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PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY

[Illustration: "They were out in the sunshine. "]

PRINCESS POLLYAT PLAY

By AMY BROOKS

AUTHOR OF"Princess Polly, " "Princess Polly's Playmates, " "PrincessPolly at School, " "Princess Polly by the Sea, ""Princess Polly's Gay Winter, " etc. 

[Illustration]

A. L. BURT COMPANYPublishers New YorkPrinted in U. S. A. 

Copyright, 1915, byTHE PLATT & PECK CO. 

Printed in U. S. A. 

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

 I POLLY, ROSE AND GWEN 9

 II WHO WAS IT 28

 III LITTLE SEA NYMPHS 48

 IV WHAT MAX DID 68

 V WHAT MAX FOUND 87

 VI THE SEA KING'S NYMPHS 106

 VII A WEDDING AT CLIFFMORE 125

VIII AUNT ROSE CALLS 144

 IX AT AVONDALE 163

 X THE SHIP COMES IN 182

 XI LITTLE PITCHERS 201

 XII MAX A STOWAWAY 220

PRINCESS POLLY AT PLAY

CHAPTER I

POLLY, ROSE AND GWEN

A Summer at Cliffmore!

Princess Polly and Rose Atherton could think of little else. 

It was true that Avondale was a charming place in which to live, andthere were pleasant schoolmates and merry times when Winter came. There were fine lawns and beautiful flowers everywhere, but Polly andRose loved the shore, and surely the salt air was delightful, and thebeach a lovely place on which to romp. There was Captain Seaford, whose little daughter, Sprite, had spent the winter at Avondale, anda pleasant little playmate and classmate she had been. 

She had returned to her home at Cliffmore, and now was counting thedays when Princess Polly and Rose would arrive, and every morning shewould stand in the doorway of her home on the beach, and look in thedirection in which Avondale lay. 

It happened one morning that at the same moment that Sprite opened thedoor to look out, Princess Polly and Rose were talking of her. They, too, were out in the sunshine. 

"How pretty Sprite looked last Summer when she played that she was alittle mermaid, and lay on the rocks looking down into the water, herlong yellow hair hanging down over her shoulders, " Polly said. 

"And the day that she invited me over to her house, " said Rose, "herdress was light green, and she wore a string of coral around her neck. I thought she looked sweet then. "

"How we did enjoy her house! We never saw one like it. It was a ship'shulk, turned upside down, and divided up into rooms. Oh, but it wascosey!" Polly said. 

"And it won't be long before we'll be there at the shore, playing withSprite just as we did last Summer, " said Rose. 

A long time they stood talking. There were such delightful memories ofCliffmore, and so many pleasures to anticipate. There would be sailingtrips on the "Dolphin, " the yacht belonging to Captain Atherton, andCaptain Atherton himself had hinted at some sort of merry-making thatwould occur at his fine home on the shore. 

"Uncle John doesn't say whether it is to be a party, or what it willbe, but when I asked him if it would be fine, he took me on his knee, and he said:

"'Rose, little Rose, it will be the brightest, the happiest event thatI ever attended, ' so I guess it will be fine, for Uncle John alwaysmeans what he says, " Rose concluded. 

"Oh, we can't help wondering what it will be like, and just when itwill be, " Princess Polly said, her hands tightly clasped and her eyesbright with excitement. 

"It's a lovely place to stay in, even if there wasn't a single thingplanned for amusement, but when you know there'll be ever so many goodtimes happening during the Summer, it makes us wild to start forCliffmore. "

The sound of footsteps running made them turn, just as Gwen Harcourtcame racing toward them. 

She was a little neighbor, so bold, so regardless of the feelings ofothers, so apt to tell outrageous stories, that Polly and Rose werenot fond of her. She never stopped to question if she were welcome, but entered any house where the door stood open, and at once madeherself quite at home, always remaining until she chose to go. 

She was evidently quite excited. Her short, curling hair blew abouther face, and her cheeks were red. 

"What do you think?" she cried. "I've just come from that big houseover there, where the people have just moved in. I couldn't tell ifI'd like to know them, unless I went when I could see them, so thismorning I went right up to the door, and as it wasn't locked, I openedit, and went in. "

"Why, Gwen Harcourt!" Rose exclaimed. 

"Well, what?" Gwen said pertly. 

"S'pose I was going to wait and wonder what those people were like? Iguess not. I went right straight in and looked at them, so now I know. 

"The lady isn't much to look at, and she wasn't dressed up the leastbit, and the baby that the nursemaid was holding was awful homely. 

"Its face was red, and its hair was sort of straight and stringy, andwhen it cried, and that was most all the time I was there, it made aperfectly horrid face. 

"There's a boy there, too, and I didn't like him very well, " shecontinued. "He talked to me some, but he wants to do all the talking, and I don't like that. I want to talk most of the time, myself. "

Polly and Rose managed not to laugh. 

"Perhaps if you had been willing to listen, and let him talk more, youmight have liked him better, " Polly said. 

"No, I wouldn't!" Gwen said, stoutly, "for what little he did say mademe mad. Think how rude he was! When I told him my whole _truly_ namewas Gwendolen Armitage Harcourt, he just said:

"'H'm! Is that so? Well, my name is Jona Jonathan Ebenezer Montgomery, and that beats your name all hollow. ' The lady laughed, but she said:'Don't tease the little girl. That is not your name at all. Why nottell her what your real name is?'

"He didn't do it. He just said: 'Oh, bother!' and ran out doors. Ididn't like the boy, but the big room seemed duller after he went out, so after a while I slipped out, and when I saw you two talking, I cameover here. What were you talking about?"

"We were talking about the fine times we'll have at Cliffmore thisSummer, " Polly said, "and we can hardly wait to enjoy them. "

"I'd not care to go there, " Gwen said, with a toss of her head. 

"Well, then, " said Rose, "it's lucky you don't have to go there. "

"Yes, isn't it?" Gwen said, cheerfully. "I could if I wanted to. Mammawill go wherever I wish, that is if I just act horrid enough. "

"Why, what do you mean?" Polly asked, and Gwen laughed. 

"You're funny girls, " she said. "Don't either of you know that the wayto get your own way is to scream and be just as horrid as you canuntil your mamma 'gives in?'"

"I'd not care to act like that, " Princess Polly said, and Rose said:"Neither would I. "

"Well, I want my own way, all the time and everywhere, and that's theway I get it, " declared Gwen, and she danced off down the avenue, humming as cheerfully as if she had told of doing pleasant things. 

"Isn't it queer'?" Rose said. "Gwen tells of being disagreeable, as ifshe felt proud of it. "

"Mrs. Harcourt does the same thing, " said Primrose Polly. "She'salways telling of horrid pranks, and rude things that Gwen says, andshe tells them as if she thought Gwen very smart to act so. It isn'todd that Gwen behaves so badly, for she likes to act just perfectlyhorrid. She says so, and if she thinks her mamma likes it, what isthere to make her stop?"

"And Uncle John says, oh, I'd not tell exactly what he says, but hesaid only yesterday that he could not understand how any woman couldlet her little daughter grow up like a weed. He said Gwen was prettyto look at, but as unpleasant as a nettlebush. I'd not like anyone tosay that of me, " Rose said. 

"Well, no one ever would say that about you, " Polly said lovingly. 

"Nor you, " replied Rose. 

Then, their arms clasping each other, they slipped down the sidewalk. 

It was but a few days longer that they must wait before sailing toCliffmore. 

The year before, they had made the trip by train, but this time theywere intending to go a short distance by rail, and then, on CaptainAtherton's yacht, complete the trip by water. It would be a delightfulsail, and as every member of the party loved the water, it was sure tobe a merry little sailing trip down the bay. 

Gwen Harcourt had not spoken truthfully when she had said that shewould not wish to go to Cliffmore. Indeed, that very morning she hadused her unpleasant method in an effort to coax her mother to go toCliffmore, and for the first time in her little life, it had notworked. 

She had heard from Polly, Rose, and Sprite of the pleasure that theyhad enjoyed there, and she had at once decided that no other placecould be as delightful. 

