He _would_ steal, yet so crafty was he that no one ever caught him. +He was full of mischief, and nothing delighted him more than the +assurance that he had really frightened someone. + +As he usually felt very gay when he had done some especially annoying +bit of mischief, it was safe to say that he had spent a busy morning +somewhere, and now was turning handsprings to give vent to his hilarious +feelings. + +"Oh, what _do_ you s'pose he's been doing?" Polly asked. + +"I don't know," Rose said slowly, "but I remember that he always acted +just like that when he'd been _very_ naughty." + +"Rob Lindsey said yesterday that somebody ought to watch Gyp, and +whenever he seems to feel gay, just look around the neighborhood, and +learn what he has been doing," said Rose. + +"You'd have to watch him all the time, then," Polly replied, "for he +always acts as if he felt full of fun, and mischief." + +"Then whoever watched Gyp could do nothing else. He wouldn't have a +minute for--oh look!" Rose sprang up on to a low ledge that the gardener +had left showing because of its natural beauty. Flowers grew at its +base, and the little rock, or ledge, rose just enough to show its crest +above the blossoms. Something bright and fair was racing down the +street, as if pursuing Gyp. + +It shouted lustily. "You Gyp! You _mean_ old,--oh, I don't know what!" + +"Why, that's Gwen Harcourt!" said Polly, "and she's chasing Gyp!" + +Like a small whirlwind composed of muslin, lace, and ribbons, Gwen +tore down the avenue, shouting, and screaming as she ran. + +She had snatched a handful of gravel just as she started to chase him, +and she hurled the small, round stones after his flying figure. + +Not one of them hit him, and as he ran, he looked over his shoulder +to grin like an imp, as he shouted: + +"Oh, what a shot! Ye couldn't hit the side of the house!" + +That so maddened Gwen, that she forgot to run, and in the middle of +the street, stood stamping her foot, and shrieking. + +Of course Gyp was delighted! If he had not frightened her, he had, at +least, the joy of seeing how angry Gwen could be. He vaulted over a +low wall, and carelessly whistling, went at high speed across the lawn, +toward the river, crossed the bridge, and, as usual, hid in the forest +beyond. + +Gwen stood, where he had left her, watching him as he hurried away, +and finally disappeared. + +"Horrid thing!" she cried. "How I wish I knew of something I could do +to plague him!" + +Gwen was quickly angered, but her anger was never long-lived. + +She turned toward home. + +"_Let_ him run, if he wants to. Who cares? I don't." + +Already she was humming a merry tune. + +"I read a story yesterday 'bout a house that had a secret closet in +it. 'Twas a fine story, and I guess I'll tell it to the first girl I +meet," she said. + +It happened that Rose and Polly were walking down the avenue, on the +way to Sherwood Hall, just as Gwen Harcourt gave up chasing Gyp. + +"Hello!" she cried, "I wondered when you'd come to Avondale to live. +How long have you been here?" + +"Two weeks," said Rose. + +"Why didn't you let me know? I'd have been over to see you long before +this," Gwen replied. + +Polly looked at Rose. She knew that Rose was not at all fond of Gwen, +and wondered what reply she would make. + +Rose did not have to answer, for Gwen continued: + +"Sit down on this wall, and I'll tell you a story. I'll come over to +your house some day this week, but now listen, while we sit here. It's +a story I read yesterday, 'bout a house that had a secret closet, and +ours has one, do you hear?" She leaned forward and pointed her ringer, +first at Polly, then at Rose. + +"_Our_ house has a secret closet. Don't you both wish yours had?" + +"Why, Gwen Harcourt! What could we do with secret closets?" said Rose. + +"The girl in the story I read was locked into the closet by mistake, +and she couldn't get out!" said Gwen, looking quite as excited as if +she were telling something pleasant. Rose moved uneasily, and Polly +shivered. + +"Didn't they _ever_ find her?" Polly asked. + +"I guess not," said Gwen, "and the funny thing is that the story stopped +right there, so you see I'll never have any idea whether she ever got +out or not." + +"Oh, I like _pleasant_ stories," Rose said, as she slipped from the +wall. In an instant Polly stood beside her, and the two turned toward +home, but Gwen had no idea of losing her audience so soon. + +"Wait a minute," she cried, "and I'll tell you 'bout the girl that +fell into the ditch, and had to be pulled out by her hair!" + +"Oh, _don't_!" cried Polly, and clapping her hands over her ears, she +turned, and ran at top speed, followed by Rose. + +They soon outran Gwen, and were glad to rest. + +"Did you ever hear such _horrid_ stories?" Polly asked. + +"Never!" cried Rose, "unless it was other stories that she told at +other times. There's the one that she made us listen to when we were +over to Lena Lindsey's one day. The one about the ghost that rode down +the main street every night at twelve." + +"Oh, I remember," said Polly. "That was the time that Rob Lindsey said +the shivers ran up and down his spine until his back was all _humps_! +He said the shivers had become _chronic_! We laughed at Rob, but even +the funny things he said couldn't drive away the thoughts of the story +that Gwen Harcourt had told." + + * * * * * * * * + +The bright, sunny days sped as swiftly at Avondale, as they had at the +shore. + +Hints of pleasures that already were being planned for the coming +Winter were floating as freely as if the wind carried them, and all +over Avondale, wherever small girls and boys were at play, one might +hear scraps of conversation that told of anticipated pleasures. + +Some of the gossip reached Aunt Judith's cottage, and she resolved to +do a bit of entertaining, if not on the grand scale in which her +neighbors indulged, at least in a manner that her little friends would +enjoy. + +She laughed softly as she moved about the tiny rooms, and thought of +the quaint, merry party that would at least be original. + +"The cottage is small, and so it will have to be a little party, but +we'll call it 'small and select,'" she said. + +A light tap at the door, made her turn, and she hastened to open the +screen door, that Rose might enter. + +"The fine house, and fine friends don't make you forget your Aunt +Judith, dear," she said. + +"Oh, I'll never forget you," Rose said, "and I'll come to see you now +I'm to live so near. To-day I'll sit beside you while you sew. I'll +sit in the little chair that was always mine." + +"It is yours now, dear, and, whenever you come, I'll 'play,' as you +and Polly say, I'll 'play' that you are once more living here at the +cottage." + +There was news to be told. Uncle John was to have a fine conservatory +built, and later it would be stocked with beautiful flowering plants. + +Lena Lindsey was to give a fine party some time during the Winter, and +Leslie Grafton, and her brother Harry had already hinted that there +would be gaiety at their home. + +Mrs. Sherwood always gave some sort of party for Princess Polly, and +surely everyone remembered her beautiful party of the Winter before. + +All these things she told Aunt Judith. + +"And Uncle John says he will not permit his neighbors to do _all_ the +entertaining, and when he says that he laughs," said Rose. + +Aunt Judith stopped rocking and sat very straight. + +"And _I_ shall entertain in a small way myself," she said. + +"Oh, Aunt Judith!" cried Rose, her surprise making her eyes round, and +bright. + +"The wee party that I shall give will be in honor of my little niece, +Rose." + +Rose laid her warm hand on Aunt Judith's arm. + +"How good you are," she said. "And I'll come over the day of the party, +and help you get ready. I'll love to. 'Twill be half the fun. Oh, Aunt +Judith, please tell me what the dear little party is to be like." + +"Like a party that I once enjoyed when I was little," Aunt Judith said. + +"I remember it as perfectly as if it had occurred yesterday. To repeat +it now will be a quaint delight. I'll not tell you _all_ about it yet, +but when my plans are made, you shall come over here to the cottage, +and I'll tell you every detail. I believe the tiny party will do me +good. I shall feel once more like the little lass that I was when I +received the invitation, and then a week later, dressed in my best, +went to my friend's house. There were twelve guests, and I shall have +just twelve at _my_ party." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE SEA NYMPH + + +Little Sprite Seaford sat in the first car of the long train, her eyes +bright with excitement, a tear on her cheek, and her red lips quivering. + +One little hand nervously clutched her handkerchief, while the other +grasped the handles of her very new suitcase. + +She had wound her pretty arms tightly around her mother's neck, kissed +her, oh, so many times, and then, lest her courage fail her, had turned +and fled from the house, where on the beach, she clung to her father's +hand, and silently walked toward the station. + +She felt that if she tried to talk she would surely cry, but why was +the sturdy captain so silent? Did he feel, as his little daughter did, +that safety lay in silence? Did he fear to speak lest the tears might +come? It had been decided that Sprite should accept Mr. Sherwood's +invitation, and spend the Winter at Avondale, enjoying the early Winter +months at Sherwood Hall, and the latter part of the season as the guest +of Uncle John Atherton and his little niece, Rose. + +She had enjoyed the planning of her modest little wardrobe, she had +talked of the delight of having Rose and Princess Polly for her +playmates all Winter. + +She had promised to be a faithful little pupil at school, and she had +dreamed all night, and talked all day of the delightful Winter that +she was to enjoy. + +Now, seated in the car, ready to take her first journey from home, she +looked about her with frightened eyes. Captain Seaford stood beside +her. He had bought a box of candy, and a book, trusting that they might +help to cheer her. + +He looked down at the little daughter who was so dear to him. + +"I'd make the trip with ye, Sprite, but yer ma, I'm thinking, will +need me, 'bout the time she knows yer train has started," he said. + +"Oh, she will. You _must_ go back to her," cried Sprite. + +The conductor entered and stated that all who were intending to leave +the car must leave at once, or remain on board. Captain Seaford stooped +to kiss the little upturned face. + +"Oh, father, dear! If you and mother hadn't worked so hard to get me +ready for the long visit, I'd give it up now. I'd rather go back with +you." + +"Tut, tut, Sprite! Be a brave lassie, and try to make the trip bravely. +Ye need the good schooling and the merry playmates. The Winter at the +shore is always dull. Cheer up, now. We're to have a letter, remember, +as soon as ye reach Avondale." + +"Ay, ay, sir!" he said, as the conductor beckoned, impatiently, and +with another kiss, and a hasty "Good-bye," he left the car. + +Sprite knew that he would stand on the platform, and she turned toward +the window. + +Through blinding tears, she saw his stalwart form, and she tried to +smile, for his sake. + +Before she could chase away the tears, the train had started, she saw +through her tear-dimmed lashes a blurred landscape, and then,--why she +was actually riding away from her seashore home! For a time she sat, +as if in a dream, and then the conductor came along. Little Sprite +looked up into his pleasant face, and wondered why he paused. + +"Let me see your ticket, my dear," he said, and she blushed at her +forgetfulness, and drew it from her pocket. + +He punched it, and then, in a gentle, fatherly way, he said: + +"Your father, Captain Seaford, is a firm friend of mine. He asked me +to look out for you, and see that you got off the train at Avondale. +He said this was your first bit of travelling alone, but that your +friends would be waiting for you when you arrived." + +"They will, oh, they will!" she eagerly cried, "and thinking of that +makes me feel happier. I've never been away alone before." + +"I've a little girl at home who is much braver to talk about going +away from home, than she is when the time comes to start. But don't +worry, little Miss Seaford," he said, with a laugh, "for I'll be your +friend all the way to Avondale." + +"Oh, thank you," she said, and he thought that he had never seen a +lovelier face. She opened the new book, hoping that the story and the +pictures might make her forget her homesickness. It was evident that +she considered a good book a good friend. + +The story held her attention, the picture charmed her, and the box of +candy was an added comfort. She nestled close to the window, her long +golden hair fell over her shoulders, and framed her face, and the old +conductor smiled when he passed down the aisle, and looked at the dear +little figure. + +"The book has made her forget to worry," he said, softly. + +A little later, when he paused beside her seat, she looked up to smile +at him. + +"I keep right on reading," she said, "because if I stop to think, I +remember that all the time I'm going farther away from home." + +"Then whenever you look up from the page, just remember that you are +getting nearer, and nearer to Avondale, where you can write your first +letter home," he said in an effort to cheer her. + +"Oh, yes," said Sprite, "and I'll do that before I go to sleep to-night, +and post it early to-morrow morning." Then, for a long time, she read +the fascinating story. + +Just as she closed the book she realized that the train was slowing +down. + +The conductor was coming toward her. What was the brakeman saying? + +"The next station will be Avondale!" he shouted, and little Sprite's +heart beat faster. + +The conductor stood at her seat now. "I'll take your suit case," he +said. "Come with me." + +How her little heart beat! + +Would they be at the station? They had promised to be there when the +train arrived. + +She could not see from where she stood in the aisle. + +Ah, now the train had actually stopped! She was out on the platform! +She was going down the steps. The kindly conductor was saying something +about wishing her a pleasant visit. The train was starting off. + +Oh, was she utterly alone? + +"Sprite! Oh, you've come!" cried a sweet, familiar voice, and Princess +Polly caught both her hands. + +"I was _so_ afraid that something would happen, and you wouldn't come," +she cried. + +"And _I_ was wondering what I'd do if I didn't see you when I left the +car. Oh, _wouldn't_ I have been frightened?" said Sprite, with a nervous +little laugh. + +"Oh, how could you think I'd miss coming to meet you? Mamma said the +last moment, as I ran down the steps: + +"'I _do_ hope you will find Sprite at the station,' and I _did_," Polly +said. "Now, come over to the carriage, and we'll fly to Sherwood Hall." + +"This is my suit case, and, oh, there's my trunk," Sprite said. + +"Oh, the coachman will take care of those. We'll get seated so as to +reach home in just no time. I can't wait to take you to mamma." + +The color brightened in Sprite's dimpled cheeks. + +She was determined not to be homesick, and the ride along the fine +streets, and then up the long avenue, showed such grand residences, +such spacious piazzas, such velvet lawns and gorgeous masses of flowers, +that the sea captain's little daughter began to wonder if she were in +some new country, or at Avondale, where her new friends actually lived. + +"Here we are!" cried Polly, as the horse slackened his pace at the +broad gateway, "and this is Sherwood Hall, your new home for the +Winter." + +"For _part_ of the Winter!" called a merry voice, and Uncle John +Atherton with Rose beside him in his big motor, laughed gaily as Sprite +turned to learn who greeted her. + +For a moment the carriage and the motor stood side by side, while the +three small girls chatted gaily, then, believing that Mrs. Sherwood +and Polly should greet their guest, uninterrupted by neighbor or friend, +Uncle John bowled away down the avenue, they responded to Rose's waving +handkerchief, and then rode up the driveway. + +"Oh, what a lovely, _lovely_ house!" cried Sprite, "and what a dear +place to live in. I _know_ I'm to be happy here!" + +"Indeed you are!" cried Polly, "and here's mamma." + +"Dear little girl," Mrs. Sherwood said, as Sprite stepped from the +carriage, and ran up the steps. "I'm glad to see you, and I shall be +glad indeed to keep you as long as Captain Atherton will permit. He +was over here last evening, and he said that he would let us keep you +up to the first half of the Winter, as we agreed, but after that he +would have you at his home with Rose, if he had to steal you. He +laughed, but he meant it, so see how _very_ welcome you are at +Avondale." + +"Oh, it is sweet to have so many people love me," Sprite said, +gratefully, and her eyes were as bright as stars. She was tired with +the long car ride, and with Princess Polly, she sped to her room, there +to make her little self fresh, and fair for dinner. + +"We're to share this room, and these two pretty beds are yours and +mine," said Polly. + +"We could have had separate rooms, but I wanted you with me, and beside, +mamma said if you were with me, you couldn't be lonesome." + +"Oh, I'd rather be with you," said little Sprite, "and what a lovely +room it is!" + +She saw every dainty bit of color, every charming detail of the +furnishings, she saw the river as she looked from the windows, and the +vines peeping in at the windows, and she wondered how it had happened +that she now possessed such dear friends, who vied with each other in +making her their little guest. + +She opened her suit case, and took from it a pale blue frock, with a +ribbon of the same tint for her hair. + +The frock was of soft mull, and its coloring was like that of a pale +aqua marine. + +She combed out her long, waving hair, and quickly tied it with the +blue ribbon, then, her hand tightly clasped in Polly's, descended the +stairs. + +Arthur Sherwood entered the hall just in time to see the two pretty +figures on the stairway. + +"Well, well, and so the little sea nymph has come to live at Sherwood +Hall for a time. My dear little Sprite, I am truly glad to see you." + +He took the slender hand that she offered him, and the three chatted +gaily until dinner was served. + +The fine dinner, exquisitely served, was a rare treat for Sprite, and +the pleasant evening that followed made her at once feel that she was, +already, a part of the family. + +In her room, after the happy evening, Sprite wrote a loving letter to +the dear father and mother at the home by the sea. + +She addressed it, and placed the stamp upon it, and then gave it a +place on the dresser where she would surely see it in the morning, and +thus remember to post it. + +Princess Polly would liked to have kept awake to talk, but Sprite was +very tired, and soon her answers became so drowsy that Polly knew that +she needed sleep and rest. Little Sprite had been the first to drop +to sleep, but, accustomed to early rising, she was the first to wake. +She slipped from her bed, glanced at Polly, saw that she had not yet +awakened, and quietly began to dress. She had learned, the evening +before, that there was a mail box just across the street, and she now +picked up the letter, and made her way down to the lower hall. The +door stood wide open, only the screen door was fastened. + +The maid, a few moments before, had opened the door that the fresh air +might pass through the hall. Sprite slipped out into the garden, her +letter in her hand. + +She ran a short distance, then as the sunlight touched the glowing +blossoms, she paused and looked about her. + +Oh, what a fairy world it was! Her home at the shore had been placed +on a broad stretch of sand, and only a few of the residences at +Cliffmore boasted a flower, or tree on its grounds. + +Now, with the garden gay with