"I guess I can go there as well as they can, " she had whispered toherself, and then, running up to the big living room she had firstasked, then coaxed, and there, as a final effort, had screamed for ahalf hour. Mrs. Harcourt would, as usual, have quickly agreed at onceto spend the Summer as Gwen wished, but it happened that other plansalready made, rendered it impossible. The silly woman offeredeverything that she could think of to pacify Gwen, but Gwen declaredthat nothing would make up to her for the refusal to go to Cliffmore. 

Then when she found her screaming wholly useless, she dried her eyes, and rushed out and down the avenue to tell Polly and Rose that shewould not care to go there. 

If she had waited a day longer to tell them it would have been aswell, because Mrs. Harcourt, lest the disappointment might be toohard for Gwen, had, at great inconvenience, changed her plans, and onthe following day she told Gwen that Cliffmore would be their summerhome. 

Gwen did not rush out this time to tell the news. 

Had she not just said that she would not care to go there?

"I'll say nothing about it, and when they get to Cliffmore, they'll bes'prised to find me there, but I'll act as if I'd known all along thatI'd be there, " thought Gwen. 

Mrs. Harcourt and Gwen went the next day, and thus it happened thatwhen the "Dolphin" sailed up to the pier, the first person that Roseand Polly saw was Gwen, sitting high on the top of a tall post! It wasa most successful surprise. 

"Hello!" she cried, with impish laughter, "I got here 'fore you did!"

"Why so you did, " Polly replied. "When did you come?"

"Oh, I've been here some time, " she said, laughing again. 

"Well, you've not been here a month, Gwen Harcourt!" said Rose. "Itwas only three days ago that you were in Avondale, and you said thenthat you'd not care to go to Cliffmore!"

"Well, I didn't go, " cried Gwen, "I've _come_, and I'm going to stay!"

Of course Sprite had come to meet them, and as the three walked up thepier they saw that Gwen made no attempt to follow. 

She wished them to know that she was at Cliffmore, but having enjoyedtheir look of surprise, she preferred to keep her position on thepost. 

It was so conspicuous that she knew that everyone coming up from theboats would surely see her, and beside that pleasure, she could stareat all the arrivals. Oh yes, her perch on the post delighted her. 

Not satisfied with staring at the people, she commenced to makeremarks about them as they passed. As her remarks were largelydirected at their clothes, they were not much pleased. 

"Oh, what big feet!" she said, when a big woman passed her, and toanother she said: "What a funny hat. "

A fat man turned to frown at her when she said: "My! He must weigh aton, " and a girl with long red braids blushed hotly when Gwen cried:

"Red! Red! Fire! Fire!"

Her mother would have thought any other child uncouth and ill-bred, if she did any one of the many outrageous things that Gwen was alwaysdoing. In Gwen she thought it bright and smart, and Gwen held the sameopinion, but a young sailor, happening along just in time to hear hersay something about a Jack Tar, that was not quite pleasing, stoppedfor an instant, and looked into her bold, blue eyes. 

"Do you know what you need, you little Monkey?" he cried. "You need tohave someone give you a big ducking, and then you'd learn not to be sosmart. "

Gwen was too frightened to speak. She thought the sailor meant to giveher the ducking that he said she needed, and she turned so pale thathe let go his hold upon her, leaving her still sitting upon the post, but as he turned to go he shook his finger at her. 

"Not another word, sissy, or someone'll duck you, if I don't, " hesaid. 

A long time she sat motionless upon the post until not only thesailor, but all of the people had left the pier. Then, lookingcautiously around to learn if anyone was near, she slipped to theground, and ran at top speed toward the hotel where she told a mostremarkable tale of the sailor's rudeness to her, winding up by tellingthat he had been so mean as to duck her. 

"My dear little Gwen!" said her fond mamma. 

"Her serge frock seems rather dry for one that has just been plungedinto the water, " said a lady who sat near them on the piazza. 

"Oh, look at her shoes! They're dry too!" cried a small boy. "Say!When did you get your ducking?"

"You stop laughing, Max Deland!" cried Gwen. "I guess I could tellwhether he ducked me or not better than you could, for you weren'tthere!"

"Oh, yes, you could _tell_!" cried the small boy, "but it might not beso, for all that, Gwen Harcourt. "

Mrs. Harcourt rose quickly, and taking Gwen by the hand, left thepiazza, and went up to her room. 

"Strange that any woman would be so foolish as to credit a yarn likethat even if it is her own child that tells it, " said the lady who hadspoken of the dry frock that Gwen declared had just been plunged intowater. 

"Yes, it is strange, but I've known other women who were nearly asblind to their children's faults, " her friend replied. 

"The child is really pretty, but so bold, and pert that although shearrived less than a week ago, there is not a guest at this hotel whodoes not feel relieved when she leaves the piazza. Only think, " thelady continued, "she was out here this morning, sitting in that bigchair that old Mr. Pendleton likes to have. He's ill, and Gwen knewthat he came out expecting to sit in it, but she looked up at him, anddid not stir. 'Gwen, dear, ' Mrs. Harcourt said; 'I think Mr. Pendletonwould like that chair. ' 'Well, I like it, and I'm going to keep it, 'Gwen said, swinging her legs, and settling back in the chair. 'Youreally musn't mind her, ' Mrs. Harcourt said. 

"'I don't intend to, ' he said, and Mrs. Harcourt looked as if shewondered what he meant. "

CHAPTER II

WHO WAS IT

Captain Seaford sitting in the sun, and mending nets, was aware thatsomething was causing great, and unusual excitement in his house. 

He sat just outside the door, but the sound of hurried footsteps, ofeager conversation, of furniture being moved about, betokenedsomething disturbing in the atmosphere. 

"Comp'ny coming, or some kind o' storm brewing!" he muttered with aknowing wink, although no one was near to see the comical grimace. 

Mrs. Seaford, usually calm and cheerful, now appeared in the doorway, a frown puckering her forehead, and a troubled look in her eyes. 

"I've been over to the village, " she said, "and while I've been gone, someone has been through the house, opened every drawer, pulled outthe contents and strewn them on the floor, and made a general messthat I've worked an hour to clear up. Have you noticed anyone aroundthe place?"

"Haven't seen a soul, " declared the Captain, "and I've been busy righthere since before you went out. 

"Seems to me I did hear someone moving about at one time, but I'm noteven sure of that. "

"Well, whoever it was managed to move about enough to make work for meto clear up, " Mrs. Seaford said. 

"There's only one door to this house so how could anyone get outwithout passing me? You must surely be mistaken. "

"The person, whoever it was, didn't care to pass you coming in, orgoing out of the house, so climbed through the window. On his way out, he knocked some plants from the window-sill. Nothing has been stolen, so I can't see the object in ransacking the house. "

"'Taint poss'ble you're nervous, and imagine someone's been in, isit?" he asked, anxiously scanning her face. 

"Imagine?" Mrs. Seaford said. "Well, come in, and see what you think. I've cleared the worst of it, but here's enough left to convince you. "

He dropped the net on the sand, and went in. One look was enough. 

"What in the world----!" he said, and no more, but his face spokevolumes. 

It remained a mystery. Who would care to disturb the contents of theodd dwelling of the Seafords? Not a thief, surely, for it was wellknown that while the genial Captain had, at one time, been well to do, he had, for the past few years, had a struggle for existence. The oldship's hulk, inverted, and furnished for a home, held but onetreasure, love, and that, priceless as it was, could not be stolen. 

Who was the intruder? How had he come, and how had he vanished?

Dwellers at Cliffmore talked of it, at their homes, at church, and onthe beach, but no one could give the slightest clue that might help indetecting the intruder. 

Excitement usually lasted regarding one matter until another subjectwas suggested, when the villagers would turn with fresh interest tothe latest bit of news. 

Generally, it was a happening of small importance, that gained itsprominence from having been frequently described, but one morningsomething occurred that shook the little fishing village, as CaptainSeaford said, "from stem to stern. "

When Mrs. Wilton, the housekeeper at Captain Atherton's Summer home, "The Cliffs, " arose early one morning, she noticed that the Captainhad forgotten the French window that opened on the porch. It evidentlyhad been open on the evening before, and, by an oversight, hadremained open all night. At a glance she saw that someone had beenthrough the lower part of the house. 