geraniums, tall gladioli, dahlias, and +scarlet salvia, she looked in amazement and delight at the riot of +color. + +"Oh, how beautiful it is here!" she said. + +Suddenly she remembered her precious letter. + +She ran across the street, and slipped it in the box. + +"There you go, and you'll tell the two dearest people in the world +that I got here safely, and that everyone was dear to me. You'll tell +them that I love them too." + +Her heart was lighter, because now she knew that the letter that the +dear ones at home were looking for, would soon be on its way. + +She hurried back to the garden, where she sat for a long time watching +the bees as they hovered over the flowers. + +She would not go back to her room for fear of waking Polly, and she +knew that she should not wander about the vacant lower rooms, so she +decided to wait in the garden, until Princess Polly should come down. + +She clasped her hands about her knee, and sat lost in a day dream. Her +long rippling hair fell over her shoulders, and she made a lovely +picture as she sat thinking of her home at the shore. + +"The cliffs are white in the bright sunlight by this time," she said, +softly, lest someone might hear her, "and the big gulls are flying +over the water, or dropping to float on the crest of the waves. + +"It is beautiful at home, and grand here at Avondale. + +"I wonder if anyone knows if one is really finer than the other. They're +so different." + +Then again she sat dreaming. Sir Mortimer came around the corner of +the house, and went straight to Sprite for the caress everyone offered +him. He listened to her sweet voice as she told him what a fine cat +he was, he arched his back, and purred his loudest. + +After a time he lay down on the grass beside her, taking his morning +sunbath. + +Princess Polly, in the meantime, had awakened and missed Sprite. She +dressed hastily. + +As she passed the window a soft voice talking to Sir Mortimer made her +pause and look out. She leaned from the window. + +"Oh, there you are!" she cried. "I missed you, and I couldn't guess +where you were. I'll come right down to the garden." She flew down the +stairs, and out into the sunlight. + +Sprite ran to meet her, and with their arms about each other, they +paced up and down the broad piazza. + +Sir Mortimer blinked at them as he sat in the sunlight, as if he +approved of their merry chatter. Possibly he thought it fine that there +were to be two little girls at Sherwood Hall to pet him. + +"The garden is so lovely," Sprite said, as they paused to look out +across the lawn. + +"Come!" cried Polly. "I'll show you all the prettiest places." + +The big cat followed them, trotting along the gravel walk, pausing +whenever they did, as if all that Polly was showing was new to him. + +And when they had admired the rippling brook that ran through the +garden, the tall white lilies standing in queenly grace beside the +stone wall, the terraces crowned with rose bushes, and the gorgeous +beds of geraniums, they ran back to the piazza, and seated themselves +in the hammock that swung in the breeze. + +"Do you remember any of the pretty songs you used to sing last Summer +when we were out on the beach, or sitting on the ledge?" Polly asked. + +"There's one I always like to sing when I'm in a dory," Sprite said. + +"Then let's rock this hammock, and play it's a dory, and while we're +swinging, you sing," Polly said. + +With a voice in which a thrill of happiness made wondrous music, little +Sprite sang: + + "Bright is the sky above us, + Blue is the sea below. + Seagulls are hovering 'round us + Fluttering to and fro. + + Faith is the sky above us, + The sea is the earth below. + Gulls are the friends who love us, + Following where'er we go. + + Sunshine above, around us, + White caps floating by, + None in the world is happier + Than you, my love, and I." + + + + +CHAPTER III + +GWEN + + +Little Sprite Seaford felt so completely "at home," that it seemed to +her as if she had always lived at Avondale. There were times when she +felt homesick. At early morning, before Polly was awake, she would lie +with wide open eyes, gazing around the lovely room, and missing the +dear voices that always greeted her so cheerily. At twilight, when the +shadows grew deeper, there would be a longing for the dear ones at +home, and her loving little heart would ache, and she would have to +struggle to keep back the tears. + +She knew, however, that she must be a bright, cheerful little guest. +Had not dear father and mother said so? + +Throughout the sunny days she was the life of the merry playmates who +lived so near that they were always together. Polly and Rose she had +played with at the shore in the Summer, and at the children's party +that Mrs. Sherwood had given, she had met the boys and girls who had +come from Avondale for that evening. + +They had all liked the "little Sea Nymph," as they had called her, and +now were glad to renew the acquaintance. + +There was one small girl who, thus far, had shown no interest in Polly's +guest, and that was Gwen Harcourt. + +She had seen Sprite with Polly, and her playmates, but she had watched +them from a distance. + +From her own piazza she could look across to Sherwood Hall, and see +the children at play. + +In a few days she had tired of watching the merry friends, and she +longed to join them. She had heard Lena Lindsey say that Sprite was +charming. + +Leslie Grafton, only the day before, had said that one reason why she +enjoyed playing with Sprite was because she was so _different_ from +any girl that she knew. + +What was this "_difference_" that Leslie spoke of? + +Harry Grafton had declared that little Sprite was a trump. + +"What's a _trump_?" said Gwen, as she sat swinging her feet, and looking +up and down the avenue. + +"What's a _trump_?" + +She was perched on the top of the stone post at the entrance to the +driveway, and watching intently for a glimpse of little Sprite. + +She had been curious about the new little girl ever since the first +day that she arrived at Avondale. _Now_, she was _determined_ to know +her. + +"If she'd go by while I'm sitting here I'd _make_ her come into my +garden. I'd like to have her all to myself the first time I talk to +her," she said softly. + +Of course Gwen wished to meet Sprite when she was quite alone. Anyone +who had ever known Gwen would know why. + +She knew that all of her playmates were aware that she told very large +stories, and that none of them were true. + +If she had Sprite, quite by herself, she could tell what she chose. +Luck favored her, for she had sat on the great post but a moment longer, +when a soft voice singing made her look up. + +Sprite, her hands filled with flowers, was coming toward her. + +She was looking down at her blossoms, and did not notice the child on +the post. + + "Bright, glist'ning summer sea, + Bring thou a ship to me, + Sailing so gallantly over the main. + Down deep within its hold + Will there be bags of gold, + Or sparkling gems untold, + All, all for me? + Now my heart cries to thee; + Bring not from o'er the sea + Bright glitt'ring gems for me, nor bags of gold. + I'd rather have a heart, + Mine from all else apart, + From him I'd _never_ part, + Love's more than gold." + +Little Sprite Seaford had learned the song in her home by the sea. Its +words were tender, its melody graceful and sweet, but Gwen Harcourt +cared little for music. Her only thought was to startle Sprite. With +this delightful thought in her mind, she waited until Sprite was about +to pass the post, when she slipped to the ground directly in front of +her, causing her to "jump," and drop half of her flowers. + +"Oh, how you frightened me!" she cried, as Gwen peeped impudently right +into her face. + +"Mustn't be a 'fraidie cat'!" she cried, then--"Here! I'll pick up +your flowers." + +With haste she snatched the flowers from the sidewalk, and thrusting +them into Sprite's hand, she said: + +"This is where I live. Come in. I want to know you. My name is Gwen +Harcourt. What's yours?" + +"I am Sprite Seaford," was the gentle answer. + +"My whole name is Gwendolen Armitage Harcourt. Rather grand, isn't +it?" Gwen asked, her hands on her hips, and her feet wide apart. + +"Mine is just Sprite Seaford," she said, quietly. + +"Don't you wish you had a middle name?" said Gwen. "It sounds fine." + +"I don't think I care," said Sprite. + +Gwen was rather surprised that Sprite seemed little interested. + +"Come over here," she said, "and I'll show you something I guess you +never saw before." + +Without waiting to learn if Sprite cared to go, Gwen grasped her arm, +and literally tugged her inside the gateway. + +"See these rose bushes?" she asked. + +"Well, they're out of blossom now, but they had much as, oh, I guess +a hundred roses on them all at one time!" + +Then seeing Sprite's look of surprise, she decided to enlarge her +story. + +"I guess there must have been a _thousand_, now I think of it," she +said. "Papa paid twenty dollars a piece for them, and maybe it was +more than that. I'm not quite sure." + +Sprite made no comment. + +"And _I_ planted one of the bushes, and I'll tell you something real +funny about it," Gwen said. "I planted it upside down just to see what +it would do, and what do you s'pose? After it had been there 'bout a +month I dug it up, and there were roses on it! It had blossomed down +in the _dirt_! They were bigger than the ones that had been planted +the right way, and they _might_ have been even bigger if I hadn't dug +them up so soon." + +Sprite's truthful eyes were looking straight into Gwen's bold blue +ones. "Are you _sure_ that happened?" she asked. + +"Well, what do you s'pose?" Gwen asked pertly, and then, without waiting +for a reply she caught Sprite's hand and hurried with her into the +great hall. + +"I brought you in here to show you the pictures," she said, pointing +to the family portraits that adorned the walls. + +Sprite looked in admiration at the ladies in their quaint gowns of +stiff brocade, and at the men in their lace frills, and satin +waistcoats. + +"The pictures are lovely," she said, "and are they portraits of people +that really, truly lived once?" + +"Oh, yes," cried Gwen, "and I'll tell you all about them. + +"This lady with the pink gown was my great aunt Nora, and that man in +the yellow waistcoat was my great uncle Nathan. + +"That lady in green velvet was my great aunt Nina, and that young girl +beside her was her daughter, Arline. + +"That little old lady in velvet and lace was my great grandmother, and +the next picture was my own grandma, and I've forgotten who that next +one is, but the next lady's name was Jemima, and the one in yellow +silk was Elvira, and the one in pink muslin was Honoriah, and the next +one,--oh, let me think. What _was_ her name? Oh, I know, it was +Anastasia." + +"Why, their names grow worse, and worse the farther you go down the +hall!" cried Sprite. + +"Why no they don't," said Gwen, "for over on this wall, the first +picture, this one of the lady with the dog is called Lucretia, and +that next one's name was Abagail." + +"Well, their gowns are lovely," said Sprite, "but didn't they use to +have just horrid names?" + +"My mamma says those names are 'quaint,'" Gwen replied, "but come and +see this portrait of a little girl. Guess who that is?" + +"Oh, how could I?" said Sprite, "I've never known your people." + +Gwen moved along until she stood close beside her, then she looked +straight into Sprite Seaford's eyes, and nodding as she spoke, and +shaking her forefinger, she said in a whisper: + +"That's a portrait of _me!_" + +"Why--ee!" exclaimed Sprite. + +"That _is_ a picture of me!" declared Gwen. "Do you _dare_ to say it +doesn't look like me?" + +Gwen's eyes were flashing, but the sea captain's little daughter was +no coward. + +"Of course I dare," she said, "for your eyes are blue, and your hair +is light, while the little girl in the picture has brown eyes, and +brown curling hair." + +"How do you know that my hair hasn't been that color, some time or +other?" Gwen asked sharply. + +"I don't s'pose I do know," Sprite said simply, "but I don't _believe_ +folks have brown hair and have it turn light yellow, and I don't believe +brown eyes turn blue, so I don't see how that little girl in the picture +is you." + +Gwen was breathing fast. She was very angry, but she dared not say +harsh words yet. + +She wanted this little Miss Seaford to like her, and to be willing to +play with her, so she only repeated: "I say that that little girl in +the picture _is me_!" + +Sprite turned toward the door. + +"Princess Polly may be looking for me," she said, "so I'll go, now." + +As she stepped out into the sunshine she remembered something that she +should have said, and she turned. + +"Thank you for letting me see the portraits," she said. "I'm glad you +showed them to me." + +"Well, _I'm_ not," Gwen said, rudely. "I wish I _hadn't_, 'cause you +don't b'lieve that pretty portrait is me." + +Sprite looked at her with wondering eyes. She was thinking that it was +strange that a little girl who wore lovely frocks, and lived in a +handsome house was willing to be as rude as any little vagrant who +roamed the beach at Cliffmore, gathering sea weed. + +"Our house is just an old ship's hull turned upside down, and fixed +up for a house, but mother never let me speak like that to anyone, and +besides, I wouldn't want to," she thought. + +She walked toward the avenue, Gwen close beside her. + +"Good-bye," Sprite said, with a pleasant smile. + +"I'll not say 'good-bye!'" cried Gwen. "All I'll say is: 'That portrait +_is_ a picture of _me_!" + +Her voice had risen to a shriek, and she stamped her foot. + +Sprite, now wholly disgusted, turned and ran. + +Mrs. Harcourt, from an upper window, saw Sprite running away from the +house, just as Gwen's angry voice made itself heard. + +"Oh, dear!" she sighed, "What a pity that of all the children that +Gwen knows, not one really understands her." + +The lady, to whom she spoke, looked up into her handsome face, and +wondered how any intelligent woman could be so blind regarding her own +child. + +"She's so very high strung," continued Mrs. Harcourt, "that she is +easily excited, and she's so _very_ sensitive that her playmates are +constantly hurting her." + +"Why do you not urge her to bear with her little friends patiently, +and thus help matters to glide more smoothly?" + +"Ah, you, dear friend, like all the rest, fail to understand how fine, +how _extremely_ sensitive my little Gwen is," Mrs. Harcourt responded. + +At this point Gwen rushed up the stairs, stamping on every stair, and +dashed into the room. + +"I'm glad she's gone!" she cried, flinging herself down on a chair +near the window, a frown making her look as unpleasant as possible. + +"Who was that child?" her mother asked, as she bent over her, kissing +her flushed face, and brushing a yellow curl back from her forehead. + +"She's come to Avondale to stay all Winter with Princess Polly, and +with Rose Atherton. I wanted to know her, I mean I _thought_ I did, +but now I don't. I brought her in to see the portraits in our hall, +and just for fun I told her that the picture of the little brown eyed +girl was me. + +"She wouldn't believe it, and that made me mad. Of course it really +wasn't a portrait of me, but if I _said_ it was, she ought to believe +it?" + +"My precious darling!" cried Mrs. Harcourt, "the children _never_ seem +to be able to understand your wonderful imagination. The child was +absurd to go off leaving you so unhappy. I'll ask Mrs. Sherwood what +sort of child she is." + +Gwen, having been petted and assured that her mother thought her +perfect, ran from the room, and down to the garden where she sought +something with which to amuse herself. + +The cook, looking from the rear window, frowned darkly. + +Gwen did not see her, because, with her back toward the house, she was +trying to see if it would be possible to tie a knot in the cat's tail. + +The old cat objected, and struck at her, missing however, because Gwen +jumped back. + +"Ah, ye little varmint!" cried the cook, "if they's no person handy +fer yez ter pester, thin yez fall back on the owld cat, poor crayture." + +A few moments she watched Gwen in silence, then again she spoke. + +"There she goes tryin' to climb up onto the fountain basin. Sure I'll +hov ter shpake ter her, and I don't want ter, but she risks anything." + +Throwing up the window she shouted: + +"Hi! Miss Gwen! Coom down off'n there, 'fore ye do be gittin' a big +fall!" + +Gwen turned and made an outrageous face, thus giving proof of her +sweetness. + +"Coom doon!" shouted the cook, but Gwen only giggled and remained +exactly where she was. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +WHAT HAPPENED AT SCHOOL + + +Little Sprite Seaford thought Avondale the brightest place that any +child ever lived in, and if the sky was blue, or if clouds hid the +sun, she smiled and still insisted that it was a cheery place. + +She had not forgotten the charm of her home at the shore, but she +remembered that she always felt very gay when the sunlight glistened +on the waves. + +She remembered that when the sky was overcast, the waves were dark and +sullen, and the great gulls flew far over the sea, her laugh lost its +gaiety, and she forgot to sing her merry songs. + +Here at Avondale were trees bright with leaves of red and yellow, +gardens glowing with gorgeous fall flowers, and Sprite thought Avondale +looked as if it were one huge garden, through which avenues had been +cut, and houses, surrounded by spacious lawns, had been built. + +School had opened a week earlier than usual, and Sprite already felt +"at home." + +She was a favorite with the boys and girls, and, to her great delight, +she found that she had progressed in her studies, under her mother's +guidance, so that, although a trifle younger than Princess Polly, she +would be a member of the same class. + +Polly, and Rose, and Sprite made a lovely trio, and older people meeting +them as they tripped along together, marvelled that three such beautiful +children, happened to be intimate neighbors. + +Gwen Harcourt had not entered school on the first day, but one morning +she appeared with the news that she should attend school all the year +if she chose, but that she could leave at any time if she wished. + +"Oh, but won't your mamma _make_ you go to school?" a small girl asked. + +"My mamma never _makes_ me do anything!" declared Gwen sharply. "I +guess that's so!" Rob Lindsey said, softly. + +"What did you say?" Gwen asked. + +"I don't _dare_ to tell," declared Rob, in a teasing voice. + +"You _needn't_!" cried Gwen, and she rudely turned her back toward +Rob, and commenced to talk to Leslie Grafton. + +She talked so fast that she hardly knew what she was saying, but she +wished Rob Lindsey to think that she had quite forgotten that he was +there. + +The bell rang, and while the others turned to hasten toward the school +house, Gwen walked along as if merely out for a stroll, and she entered +the schoolroom after all the others were seated. The new teacher thought +it a happening, but the pupils knew that Gwen had done it to learn if +the teacher would rebuke her. + +As her tardiness passed unnoticed, Gwen at once decided to do something +more striking. + +She was bright, and quick to learn, but she cared little for study, +and she would have been placed in a much lower class, but for her +mother's great influence. + +Mrs. Harcourt had listened very patiently while it had been made clear +to her that her small daughter was not fitted for the class in which +her little friends were placed. + +She was a charming woman, and she had begged, even insisted that Gwen +be placed in the class with Princess Polly, Rose Atherton, and Sprite +Seaford, and thus given the opportunity to prove that she could "keep +up" with her class. + +The new teacher was amused, and believing that Gwen's stay in the class +would be of short duration, she yielded. + +Gwen never studied, and on her