Drawers were wide open, their contents strewn upon the floor. 

Flowers had been taken from the large jars that held them, and leftwith their wet foliage and stems lying upon the polished table. 

Delicate pieces of china had been lifted from the lower shelves of thechina closet, and placed upon the table, the window seats, and eventhe piano boasted two dainty cups that the visitor, whoever it mightbe, had placed upon the keyboard. 

"Nothing is stolen, " the housekeeper said, in reporting the mischiefto Captain Atherton, "and all the queer doin's are on the first floor. Do you see that it looks as if the same person that went all overCaptain Seaford's house, has been roving through this one? Nothing wasstolen there, but everything had been handled and pulled around. "

"I'll go out into the garden and think it over, " he replied. 

He left the house, but as he reached the lower step that led from thepiazza he saw that the bold intruder, not satisfied with the mischiefperpetrated in the house, had tried his hand at the garden. Beautifulplants had been lifted from their pots and thrown onto the walk, thehose lay beside them, running a stream, the fountain had been setrunning, and an old broom, used by the gardener, to sweep the walks, lay in the lower basin of the fountain. 

The housekeeper followed him out onto the piazza. 

"If you please, sir, I'd like just to say that I locked every door andwindow, except the one that opens onto this piazza, from the library. I went upstairs, knowing that you were still reading, and thinkingyou'd like that window open 'til you went to your room for the night, when you'd be sure to shut and lock it. "

John Atherton nodded, and walked along the path. He knew that thehousekeeper was anxious to shift all responsibility from her broadshoulders onto his. 

"I guess I left that French window open, so that fault is mine, butwho would be interested to rove through a home, pulling things topieces, and making disorder, solely for the fun of doing it? Whoeverit is, does not care to rob. It's a puzzle that must be looked into. "

The children were greatly excited, and inclined to look upon Polly andRose with envy. 

It was interesting to listen while older people talked and argued asto how it happened, and what sort of person played the pranks. Beforethe Summer guests had half finished discussing the happening atCaptain Atherton's house, they were again startled. 

It was early one morning, a half hour before breakfast would beserved, when a big, florid woman came down the stairway to the lowerhall, declaring that someone had been in her room, doing a deal ofmischief. 

"Every article in my bureau drawer has been pulled out and thrown uponthe floor, gowns have been removed from my closet, and are piled up onchairs in a heap, and my hats have been taken from their boxes andpacked up on my bureau. Something must be done about it!" she declaredin anger, and really one could not blame her. 

The proprietor appeared, and promised all sorts of things to pacifythe woman and there the matter appeared to end, for search as theywould, no trace of the culprit could be found. The other guests feltuneasy. 

"Who could possibly guess whose room will be ransacked next?" said onelady, to another who sat beside her at breakfast, to which the otherreplied:

"A few more happenings of this kind, and I'll pack my trunks, andleave for a place where I can, at least, expect law and order. "

The guests of the hotel found it an interesting theme forconversation, and talked of it morning, noon and night, until old Mr. Pendleton, the invalid, became so tired of hearing about it that hispatience at last gave way. 

"What a fuss! What a nuisance of a fuss! I declare. Women are upset iftheir finery is tossed around a bit. Nothing was stolen, so whycomplain? Why get excited?"

No one replied to his outburst. It was well known that to reply to Mr. Pendleton was apt to provoke a torrent of abuse, so he was allowed tosit in his big chair in the corner of the piazza, looking with sharp, black, bead-like eyes from one woman to the other, silently amused, because he believed that they dared not answer. 

He was a tough, wiry old man, not really ill, but believing himself tobe an invalid, and enjoying the belief. Some one had heard a physiciansay that an event, or happening of any sort that would startle himinto quick action would teach him that the health that he believedlost, was still in his possession. 

One morning the queerest thing happened, and as it was just afterbreakfast, all the guests of the hotel were present to share the greatexcitement. 

While the guests were at breakfast, the maids had put their rooms inorder, and as it bid fair to be a hot day, nearly everyone decided tospend the morning on the broad piazza. 

Mr. Pendleton, as usual, sat in his favorite corner. He was talkingwith another man about some distant city that each had often visited. Evidently there was something about which they could not agree, fortheir voices rose in angry dispute. 

"I'm right in my opinion!" shouted Mr. Pendleton, in his thin, shrillvoice. 

"And, sir, let me tell you that _I_ am right!" boomed the fat man in agrowling bass. 

"I'll get my map and prove what I say!" cried Mr. Pendleton, springingfrom his chair, and starting toward the hall. 

The big man's laugh made him increase his speed. The other guests wereamused, but they were not prepared for the next thing that happened. 

Old Mr. Pendleton came tearing down the stairs, at the risk ofbreaking his neck, his cheeks flushed, and his small, black eyesblazing. 

"It's an outrage! It's disgusting! It's not to be endured!" heshouted. "My room has been entered, and my belongings tossed about! Mypajamas are spread out on the floor as if someone meant to take apattern of them! My watch is soaking in the wash bowl, and my brushand comb are each in a slipper. My topcoat is out of the window andsprawling in the sun on the roof of this piazza, and every neck-tie Iown is hanging from the chandelier! I won't stand it!"

He paused for breath, and the woman whom he had vexed a few daysbefore, was so unwise as to speak:

"It might be well for you to realize just now that women are not theonly ones who are upset when their finery is tossed about. As nothingwas stolen, why complain? Why get excited?"

"Madam! You haven't the least idea of tact, " he cried. "If you hadyou'd----" but before he could complete his speech, the proprietorarrived, and a much harder task he had to appease the wrath of Mr. Pendleton, than that of the fat woman whose room had been entered afew days before. 

The mystery might never have been solved but for something thatoccurred on the following morning. 

A room on the second floor had windows looking out upon the sea. Thedoor stood open, and a maid passing along the hall, paused to look in. Guests were not in the habit of leaving their room doors wide open. What she saw made her tip-toe softly away to a screen in the hall. 

From her position she could watch the inmate of the room. 

That room had been hired by the fat man with the big voice who oftentalked, and oftener disputed with Mr. Pendleton. 

It was easy to touch a button on the wall close beside her, and thebell-boy responded in a few seconds. The maid held up her finger, atthe same time pointing toward the open door, and whispering:

"Sh--! Go quick and get Mr. Buffington. Tell him somebody is in hisroom. Don't make a sound here. I'll watch while you're gone. Rushnow!"

Mr. Buffington, big and ponderous, soon appeared, puffing like anengine. The maid saw him as he appeared above the stairs, and quicklyheld up her finger, as a signal to him to make no noise. 

Puzzled, yet impressed, the big man tip-toed along until he stood inthe doorway. 

The intruder stood, back toward the door, and for the moment, was sooccupied with pulling over the contents of a large trunk thatfootsteps outside the door were unnoticed. 

"You little rascal!"

These words shouted made the intruder actually jump. 

"Ah, now, Miss Gwen, how happened ye in there?" said the maid. 

Gwen, thoroughly frightened, tried to rush from the room, but it wasuseless. The big man filled the doorway. He did not intend to hurther, when he firmly grasped her arm, but he did intend to give her alesson, and he proceeded to do it, walking her along the hall on theway to the stairway. 

Usually, Gwen's boldness was equal to any emergency, but this time shewas too frightened to object, to wriggle in the firm grasp, or indeed, to do anything other than allow him to take her wherever he chose, andhe chose----the piazza filled with guests. 

Mrs. Harcourt, at the farthest end of the piazza, busy with herembroidery, did not look up when the two appeared. 

"I found _this_ in my room!" said the angry man. "Anyone who owns itmay claim it. _This_ is what has been entering rooms, and handlingother people's property. "

"Oh, mamma! Why don't you come and tell them I don't do such things!"

Of course Mrs. Harcourt dropped her embroidering frame, and rushedforward, snatching Gwen from the big man's grasp. 

"'Twould be useless, because I caught her just as she had opened mytrunk, and was examining all my belongings. The best thing to do withyour smart girl, is to keep her away from hotels, unless you can keepa chain on her to keep her from prowling, " growled Mr. Buffington. 

"You don't understand children!" declared Mrs. Harcourt, as with Gwen, she went up the stairway to her room, to which the big man responded:"I shouldn't want to if they're all like that!"

Of course the piazza was alive with buzzing voices. 

"What a perfectly horrid child!"

"I'd be ashamed of her if she were mine, the little imp!"

These and similar remarks were to be heard on all sides. 

Gwen had been pert and saucy, bold, and annoying in many ways, butthat a little girl could be the person who had boldly entered anyhouse, or any room at the hotel, poking her impudent little nose intoany house or room that remained unlocked, was really a surprise. 

They had all believed it to be the work of a man, but no one couldunderstand what prompted him to handle every article in the place thathe entered, yet never steal a thing. Now it was easier to understand. Gwen had everything that love could think of, or that wealth couldprovide, but her curiosity was great, and she could not keep hermischievous hands off from things belonging to others. 

Mrs. Harcourt, angry over what she thought was "outrageous rudeness, "packed her trunks, and in an hour's time, left the hotel. 

CHAPTER III

LITTLE SEA NYMPHS

Polly and Rose were walking along the beach on the way to call forSprite. They had not decided how to spend the morning, but whateverthey chose to do, they surely would enjoy themselves, for never werethree playmates happier in each other's company. 

"A long time ago when you first came to Avondale to live at SherwoodHall, we named you Princess Polly. We never seemed to think of you asPolly Sherwood, your truly name, " Rose said. 

"And I liked you the first day I met you by the brook, " Polly said, "and I thought Rose Atherton was such a pretty name. "

"Sprite's name just fits her, " said Rose, a moment later, "for shelooks like a sprite, or a sea nymph, and so Sprite Seaford seems justthe name for her. 

"There she is now, coming toward us. Let's run to meet her. "

"I took the telescope, and looked up the beach, " Sprite said, whenthey met, "and kept looking until I saw you. Then I put it back on themantel, and ran to meet you. Now come over to the place I call thebay. "

She led the way, and they followed. The bay, as Sprite called it was aplace where a ledge projected into the water in such a way that theincoming waves rushed past it, sweeping up onto the sand in a curvingline. 

It was not much of a bay, but it served as a name, and they alwaysknew what she meant when she spoke of it. 

Its shallow water was fine to play in, and when the tide went out, there always remained a little pool that reflected floating clouds. 

On its clear surface they skipped flat stones, and they marvelled tosee how skillful was little Sprite. 

"Nine skips, and then a hop! That makes ten, " said Polly, "and I canonly make mine skip seven times. "

"Oh, but you can do as well as I if you practice enough. I've alwayslived here at the shore, " Sprite said, "and the flat stones have beenmy toys. "

It was fine to compete with her, and Rose and Polly worked very hardin their effort to make a better fling. 

"Eight!" declared Polly, and for a number of times, she sent thestones skipping eight times across the glassy little pool. 

"Seven!" cried Rose, "and it almost went eight, and then didn't. Wasn't that provoking?"

"Eight!" she shouted a moment later. 

"Nine!" squealed Polly. "Nine! Who'd have believed I could?"

"I would, " replied Sprite, "because you're trying so hard, and becauseyou can do anything. "

"Oh, I can't!" Polly said. 

"Well, you sing, and play, and you dance beautifully; after all that, just skipping stones doesn't seem so very much, " Sprite answeredquickly. 

"It does to me because I've never done it before. It's great fun. "

The sun was higher, and warm from exercise, they sat down in theshadow of the cliff to rest, and cool off. 

They talked of the ships that appeared on the horizon, wondering whattheir cargoes might be. They talked of all sorts of things, but it wasSprite who gave a surprise. 

"Guess who has gone way, way over in that big yellow house on thecliff to live. Guess!" she said, and her eyes were twinkling. 

"Oh, tell us, " said Polly. 

"Yes, you'd better tell us, " said Rose. "We couldn't ever guess. "

"Won't you guess?" Sprite asked. 

"What's the use, " said Polly. "We couldn't guess who it is in amonth!"

"Well, it's Gwen Harcourt, " Sprite said. 

"Gwen Harcourt!" cried Polly and Rose in the same breath. "Why, howfunny. Her mamma said she was tired of Cliffmore. "

"Yes, and she said she didn't like any of the people that were herefor the Summer, " said Rose. 

"Gwen said her mamma said that, but she said the reason was becauseshe was provoked, and Gwen said she teased and teased her to stay, soshe did, and they truly are in that big yellow house on the cliff. There's only about a dozen people boarding there, and Gwen said itseemed more select than the place where she'd been staying. "

"I said: 'You like Polly Sherwood and Rose Atherton, ' and she said, 'Yes, I like them, but it's the grown people that we don't care for, '"concluded Sprite. 

"It was the grown people that didn't like Gwen, and no wonder, " saidRose. "Who would like to have her trunks and boxes emptied on thefloor, and all the hats and dresses pulled over? I don't believeanyone in that yellow house, or any other house will like to have herdo that. "

A cool breeze blew in from the ocean, and the three sprang to theirfeet. 

"Let's pull off our shoes and stockings and dance on the thin edge ofthe water, " cried Sprite. 

"I'll sing a song mamma taught me. "

They clasped hands, and gracefully they skipped in time with thepretty song. 

 "We are water nymphs so free, We are merry sisters three. When the sunbeams kiss the foam From our coral cave we roam, And we float up to the strand Where we dance upon the sand. 

 "When the moon with silvery ray Glistens on the tossing spray, Then upon the beach we dance, Fleet of foot we whirl and prance. Whirling, swaying, gay and free, Merry water nymphs are we. "

 [Illustration: "Their graceful forms swaying. "]

It was a pretty sight. 

The three lovely faces, bright eyed, and rose tinted cheeks, theirgraceful forms swaying, swinging, whirling, their white feet nimblykeeping time to the song that Sprite sang. 

The guests at the big yellow house on the ledge had already found thatMrs. Harcourt was a pleasant woman to talk with, but they also hadlearned that she permitted her small daughter to be as rude andunpleasant as she chose. It never required a great length of time foranyone to learn that. 

At the breakfast table, the first morning after they had left thehotel and had engaged rooms at the big house on the ledge, Gwen showedher rudeness by declaring that she could not eat any of the food thatwas served. 

Mrs. Harcourt looked around at the other guests, remarking:

"Gwen has such refined taste that quite often really good food failsto tempt her. "

Thus encouraged, Gwen spoke for herself:

"But there's nothing on this table that is good. I wonder any of youcan eat it. "

The guests were disgusted with the silly child, and sillier mother. She had acted in about the same manner at every meal. 

It happened that she had been up in her room over the piazza on themorning that her three little friends were dancing upon the beach. 

They were too far distant for her to guess who they might be. 

The field glasses lay on the dresser, and Gwen snatched them, ran tothe window, and peeped at the dancing figures. 

"Oo--oo! It's Princess Polly, and Rose and Sprite. I'm going rightover to see them, and dance with them, too!"

She flung the glasses down into the nearest chair, and ran down thestairs, across the lawn, and then commenced to make her way carefullydown the rough steps that had been cut in the ledge. 

Even Gwen could not descend those steps at high speed. 

Once on the sand she believed she could hasten, but the tide neverreached the ledge upon which the house stood, so the sand at its basewas dry, and anything but easy to hurry over. 

At last she reached the damp part, and then how her feet flew over thefirm, level surface. 

She seemed tireless as she sped along, and she ran without stoppinguntil she stood before them. They had not seen her approaching, because a high cliff had hidden her until she sprang out from behindit. 

"Hello!" she cried. 

"Hello!" they replied. "Going to dance with us?"

"Of course, " Gwen said shortly. "That's why I came here. "

She was a fine little dancer, and soon the four were tripping lightlyover the sand, the three bare footed, but Gwen with shoes andstockings on, splashing as gaily through the shallow water as if shedid not know that she was ruining a fine pair of new shoes. 

Her pale blue stockings would hardly be improved by a drenching insalt-water. 

The others had urged her to take them off, but for that very reason, she stubbornly refused, and laughed as the water rushed about herankles at the first step. 

She knew that no reproof awaited her. Mrs. Harcourt hailed each newprank as a sure sign of her small daughter's originality. 