first day, she decided that, as she +thought herself _very_ smart, she could, by listening to what others +were reciting, do very well without "bothering with books." + +That was what she said, and the first question in Geography that she +answered, made Rob Lindsey call her a "star pupil." + +"What is the capital of Brazil?" Gwen stared for a moment, then she +tossed her head as she said, pertly: + +"Oh, anyone knows _that_!" + +"_Next_!" said the teacher. + +Gwen was surprised. + +She had expected to be coaxed. + +A few moments later she heard a small girl talking of the great Amazon +river. She caught the name, and later when asked to name the largest +river in Africa, she sprang to her feet, and glibly shouted: + +"The Amazon!" + +"Well, why do you laugh?" she asked, turning angrily to stare at the +laughing class. + +She was offended, when told to sit down, and decided to tell her mother +that she had not received enough attention. + +"I guess I'll say 'snubbed,' because that will make mamma _sure_ to +take my part," she softly whispered. + +She changed her mind, she often did that, and thought that she would +not tell at home that she had been displeased. + +She chose to attend school a week longer, or perhaps a number of weeks +longer, because Miss Kenyon, just before closing for the afternoon, +stated that on Friday of each week an hour would be reserved for +recitations, and for the reading of compositions. + +Gwen thought she saw a chance to shine, and she meant to do it. + +She had heard a conversation, not intended for her ears, when a lady +calling at her home had inquired for the little daughter of the house. + +"Oh, Gwen is really a wonderful child," Mrs. Harcourt had said, "and +while she has a positive talent for reciting fine poetry, her +compositions are _so_ original that they are really _startling_!" + +"Oh, really!" the lady had replied, in a manner that showed that she +was bored. + +Gwen had leaned over the baluster in the upper hall, and drank in every +word of praise that had been uttered. + +The following Friday the pupils arrived with compositions that they +had prepared. + +As is usual, in any such school event, some were really good, others +were neither very good, nor very bad, but all others were forgotten +when Gwen Harcourt commenced to read. + +If Gwen Harcourt was vain, conceited, too much of a baby for a child +of her age, it was largely the fault of her silly mother, whose beauty, +and power to charm were great, but whose mind was exceedingly shallow. + +She loved Gwen deeply, even too deeply to see any faults, and so in +her blind love, she of course, could never correct these defects that +she could not see, and that made the pretty child exceedingly +unattractive. + +Her composition was a good example of what a silly child, with an even +sillier mother could do, in the way of original work, for surely the +essay was _original_. + +Gwen pranced up onto the platform, made a graceful little bow, and +then, nodding to the class she said: "This really, truly happened! +E'hem! + + "The Ostrich. + +"The ostrich that I'm to tell about was in the Zoo in a big city where +I went once, and he must have been the biggest ostrich that anyone +ever saw. + +"He was as big as a horse, and so he ought to have been called a +_hoss_trich. + +"His feathers were all the colors that folks wear on their hats,--" +She paused to note what impression she was making, and a doubting small +boy, murmured; + +"Oo--o--o!" + +Gwen frowned, and commenced to read again. + +"The ostrich didn't look much like the big white owl in a cage near +him, because the owl had bigger eyes." + +A few of the pupils giggled, and one in the front row muttered. + +"I don't suppose there was any difference in their _legs_!" + +"The ostrich is graceful,--" + +She paused again, because at this absurd statement Dick Minton laughed +aloud. + +"Oh, _graceful_!" whispered Dick. + +"_Richard_!" said Miss Kenyon, her voice deeply reproving. + +"Well, the idea!" said Dick. "_Graceful_!" + +"Gwen, tell me where you obtained these strange ideas about the +ostrich," Miss Kenyon said. + +"Did you read some book about birds, or did someone tell you these +things that you have written?" + +"These are _my own_ ideas," Gwen answered, proudly. + +"I didn't have to read or be told what to write. Mamma says I'm a +_genius_, and she read this composition, and _she_ said it was _fine_, +so I don't care what _you_ say about it!" + +"You may be seated," said the teacher, but Gwen, not heeding what she +said, rushed from the school-house, intent upon telling her mother how +very badly she had been treated. + +Miss Kenyon told the pupils that they had been rude to laugh, or make +comments when another pupil was taking any part in the exercises. + +They knew that, but they also knew that Gwen's composition had been +"funny." + +Gwen rushed home with her composition in her hand. + +Of course Mrs. Harcourt praised and comforted her. + +"Absurd!" she cried. "Did she wish you to consult a dictionary? Any +_ordinary_ child could do that, but to evolve such odd ideas! Why +_that_ is genius! She is dull if she doesn't know great creative genius +when she sees it!" + +"And _must_ I go to school again to-morrow?" Gwen asked. + +"No, indeed!" Mrs. Harcourt said, "I shall send you, hereafter, to +private school, where your talents will be appreciated." + +There was another pupil who was far more uncomfortable at school than +Gwen had ever been, and that was Gyp. + +Placed in a class with children of six or seven, the awkward boy felt +ill at ease, and out of place. Yet, while they were years younger than +he, they had already spent more hours in the class room than he ever +had, and pages that they read with ease, he struggled over. He was a +true gypsy, and he loved his freedom, and the fresh air. + +Now, as he sat at his desk, book in hand, he thought of his long tramps +over field and meadow, through forest and valley, and in his heart he +hated school, and the people who forced him to attend. + +"What's the use?" he muttered, under his breath. + +"I can catch woodchucks, and birds and squirrels," he said, softly, +"and _once_ I caught a fox, but what kin I do here? Nothing but hold +a ol' book!" A sharp command to "stop muttering, and sit still," served +to increase his wrath. + +He knew that it was not the teacher who was responsible for his presence +at school, but he thought that she _wished_ him to be there, because +she insisted that he sit still, and she would not let him leave the +room. + +"It was the p'liceman what _brung_ me here, but I'll bet 'twas her +_axed_ him to," he whispered, thus showing how angry were his thoughts, +and how greatly he needed the training that the teacher stood ready +to give. + +His mother had not dared to keep him at home, although she needed his +help. + +Gyp could not understand why she had agreed to let him go to a place +where he could neither _earn_ nor _steal_ food for the family. _He_ +felt that she had not stood by him. + +He dared not play truant, because he so feared the policeman who had +said that he _must_ attend school. + +Poor Gyp! Ignorant, and born of ignorant parents, he believed, as they +did, that if he did not go to school, he would be sent to jail! Jail +was the only thing that Gyp thought worse than school. He considered +himself a prisoner in school, but _after four_ he was _free_, so that +jail was worse only because one could not get out of jail at all! + +"If it's school or jail, I'll go to _school_!" he said. + +For weeks he appeared each morning and afternoon, sullen, and unhappy. +Then something occured that made him change his mind, and his eyes +grow bright, and his heart grow lighter. + +Out of all Avondale, Princess Polly was the only person who spoke +kindly to him. Wild, careless Gyp fairly worshipped the blue eyed, +golden haired little girl who always gave him a pleasant word, and a +smile. + +One morning, after a heavy storm, the avenues were in fair condition, +until the pupils reached a place where they must cross to the opposite +side of the street to enter the school yard. + +Gyp was not afraid of muddying his shoes, because they were so shabby +that a little mud could not make them look worse. He sat on the wall +and laughed as he saw the girls try to cross the puddle without wetting +their feet. + +"Oh, look at the ducks! No, geese!" he cried, adding: "Don't be 'fraid. +Water won't hurt ye!" + +After the other girls had reached the sidewalk, Princess Polly came +tripping along. + +She had intended to walk to school with Rose and Sprite, but Sprite, +not quite ready, had asked Polly to go along, and she would soon be +ready, and would overtake her. + +Gyp saw her coming, and stopped laughing. + +"_Jiminy_!" he ejaculated. "Somebody ought ter do _suthin'_!" + +A second later he cried: + +"Stop! Oh, stop just a minute, will ye? I'll _fix_ that puddle!" + +Polly _did_ stop. + +Snatching a piece of board that chanced to be lying on the ground just +over the wall, he flew to where Polly was standing, placed his tiny +plank over the puddle, and felt the greatest pride when he saw her +walk across, her dainty shoes without a spot upon them. + +"Oh, Gyp, you were nice to do that for me! Thank you, so much!" she +said. + +He hardly knew what to reply, but muttering something about being "no +bother at all," he ran around to the other side of the school-house +that she might not see his confusion. One thought filled his mind. He +would go to school! Yes, he would go to school every day, so that +morning and afternoon he might be where he could see her, and do any +little favor, or offer any aid, that she might need. + +Another thought soon followed. He would _work_ at his studies. He would +not be at the foot of the class. + +He must work for promotion! He must catch up with pupils of his own +age, for then he would be nearer Princess Polly, and thus able to do +any little favor, or any slight service that might please her. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +A BREATH OF THE SEA + + +It was with Polly and Rose that Sprite was happiest. She liked Lena +and Leslie, and all the others. + +The boys were her trusted friends, and she looked forward to a gay +winter with these new friends. One sunny morning Uncle John Atherton, +with Rose in the motor beside him, drove over to Sherwood Hall to call +for Polly and Sprite. + +"We're going for a long ride, Rose, so tell Polly and Sprite to take +their coats." + +They were soon ready, and running down the walk, their coats on their +arms. + +"Where are we going?" they cried, as they reached the sidewalk. Without +waiting for an answer they clambered into the car. + +"Where are we going?" they asked again. "Oh, let's all three sit on +one seat!" + +Uncle John turned to look at the three eager faces. + +"Well, well! What a lucky man I am!" he cried. "Three fine young ladies +all out for a ride with me. Are you ready?" + +"All ready!" cried the merry chorus, "but where are we going?" + +"Now _that's_ my secret," Uncle John said, with a laugh, "but I will +say that some business took me to a very charming place this morning, +and I thought I'd like company on the way. I trust you're willing to +go?" + +"Oh, yes, yes!" cried three laughing voices. + +"Then we'll start at once," said Uncle John, as if he had been waiting +in order to be re-assured. + +Over the road they flew, talking and laughing gaily. + +"Rose, do you know where we're going?" Polly asked. + +"Oh, her Uncle John would tell her," said Sprite. + +"He _didn't_" declared Rose, then; "_did_ you, Uncle John?" she cried. + +"I certainly did not tell Rose," he said, "and after another half hour +has passed, you three little friends must commence to look about you, +and see if you see anything that looks at all familiar." + +"Tell us when the half hour is up," said Polly, "and we'll begin +looking." + +They were soon running along country roads, where men were busy in the +fields, and where early fall wild flowers bordered the roads. + +Then in a brief space, they began to miss the wild flowers, and to +notice bold bits of ledge, the roads became more sandy, and as they +swung around a bend, they caught a glimpse of the sea. + +"Cliffmore! Oh, it's Cliffmore!" cried Sprite her hands tightly clasped, +and her eyes bright as stars. + +"_Isn't_ it Cliffmore, Mr. Atherton?" she asked, her little hand patting +his shoulder nervously, as she waited his reply. + +He stopped the car, and turned to gaze up into the lovely, eager face. + +Sprite, standing, her long golden hair blowing back from her face, +looked for all the world like a sea fairy. Shading her eyes with her +hand, she looked out across the sea that she loved so well. + +Then she turned to find his kind brown eyes looking up at her, as if +he were about to speak. + +"Dear little girl, I have indeed brought you to Cliffmore. I was obliged +to come here on a little business trip to look after some of my +property, and I took you for sweet company, and because I thought we'd +give two very dear people who live at the 'Syren's Cave,' a great +surprise." + +"Oh, I hope father isn't out on the water," cried Sprite. "Mother will +be there, but I want to see them both!" + +"I looked out for that," was the cheery reply, "and I wrote to tell +Captain Seaford that I should call upon him to-day. I did not say that +I should bring some callers with me." + +"Oh, what fun!" cried Polly. + +"_Won't_ they be surprised?" said Rose. + +Uncle John turned from the road, and out onto the beach. + +The tide was low, and they bowled along over the hard white sand, +little Sprite sitting with her hands tightly clasped, and her eyes +riveted upon the distant speck that she knew to be her home, while +Rose on one side, and Polly on the other, closely watched her pretty, +eager face. + +Captain Seaford, sitting just outside the door, was endeavoring to +mend a net, but constant watching for the coming of Captain Atherton +made the task of mending progress slowly. + +"I must spunk up a little," he said, "for I want to use this net," but +in spite of his resolve, he was soon watching, as before, for the +coming of his friend. + +At last he arose from the low stool on which he had been sitting, +throwing the net down in a heap on the sand. + +Mrs. Seaford, seated indoors, was busy, her needle flying in and out, +darning one of the captain's socks. + +"I can't keep my mind on my work," he said. "I tie a knot, and then +look up to see if John Atherton is in sight. I never acted like that +before. I'm always glad to see him, but for some strange reason, I +can't wait patiently for him to arrive." + +"I'm doing the same thing," his wife said. "I can't keep my mind on +this mending. I take three stitches and then look out of the window. +Isn't it strange?" + +The honking of a horn made them hasten to the door. + +They saw the big car, they dimly saw Captain Atherton, Polly, and Rose, +but with startling clearness they saw the one thing on earth that they +held most dear,--little Sprite. + +She sprang from the car and ran to them, and what a greeting she +received! + +Captain Seaford declared that it was the sunlight that made his eyes +water, but gentle Mrs. Seaford made no excuse for her tear-wet lashes. + +When the first excitement was over, they were invited to come in and +rest in the quaint living-room of the Seafords' home. + +"I thought when I read your letter, Captain Seaford, that you and your +wife were missing little Sprite even more than you had dreamed possible. +I have watched Sprite closely, and sometimes I have thought that she +was homesick. If we make the trip once a fortnight, we shall all be +happier." + +"Including yourself, John Atherton," said Captain Seaford, "for I know +you as well as you know yourself. You are never quite content, unless +planning pleasure for others. Oh, I know it, and it's no use to deny +what I say." + +"As Captain Atherton is a truthful man, he's not likely to deny it," +said Mrs. Seaford, "and now if you will all enjoy a shore dinner, I'll +ask you to be my guests." + +"I know of nothing more tempting," Captain Atherton said, and then, +because he believed that Mrs. Seaford would enjoy an hour when she +could have Sprite quite by herself, he took Rose and Princess Polly +over to "The Cliffs," where they might amuse themselves, while he +inspected the work that was being done. + +The time passed swiftly, and when Polly and Rose had seen all the +places about the house where they had played during the summer, and +Uncle John had satisfied himself that repairs that were being made +wholly pleased him, they found that it was about the time that Mrs. +Seaford had set for their return. + +"Come, ladies," he said, and they ran down the driveway, laughing and +talking, and soon in the big car, were spinning down the beach. + +As they drew near to the "Syren's Cave," Captain Seaford at the door, +sounded a long, sweet note on the horn. Polly and Rose waved their +handkerchiefs, and Sprite ran out to greet them. + +It was a sunny day, with a fresh, cool breeze blowing from the East, +and when they were seated around the table, the big tureen filled with +hot chowder seemed just what their keen appetites craved. + +Boiled fish, garnished with cress followed the chowder, and simple +pudding, served with cream, furnished the dessert. + +It surely was not an elaborate dinner, but to the guests it seemed the +finest treat that they had ever enjoyed. + +The long ride in the fresh breeze had made them eager for the noon +meal, and the sea food, daintily cooked, was a feast. + +They lingered at the table, and Mrs. Seaford, and the three little +friends listened, and laughed at the merry stories that the two sea +captains told. + +They were all in the big car when Captain Atherton said: + +"Oh, now I think of it; there's a package, and a basket in this car +that I meant to leave here, if you'll kindly store them for me." + +Captain Seaford, never guessing what the parcel, or big basket +contained, answered heartily: + +"Of course I'll store them for you, dear friend, as long as you like," +and he hastened to take them, carrying them into the house. + +"Good-byes" had been said, when John Atherton turned to say: + +"Oh, will you please open the parcel, and the basket. They're too +tightly wrapped, I think." + +"Ah, I know now that 'tis for myself you wish me to store the heavy +parcel, and the loaded basket. The heart within thy brave breast is +bigger, and warmer than that of any man I ever knew." + +It was as Captain Seaford had said. + +When, with his wife beside him, he opened the basket, he found it +filled with luscious fruit, beneath which lay a huge parcel of sugar. + +In the big bundle that the sturdy captain had found it a task to tug +to the house, was another large bag of sugar, a bag of flour, a parcel +containing beans, a giant squash, and tea and coffee. + +"Could he possibly know that at just this time, these gifts are +especially welcome?" Mrs. Seaford asked. + +"I can't imagine how he could find that out, but surely they could not +have come at a better time," was the earnest reply. + +He turned to hide the tears that had sprung to his honest eyes, when, +for the first time, he saw a large firkin, set just inside the door, +and, as if to keep it company, a large sack leaned against it. The +firkin, as the captain had called it, proved to be a huge tub of fine +butter, and the sack was filled with potatoes. + +A card was pinned to the sack. + +"These few articles I leave instead of my card. + John." + +"Ah, John Atherton, faithful friend, may every blessing be thine," +said Mrs. Seaford, with trembling lips, to which Captain Seaford, +gently breathed, "Amen." + +On the inside of the cover of the butter tub was tacked this note: + +"A load of coal for winter comfort will arrive this afternoon. I +_couldn't_ bring it in the auto. + John." + +"And see him make a joke by saying that he couldn't bring it in the +auto!" said Captain Seaford, "and thus try to make light of his +generosity. He