Tormenting the pets that other guests had brought to the shore, hidingthe embroidery frames that any lady might chance to leave lying on achair, throwing hats or wraps over the piazza railing to drop at thefoot of the cliff, all these things Mrs. Harcourt thought extremelyamusing. 

A pair of wet shoes would, of course, be very funny. Gwen was sure ofthat. 

"Where's that new girl?" she asked when they paused to rest. 

"She's gone out fishing with her brother, " Rose replied, "and theyintend to be out all day. "

"Oh, well, I only asked for fun, " Gwen said quickly. "She's pleasant, and I like her, but she can't keep still a minute, and that makes metired. "

"Why, Gwen Harcourt, neither do you, " said Rose, laughing. 

"Me?" said Gwen. "Well, who wants to keep still? I didn't say I wantedto. I said it made me tired to watch her, because she, --because _she_doesn't keep still. That's different!"

A shout made them turn to look down the beach. 

A boy, using his hands as a speaking tube, stood looking toward them, and calling loudly, "Gwen! Gwen!"

"Oh, that's Max Deland, " said Gwen. "I'll go and see why he's callingme. "

Without saying "Good-bye, " she turned, and raced down the beach, andPolly and Rose and Sprite stood watching her flying figure. 

On, on she ran until at last, they saw that she had reached the boywho had shouted to her. 

Then Princess Polly spoke:

"I wonder why he didn't run to meet her, " she said, "instead ofstanding stock still and waiting 'till she'd run every step of theway?"

"I don't wonder, " Sprite said, "because I've seen him do that so manytimes, and he tells her to 'do this, ' and 'do that, ' and 'come here, 'and 'go there, ' and she does just as he says every time. "

"That's queer, " Rose said, "because she never lets us tell her evenhow to play a new game. The minute we start to tell her how it isplayed, she says: 'Oh, I know all about it, ' so of course we stop, andit is Gwen who is always saying, 'Come and do this, ' and 'You must doit, ' till we get tired of being 'bossed, ' and never doing as we wish. She didn't do that way to-day. She danced with us, and never once toldus how to do it. "

"Why, Polly!" cried Sprite, "she has always known that you weretrained for dancing, and that you know the prettiest dances. "

The three little friends still stood watching Gwen and Max. 

They seemed to be discussing something upon which they could notagree, for as they watched, Max violently pointed toward some distantpoint on the shore, and stamped his foot, and each time Gwen wouldshake her curly head. 

The boy seemed determined, and the girl obstinate. 

"I wonder what he is telling her to do?" said Sprite, to which Pollyreplied:

"I don't. I wonder why she doesn't do it?"

"Yesterday he dared her to go out on an old plank, and she did it andgot a ducking, " said Sprite. "P'r'aps it's something like that. "

The two figures still stood out clearly, the boy evidently insisting, and the girl still shaking her head as if unwilling to do as hewished. 

Some bathers came running down to the water, their gay colored capscovering their hair, their sandals tied with ribbons. 

Polly, Rose, and Sprite turned to see them take the first dip, and fora few moments watched them romping in the surf. 

When they turned Max and Gwen had disappeared. 

"I do wonder what they were planning to do?" said Polly, "and why Gwenseemed unwilling to do it, whatever it was. "

"So do I, " said Rose, "because Max always wants to do the wildestthings, " to which Sprite added; "And you can't often find anythingwilder than Gwen would enjoy. "

It happened that Max and Gwen had disappeared behind a rough shantythat laborers were using for a toolhouse. 

"Now don't be a fraidie-cat!" Max was saying. "What makes you act so?I called you a 'brick' the other day because I said you dared to dothings that any girl but you wouldn't dare to do. Now here you are, acting just the way other girls act. 'Fore I'd be 'fraid to sail in atub!" He hoped to make her do it. 

"Well, if you're not afraid to, why don't you do it, instead of askingme to do it?" snapped Gwen. 

"Oh, so I can tell the other boys how brave you are, " replied Max. 

"They wouldn't think anything of me a doing it, " he continued, quiteregardless of his grammar, "because I'm a boy, and I'm s'posed to bebrave, anyway, but you're a girl, and that's different. 

"Come! Get in! I'll shove it!"

Gwen paused for a moment, then:

"Give me your hand!" she said. 

She was afraid, but her silly vanity prompted her to do it. She knewthat neither of her playmates would dare, and Max had promised to tellthe other boys of the brave feat. 

Max took her hand, and she sprang into the tub, crouching on thebottom, as he shoved it off into water a bit deeper than that inwhich they had been standing. 

The tub was roughly made and anything but clean. The workmen had usedit for holding cement, but had emptied it, and left it on the beachwhere Max had found it. 

He was very fond of coaxing others to do things that he himself wouldnever have done. Now, safe on dry land, he stood cheering Gwen for herbravery. 

"Well, come and wade out here and get me back, " she cried. "I'veproved that I dared to do it, and that's enough!"

"Wait till I get the fellows to come and see you out there in the tub. They might not believe me if I just told them!" shouted Max, and heraced off at top speed, paying no heed to Gwen's shrieks. No one couldhave guessed if Max heard her and yet kept on running, or whether thesound of his own footfalls drowned her cries. 

CHAPTER IV

WHAT MAX DID

Max ran up the beach at top speed, intent upon finding his "chum, " andtelling him that Gwen was actually in the tub, and then, daring him torace back and see her floating about in the shallow water. 

Max and Jack had wagered a quantity of marbles that no girl, not evenGwen Harcourt, would dare to float in the rough old tub. 

When Max reached the place where Jack had promised to wait for him, Jack was no where to be seen. 

"Scamp!" cried Max. "He's gone off so as not to pay over those marblesI won. Well, he'll not get off so easy, for I'll find him, and _make_him pay!"

With never a thought of Gwen, he started along the beach to search forJack. 

"Well, I'd not be mean enough to skin out like that, " he cried as hehurried over the hard, damp sands. He thought it very mean to eludepaying the little bet, and as he ran, he told himself that he wouldhave promptly paid the marbles if he had owed them to Jack, which wastrue. 

Jack was mischievous, but he would never have left a little girl inthe plight in which Max, with all his boasting, had left Gwen. 

And although Max Deland searched in every place where Jack was likelyto be, he did not find him. 

"I'll not hunt for him!" he cried at last, "but I'll make him pay whenI catch him!"

"Max! Max Deland!"

The voice was shrill and piping. 

"Hello! Where are you?" Max shouted in reply, and the trim waitressfrom her position on the ledge, cried back;

"It's not where I am, but where you are that's worrying your mother. You're the first boy I ever saw that had to be called to dinner. Comein!"

She turned and ran into the house, while Max rushed toward the bigdining-room. 

He thought of Gwen during dinner, but he felt no fear for her safety. He believed that she had soon become tired of floating in the shallowwater, had sprung from the leaky tub, and for hours had been playingwith her friends. 

That was not the case, however. Gwen, crouching in the tub, had waitedquite patiently, watching for Max who was to return with Jack, whilethe tub bobbed and danced on the shallow water, and for a time she hadfound it rather amusing. 

The clumsy craft had floated lightly, now toward the beach, now away, and she felt no fear because as often as a receding wave took her afew feet from the beach, an incoming wave brought her back. 

Then the unexpected happened. 

The tide had been turning, and a big wave snatched at the tub, bearingit farther out than it had yet been, while the next inrolling wavewent up onto the beach without so much as touching it. 

Gwen screamed with fright, when she saw that now the tub was steadilygoing away from the shore. 

There was no one in sight, and she sank in a little heap on the bottomof the tub, too tired to continue shouting, and frightened at thethought of drifting out to sea. 

The gulls flew down and looked at her as if wondering what she mightbe, and Gwen cowered, afraid of their great, flapping wings. 

No one could say what might have happened, but just at the moment whenher last bit of courage had fled, a fortunate thing occurred. 

A tiny fishing craft was coming in, and as it neared the shore, one ofthe crew spied the floating tub, then a few moments later the manexclaimed:

"Why, there's a child in that leaky old tub, as true as I live!"

"Hi, there!" he shouted, and Gwen looked up, and wildly waved herhands. 