doesn't blind us to his great goodness, though. He's +one man of a thousand!" + +In the auto the three playmates were gaily talking, singing snatches +of blithe little songs, as they sped along the beach, on the way to +Avondale. + +"I've loved to be with you before this trip," said Sprite, "but +sometimes I've longed to see home, but now that I'm to go there every +fortnight I'll be gay, and happy all the time. Oh, Mr. Atherton, I +thank you for promising that!" + +"And in return, little Sprite, I'll ask a favor," he said. "Call me +'Uncle John,' just as Rose does, and Polly does the same." + +"Oh, I will, I _will_!" she cried. "I've always wanted to." + +"You will feel more at home with an uncle so near," he said, gently. + + * * * * * * * * + +Already the boys and girls of Avondale were talking of the opening of +school. Of all the eager ones, Sprite Seaford was the most excited. +Her mother's careful training had fitted her for a class among girls +of her own age, but she did not know that. + +She hoped that she might be in the class with Princess Polly, and Rose, +but wherever her place in school might be, she was eager for the "first +day" to arrive. + +One morning Polly and Sprite were on the piazza, before breakfast, and +after pacing up and down for a while, they went down the steps, and +around behind the house to search for Sir Mortimer. + +"He's sometimes in under the bushes taking a nap," said Polly, and +they crouched to look under the shrubbery. An ear-piercing screech +made them spring to their feet, and there, flying down the road, was +Gyp, tearing along as if in fright, but what could so have startled +wild, careless Gyp? + +He did not stop running, nor did he slacken his pace, but looking +straight ahead, as if not daring to look back, to learn if he were +followed, he raced down the street, fear plainly showing in every +movement of his thin wiry legs. + +"What _could_ have frightened him?" Polly asked. Sprite could not +guess. + +Now, slowly going over his beat a patrolman passed, walking along as +if haste were a thing unheard of. + +"_That's_ what made him run!" cried Princess Polly. + +"What? The policeman!" cried Sprite. "Why he isn't chasing him." + +"Of course he isn't," Polly replied, "but Gyp is so afraid of any one +of the policemen in this town, that he runs screaming just like that +the minute he sees one." + +Together they watched, until Gyp was out of sight. + +"They say folks here in Avondale are going to _make_ Gyp go to school," +said Polly, "but I shouldn't think they could do it, and if they +_could_, just think how he'd act!" + +"I can't think," said Sprite, her eyes dancing, "but I know I'll like +to watch him the first day." + +"We couldn't watch him if we wanted to because he wouldn't be in our +room," Polly said. + +"Well, then he'll be above us, because he's bigger than we are," said +Sprite. Polly laughed as she said; + +"Oh, no he won't. He's _never_ been to school but a few months, as big +as he is. He'll be in some class below us." + +"Why, then he'll be with _little_ children," said Sprite, "and won't +he look funny when he's such a big boy?" + +"Well, that's where he'll have to be, _if_ they can make him go!" + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +A DELIGHTFUL CALL + + +One Saturday morning, Rose skipped along the sidewalk on the way to +Aunt Judith's cottage. Her cheeks were very pink, and her eyes were +bright. + +Uncle John was to take her with him in the big automobile that +afternoon, and they were to call, he said, on a very dear friend of +his. + +"Do I know her?" Rose had asked. + +"You _will_, when you see her," was the laughing reply. + +"Is it some one I've seen?" she asked, her face alight with interest. + +"Yes, and no," Uncle John said. + +"And that is all I'll tell you," he continued, "because I'd like you +to recognize her at once, without any hint from me." + +"And I'll enjoy the forenoon with Aunt Judith," she said as she opened +the little gate. + +Aunt Judith, sitting by the window saw her coming, and hastened to the +door. + +"I've been watching a half hour to see you push open the gate, and +come in," she said. + +"Oh, Aunt Judith! I'm not late," Rose said, "for look! I said I'd come +over here at nine, and it's just nine by your clock." + +"Dear child, you are very prompt, and the only reason that I sat +watching is because I wanted to see you the moment you came in sight. +Now take off your things," she said, "and then we'll sit down, and +talk over the plans for our party." + +Rose was delighted. What little girl wouldn't be? + +"First of all, dear, I had a great surprise this morning. A very great +surprise, and your Uncle John Atherton gave it to me." + +"Oh, Uncle John is always doing something nice, for _somebody_!" cried +Rose. + +"I never knew how good, how kind he could be," Aunt Judith said, +brushing away a happy tear. "He came here one evening, and said he'd +come to cheer me, and he certainly succeeded. We talked a little while, +and in his pleasant way he questioned me, trying to learn if I was +feeling prosperous. I didn't like to tell him, but he _made_ me, and +Rose, my cellar is stocked with all the wood and coal that I could use +this Winter. There are winter vegetables, apples, two big hams, a +barrel of flour,--Rose! I never felt so rich in all my life! Think of +it! Winter coming, and my cellar full!" + +"Oh, Aunt Judith! Do you wonder that I love him?" + +"Who could help it?" was the eager question, "And that's not all, for +with the idea that he hadn't done _enough_, this morning when I opened +my back door a neat looking little maid stood there. + +"I'm sent here, m'am, by your relative, Mr. Atherton, who says I'm to +work for you until you get tired of me, which he says m'am, he hopes +won't be soon." + +"I was tired this morning and when I found a little maid engaged to +do my work for me, I couldn't speak for a moment, because I was so +full of thanks, that they _almost_ choked me." + +"Now, you can stay in the dear little sitting-room, while the work in +the kitchen is being done for you. No wonder you feel rich," cried +Rose. + +"And now," said Aunt Judith, "we'll talk about the party." + +"Wait just a minute, 'til I get my little stool. There! _Now_ I'll +listen, and I'm _wild_ to hear." + +"I wish this party to be as nearly as possible like the one that I +enjoyed when I was little. First of all, I shall make some draperies +for these windows of flowered chintz. I found a whole piece up in my +store room the other day, and its gay flowered pattern looked very +like the curtains in the home I so well remember. There are fine old +hand-made rugs in the store room. I've never cared for them, but now +I know that they will look right with the flowered chintz curtains. +Now come and see what I have here in this little cupboard." + +"There! Won't these look bright and pretty on my mantel?" she asked. + +"Oh, lovely! Lovely!" cried Rose. "Where did you get them, and what +are they called?" + +"They are called candelabra, and are really ornamental candlesticks. +These clear, finely cut pendants of glass will catch and reflect light. +We'll play old-fashioned games, we'll have an old-fashioned treat, and +we'll wear real old-time costumes. It will not be a grand party, but +I believe the children will enjoy it, for it will, at least, be +different from any party that they have ever attended." + +Aunt Judith worked all the morning, stitching the hems for the chintz +curtains, and Rose pulled out the bastings, threaded needles, and in +many ways helped to make the pretty things for the little front parlor. + +"If it wasn't for school I could come again Monday and help you," Rose +said. + +"I shall easily do all that is needed," Aunt Judith replied, "for now +I have a little maid, I have more time for myself, and she said she +would be pleased to help me decorate for the party. I think she really +wishes to have a part in the preparations." + +"You have beautiful old china," said Rose, "and the boys and girls +will like the nice things served on such pretty plates." + +"Now, go into the next room, and see what I left hanging over a chair. +You may try it on, and then come out here, and let me see you," Aunt +Judith said. + +"What fun!" cried Rose, and she laughed gaily as she ran to "try on" +the quaint costume. + +"Oh, the beautiful dress!" she said when she saw the dainty frock that +Aunt Judith had chosen for her. She quickly removed her own dress, and +soon she was looking at her reflection in the mirror. She took the +hand mirror, that she might see the back of the costume. + +The little maid peeped in. She, too, had been trying on the quaint +dress that Aunt Judith intended her to wear. + +And when at last the little clock chimed the hour at which she had +promised to leave the cottage that she might be at home to lunch with +Uncle John, she said "goodbye," and ran down the path, her mind filled +with thoughts of the promised party, and of the delight of her playmates +when they should be entertained by Aunt Judith, and for the first time, +be a part of an old-fashioned party. + +Uncle John was on the broad piazza waiting for her, and together they +went in to lunch. Later, in the big automobile, they rode in a different +direction from any that Rose had ever travelled over, and she looked +up at Uncle John, as if she were wondering if he had forgotten that +there was a call to be made before they turn homeward. + +He turned to the right, and then, after a short ride, drove up a long +private avenue bordered with odd, foreign-looking trees. Although the +foliage was gone, one could see by the form of the trunk and branches +that they were not the trees usually seen at Avondale. The house, a +stately homestead, stood well back from the street, and the porch, +with its colonial pillars, gave grandeur to the entrance. And when +they were seated in the handsome parlor, Rose looked about her, and +wondered who it might be that Uncle John had brought her to see. + +A slight sound, a rustling of silken drapery, and a young woman, lovely +as a vision, entered, offered her hand to Captain Atherton, and then +turning, she looked at the little girl whose brown eyes told of +admiration. + +"And this, John, is Rose? Little Rose Atherton?" + +"This truly is my little Rose. And now, Rose, this is Miss Iris +Vandmere, and I wish you two to be the best of friends. Tell me, do +you remember if you have ever met her, or seen her before to-day?" + +"Oh, yes, _yes_!" cried Rose. "She is the lovely lady in the locket +picture, I _know_ she is!" + +"I am, indeed, the girl in the locket miniature, and now, as you have +seen me before coming here, don't look upon me as a stranger. I want +you to learn to like me, dear." + +There was pleading in the sweet voice, and Rose took the slender white +hand in hers. + +"I won't have to learn to _like_ you, because I _love_ you now. Anyone +would love you, you are so sweet, so bright to look at," Rose said, +and Iris bent her lovely head, and kissed the upturned face. + + * * * * * * * * + +"Oh, Uncle John! There _never was_, there _never will be_ anyone so +dear, so lovely," sighed Rose, when they were once more in the +automobile. "See how sweet she looks, waving her hand to us! When will +you take me to her again?" + +"Rose, little girl, you have pleased me to-day, and you shall often +go with me to the beautiful old house, to see the beautiful girl who +lives there. As I said this afternoon, I wish you to be the best of +friends." + + * * * * * * * * + +Of course the news of Aunt Judith's party flew through the neighborhood, +and many were the questions that Rose was asked to answer. + +To each, she shook her curly head, and made the same reply. + +"Aunt Judith intends it to be quaint, and everything will be +old-fashioned, and we are all to wear real old-time costumes, but that +is all I will tell you, because Aunt Judith wishes it to seem quaint, +and a bit of a surprise when you come. It won't be any surprise at all +if I tell you all about it now." + +"Don't you tell it, Rose, not even to me," said Princess Polly. + +"Nor me!" cried Sprite. + +"If she's kind enough to plan a party for us children, we ought to let +her have it just as she wishes it to be." + +Gyp sat upon the wall, listening to all that was being said. He was +full of mischief, and often he had annoyed Aunt Judith with his pranks. + +"She's agoin' ter make a party fer 'em!" he said to himself. + +He still sat on the wall, swinging his skinny legs when those who had +stood talking of the event had walked together down the street. Polly +and Sprite had lagged behind to talk with Rose until a maid had called +to Polly that Mrs. Sherwood wished them to come in. + +Rose turned toward home, and was humming as she walked along, when she +heard her name called softly. + +She looked up and down the street. Then she saw Gyp. + +"Do you know who called me?" she asked. + +"Yep!" he answered, pertly. + +"Well, who did?" queried Rose. + +"I did," he said, watching her closely. "I axed yer is she going ter +have a _big_ party?" + +"She can't. It would be too costly, and the cottage is too small, but +she is generous and kind to give us any party at all, and oh, Gyp!" +she cried, moving nearer to him, "I _do_ wish you wouldn't tease her." + +Gyp wriggled. + +"She said she hated me!" he said. + +"Well, she _might_ have been angry, but she likes boys. I've heard her +say so," Rose replied. + +"I ain't just a boy. I'm a _Gypsy_ boy. That's _different_." + +"Princess Polly is always kind to her, and I _know_ it would please +her if you stopped teasing Aunt Judith," Rose said. + +That was just the thing to have said! + +Gyp was determined to win Polly's approval at all costs. He sprang +from the low wall, and rushed off to the old shanty that his family +called "home." + +There he found an old basket, and rushing off into the heart of the +woods, he returned with a quantity of fine shellbarks that he had +gathered and hoarded. Two days before the party was to occur he obtained +a flour bag, no one knew how, emptied the basket of nuts into it, +filling it about three-quarters full. + +Long and hard he labored over the note that he tied to the bag. Sneaking +to the back door of the cottage, he dropped the bag on the upper step, +gave a tremendous knock, and then raced off to the woods. + +Aunt Judith was more than half afraid to open the big bag, but finally, +gathering courage, she cut the string, and then peeped in. + +The laboriously written note fell to the floor. She picked it up, and +for a moment, stared at it in great surprise. + +"Ter Missis Ant Joodith Im sory ive evir plagd yer an them nutts is +4 yor party coss I want yer ter no I meen whut i say. Arftur this I +wil tri hard ter be yor frend, + + "Gyp." + +"Well, of all things!" she cried, when at last she had made sense out +of the fearfully spelled note. + +"Poor, wild Gyp! Who ever dreamed that he had a heart or a conscience! +Indeed he shall be my friend if that will keep him from annoying me, +and perhaps I can find a way to befriend him. + +"Everyone is ready to lift a hand against him, so that there is nothing +to tempt him to be really good, nor to encourage him to try. + +"Strange little Arab! I wonder what prompted him to give his store of +nuts to me, and really that fearfully spelled note has a bit of +sincerity in it. I must tell John Atherton about it. I'll keep the +note, and show it to him." + +Often she paused to take the note from its retreat behind the clock, +read it, and replace it. She looked from the window whenever she passed +it, but not a glimpse of Gyp did she obtain. + +She could not imagine what had caused the little imp to leave his gift +of nuts at her door, or yet more wonderful, what had prompted him to +write his friendly little note. Its outrageous spelling was droll, but +its kindly spirit was evident. He had attended school because he was +compelled to, but he had paid but little attention to his books. + +The note had kept him busy for fully a half hour, and he considered +it a fine specimen of letter writing when it was completed. + +He thought that few boys could have done better, and he felt that in +writing it, he had literally "covered himself with glory." + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +AUNT JUDITH'S PARTY + + +The flowered chintz draperies hung at the windows, the pink roses, and +green leaves on its shiny surface looked fairly gaudy. The candles +danced and flickered in the candelabra, evergreen framed every picture +on the walls. + +Aunt Judith's quaint sofa and chairs had always been covered with +crimson repp, and the color seemed brighter in the evening light. + +The old hand-made rugs looked quaint upon the floor, and the logs in +the grate burned gaily, as if anticipating the arrival of the little +guests. + +Of all the fine, quaint things in the room, Aunt Judith was surely the +finest, and the quaintest. Her gown was of old-time print, a white +ground upon which bouquets of pansies, purple and yellow, had been +finely printed. Her black eyes were bright with excitement, and in her +glossy black hair, she had placed an old silver comb. + +Her sleeves were elbow length, and she wore long black silk mitts. She +had made her toilette with great care, and she now stood on the hearth +rug, nervously opening and shutting a small folding fan. + +The little maid peeped in. + +"Please ma'am, I hear 'em comin'," she said. + +"Wait 'til they ring, and then answer the bell," said Aunt Judith. + +The little maid looked very pretty, and she was delighted to be "in +costume," for the occasion. Her skirt, of heavy cotton, was white, +with wide pink stripes. Her waist was blue with a large white kerchief, +and on her flaxen head was a white cap with a frill that made her rosy +little face quite pleasing. + +Greta liked her new place. She liked her new mistress, too, and the +work at the little cottage was light. + +Aunt Judith was a worker, and together they kept the pretty rooms in +perfect order. + +The bell rang sharply, Greta opened the door, and the quaintest little +figures that ever were seen came tripping into the hall. + +It was not to be a ceremonious affair, so Greta took their wraps at +the door, and they entered the little parlor to greet Aunt Judith. + +Princess Polly in crisp print, with yellow primroses on a white ground, +a pale green kerchief, and yellow ribbons in her hair, was fair, and +lovely to look upon. + +Rob Lindsey in brown homespun with a yellow vest, walked beside her, +looking very like a lad of the olden time. + +Lena Lindsey, in a green and white striped gown, a wreath of white +roses and green leaves in her hair, with Leslie Grafton in scarlet +linen with white lace frills at her neck, and in her sleeves, were two +quaint lassies, and Harry Grafton in gray linen with huge white collar, +and gaily flowered tie, made a trio that delighted Aunt Judith. + +She had asked Rose to come as a guest, instead of standing with her +to receive. + +She had wished to see dear little Rose Atherton among her other guests, +simply because she thus could see her more in the same way that she +saw the other children, and she wanted to judge if she looked like +that other little Rose Atherton who once had worn that same gown. + +Uncle John knew that it was to be a children's party, but he decided +to accept Aunt Judith's invitation to be present, and enjoy their +pleasure with her. + +Shouts of laughter greeted his costume! Knee breeches of yellow linen, +a waistcoat of white linen damask, with lace frills on his bosom and +at his wrists, together with a coat of flowered striped material, made +him look like some old portrait suddenly alive. + +Rose close beside him, in the pretty frock that Aunt Judith had loaned +her, clung to his right arm as they entered together, little Sprite +Seaford on his left. + +Her gown was one that her great grand aunt had once worn, and it was +most becoming. Uncle John Atherton had especially asked her to go to +the party with Rose and