"Sit still!" he commanded, "or something'll happen. Keep still, an'we'll pull ye in when ye come 'long side. "

Very thankful was Gwen when later, she found herself safe on the deck, the rough tub bobbing away across the waves, while the fishermenlistened to her story of the trick that Max had played. 

"If that boy was mine I know what he'd get, for doing a mean tricklike that!" said one man, to which another responded:

"And I'd be glad ter help ye give it ter him. "

One would have thought that Mrs. Harcourt might have been anxiousbecause of Gwen's long absence, and her non-appearance at the noonmeal, but such was not the case. 

Some one at the table spoke of Gwen, asking if she were ill. 

"Oh, dear no!" Mrs. Harcourt said, with a light laugh; "Gwen is neverill, but she is so very popular that when she does not appear at mealtime, I know that someone has urged her to lunch at her home. Gwen isdearly loved, and so is constantly being coaxed to remain at thishouse or that. "

The other guests could not be blamed if they wondered who it might bewho continually longed to have Gwen as a guest. 

When the noon meal was over, the guests made their way out onto thepiazza, seating themselves in little groups for an afternoon of chatand gossip. 

Some of the ladies were doing fancy work with gay colored silks. Mrs. Harcourt always brought her embroidery frame to the piazza. Not thatshe did much needlework, but she thought it looked well to have itwith her, even if she talked for hours, while the frame lay idle inher lap. 

Someone said that the same piece of work was in the frame that was init on the day of her arrival weeks before. 

She had taken a seat at the far end of the piazza, and she now lookedabout her to see who might be near her. 

A tall matron, standing at a short distance, turned, and seeing alarge rocker behind Mrs. Harcourt, walked slowly over, and seatedherself in it. She had just arrived, and so had not yet seen Gwen. 

Here was a chance to talk to a listener who did not know her littledaughter, and Mrs. Harcourt grasped it. 

"You doubtless heard me telling the others how everyone loves my smallgirl, " she said. 

"Yes, I heard what you said, " the woman replied, in a manner thatimplied her lack of interest, but Mrs. Harcourt did not notice that. 

"Well, really, when you see Gwen, you will not wonder, for you, likeeveryone else, will enjoy her. She's _so_ original. "

Just at this point those who sat near the railing noticed two oddlooking figures toiling up the rough-hewn stairway on the cliff. 

Those who watched them turned to exchange amused glances, and thenlook toward Mrs. Harcourt. 

Quite unaware of what was going on, Mrs. Harcourt continued:

"As I was saying, Gwen is really very unusual, and original, and atthe same time, she is so very sweet tempered, that----, " but thesentence was interrupted by the appearance upon the piazza of a roughlooking fisherman, and a drenched, and very dirty small girl, whosesailor frock was wet with sea water, and be-daubed with cement. Hereyes were red and swollen with crying, her hair had lost its ribbon, and hung about her face. Truly she did not look attractive. 

"Could any of you fine ladies put down your needles long 'nough terhear where I found this little lass?" said the man, "fer she lookslike she needed 'tendin' to. "

Gwen could at once have run to her mother, but she chose to cling tothe fisherman's rough hand, and be gazed upon as an abused child. Mrs. Harcourt, trying to decide which shade of silk to use, did not evenlook up. She did not dream that Gwen had returned. 

So surprised were the guests that, for the moment, no one spoke, andthe man continued:

"Me'n' my mates found her floating out ter sea in a ol' tub what thecarpenters had been usin' fer cement, an' we pulled her in. As thetub was a leakin', I guess 'twas 'bout time 'less ye wanted her ter bedrownded. "

A shrill cry from Mrs. Harcourt followed by the sound of hurryingfeet, and then:

"Oh, Gwen, my dear! Come away from that rough man!" she cried, and theinstant silence showed the disgust that her words had provoked. 

"Wal, I s'pose that's the kind of thanks that a poor feller can expectfrom a lady 'ristocrat!" said the fisherman as he turned to go, "butI'll say one thing more, an' that is that the young lad named Max is'sponsible for the mischief. It was him what coaxed the little lassinter that ol' tub, an' then run off ter play. "

"Three cheers for this man!" cried a young fellow who had listenedintently, and the guests responded with a will, and Mrs. Harcourt fromthe hall whence she had vanished with Gwen, wondered what it was allabout. 

She considered herself a cultured woman, yet she had not spoken onegrateful word to the man who had rescued Gwen from her perilousposition!

Of course Max denied that he had intended to play a trick on Gwen. Hewas a coward, and a coward rarely cares to "own up" when guilty. 

Instead, he insisted that he only "dared" her to get into the tub, butthat he never thought she would stay in it a moment after he was outof sight. 

His mother believed him; the guests did not, but little cared Max. Solong as she thought him perfect, he was quite happy, because he coulddo, at all times, exactly as he chose. That he usually chose to bevery disagreeable was not to be wondered at. 

His mother thought his pranks most amusing, and his saucy speeches, smart, so he was quite content. 

The oddest part of all was that Gwen really liked Max Deland. He wasalways getting her into scrapes, and as soon as she had escaped fromone, she was ready for another. 

Max never helped her. Instead, he left her to help herself. Gwen waswilful with all of her girl playmates, but she would agree to anythingthat Max proposed, so when, in the afternoon of the following day, hetold her that he was going to take a long tramp, Gwen was wild to knowjust where he was going, and coaxed to go too. 

"_Where_ are you going?" she asked for the third time. 

"Oh, somewhere great!" Max said with a provoking chuckle. 

"It would serve you just right if I said I didn't care where you went, but I do care, because I want to go too, " Gwen said. 

"I only wanted to tease you, " Max replied, "and I'll let you go withme, Gwen. Turn 'round and look at that high hill over back of thehouse where we're staying. I'm going to climb to the top of that hill, and go down on the other side, just to see what there is 'round behindthat hill. "

"Then why don't you walk around it, instead of climbing?" questionedGwen. 

"Smarty!" Max said, at he same time looking very unpleasant. 

"Oh, I don't care, " Gwen hastened to say. "I like to climb. Come on!"

It did not look like much of a hill, but it proved to be hard toclimb, for its sides were steep, and covered with wiry grass. 

The sun was hot, and long before reaching the top, Gwen wished thatshe had not started at all. 

Twice she stopped to take short pieces of stems or dry twigs from herslippers, and often the thorny branches of the low bushes scratchedher bare arms. 

Her sleeves were short, and thus her arms were unprotected. Max's armswere covered by his jacket sleeves. 

"What a fuss you make over a little scratch!" he said, sharply. 

"I'm _not_ fussing over _a_ scratch!" snapped Gwen. "I'm fussing over'bout a hundred scratches!"

"Oh, --o--o!" Max drawled, as if he doubted the number. 

"Well, look!" cried Gwen, holding her little arms red with scratches. 

"Too bad, " Max said, and Gwen, surprised, and pleased, followed him, as he made his way just ahead of her, holding back the bushes. 

"Oh, Max, you're good, " she said, and Max blushed at her praise. Hethought himself exceedingly good, but he was delighted that Gwenthought so. 

"This hill didn't look so very high, when we stood on the beach andlooked back at it, " said Gwen. 

"N-no, " admitted Max, "but all the same I'm glad we started early, andwe'll reach the top 'fore long. Then we'll see what's on the otherside, and when we climb down, we can just run around on the levelground, and tell the folks where we've been, and what a climb wehad!"

"Oh, yes, " agreed Gwen, and once more they pushed forward, and uptoward the summit, that seemed, no matter how long they climbed, to benot the least bit nearer. 

For a time they climbed in silence, when, all at once, Gwen trippedover a loose root, and promptly sat down. 

"I'll have to rest a few minutes, " she said. 

"I'll sit down because you do, " Max said. He would not say that he, too, was tired. 

He was not contented long to sit resting, and soon the two were oncemore trudging up the steep incline, Max leading the way, and Gwen, following close behind him. 

"We're 'most to the top, " he said, at last, to which Gwen replied:

"I don't believe it! The more we climb, the farther away it seems, and I do believe that horrid old hilltop moves away as fast as it seesus coming!"

"Now, Gwen, you know better! Just look!" Max said, and Gwen looked. 