himself. Her yellow hair was braided in two +long braids and crowned with a muslin cap. Her frock was blue, with +white blossoms upon it, and from its belt hung a steel bead bag that +held her handkerchief. + +Gwen was not invited. + +Aunt Judith detested her rude ways, and she would not choose a guest +who might spoil a pleasant evening by her bad behavior. + +A young friend of Uncle John's arrived a bit late, and surely his +costume was the most unusual of any of the guests. Captain Atherton +had seen the little suit in an antique shop in England. He had purchased +it, believing that some such occasion as the present might occur, when +the droll coat and trousers, the little waistcoat, and the comical cap +would be just the thing for a slender lad to wear. Walter Langdon was +indeed a quaint figure, as, with Captain Atherton, he went forward to +greet Aunt Judith, and be introduced to the other guests. + +His coat, a funny little "swallow tail," was of yellow green, his +trousers matched it, his waistcoat, or vest, was striped, lilac and +white, and his cap, green like the suit, had a long tassel hanging +down on one side. His fair hair, in a soft bang, showed below the edge +of his cap, and his eyes, wide open and merry, appeared to be just +ready for a gay laugh. + +He knew that he looked absolutely comical, and he thought it great fun +to appear at the party in a costume that provoked laughter. He proved +to be a bright, cheery boy, full of fun, and wit, and soon the other +boys and girls felt as if they had always known him. + +Uncle John wore a costume that had belonged to his great, great uncle, +and he looked very handsome in it. He made them all laugh by saying +that he wished that his ancestor had been just a wee bit larger, because +then the suit would have been somewhat easier, instead of such a _close +fit_. + +But while he seemed pleased with all of his new friends, it was Rose +Atherton whom Walter liked best of all. + +"And now," said Aunt Judith, "I've tried to make this party a truly +old-fashioned one, and what do you say to playing some very +old-fashioned games?" + +"Oh, yes, yes!" they cried. "What shall we play first?" + +"Blind Man's Buff," cried Uncle John, "and I'll blind first. Here, +Rose! Tie this handkerchief over my eyes!" + +Rose tied the handkerchief, and then the fun began. + +"He's peeking!" cried Walter, "so he can be sure to catch Rose." + +"I'm not peeking. Honest _Injun_!" declared Uncle John, exactly as he +had heard the boys say it. + +"Catch _me_!" cried Leslie, at the same time dodging him, and he grasped +empty air. + +"And _me_!" cried Lena, just behind him, springing past him as he +turned. + +Sprite made no sound as she tried to pass him, but was just a bit too +slow, and he caught her. + +"Ah, I know who I've found!" he cried, "because no other little girl +but Sprite has such long, silken braids." + +He lifted the handkerchief, and laughed to see her blushing cheeks. + +It was now Sprite's turn. Slowly she advanced, her pretty hands +outstretched, and oddly enough she at once caught Lena Lindsey. Her +little face was puzzled, and earnest, as she felt of the hair, the +cap, and the gown. Then, in an instant, she passed her slender fingers +over the chin. + +She laughed merrily. + +"It's Lena!" she cried gaily, "for it is Lena who has a deep dimple +in her chin!" + +Each took his turn at being blindfolded, and then "Post office" was +announced. + +Polly received a great batch of letters, and it was Rob, of course, +who "_mailed_" them. Polly sent five "letters" to Rose, Rose had ten +for Uncle John, Uncle John had two for Aunt Judith, who protested +that she was "not a child." + +"Neither am I," he said. + +Aunt Judith chose little Sprite, then Sprite chose Harry Grafton. Harry +had five letters for Polly, and Polly had one for Walter, who declared +that he _found two_! + +"Copenhagen" was the next, and "Pillow" was the next. + +Princess Polly, Rose and Sprite were the most favored of all the little +lassies, and it would have been hard to say which of the three was the +most popular. + +They were now a bit tired, and while they were resting, Aunt Judith +told a long story of a most exciting sleighing party that she once +experienced, when the horses became frightened, and went plunging over +the snow covered fields, having left the roadway far behind. + +Then Uncle John matched it with a vivid tale of an encounter with a +vessel manned by ocean outlaws. The children held their breath, and +they felt very warm and cosey and secure, as they sat watching the +dancing flames, and listening to tales of adventure. + +"Now let us all enjoy a simple, old-time treat," said Aunt Judith. She +tapped a tiny silver bell, and the pretty maid in her striped gown and +kerchief appeared with a tray on which were little sandwiches cut in +fancy shapes, and filled with chicken, others filled with lettuce, and +yet others with chopped nuts. Gyp did not dream that nuts were ever +served thus. + +There were plates of dainty cakes, and tiny wine glasses filled to the +brim with delicious raspberry shrub. How the children enjoyed the +simple treat! + +The sandwiches and cakes disappeared like magic, and the wee wine +glasses were filled again and again with the spiced raspberry juice. + +Greta piled her tray with an extra supply, and returned to the parlor, +where the children were chattering like sparrows while they enjoyed +the treat. + +"I think this is a lovely party," said Princess Polly. + +"So do I!" cried the others, as if with one voice. + +"I think these are the nicest boys and girls I ever met," said Walter, +adding, "_especially_ the girls." + +His merry gray eyes were laughing, and Uncle John said, as he looked +at the eager, boyish face: + +"You shall come often to my home here at Avondale, and become even +better acquainted with my young friends, and neighbors." + +"I'd like to, sir," Walter replied, "for I want them to be _my_ +friends." + +"We _will_! We _will_!" cried an eager chorus. + +It was later than they dreamed when the clock chimed the hour, and +they took leave of Aunt Judith telling her how quaint and delightful +the party had been, and how truly they had enjoyed the evening. Captain +Atherton took the entire party under his protection, and they walked +home together, talking all the way of the kindness of Aunt Judith in +planning the pleasure for them. + + * * * * * * * * + +Very early next morning an impish figure sat astride the old wooden +pump that stood near the door of the cottage. + +He seemed to have no interest in anything save that door, and he sat +very still, his eyes riveted upon it. + +The old pump had not been used in years, but it served for a fine +pedestal for Gyp. + +At last he heard the key turn in the lock, and he was all attention. + +The little maid opened it, and took in the milk jar. + +"Where's _her_?" he demanded. "I want ter see _her_!" + +Greta nodded, and ran in to call Aunt Judith. + +"There's the queerest looking boy sitting out on top of the old wooden +pump, and he says he wants to see you," said Greta. + +Half guessing who it was, for what other boy would make an early morning +call, and choose so odd a seat while he waited, Aunt Judith went to +the door, and looked out. + +"Did you wish to see me?" she asked with a pleasant smile, but Gyp had +apparently forgotten what he had intended to say. + +"The nuts were fine," Aunt Judith said, "and I want to thank you for +them." + +"_That's_ what I came fer. I wanted ter know if them nuts was any +good?" + +"They were very nice indeed, and Gyp, I'll give you something that +will show you just what I did with them. Wait a moment." + +Gyp waited, wondering if he had quite understood her. Who had ever +given him anything? + +Aunt Judith came to the door with a plate of sandwiches. + +"There, Gyp," she said, "those sandwiches on that side of the plate +are chicken but these on this side are filled with some of your nuts." + +"Oh, who ever heard of bread stuffed with nuts!" he cried. "They're +_great_!" he cried a moment later, "but I don't want the plate. We +take what we eat in our _hands_ at home." + +He suited the action to the words, for although the sandwiches were +small, he managed to grasp one with both hands, demonstrating that it +could be done. + +"That was a kind little note that you sent with the bag of nuts," Aunt +Judith said, "and since you've promised to be _my_ friend, Gyp, I +promise to be _yours_." + +"All right!" cried Gyp, "when does it begin?' + +"What?" she asked in surprise. + +"Why, _us_ bein' friends," said Gyp. + +"_Now_, Gyp, my boy. _Now_!" said Aunt Judith. "Come in and we'll talk +it over." + +"Oo-o-o! Not now!" cried Gyp, "but to-night, if I darest ter, I'll +dress up, and come." + +He slid down from the tall old wooden pump, gave three wild hops, and +then raced off across the field toward the old shed-like building that +he called home. + +She watched his flying figure from the doorway, and as he disappeared +behind a clump of bushes, she turned, and closed the door. + +"Strange, wild little fellow!" she said. "I wonder if he'll come!" And +when night came, she found herself listening for the sound of a quick +step. + +At last it came, and quickly Aunt Judith opened the door. Gyp walked +in very meekly, and sat on the edge of a chair seat, his old hat in +his hands. His hair was painfully smooth, and he wore a bright striped +shirt, an old red tie, and while his suit could hardly be called +"dressy," it certainly showed that the boy had brushed it, and that +he had tried to improve his appearance. + +At school he had learned that he must remove his hat when he entered +a room, a fact that had greatly surprised him, but he had remembered +it. + +Aunt Judith felt that she must work carefully, lest Gyp be seized with +fear, and bolt for the door, and freedom. + +Gently she told him how, by doing his best, he would find friends who +would deal kindly with him. That he might have friends if he chose, +and that he could, by good behavior, force them to respect him. + +"I will be your friend," she said, "and Gyp, let me prove it. Rose +tells me that you find your lessons hard to master. Bring them to me +evenings, and I will help you with them. You may come Wednesday, and +Saturday evenings, and perhaps you can win promotion, so as to climb +steadily up to a class of your own age." + +"Do you think I _could?_" he asked. "Would they _let_ me?" + +"_Make_ them do it, Gyp. You're smart enough. Come! What do you say? +Let's try," Aunt Judith said. + +"I'll do it," he said, "and if you help me, maybe I can get out of +that class. They laugh at me, and it makes me mad to be called 'baby.'" + +"Come over here with your books Saturday evening, and we'll see what +we two can do," was the earnest reply. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +GYP'S AMBITION + + +Gyp sauntered along on the way to school, a thoughtful expression +making his face less reckless than usual. + +"Looks 's if 'twould pay ter be decent," he said, half aloud. + +He was very quiet, and the teacher questioned if he were planning +mischief. The little pupils watched him, and wondered when his +restlessness would begin. + +His teacher wondered, too, but Gyp kept his eyes on his book, and +appeared not to know that he was being watched. + +For the first time since he had been forced to attend school, he had +a perfect spelling lesson. + +He stumbled over every long word in the reading lesson, however, and +the problems in arithmetic puzzled him completely. + +If the arithmetic had seemed easier he might not have appealed so +promptly to Aunt Judith for aid, but the young teacher was unable to +make it clear to him, and when evening came, he raced across the fields, +his book under his arm, and tapped at her door. + +"Ah, you've come, Gyp!" she said, smiling at him encouragingly, "I +hoped you would." + +"You said Wednesday and Saturday, an' this is only Tuesday, but I can't +get my lesson for termorrer 'less someone helps me," he said. + +"There is no reason why you may not stay to-night," Aunt Judith said, +kindly, "and now tell me what it was that made the arithmetic so hard +today." + +"She asked me if I had ten pears, and I wanted to keep one for myself, +and divide the others between two of my friends, how many would I give +each, and I told her I'd keep more than one for myself, and I didn't +know two _anybodies_ I'd want to give the others to, and then they all +laughed. I don't see why." + +Aunt Judith was trying not to laugh as heartily as the little pupils +whose merriment had so annoyed Gyp. + +"And the next thing she asked was about dividing pears, too. Don't +folks divide anything but _pears_? They don't in the arithmetic!" + +"Oh, Gyp, Gyp!" cried Aunt Judith, and the puzzled boy laughed with +her, because he could not help it. + +He did not mind her laughter. Indeed, he already felt better acquainted +with her, because they had laughed together. The laughter of the little +pupils had maddened him, but that was different. + +"_They_ laughed _at_ me, but _you_ laugh _with_ me," he said, with +quick understanding. + +"And I'll _work_ with you, Gyp," was the pleasant answer, and the boy +at once opened his book. + +When Gyp took his cap and started for home, after two hours spent at +the cottage, he had a better understanding of figures, and their use, +and the actual worth of arithmetic, than he had obtained, thus far, +in his daily attendance at school. + +"Why, Gyp," Aunt Judith had said, in reply to his statement that he +"didn't see any use for arithmetic," "you mustn't grow to manhood with +no knowledge of arithmetic, or knowledge of figures, or how to reckon. +When you go to work you will need this knowledge. There are few things +that you can do that will not be easier, or better done, and perhaps +be better paid for if you are 'quick at figures.' You must not always +live like a gypsy. You must learn all you can while you are at school, +and then you must work, and earn, and try to be a good, and useful +man. You _can_, I know, if you _try_." + +Gyp thought of Aunt Judith's words as he lay on his rude bed that +night. + +"She said I needn't always live like a gypsy," he murmured. "She said +I could learn, and then some time I could earn." + +He lay a long time, wide awake, repeating Aunt Judith's words of cheer, +and each time that he whispered them, he grew braver, and more +determined. + +"They've always said, 'Oh, he's only a gypsy,' but I'll learn, and +I'll earn, and I'll do something. I don't know what, but I'll do +something, see 'f I don't!" + +There was no one to dispute his statement, and he dropped to sleep, +and dreamed of doing great deeds. + +Ever since he could remember, he had heard the boys of Avondale speak +as if he were a gypsy, and as if that fact explained every bit of +mischief that he did. He had always felt that, being a gypsy, there +was no chance for him in any walk of life, and that, therefore, there +was simply no use to try. + +Now a new light had dawned, and with it came hope, cheer, determination, +to succeed. + +"I'll do it," he murmured in his sleep. + + * * * * * * * * + +Soon it was whispered that Gyp was working hard at school for promotion, +and when he took his place in a class higher, he held his head high, +and bravely worked at his lessons. Aunt Judith stood by him, and +Wednesday and Saturday evenings, rain or shine, he spent at her little +home, working with all his might to improve. + +In the middle of the term, because of extra work that he had done under +her instruction, he was again promoted. + +He was steadily "catching up" with the boys of his own age. Those boys +had now ceased to laugh at Gyp. He was winning their respect. + +Sprite Seaford was another pupil who was working faithfully. She knew +that her dear father and mother had made a great sacrifice when they +had decided to live through the Fall, the Winter and, the Spring in +the old house on the shore, without the little daughter, whose face +was like sunshine, whose voice was music in the home. + +There were times when Sprite was homesick, but those were the rare +occasions when she chanced to be alone. Just now she was very happy. +The weather was mild. All snow had vanished beneath the warm rays of +the sun, and she ran out to know if it were really as warm as it looked. +The tall evergreen trees and hedges shone dark against the sky, and +Sprite stood looking at them. She had taken part in a little play on +the week before, and some of the lines now flitted through her mind, +and she lifted her pretty arms in graceful gesture. With the dark trees +and low shrubbery behind her, she recited the lines with appropriate +gesture, and telling effect. + +Six small girls had taken part in the little play, and each had been +chosen by Miss Kenyon, because of her talent for speaking. Sprite, +with her long, golden hair, and her slender figure, had been cast for +the fairy queen, whose delight it was to grant the wishes of all good +children. + +Now she stepped out into an open space, the beautiful garden making +a lovely background for her figure. Gracefully she stood as she recited +a verse that had been a part of the fairy play. + + "If you're striving to excel, + And your very best you do, + You shall be rewarded well; + I will make your wish come true." + +A dark figure crouched behind a clump of underbrush that the gardener +had thought too pretty to cut down. + +Through snow and ice the red leaves had clung to the little scrub oak, +and now that a mild day had come, the leaves looked very bright as the +sun lay on them. + +The figure hiding there was Gyp, and his eyes grew brighter as he heard +the little verse. + +He stirred uneasily. + +Sprite, believing herself to be alone, repeated the verse with even +greater spirit than before, and as she spoke the last line, Gyp sprang +to his feet. + +"I will make your wish come true," said Sprite, whereat Gyp sprang +from his hiding-place, crying: + +"Oh, _will_ yer? _Will_ yer? _Are_ ye a fairy? _Kin_ yer grant my +wish?" + +All the superstition of his race showed in his eager face. + +Sprite seemed neither afraid nor startled, nor was she annoyed at the +interruption. For, a second she looked in gentle surprise at the boy's +dark, eager face. + +Then a look of pity made her eyes very soft. + +"Oh, Gyp!" she cried, "what is the wish you want granted? I'm not a +fairy, so of course I can't grant it, but,--Oh, Gyp! I'm awfully sorry. +Tell me what the wish is! Sometimes it helps to tell." + +Pityingly, and more like a little woman than like the child that she +was, she spoke to comfort him. + +For a moment he felt abashed that he had so plainly shown the longing +in his heart, then as she asked again, he cried: + +"I want to be _someone_. I want a chance to be _something_ besides +Gyp, the gypsy boy." + +"Oh, then that's almost granted _now_!" she cried in quick relief, +"because I heard the teacher say, the other day: + +"'That boy will get there! That boy will be someone worth while, and +I mean to help him.'" + +"Did she say _that_?" cried Gyp, his eyes showing how little he dreamed +that the work that he was doing was being noticed. + +"She truly did," said Sprite, "so while I couldn't grant your wish, +I _could_ tell you that it would come true, and I'm glad of that." + +"So'm I," agreed Gyp, "but don't yer tell any of the others that I +thought yer was a fairy, will yer?" + +She promised faithfully, and when he had thanked her for what she had +told him, and for the promise that she had just made, he turned and, +as usual, ran off to the woods. + +Sprite stood watching him as he ran, like the wind across the fields, +and even as she looked he turned, paused a moment, and waved his hand +to the little waiting figure. + +Quickly she lifted hers, and returned his salute. + +He stood just a second, waved his hand again, and then plunged into +the thicket. + + * * * * * * * * + +When he entered the old shack that he called "home," he found his +mother stirring a steaming mass that nearly filled the huge iron kettle +that stood on the rusty stove. + +His small brothers and sisters formed a half circle around her, watching +every movement that helped to prepare the dinner. They were all much +younger than Gyp, and only one, a girl, was yet of school age. + +"They'll be comin' after yer ter make me let ye go ter school same's +Gyp," the woman was saying, as the boy opened the door, "but I need +ye ter home this Winter ter help me, sure's my name is Gifford." + +"_Is_ yer name Gifford?" Gyp asked in surprise. + +"Of course 'tis, Gyp. Why d'ye ask? Ain't ye never heard that before?" +she asked, sharply. + +"Never heard us folks called anything but gypsies," he replied. + +"Well, how could ye? Don't no one never come here," his mother said, +with fearful disregard of grammar. + +"Then why isn't _my_ name Gifford, too?" he persisted. + +"Wal, _'tis_. Ye was named John, John Gifford, but ye couldn't seem +ter say that in yer baby days, so ye left off the 'John,' and called, +'Gifford,' 'Gyp,' an' 'Gyp' it has been ever since. Don't they call +ye that at school? I told the ol' feller what come ter say ye must +'tend school that that was yer name." + +Gyp did not reply. + +He thought best to be silent, and picking up one of his books, he +studied until dinner was ready. + +No time was wasted in serving. A very small low table was dragged to +the center of the floor, the kettle was placed upon it, and then, a +hungry circle, they swarmed around it. + +The soup was very hot, but each was provided with a long slice of +bread, and these they dipped into the soup, blowing it for a moment, +and then eating it ravenously. + +Gyp ate, as the others did. What else could he do? He had caught +glimpses, now and then, of a better way of living, and in his heart +he thought; + +"I will not always live like a gypsy." + +His teacher had called him "Gyp" as others did. + +The next day, he appeared very early at school, and astonished her by +asking shyly if she would call him, by his name, "John." + +"Certainly, if you wish it," she said. + +"I thought you liked to be called Gyp, and would feel more at home if +I called you that." + +"That's _just_ it!" he cried, in quick anger, "I _would_ 'feel at home' +with that old name, but I don't want to '_feel at home_.' I'll not +_always_ live like a gypsy, and I want a decent name, like other boys!" + +"That's _right_, Gyp, no _John_!" she said, and both smiled to see how +difficult it was to remember the new name. + +"You can be so good and useful that every man, woman and child in +Avondale will be forced to respect the name of John Gifford. I will +speak of this to the pupils, and now that they all see how hard you +are trying to gain knowledge, I think they will be willing to call you +by the name that is really yours. Remember this, however. Don't be +offended if sometimes we forget, and call you 'Gyp.' It may mean only +that we remember the boy who, while still thus addressed, made +persistent effort to improve." + + * * * * * * * * + +There was great excitement one Wednesday morning when dainty invitations +were received by all the boys and girls who usually played together, +requesting the pleasure of their company two weeks from that night, +at the home of John Atherton. + +"Festivities to commence at eight," was inscribed in gold letters at +the bottom of the page. + +"Oh, Rose, I ought not to ask," said Princess Polly, "and I won't ask +_what_ the festivities are to be, but I'll ask you if you know?' + +"Not the least thing," Rose replied, "and when I asked Uncle John, he +only laughed, and said that was his little secret, so we'll have to +wait 'til the night of the party to know what he has planned. The only +thing that he has told me is that on the night of the party, Sprite +is to remain at our house and that will be the first night of her visit +with us." + +"I know that," Princess Polly said, "because he told papa that the +time for Sprite to be with him was close at hand, and papa said that +he knew that we had had our share of her visit, but she has been so +sweet, so dear, that we'd never be ready to let her go." + +"That's just the reason we want her, for truly, Princess Polly, next +to you, Sprite is the sweetest girl I know. There's no girl quite so +dear as you, Polly, but surely Sprite comes the very next," Rose said. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +A JOLLY TIME + + +Gwen Harcourt felt that in leaving school at Avondale, and entering +a small private school in the next town she was really doing something +quite fine. + +To be sure, the little school was not much of a school. Rather it +should have been called a private _class_, and the little pupils met +at the home of a young woman who was far from well equipped for the +task of directing their studies, or training their minds. + +She had acquired a fair education, but so little governing power had +she that the pupils did about as they chose, and that Gwen considered +the most charming fact regarding the class. + +She thought it very smart to go over to the station, walk up and down +the platform waiting for the train, and then, seated in the car, offer +her ticket to the conductor when he came down the aisle. + +"The Avondale girls and boys just walk to school, but I have to take +a train!" she said to herself one morning, as she hurried toward the +station. + +One might have thought it a _convenience_ to live at a distance from +the school. The next town was a mile from Avondale, and Gwen thought +it very daring to take the trip alone. + +"It makes me sick to listen when Gwen Harcourt is talking about going +to school," said Rob. "She thinks it a great thing to ride a mile! If +she had to ride twenty-five miles, she'd feel so big that Avondale +would not be big enough to hold her." + +Rob Lindsey had met Gwen near the station, and she had looked at him +as sharply as if she had not seen him for a year. + +"Do you _still_ go to school at Avondale?" she asked. + +"Why, yes," Rob said. "Did you think we commenced to stay at home when +_you_ left?" + +"Well, I wouldn't go back there for anything!" declared Gwen. "My mamma +calls me a very wonderful child, and when she told my new teacher that, +she said to mamma; 'I know she's an unusual child. I can see that at +a glance.'" + +"Perhaps she'd call _me_ wonderful if I engaged her to do so. I might +tell her to just look at me and say if she'd give me a prize." + +Lena laughed at Rob's disgust. + +"I wonder if she will think any parties that are given at Avondale are +too _near_ to be interesting?" she said. + +"I wouldn't risk inviting her if I didn't want her to accept," Rob +replied as he picked up his books and turned toward the door. + +"Oh, say, Lena!" he cried, "I just happened to think of Captain +Atherton's party. Do you suppose Gwen is invited?" + +"Why, Rob! What a question! Captain Atherton wouldn't slight any child +in this neighborhood. Of course Gwen will be invited," Lena said. + +"Then she'll be there," cried Rob. "She couldn't stay away." + +Lena was a little late in preparing for school, and as she ran down +the walk, she saw Leslie Grafton just ahead of her, hurrying down the +avenue. + +"Leslie!" she cried, and Leslie turned a laughing face toward her. + +"Come on!" she cried, "I can't wait. Catch up with me, Lena. I want +to ask you something." + +Lena was swift footed, and soon they were running along together. + +They were just in time to avoid being late, and as they entered, Leslie +whispered: + +"I'll ask the question at recess." + +It happened that at recess, everyone was ready to ask the same question. + +"Does anyone know what the 'festivities' are to be at Captain Atherton's +party?" + +That was the question that each asked the other, but while all asked +the question, no one could answer it, and Harry Grafton laughed as he +said; + +"We'll have to wait 'til the evening of the party, and we might as +well wait patiently." + +"Rose won't tell us," Lena said, reaching to give one of Rose's brown +curls just a little "tweak." + +"At first when you asked me, I said I didn't know," said Rose, "but +now I'll have to say that I know all of Uncle John's plans for the +party, but I won't tell." + +"And Sprite knows something about it, for see! She's laughing now," +said Rob. + +"Like Rose I know, but won't tell," Sprite said. + +"I won't tease then," said Princess Polly, "because they ought not to +tell, and I don't _really_ want them to. I'd like to know now, but I'd +rather have it a surprise when the evening comes." + +"Polly is right, as usual," said Rob Lindsey, to which Harry Grafton +replied in a teasing voice: + +"Does anyone believe that Rob would say that _anything_ that Polly +does is _anything_ but right?" + +"Quit teasing," cried Rob, "or I'll return the favor." + +Harry at once became silent, and the others laughed, for it was well +known that he admired Rose, and that he did not like to be teased. + +On the evening of the party the little guests arrived promptly. +"Festivities to commence at eight," the invitations had said, and there +was not a boy or girl who cared to miss any of the pleasures offered. + +Captain Atherton's new home was a blaze of light, and every room was +decorated with a wealth of greenery, and glowing blossoms. + +Mimic butterflies hovered among the flowers, and soft music sounded +through the halls. Silvery bells were vying with the triangle in +producing tinkling tones that chimed in sweet accord with the melody +that the strings were playing. + +At one end of the spacious parlor a tiny grove of palms and tall shrubs +looked as if transplanted from out of doors. + +Captain Atherton, tall and handsome, greeted his little friends gaily, +and when all had arrived, he led them toward the grove. + +"Wait here a moment," he said, "and see what happens. This is an +enchanted grove, and a sweet enchantress is in hiding here. + + "Come forth, oh lady fair, + Dear spirit of the air, + We long to see thy face, + Thy form of airy grace. + Some things we long to know + Thou well can'st tell, I trow." + +For a moment not a sound save the soft music was heard. Then,--a +rustling as of silken draperies, or like wind among the leaves, and +the branches parted, and Iris Vandmere, radiant, smiling, extended her +pretty hands in greeting. Clad in softest silk gauze in lilac, and +ivory white, she suggested the blossom for which she was named. Like +a fair iris bloom she appeared, diamonds on her neck and in her hair +representing dewdrops. + + "Dearest friends, I heard you call, + I have come to greet you all. + I am now your fairy queen, + And, beneath these branches green, + I will grant, to each of you + That your dearest wish come true." + +"Oh-o-o-o!" came like a sigh of delight from the excited children as +they gazed at the lovely figure. + +Each had a wish, and wisely she answered, for Iris was as quick witted +as she was beautiful. + +"I wish I could make everyone happy," said Princess Polly. + +"Be as loving and kind as I am told you now are, and your wish will +come true," said Queen Iris. + +"I'd like to do something _very_ nice for father and mother that would +be a sweet surprise," said Sprite. "I _wish_ I knew what to do." + +"Your wish is granted," said Iris. She wrote a few words on a slip of +pink paper. + +"Look at this to-morrow morning and you will know just what to do," +she said as she placed the tiny folded paper in Sprite's hand. + +In the same sweet manner Iris contrived to grant the wishes of all. + +Gwen held back. + +"Have you no wish?" Iris asked kindly, and Gwen hesitated, then she +said; + +"_Yes_. I want to be admired _all_ the time and _everywhere_." + +Iris looked searchingly at the pretty, but pert face. Then she said; + +"Be kind, be good, be sweet, be true, and all the world shall smile +on you." + +"Oh, I don't mean _that_ way!" said Gwen in disgust. + +"If you do as I tell you, you will be beautiful," said Iris. + +"Why, I'm beautiful _now_! My mamma says so!" cried Gwen. The children +stared in amazement at the child who could make such a silly speech. + +For a second no one spoke. To relieve the situation, Captain Atherton +spoke. + +"I think Queen Iris has granted your wishes most wisely. Now, let me +present to you the little Goddess of Plenty." + +He drew aside a brocade hanging and disclosed a huge half blown rose. + +Its large petals commenced to open, and from its center sprang Rose +Atherton, a "horn of plenty" in her hands, filled with bonbons. Laughing +gaily, she lifted her hands filled with bonbons and tossed them into +the center of the room. + +Many of them were caught, so that few fell to the floor. Wrapped in +tinsel, they shone like stars as they caught the light, and the boys +and girls vied with each other, laughing as they tried to see which +would be lucky, and secure the largest number. + +When the gilded horn was empty, Rose ran to where a giant scallop shell +was standing. It was formed of papier-mache, and decorated to look +like the texture of a shell. + +"Guess what's in this!" she said, looking over her shoulder to laugh +at them. + +"Oh, is it Sprite?" Princess Polly asked eagerly. "You were in the big +rose. Is Sprite in the beautiful shell?" + +Rose lightly touched the top edge of the shell. + +It opened wide, and there, sure enough sat Sprite all clad in soft +flesh pink gauze and coral, coral everywhere. + +Strings of coral beads held her golden hair in place, hung from her +neck and arms, encircled her slender waist. + +She extended her arms, and then as the musicians played a little +prelude, she commenced to sing. + + "I've lovely gifts for my dearest friends + I've something for each of you, + I've coral beads for the girls so fair, + I've scarfpins, dear boys, for you. + And always we will remember this, + That a gift has a value true, + But better far, than the finest gift + Is the love that we give to you." + +"Oh, Sprite, dear Sprite!" they cried, as they thronged around her to +accept the beautiful coral. The girls gaily clasped the necklaces, and +quite as eagerly, the boys accepted the pretty scarf pins. + +"Now, we'll have some magic!" Captain Atherton said, "and let us all +be seated here at this end of the parlor." + +Quickly they turned to do as he said, and to their surprise, they found +that while Iris, and Rose, and Sprite had been entertaining them, the +housekeeper had arranged the seats in rows, as if at a private theatre. + +They were soon seated, the musicians began to play some merry music, +and then two slender nimble fellows, all silk tights, and spangles, +ran in and began to balance great gilded balls on the tips of tiny +wands. + +Then they spun plates on those same slender wands, they brought a huge +globe, and walked upon it, rolling it, by treading it, quite across +that end of the room. They did clever tricks that made the children +laugh, and at last, they rolled themselves up like balls, and rolled +right out of the room! + +The children cheered, and generously applauded, whereupon the two +performers came back and repeated the last part of their act. + +The housekeeper now appeared, gowned in black silk, with a fine white +muslin cap, and apron. + +"Will all these little friends, led by Captain Atherton, and Miss +Vandmere, march out to the dining-room for refreshments?" she asked, +and the eager little friends waited for no urging. A spread had been +prepared especially suitable for a cold, wintry night, and how they +did enjoy it! + +Hot chicken boullion, wee, hot chicken pies in the dearest little round +nappies, ice cream in lovely shapes, and hot chocolate with whipped +cream. Oh, but nothing could have been chosen that would have been so +delicious for a treat to be enjoyed on a frosty evening! + +"Let us crack this huge nut," said Captain Atherton, and suiting the +action to the word, he hit the big nut that lay upon a salver in the +center of the table. + +With a "crack" like a toy pistol it opened, proving itself to be filled +with nuts of the usual size. + +Then what fun they had trying to open their nuts! Some were chocolate +nuts, with nut meats inside, while others were real nut shells filled +with bonbons. + +After the good things had been enjoyed, they hastened back to the large +drawing-room, where they danced to the merry music. + +It was an evening of fun and frolic, and when, in the midst of their +fun, they noticed that bright, handsome Uncle John Atherton was dancing +with Miss Iris Vandmere, they slyly formed a laughing ring around them +and danced, and sang to their hearts' content. + +It had been a bright, merry evening, and when the boys and girls told +Captain Atherton how he had delighted them, he said, heartily: + +"I have been very happy this evening, and if it is possible that you +have been even _half_ as happy as I have been, I shall feel well repaid +for having given this party." + + * * * * * * * * * + +Lessons were rather neglected next morning, for who could enjoy such +an evening of rare delight, and so soon forget to think of its many +pleasures? More than once the teacher had to speak rather sharply +because she realized that their minds were upon something that had +nothing to do with their lessons. + +Many were the notes that were written, and exchanged, and when, at +last, school was out, they walked along the avenue, their arms about +each other's waists, and all the way they talked about the party of +the night before. + +"Oh, Sprite! You did your part well!" said Harry Grafton. + +"And you looked just like a sea fairy!" said Lena Lindsey. + +"I mean always to keep my lovely necklace," said Princess Polly, "and +let's every one of us keep the pretty coral gifts to help us to remember +the fine party that we so enjoyed." + +"We'd never forget it," said Leslie, "but we'll all want to keep the +dainty corals." + +"And wasn't Miss Vandmere beautiful when she came to grant our wishes?" +Rose asked. "Already I love her." + +"_Already_?" Rob said, and his voice bespoke a question. + +"Why, yes," Rose said, "already." + +"That sounds odd, and queer," objected Gwen. "Why don't you tell us +just what you mean?" but Rose chose not to reply. + +She only laughed and shook her head. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +A HOLIDAY PARTY + + +Sprite could not wait to dress on the morning after the party. Softly +she crept across the floor to the chair over which she had hung her +frock. + +From the folds of its girdle she drew the tinted paper, and opening +it she read: "Captain Atherton is to offer a prize to the boy or girl +who has highest rank at Christmas time. Try for it, and I believe that +you will obtain it. Will not that delight your dear father and mother?" + +"I _will_ try!" she whispered, "and oh, if it is possible, I'll get +it, just to repay them for letting me have this lovely Winter. I wonder +if it is to be a medal!" + +It was her first morning at the home of John Atherton, and as she +looked around the pretty chamber, she knew that she could be very happy +there. + +She had enjoyed her stay at Sherwood Hall. + +Now commenced another visit with dear Rose Atherton as her companion, +and Sprite wondered why such great good fortune had been given her. + +Once she had been a dear little lass by the sea, with two loving +parents, but no playmates. Now, she had Princess Polly, and Rose, +beside ever so many little schoolmates, and she was being cared for +by Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood, and Captain Atherton, who had asked her to +call him, "Uncle John." + +"I'm having so much pleasure," she whispered, "that I want to send +some down to the 'Mermaid's Cave.' I'll begin _to-day_ to work for the +prize!" + +She seemed unusually quiet at breakfast, and Uncle John wondered if +she were tired from the excitement of the night before, or if she were +a bit homesick. + +Gently he questioned her, and she laughed so gaily that at once his +fears were allayed. + +"I'm not tired, and not a bit homesick," she said, "but I've been +thinking that I mustn't waste one single minute before Christmas. I +mean to win that prize, and to do that I'll have to work very hard." + +"Why, Sprite!" cried Rose, "you've been working hard ever since school +opened." + +"I have," she said quietly, "but I'll have to work harder still, and +I'm willing to, if I have to work day and evening." + +"Oh, Uncle John!" cried Rose, "she won't have to do that. Her lessons +are _almost_ perfect now. A little more study, and she will easily be +at the head of the class." + +It was announced that day at school that Captain John Atherton had +offered a prize for the best average, and Sprite gasped when the teacher +said; + +"The prize is well worth working for. It is a large prize for any boy +or girl to win. It is fifty dollars in gold! Now work for it! You will +all gain by trying, for while but one can win the prize, every scholar +who works for it, has higher scholarship, and has acquired more +knowledge than if he had not entered the competition." + +The pupils were greatly interested, and it was evident that many +intended to strive for the prize. Harry Grafton, on the way home from +school, turned quickly to look at Rob as he asked; + +"What's Gwen Harcourt doing these days?" + +"I've no idea," Rob answered in a careless manner, and if he had spoken +his thoughts, he would have said that he did not greatly care. + +"Well, she's not going to school, and what is queerer than that, she +isn't coming over here to tell us all about it," Harry said. + +There were other matters of greater interest to be talked of, and the +two boys soon forgot Gwen. + +Gwen Harcourt never allowed herself to be long forgotten, and one +bright afternoon, she decided to run off by herself and have a little +fun of the kind that she liked best. + +She stopped first at Aunt Judith's cottage. + +She could not have told why she chose first to call there. Aunt Judith +and the little maid had gone down to the parsonage for a call, and +Gwen knocked until she was tired, then paused on the step, trying to +decide where next she would call. + +"Stupid that everyone is in school, and won't be out for an hour!" she +said. + +Then her eyes brightened. + +"I know where I'll go!" she cried. + +She turned from the avenue into a pretty street, and ran along until +she reached a house that set a little farther back than the others. + +"There's a lady who lives here who looks pleasant, and I've always +meant to see the inside of her house," thought Gwen. "I can stay a +little while there, and be just in time to meet the other girls when +they come out of school." + +She rang the bell. + +No one came to the door. After waiting a few moments she rang again. + +Again she waited, listening for approaching footsteps. Then she stooped, +and tried to peep through the keyhole. She turned, a crafty light in +her eyes, and she nodded until her curls danced as she softly said; + +"What if the door isn't locked? And what if I should walk right in, +and sit down? What would happen?" + +She looked elfish as she asked the questions, a smile parting her lips. + +Carefully she turned the knob and then, a gentle push opened the door, +and on tiptoe, she entered, making her way along the hall to a room +where the sunlight streamed across the floor. + +The hall had been dark, and coming suddenly upon the broad band of +sunlight, Gwen was almost blinded, and for a few seconds, she did not +see other objects in the room. A chair stood near the door, and she +climbed upon it, squirming around, and sitting down as if it were +exactly what she had come intending to do. + +She wondered why the house was so still. + +She also wondered where the pleasant faced lady was. She felt strangely +nervous, and a bit afraid. + +She could not have told why she felt afraid to move, and so sat +absolutely still. Her eyes roved from one object to another, first +looking at the pictures on the wall, then the ornaments upon the mantel, +then the lamp upon the table just before her, then,-- + +Between the lamp, and a tall vase that stood near it, a pair of eyes +were looking sharply at her. + +Gwen clutched the arms of her chair, caught her breath in terror, and +then screamed. + +"Strange that I can't read without being interrupted by a child who +knows no better than to poke her impudent little nose in here, +uninvited!" + +The voice low and angry made her tremble with fear, and she slid from +the chair, raced out through the hall, ran down the street, never once +looked behind her. + +"I won't _ever_ go _anywhere_ again, unless somebody asks me to," she +said to herself. Who that ever had known Gwen would believe that she +could refrain from doing just the same thing, the first time that her +curiosity prompted her? She had been frightened, and, for the moment, +would have promised anything. + +The man, a studious, quiet man, with an unpleasant disposition, had +been annoyed when Gwen had interrupted his reading. + +Knowing little of children, he had not dreamed that he would frighten +her, and when she ran out, he simply turned another page, and continued +reading. + +He had wished her to fully realize that she was an intruder, and when +she turned and ran, he felt that she understood. + +The first person that she met was the private teacher who, for the +past few weeks had been endeavoring to have at least a few hours each +day devoted study. + +Gwen had refused to look at a lesson book in the forenoon, and when +afternoon had arrived, she had left the house to escape instruction. + +"Miss Gwen, I've been looking everywhere for you, and your mamma is +really quite nervous, because you've been gone so long. Where have you +been?" the young woman asked. + +"I don't _have_ to tell you," Gwen replied rudely, "but I will because +I want to. I made some calls, and the last one was funny, and queer +too. I was frightened _some_, and I ran out of the house where a cross +man just shouted at me!" + +"Was he a neighbor?" the teacher asked, looking curiously at Gwen. + +"Of course not," cried Gwen. "What fun would it be to call on neighbors? +I'd rather go to houses where I _don't know_ the people, just for the +sake of seeing what they look like, and how their houses look." + +The young teacher was not surprised. That very morning, soon after +breakfast, upon returning to her room, she had found Gwen on her knees +searching her trunk. Gwen had neither blushed, nor looked abashed. + +"I wanted to know how many dresses you brought with you," she had said +coolly, "and I don't see but one in the closet, two in this trunk, and +one you have on. Is that all you have?" + +Mrs. Harcourt passing the door, looked in to smile at Gwen. + +"You mustn't mind if my little daughter examines your belongings in +your trunks or bureau drawers. She's only deeply interested in you," +she said. + +The young governess felt like saying that she did not enjoy the sort +of interest that made a child feel free to handle and examine the +property of others, but she said nothing. + +She knew that Mrs. Harcourt considered Gwen faultless. + + * * * * * * * * + +Weeks had passed since the little pupils had commenced to strive to +win the prize. Now there was great excitement. At the end of the +afternoon session the name of the winner was to be announced, and in +the evening the Holiday party at Sherwood Hall was to be enjoyed. + +Of all the boys and girls at school, Sprite Seaford was surely the +most restless. + +At one time her cheeks would be hot, and soon after the color would +leave them. + +She had worked very, _very_ hard to win the prize. + +Oh, whose was it to be? + +She clasped, and unclasped her nervous hands. + +And when at last the teacher went to the board just back of her desk +and wrote: + +"Sprite Seaford, Prize winner," Sprite leaned back in her seat, pale, +and almost breathless. For a moment not a sound broke the silence. + +Sprite stared at the written words as if half stunned with surprise. + +"Three cheers for Sprite Seaford!" shouted Rob Lindsey, forgetting +that he was in school, and the teacher laughed outright. + +"Give them, every one of you," she cried, and they gave them with a +will. + + * * * * * * * * + +Evening had come, starlight, moonlight in the great garden at Sherwood +Hall, and a blaze of light indoors, where little feet kept time to +sweet music, and sweeter voices laughed and talked in merry mood. + +Princess Polly in white with silver spangles, a silver bandeau holding +her powdered curls in place, looked like a little lady of the time of +Watteau. + +Faces and forms were different in character, but the costumes were +similar, because Mrs. Sherwood had asked both boys and girls to come +clad in white, with powdered hair. + +It was a Holiday party, and the white costumes suggested the snowy +season. + +The walls were hung with holly and mistletoe, and the wreaths and +garlands were tied with scarlet ribbons, while portieres and hangings +were of scarlet brocade. + +Rosy cheeks and red lips looked well with the powdered hair, and bright +eyes twinkled beneath snowy bangs. + +A slender figure dressed in the gaudy colors of a court jester, skipped +here and there between the dancers making comical jokes, while he +tossed, and nimbly caught a bright colored ball. + +Still they danced to merry measures, and from behind a damask curtain +came a slender girl in hues as bright as that of the jester. + +A basket of beautiful flowers hung from her arm, and these she offered +to the little guests. + +The boys placed them in their buttonholes, and the girls tucked the +roses and lilies in their girdles. + +Hark! A flourish of silvery trumpets announced the arrival of some +great personage! + +Another long, sweet note, and there strode into the room a tall figure +in crimson velvet and white fur, with snowy beard, and kindly face, +across whose breast gold letters bespoke his name: + +"King Christmas." + +A great pack was on his back, which when opened, gave forth beautiful +gifts for all. + +There were bangles for the girls, there were rings, or silver pencils +for the boys, and a kindly word he spoke to each as he presented the +gift. + +"Now here's a little purse of fifty gold dollars for the little lass +who won it by faithful study, and the giver permits me to present it. +Come, little lass, and take it, for now it belongs to you." + +Sprite ran to him, as he stood waiting. + +"Oh, I know you, King Christmas! You are good, kind Uncle John! I know +your pleasant voice that I've learned to love so well!" she said. + +"Even as I love you, dear child," he cried, placing a strong arm around +her slender little form, while with the other hand he tore off the +beard that so disguised him. + +"I am King Christmas," he said, laughing gaily as he pointed proudly +to the golden letters on his breast. + +"Also Baron Goodfellow!" said Mr. Sherwood. "That name fits you just +as well." + +"Prince Give Give wouldn't be half bad," said Rob Lindsey, "for he's +wild to give _somebody something_, all the time." + +"Everyone in this house to-night is dear," said Sprite. + +"Including you, Sprite Seaford," said Rose, and little Sprite felt +that she had never been so happy. + +There were merry games, and then refreshments, and then more games in +which the elders joined, and when "good nights" were said, the guests +turned homeward with happy hearts. + +The moonlight shimmered on the snow, and glittered on the pendant +icicles, and the keen, frosty air proved it to be true Holiday weather. + +Jingling sleigh bells, tooting auto horns, voices talking, and laughing +at the same time told of a gay evening that all had enjoyed. + +They would dream of the party that night, and talk of it on the morrow. + +There was one thing that no one thought of until some time after the +party, and it was Leslie who spoke of it, to Rose and Princess Polly. + +"Only think!" she said, "Mrs. Harcourt has had three different teachers +for Gwen this Winter, because Gwen has acted so that the first and +second left, and Gwen said yesterday that the one they have now is to +leave next Monday." + +"Why _does_ she act so horrid?" said Rose. + +"I'll tell you one nice thing about Gwen," said Princess Polly, "and +that is that she didn't do one single thing at my party that wasn't +nice." + +"Why, truly she didn't!" cried Rose and Sprite together. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +UNCLE JOHN MAKES A PROMISE + + +Rain or shine, every Wednesday and Saturday evening found Gyp at the +table in the sitting-room at Aunt Judith's cottage, bending over his +books. + +Aunt Judith, busy with a bit of needlework, looked often at the boy +as he bent eagerly over his book, and marvelled that this was the same +boy who less than a year ago was a trial to every owner of a garden +or orchard. + +A puzzled frown puckered his forehead one evening as he worked. + +"What is it?" she asked. "Can I help you?" + +"Maybe I'll _have_ to let you, but I _think_ I can do it. I'd like to +work it out if I can, and I'll try _hard_ before I give up." + +For a time he worked in silence, covering his slate with figures. + +The clock ticked loudly on the mantel, and seemed to be trying to outdo +Gyp's busy pencil. + +"Scratch! Scratch!" went the pencil, and "Tick! Tick!" chirped the +little clock, and then the boy looked up, his eyes bright with +excitement. + +"I've done it, Mrs. Aunt Judith!" he cried, "I've done it, and it's +right! You said it was better for me to do everything that I _could_ +do, by studying and working, instead of being helped." + +"It is better, because you will fully understand what you have done, +and you will be more likely to remember it. + +"But tell me," she said, laying her hand on his shoulder, "why do you +call me _Mrs._ Aunt Judith?" + +He looked frankly up into her face as he answered. + +"You aren't my Aunt Judith, tho' I wish you were, so I think I ought +to call you something beside the name, so I say _Mrs._ with it." + +"Dear boy, you meant to be respectful," she said, "but you are such +a good, hard working boy now that you shall call me 'Aunt Judith' just +as the other children do." + +He hesitated, and she understood. + +"They shall not wonder why you do. I'll tell them that I asked you +to," she said. + +Without a word he picked up his books, took his old cap, and crossed +the room. + +Wondering that he did not speak she followed him. + +At the door he turned, and looking up at her with eyes in which tears +glistened he said: + +"I'm going to work with all my might, and I mean to be a decent man, +and _then_ I'll do something for you,--Aunt Judith." + +"Gyp, come back and let me thank you!" she cried when, after her +surprise, she caught her breath, but a fit of his old shyness had come +over him, and having said what was in his heart, he had at once raced +off across the fields, and soon was out of sight or hearing in the +dark woods. + +Aunt Judith told Captain Atherton all about Gyp's ambition, of his +hard work at school, and the evenings spent at the cottage. + +"He is determined to get on, and he says that he will not always live +like a gypsy. + +"He declares that he will be a decent man," she said, "but will not +people be so prejudiced that they will not care to employ him?" she +asked. + +"_No_!" cried the captain, "for I will set aside any notions that they +may have by employing him _myself_. + +"_I_ will trust him, and this very week I'll tell him so!" + +It happened that he met the boy on his way from school. + +"How go the lessons, boy?" he asked kindly. + +For some reason Gyp was not afraid. + +"This is Friday, and I've had every lesson perfect this week. I'm going +over to tell Aunt Judith. _She'll_ be glad!" + +"Don't you tell the folks at home?" queried Captain Atherton. + +"They don't care much," Gyp said with downcast eyes. Then, as if to +excuse their lack of interest, he said: + +"I guess they don't understand why I'm _bound_ to study." + +"_I_ understand, my boy, just why you are working so hard, and I'm +proud of you! Come, and tell _me_ about the weeks like this, when +things go smoothly, and come just as quickly if things, instead, go +roughly. Let me help you over the hard places, Gyp, for when you are +out of school _I'll_ employ you. Now, work hard at school, knowing +that when you have completed the course you're to be employed by _me_." + +"Oh, sir, I'll work for you with all my strength," cried the grateful +boy. "You _believe_ in me, you _trust_ me, and I'll be _true_!" + +"I know you will, Gyp," said Captain Atherton, almost as greatly moved +as Gyp himself. + +When he reached the cottage, he was almost breathless, so swiftly had +he run. + +He dropped upon a chair near the door, and told first of the week's +work at school, and then of the promise that Captain Atherton had made. + +Neither Aunt Judith nor the genial captain knew how close was the tie +that bound Gyp to be faithful to them. They had befriended him, and +for that he was grateful. They believed in him, and that gave him +courage to make persistent effort, but deep in his heart lay the memory +of the first kind, caressing words that had ever been said to him. + +"She sometimes says 'Dear boy' to me, and _he_ said, 'My boy,'" he +would often whisper to himself. + +Gyp was now very happy. He was doing good work at school, he had won +the respect of teacher and pupils. + +Now Aunt Judith was interested in him, Captain Atherton believed in +him, and oh, pleasant promise, the kindly captain would prove his faith +by employing him! + +"Folks in Avondale will have to think I'm something more decent than +a gypsy!" he said. + + * * * * * * * * + +The days were growing longer, the warm sun had chased away the last +bit of ice, and now the fields were green, and the trees and shrubs +were showing fine foliage. + +In the gardens the early blossoms made soft color that told how soon +the summer would appear. + +Princess Polly sat waiting for Rose, and Sprite. + +The soft breeze stirred the leaves, making them rustle as if they were +whispering to each other the great news that summer would soon reach +Avondale. + +Polly turned to look toward the avenue. They were not in sight. + +"I might walk over to call for them," she thought. + +Then she remembered that she had promised to wait at a spot where they +had often met, and from which they were now to set out for a walk. + +"Why don't they come?" she said aloud. + +A long time she sat waiting for her playmates to appear. At last a +shout made her turn. + +"Did you think we were never coming?" cried Rose. + +"Oh, she must have thought just that," said Sprite, "so tell her what +it was that kept us." + +"Polly has been waiting so long, we'll start for our walk, and I'll +tell the news as we go along," said Rose. + +"Then let's hurry," said Polly, "because I'm wild to know what it was." + +The three little friends tramped along the path that was always their +favorite for a walk, and when they had reached a spot where a brook +was spanned by a tiny bridge, they sat down to rest. It was then that +Rose turned toward Polly. + +"I'm not going to ask you to guess who was at our house, or why I could +not meet you at two, as I promised, because you never could guess that, +so I'll tell you. It was,--Great Aunt Rose!" + +"Oh, Rose, why _did_ she come?" Polly gasped. "_Not_ to take you back +with her!" + +"That's just what I said, when I heard that she was in the parlor," +said Sprite. + +"Well, when I saw her carriage coming up the avenue," Rose said, "the +shivers went up and down my back, but Uncle John, when he got up to +go in to see her, stooped and whispered in my ear: 'Don't be frightened, +little girl, for remember that you now belong to me, and I shall not +easily give you up. Now, come in with me, dear. You know I can not +refuse to let her see you.' + +"So he took my hand, and we went in together. + +"Great Aunt Rose sat stiff and prim in the center of the sofa. + +"'How do you do, Aunt Rose?' I said, but she kept looking at me without +speaking. + +"'Doesn't Rose look as if the air at Avondale had done her a world of +good?' Uncle John asked. + +"'Really, John, I'm