"Well, --the top isn't any farther off than it was the last time Ilooked up, " she said, grudgingly. 

She knew that it looked nearer, but she could not bear to say that. 

"It's nearer, and you know it!" Max declared, stoutly. "Come on!"

"Wait till I fix my shoe, " wailed Gwen. 

"I'll bet that's the tenth time you've stopped to pull your shoe offsince we started to climb this hill, " Max cried in disgust. 

Gwen was about to say that she should stop again if she wished to, buta glance at Max caused her to change her mind. His face was far frompleasing, so without a word, she fastened her shoe, and silently thetwo tramped on. 

Max was wishing that he had taken the trip alone. 

Gwen heartily wished that she had remained on the beach. 

She was not only tired, but her feet were sore and blistered. 

Max walked ahead, and Gwen found it hard work to keep up. 

"Oh, Max!" she cried at last, "Do wait for me!" but Max either did nothear, or hearing, refused to wait, and Gwen, unable to take anotherstep, sank down on the coarse grass and burst into tears. 

CHAPTER V

WHAT MAX FOUND

Gwen was very angry. Max had taken her on the long tramp, and now hadbecome impatient because she was tired, and had left her to choosebetween immediately following him, or lagging behind. 

It was almost twilight, but Gwen was forced to rest for a few moments, at least, before taking another step. 

"P'r'aps I can run, and catch up with Max, if I sit here and rest awhile, " she said. 

Max, careless boy that he was, walked straight ahead, not even turningto look back, to learn if Gwen were following. 

Gwen watched his sturdy little figure as it stood out against the sky, and envied him because he seemed not the least bit weary, while Max, sure that she was watching, took extra long steps to show what avigorous fellow he was. 

When he had reached the top of the hill, he would have been glad torest, but he wished to prove that he was tireless, so he at oncecommenced to make his way across the level plain upon which he foundhimself, and then to descend the rugged hillside. 

Sometimes a twig snapped overhead, and then he would next be surprisedby stepping upon what proved to be a rolling stone, that would slipfrom under his foot, and go rattling on ahead of him. 

The long walk down the far side of the hill was less cheerful than theupward climb had been, and while he would not for the world haveadmitted it, he missed Gwen, and her constant chatter. 

He was beginning to feel tired, and he would have been glad to sitdown and rest, but lest Gwen should be on her way to overtake him, andlaugh at him for resting, he kept on. 

Once he looked over his shoulder hoping to see that she was nowfollowing, but she was not in sight, and again he pushed forward. Nota bit cared he if Gwen were afraid. 

"If she'd kept up with me, she needn't have been afraid. Nothing wouldscare her if I---- Oh--oo--oo!"

With a frightened yell, he tripped over what appeared to be a longbundle, which, however, proved to be the legs of a sleeping tramp. 

"Ye little varmint! Walkin' all over a man! I'd serve ye right if Itied yer arms an' legs tergether, and pitched yer down inter thevalley beyant there!" howled the angry man, as he turned over foranother nap. 

Max, believing that the man was chasing him, raced down the steephillside, stumbling over roots, and twigs that lay in his way, slidingon rolling stones, and catching at low hanging branches to savehimself, he at last, from weariness, stumbled, and fell sprawling overa stump that the darkness had hidden. 

It happened that Gwen, becoming a bit timid because of the shadows oftwilight, had risen stiffly from her seat on a low rock, and washastening after Max, when she heard the boy's shout, and then theangry words of the tramp, and quickly as she had come, she ran backto her perch upon the rock. 

 [Illustration: "Now, indeed, she was afraid. "]

Now, indeed, she was afraid. Alone on a wooded hilltop! Would she haveto stay there all night? Would some one come for her? How would theyknow where she was?

She tried to think that Max, on reaching the house would tell of herplight, and urge someone to come for her, but she knew that Max was acoward, and that he never liked to tell anything that might causeothers to blame him. 

Meanwhile the tramp slept soundly. No thought of the frightened boytroubled his dreams, and of the little girl who had drawn back intothe shadow of the trees, he knew nothing. 

 * * * * *

At the big yellow house on the Cliff, there was great excitement. Mrs. Harcourt was so nearly frantic that the best efforts of herfriends failed to comfort her. 

Earlier in the day she had gaily laughed at Gwen's absence at the noonmeal, and if she was at all disturbed because of her sailing trip inthe leaky cement tub, she did not show it. 

But that twilight should be hanging over the sea, and night fastapproaching, and Gwen out of sight for the second time was reallyenough to frighten any woman, even if she were far less nervous thanMrs. Harcourt. 

A searching party was formed, not one of whom had the slightest ideawhere to look, when, just as the men were about to start out, a smallboy appeared in the driveway; a boy who seemed to wish to beunnoticed. 

"Hello! I say, Max! You usually know where the little Harcourt girlis. Do you know now?" said a little man on the outside of the group. 

"Le'me go!" snarled Max, "I want some supper, " and he tried to squirmout of the firm grasp of the little man's hand. 

"Not till you've answered, " said a tall, athletic fellow. 

"Come now, little chap, speak up!" Mrs. Deland, faultless dressed nowappeared. 

"Oh, it is really absurd to think my little son has the least ideawhere----"

"It may be, Madam, " the young man replied, "but I'll just ask himagain, and we'll see how he answers. Say, Max! Do you say you don'tknow where she is?"

"I don't know where she is just now, " the boy answered sullenly. 

"Did you know a little while ago?"

"Oh, dear! Max is so sensitive. This sort of thing will quite upsethim I'm sure, " said Mrs. Deland. 

The tall young man made no reply, but to Max he said:

"Tell us where she is, and we'll go and get her, but if you won't tellus, we'll take you along to show us the way. Which will you do?"

More tired than he would have cared to admit, Max dared not refuse totell, for he had no desire to repeat the fearfully long walk that hehad taken. 

And when he told how little Gwen had declared herself unable to followhim, the disgust of his listeners was complete. 

"So as the small girl was tired out with the long trip on which youhad taken her, you left her to be a little tenant of the lonely woodedhilltop for the night!"

"A brave act, truly. Your mother must be proud of such a manly boy!"said a stout man who had joined the group. 

"I told her to come along, and I guess she could have if she'd wantedto, " Max said stolidly. 

In disgust, and without another word to the boy or his mother, thegroup, with one accord, turned toward the sandy road that led towardthe narrow path up the steep hillside. 

They were sturdy men, well used to long tramps over rugged paths, andsoon they came upon Gwen, huddled close against a high ledge, in aneffort to keep warm. 

She had been too frightened to cry. She had heard the angry shout ofthe tramp when Max had stumbled over him, and now, although he had notuttered a word since, nor had she heard a footstep, she trembled andconstantly looked about her to learn if he were approaching. 

As the searchers made their way toward the crest of the hill, the drytwigs that lay upon the ground broke under their feet, and theunderbrush snapped as they pushed the low branches back. As theyapproached the rock where Gwen was sitting, she heard their voices, and believing that instead of one tramp, an entire band of tramps wascoming toward her, she screamed with fright, and slipping from therock, cowered on the grass, trying to make herself as small aspossible. 

They had heard her outcry, however, and now they called her name. 

"Gwen! Little Gwen! Where are you? We've come to find you!"

Crying out to them, she hurried forward, her arms outstretched, asshe stumbled over the rough, coarse grass, over roots, and dry sticksthat lay in her path, until, in the effort to run, she pitched andwould have fallen, had not the big man of the party caught her, andswung her to a safe place upon his shoulder. 

For once Gwen was truly grateful, and closely she clung about the bigman's neck, so glad was she, that he and his friends had clambered upto her lonely perch on the big rock at the summit of the hill. 

Once she whispered in his ear. "There was a big, horrid tramp up onthat hill. I know, because I heard him shout at Max. I wonder if hehurt Max, and I wonder where Max is now. Did some other men go huntingfor him, just as you hunted for me?"

"No need of hunting for Max, " the big man replied, "for he took goodcare of himself, and came sneaking home, safe and sound, while he leftyou, little girl, to look out for yourself as well as you could. "

With care they made their way down the rugged hillside, and Gwen wasso happy that she sang snatches of songs, and someone in the rearwhistled to keep her company. 