not sure,' Aunt Rose said, looking at me through +her glasses, just as if I were a queer bug, or butterfly such as she'd +never seen before. Uncle John looked vexed. + +"'You certainly see that her cheeks are rosy, and she is rounder than +when she first came to me,' he said. + +"That's what I was thinking of,' she said, 'and when she was at our +home, she was more delicate in her appearance. More slender, and pale, +as an Atherton should be. + +"'No "Rose Atherton" ever was what country people call "buxom"! I'm +_not_ countrified!' I said, half expecting to be scolded, but Uncle +John put his arm around me, and drew me closer as he said: + +"'Indeed you are not, unless fresh color, and dimples, mean countrified, +when I should think the term a compliment.' Then he turned to Great +Aunt Rose. + +"'I have endeavored, ever since I have had little Rose under my care, +to keep her much in the open air, and she has gained strength from +sunshine and breeze,' he said. + +"'I knew it! I knew it!' she said, springing from the sofa, and looking +dreadfully excited, 'and that is the reason for my call. You'll have +her tanned with the sun, and her complexion ruined by the wind, and +she'll look like anything but an Atherton by the time she's a young +lady! + +"'You must let her return to the old Atherton house with me, and in +its quiet, refining influence she will regain the delicate appearance +that was so charming. + +"'Rose, will you come with me?' + +"She put out her hand as if she meant to take me, whether I wanted to +go with her or not, and for the moment I forgot that Uncle John was +big enough, and brave enough, to keep me with him. + +"I screamed, and ran from the room, and oh, I know it was rude, and +I'm afraid unkind, but I didn't stop to think, and just kept on running +until I found Sprite waiting for me at the gate." + +"And she clasped my hand," said Sprite, continuing the story, "and she +never told me a word of all this, but, instead, she said: 'Come quick! +Oh, come quick!' and together we raced along until we met you, Polly. + +"Wasn't it funny? Rose knew why we were running, but I didn't. I ran +because she told me to, and I had to, to keep up with her!" + +Princess Polly looked thoughtful. "You don't really believe she could +make you live with her again, do you?" she asked. + +"Oh, Rose, you haven't but just begun to live at Avondale!" + +"Uncle John said she'd not easily get me away from him," Rose said, +"and it may be that I needn't have been so frightened, but I feel +better out here, and I'll stay out until I know that she must have +gone home. Come! We won't let it spoil our fun. We'll have a fine long +walk, and when I get back, Great Aunt Rose will have surely gone." + +One part of the road over which they walked was bordered on either +side by white birches. Yet a bit farther willows took the place of +birches, and there they left the road to cross the meadows, coming out +into the bright sunlight. + +The three little playmates had walked rapidly, and now began to slacken +their pace, and when they reached a clump of trees, they sat down to +enjoy the cool shade, and to talk for a while. + +"You'll be happier, Rose, if we talk of something else," said Polly, +"so I'll tell you that Sir Mortimer is strutting around our garden +this morning with a new collar that I bought for him, and the big pink +satin bow upon it is very becoming." + +"And _I'll_ tell a bit of news. I sent my prize right straight to the +'Mermaid's Cave,'" said Sprite, "and pa put it in the Cliffmore bank +for me." + +"Why, Sprite Seaford!" cried Rose. "How did you dare to send fifty +dollars in gold?" + +"Because," said Sprite, "I didn't send it by mail. I gave it to one +of the very best men in this world, and that is Uncle John, to take +it to pa for me, and he did. He rode over to Cliffmore last Saturday. +That's a week ago, and don't you know it was a stormy day? Well, that's +why we didn't go with him." + +Sprite nodded her head wisely as she spoke, and the sunbeams danced +on her rippling hair. + +"And I'll tell you something I've thought of," she said. "It was Friday +after school that I asked him about sending it, and he said we'd all +take the trip to Cliffmore. And when Saturday came it was so stormy +we couldn't go. I didn't say a thing, but I must have looked +disappointed, for he said: 'Cheer up, little Sprite, for your prize +shall reach Cliffmore to-day. I'm going over there, and I'll take it +with me.' + +"_Now_ I believe he wouldn't have gone so far on such a day for himself. +I think he went for me." + +"It would be just like Uncle John to do that," Rose said. "He's always +doing something to make people happy." + +As if to prove that his little niece spoke truly, he now appeared on +the road in his big motor car, laughing when he espied the three +playmates, and gaily calling: + +"Has anyone seen a small girl straying around this part of Avondale? +Girl with brown curls, and rosy cheeks, answers to the name of Rose?" + +"You needn't laugh, Uncle John, for truly I was afraid Great Aunt Rose +would try to make you say that I must spend, at least, a part of my +time with her, and oh, I didn't want to." + +"Do I look as if anyone could _make_ me give up what I considered +mine?" + +"No, _no_!" they cried in chorus. + +"Then climb into my car, you three little tramps, and I'll take you +for a ride." + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +AUNT ROSE'S CALL + + +A week's vacation! + +All of the pupils were delighted, but Princess Polly was especially +happy, because with Rose, and Sprite, the week would be a week of +pleasure, no lessons, and all play. + +"What shall we do on Monday?" she asked, as they skipped along the +sidewalk. + +It was Monday morning, and she did not wish to have a moment wasted. + +"Come over to my house, and we'll sit in the big hammock and talk, and +perhaps something will happen that will just tell us what to do." + +The gay-colored hammock had been hung on the sunny side of the house, +and the three little friends sat swinging and talking, and soon they +had planned enough doings to occupy a month, instead of a week. + +They were talking of Lena, and Leslie, when Sprite asked: + +"When have you seen Gwen Harcourt?" + +"They haven't seen me for ever so long!" cried an answering voice, and +Gwen appeared around the corner, laughing saucily, because she had +been listening, and had heard Sprite's question. + +Of course she had some very large stories to tell regarding the private +school that she was attending, and her classmates there. + +"I wouldn't care to go to any other school," she said, "and I love to +take the train every morning. I'd stay at home some days if I was near +school and walked, but I like to ride on the trains so I never miss +a day. + +"Guess what I did just now," she said, laughing as if to imply that +what she had done was an absolutely clever joke. + +"What did you do?" Polly asked, not because she really cared, but +rather from curiosity as to what especially abominable thing it had +pleased Gwen to do. + +Gwen never waited to be urged. + +Seating herself on the piazza, railing, she swung her legs as she +recounted the morning's happenings, making the list as long as possible. + +"Just before I came over here I went into the room upstairs that mamma +calls the 'Picture Gallery,' and I looked around for a while just to +see which I liked the best. + +"It seemed to me that the one that was on the first line, was looking +right at me, and I _almost_ thought the pink feathers on her hat bobbed +just a little. + +"The longer I looked at her the more it seemed to me that she really +was looking at me, and _once_ I thought she smiled. I had a lovely new +knife that my cousin Jack had given me. I went close to the picture, +and more than ever it seemed as if she smiled at me, and I thought if +I had her out of the frame she'd be lovelier than any doll I own. + +"It didn't take me more than ten minutes to whip out my little knife, +and cut her right out from the background, but say! After I'd cut her +out, she didn't look nearly as pretty as I had thought she would. Just +look at her! + +"The paint looks real dauby when you get close up to her." + +"Why, Gwen Harcourt!" cried Princess Polly; "you truly did cut her +from the picture!" + +"Of course I did. Did you really s'pose I'd tell you I did if I didn't?" + +"You might have been joking when you said it," said Polly. + +"Well, I wasn't joking," Gwen replied, "and now I don't know where to +put this, now I have it." + +"What did you mean to do, when you first thought of cutting the picture +out?" questioned Rose. + +"Oh, I thought I'd keep her in the dolls' house, but she looks bigger +in my hand than she did in the frame. I don't believe she'd go into +the doll's house, and I don't b'lieve I want her to, for really I don't +care for her. Do either of you want her?" + +She extended her arm, holding the picture at arm's length, while she +looked from one to the other. + +"We don't want her," said Polly, "and oh, _this_ time, Gwen, your mamma +will surely be angry!" + +"Pooh! See 'f she is. I guess I'll run home and see what she says," +chirped Gwen, and gaily humming, she ran down the walk, and hurried +home. + + * * * * * * * * + +Mrs. Harcourt had been entertaining guests for a few days, and it +happened that soon after Gwen had left the house, the mischief had +been discovered. + +"Oh, can it be possible that there have been thieves prowling about +the house in the night?" cried Mrs. Harcourt. "It really makes me feel +quite ill to think of it." + +At that moment, Gwen came flying into the house, and up the stairway. + +"Somebody take this old picture and stick it back in the hole it came +from. I thought it would make a nice big doll, but I guess I don't +want her!" + +"Oh, what a naughty thing for a child to do!" cried one of the ladies. +"That fine picture is absolutely ruined." + +"_Naughty_!" cried Mrs. Harcourt, "no, indeed! As you say, the picture +is ruined, but Gwen has proved her love for Art, and her artistic +nature. She felt so attracted to the picture that she was actually +obliged to take it with her when she went out. She surely loves Art. +As I have always said: 'Gwen is a most _unusual_ child. She shows great +force of character, and I can overlook the _mistake_ she made in cutting +the canvas, because the act showed me another fine trait,--the love +of Art. I _do_ wonder if she will be an artist?" + +The guests were disgusted. They wondered how any mother could be so +foolish as to think a piece of costly mischief showed either love of +art or talent, instead of wilful wrong-doing. + +"Gwen is a pretty child," said one woman, "and some one who had sense +enough to correct her and make her behave, could train her to be a +pleasing young girl, when she is a few years older, but her mother +could never do that!" + +"No, indeed," the other replied. "Mrs. Harcourt is spoiling her little +daughter as fast as she can. I had promised to stay a week," she +continued, "but I think I will make some excuse and leave here day +after to-morrow. I am very fond of Mrs. Harcourt, but the child is so +unpleasant that I can not remain." + +The two friends were in the room that they had shared during their +visit. In another room Mrs. Harcourt was changing Gwen's frock, and +ribbons, to make her yet more attractive when she should appear at +lunch. A less beautiful costume, and a bit of training in ordinary +rules of courtesy, would have been far more beneficial. Mrs. Harcourt +felt that Gwen must, at all times, be daintily dressed, but she +permitted her to do or say whatever she chose, and at times when she +was hopelessly rude, the silly mother thought her charming. + +In the big hammock the three playmates still were swinging. + +"Come!" said Polly, "let's walk around the garden, and when we come +to the terrace, we'll sit down, and listen to the story that Rose +promised to tell." + +"No, the story that Sprite was to tell!" cried Rose. + +"No, the story that Princess Polly found in the red book yesterday," +Sprite said, laughing because the others did. + +"We'll run a race!" cried Polly, "and the one that gets there last +will be the one to tell the story." + +The others agreed, and Polly counted: + +"One! Two! _Three_!" + +They were off like the wind, past the fountain, the gates, the big +clump of rose bushes, and it happened that Rose and Sprite were the +first to reach the terrace. + +"All right!" cried Princess Polly, "I'll tell the story of the 'Big, +Brave Knight.'" + +"Does it begin with: 'Once upon a time'?" Sprite asked, eagerly. + +"Oh, yes," Polly said. "Once upon a time there lived a knight who was +big, and brave, and he loved a princess who was so beautiful that it +was like looking at the sun to look at her face, because her beauty +was so dazzling. + +"She wasn't very happy, for who'd be happy when an old witch had +enchanted her?" + +"Oh, oo!" purred little Sprite, "I love a story that tells about folks +that are enchanted." + +"So do I," agreed Rose. "Now go on, Polly. How was she enchanted?" + +"Oh, I wish I had the book right here, so I could read every word of +it to you, but I let Leslie Grafton take it home to read, so I'll tell +it as well as I can. + +"Where did I stop? Oh, I know. I'd just told you that the lovely +princess was enchanted. Lora was her name, and she lived in a fine +castle way up on a great, high mountain. The picture showed the castle, +and it looked as if the side of the mountain was all ledges. + +"On sunny days, she wandered around the castle gardens, picking the +flowers, or feeding her pets, and when storm clouds hung over the +mountain, she strolled through the great halls, playing her guitar, +and sweetly singing. + +"Often she leaned on the wall that bordered the gardens, and for hours +she would gaze at the far distant plains. + +"'Across those plains will come the prince who will set you free,' the +old witch had said, and then she had laughed, and under her breath had +muttered: 'That is, if he has the bravery to ride his charger up this +steep mountain side.'" + +"Did a prince come?" questioned Sprite. + +"And was he fine, and brave?" Rose asked. + +Princess Polly laughed at their eager questions. + +"The book says: + +"'Many princes came, but when they saw the ledge going straight up to +the castle, they turned back, saying: + +"'"No man could keep in the saddle, and no horse could climb such a +huge crag as that. Both would fall and be dashed to pieces."' + +"One day, when the sun was bright and the air was very clear, the +princess became restless, and tired of roaming through hall, and garden, +and she ran to the wall, once more to look off across the plain. + +"A long time she stood watching, when, far, far over where the sky and +land seemed to meet, she saw something flashing in the sunlight. + +"At first it appeared to stand still, but after a little while, she +saw that it was coming nearer. + +"Brighter and brighter flashed the spot that she had been watching, +and a moment later, she saw that it was a spear held aloft, in the +hand of a man in armor. + +"On, on he came, and soon she saw that his armor was of silver, and +that the plumes on his helmet were white. + +"Nearer and nearer he rode, and now, as he reached the foot of the +cliff, the Princess Lora saw that he was handsome, for his visor was +up, and even from that height she could see that his eyes were dark, +and fine. He had seen her portrait that a great artist had painted, +and he had vowed that he would win her. + +"Bravely he urged his white steed up the side of the cliff, and the +charger, placing his hoofs in the crevices, climbed steadily higher +until, at last, the brave knight stood at the castle gate, blowing his +bugle to demand admittance. + +"At the sound of the bugle, the iron gates flew open, he rode boldly +into the courtyard, and up to the door. He had shown himself to be so +brave that no one dared oppose him, and after staying a month at the +castle, he rode away, carrying the lovely Princess Lora as his bride, +and they lived happy ever after." + +"There!" cried Polly, "I've told that almost word for word." + +"That was a lovely story," said Rose, "and I always like them when +they commence, 'Once upon a time,' and end with, 'They lived happy +ever after.'" + +"So do I," said Sprite, "and just think of the lovely times we'll have +this Summer, when we're _all_ at the Cliffs, at Cliffmore, that is, +if you're coming down to the shore. Oh, _are_ you?" + +"Uncle John says we'll enjoy the earlier part of the Summer here, and +then go over to his lovely house at Cliffmore for the rest of the +Summer." + +"Why, that's just what my papa said, last evening," said Princess +Polly, "and I do believe they've planned it together." + +"I'll go home just as soon as school closes," said Sprite, "and I'll +be company for ma, I'll gather lovely shells for you to keep, I'll +read to pa evenings, but most of all, I'll be watching the long white +road that leads from the pier. + +"Oh, let's play this hammock is the boat to Cliff more!" she cried, +"and we'll call the different landings." + +"All right!" cried Rose, "and do you hear that funny creak?" she asked. +"Well, that is the steamer just starting off." + +They swung a while, and then Sprite shouted the name of the first +stopping-place. + +"Seaman's Port!" she cried. "This is where they always roll off lots +of barrels." + +"What's in them?" Polly asked. + +"Oh, salt pork, and vegetables, and, oh, all sorts of things that they +can't buy on the island." + +"Seafarm Ledge!" she next shouted. + +"All of us get out here!" cried Sprite, "because this is the place +where the gentlemen sit around and do nothing, while the ladies dress +up, and walk, and walk, and walk up and down the board walk." + +There must have been a very rough sea, for the hammock rolled and +pitched, until it seemed as if the little voyagers would surely be +thrown overboard, so violently did the steamer lurch. + +The passengers were evidently but little frightened. In truth, they +appeared to think the trip a huge joke, for they laughed gaily; at +last Sprite cried: + +"Cliffmore! Cliffmore! Every one get out, because this steamer goes +no farther!" + +"Is that true, Sprite, that the steamer _Queen of the Ocean_ stops at +Cliffmore, and then turns and goes back?" + +"Oh, yes," said Sprite. "Some of the boats go farther, but that vessel +never does." + +"Well, we had a fine trip in our hammock-steamer," said Princess Polly, +"and if our vessel did pitch pretty badly, what did we care, while the +sky was blue and cloudless overhead?" + +"It has been bright and sunny here at Avondale," said Sprite, "and +I've had a lovely time, and I only long to go home, just because it +_is_ home." + +"But soon after you go back to Cliffmore, Rose and I will come, and +then we three will play together, and play all day, because it will +be vacation, no lessons, and no school." + +"Mamma is sure that this Summer at Cliffmore is to be delightful," +said Polly. + +"And Uncle John says that there will be lots of good times, but that +he knows of one happening that will be a surprise for everyone!" said +Rose. + +Those who would like to meet Princess Polly again at Avondale, with +her dearest friend Rose Atherton, to be with them again at Cliffmore, +where they are constantly with little Sprite, may enjoy all their +"good-times" in-- + +"Princess Polly at Play." + + + END + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Princess Polly's Gay Winter, by Amy Brooks + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRINCESS POLLY'S GAY WINTER *** + +This file should be named ppgwn10.txt or ppgwn10.zip +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, ppgwn11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, ppgwn10a.txt + +Produced by Vital Debroey, Phil McLaury, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks +and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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