Arrived at the house, Gwen had a fine welcome. 

She was not generally liked, because of her pert, saucy ways, but thefact that she had been lost, and now had returned was surely a reasonfor rejoicing. 

"Where's Max?" queried a young man who had been one of the searchers. 

"The dear boy was so tired with his tramp that he asked to go at onceto bed. He was really fatigued, for usually he coaxes to remain up, "Mrs. Deland said, "and really, " she continued, "the only reason thathe did not take Gwen along with him was because she said that she_must_ rest a while. "

"I suppose it was impossible for him to wait with her, " said someonein the crowd. 

"Max is very tender hearted, " Mrs. Deland responded, "and he said hethought if he waited, she might start before she was sufficientlyrested. "

With much dignity, Mrs. Deland turned from the piazza, and entered thehouse. She knew that Max was at fault, and that everyone in the groupthought so. 

She would not acknowledge that her little son could be in the wrong. Max, according to her ideas, should be praised, and approved of at alltimes. 

Gwen was the center of interest, and that pleased her greatly. Mrs. Harcourt was delighted, fairly beamed upon those who crowded aroundher small daughter, to ask all about her long tramp and how it seemedto be alone on the wooded hilltop. 

Of course the story lost nothing in the telling. 

Gwen made it really thrilling, but after a time, even her mother feltthat the tale was becoming rather lurid for a strictly truthfulaccount, and she dragged Gwen away to the hall, and up the stairway, but she made herself absurd. 

"Really, Gwen, you should be a bit careful, " she said, as gently as ifafraid of offending her small girl. "If your wonderful imaginationmade you think you saw eyes peering at you from behind thosetree-trunks, you should remember that common people might not believeyou. Ordinary people could not understand. "

"I don't care if they don't!" Gwen said stoutly. "I shall tell what Iwant to, and they can believe it or not, just as they choose. "

"I surely am the mother of a genius, " murmured the silly woman. 

 * * * * *

A few days later, great excitement prevailed among the children of theSummer colony at Cliffmore, and their elders were sufficientlyinterested to talk of the news on the piazza, the beach, the littlepark, at breakfast, at lunch, and at dinner. 

"It is really to be quite an affair, " said one lady, to which herfriend replied:

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, for I heard that no expense hadbeen spared, and that the whole thing will be as beautiful as adream. "

"Who planned it, or who is managing it?" questioned another, to whichyet another who now joined the group replied:

"Captain Atherton is 'backing' it, I hear, and so, of course, Rosewill be the central figure in the pageant. "

Yes, that was the cause of the excitement. There was to be a grandpageant, and the children would be the principal actors. 

"Is Gwen Harcourt to be in the pageant?" someone asked, but beforeanyone could reply Mrs. Harcourt joined them. 

"Is my little Gwen to be in it? Why, what a question!" she said. "Theywould hardly have a pageant without her. "

"I suppose not, " someone said, in a tone of disgust, but Mrs. Harcourtdid not notice that. 

"Well, no, " she responded. "I hardly think they could, because besidethe part that Gwen will actually take, she will be a great help inother ways. Her ideas are so original, and she is always so willing totell others how things should be done, that she, really, is awonderful help. The committee arranging the pageant constantly ask heradvice. "

"I wonder if they asked Gwen's permission to have the pageant at all?"grumbled a small boy who stood near the ladies who had been talking. 

Yes, it was to be a great event at Cliffmore, and everyone wasinterested. 

"What are you going to be, and what are you going to wear?" were thequestions oftenest asked, and groups of merry, laughing children satchatting on the piazzas, or strolling along the beach, talking, alwaystalking of the pageant. 

It was, indeed, to be a grand and beautiful procession that would makeits way along the beach. 

The children were greatly excited, and each was interested in thecostumes that her playmates were intending to wear, as well as that inwhich she would herself appear. 

There had been an odd happening. Captain Atherton had chosen the listof characters to be represented, and Mrs. Sherwood had written a cleardescription of the costumes to be worn. 

All were pleased with the parts assigned them, save Gwen Harcourt andMax Deland. 

"I shall not be one of the mermaids, " Gwen had boldly declared. "If Ican't be the Water Queen, I'll not be a water fairy at all!"

"Very well, " Captain Atherton had said quietly, "I will find someoneto take your place. "

Gwen was surprised. She had felt sure that Captain Atherton would begher to remain, and that he would also give to her the part of theWater Queen. 

Max had had a similar experience. He had expressed his dislike for thepart given him, and had been told that the parts once given out couldnot be changed. 

"Come on, Gwen!" he had said. "We can get up something for ourselves!"

"What _do_ you mean?" she asked. 

"Come on over to the big lodge, and I'll tell you. We'll have funenough. You'll see!"

CHAPTER VI

THE SEA KING'S NYMPHS

Everyone, everything was ready for the grand carnival and pageant. 

The children were more than ready. They were eager. 

Their costumes were completed, and they knew exactly how they wereexpected to pose, so that each should do her part to make theprocession beautiful. 

Even the sun seemed intent upon doing his share, and as he rose fromthe water, appeared to be smiling upon sea and land. 

At the far end of the beach was a huge canvas tent, and all of the"trappings, " or "properties" were stored beneath its shelter. Fromthis tent the procession would start, and pass along the beach, wherehundreds of spectators would be watching from the tiers of seats thathad been erected along the route. 

Princess Polly, Rose, and Sprite stood waiting to take their places. 

"What do you suppose Gwen and Max meant?" Polly asked. 

"When they said they'd get up something of their own?" said Rose. 

"Why, yes, " Polly said. "Don't you remember how they spoke?"

"Oh, yes, I know, " Rose replied, "but Gwen and Max often say they'lldo things, and then they don't do at all as they say they will. Theyspeak like that when they're provoked, and then they forget all aboutit. "

"Do you know, " Sprite said, "I think this time they'll remember whatthey said, and I'm just wondering what they will do. "

A trumpet called the children to order, and soon all was bustle andexcitement. 

Then when all were ready, the long line of lovely children attired inrainbow hues, with here and there an adult figure to add dignity tothe pageant, slowly made its way along the beach, receiving cheers andapplause from the delighted on-lookers. 

First came a group of thirty of the village children, dressed as watersprites, and blowing on soft-toned silver horns. 

Their tunics were pale rose, and their cheeks were as pink as theirdraperies. 

Gilded sandals were on their feet, and they blew their silvery noteswith a will. 

Following the water sprites, came a troop of small boys trippingalong, and dressed as little mermen, their green scales glittering inthe warm sunlight, their caps of braided seaweed bordered with tinyscallop shells. 

They carried triangles, and gaily they marked the time, laughing asthey tramped along. 

There were floats upon which were grouped children and grown-ups intableaux representing historical events. 

There was a tall may-pole carried by a man dressed as a jester, andboys and girls in early English peasant costumes held the ends of thelong fluttering ribbons, laughing as the crowd applauded. 

Group after group passed along, and one that called forth loudcheering was composed of boys and girls dressed as little farmers andtheir chubby wives. 

The small boys wore overalls and straw hats, the girls wore pinksunbonnets, pink gowns, and blue aprons, but both boys and girlscarried rakes on their shoulders, and gay companions they seemed tobe. 

The greatest delight, the loudest cheering greeted the great gildedchariot, drawn by six white horses hired for the occasion by CaptainAtherton. 

Each steed boasted a white harness, and from the head of each floatedstreamers of green ribbon. 

Who would ever have dreamed that the imposing Sea King who stood soproudly in his chariot firmly grasping the reins, was none other thanCaptain Seaford, the father of little Sprite. 

A white wig and beard had changed him completely, and his costume ofsea-green draperies was most becoming. 

In his left hand he carried a gilded trident. 

In the chariot with him as his nymphs were Princess Polly, in pink, Rose Atherton in blue, and little Sprite in yellow, three charmingnymphs, surely. 

Brownies, elves, gnomes, a crowd of small boys dressed to representany number of different kinds of fishes were followed by girls amongwhom might be seen Red Riding Hood, Cinderella, and a host of otherfairy tale heroines. 

There were little hunters, and fishermen, but all agreed that the SeaKing with his nymphs, his chariot and his fine horses was best of all. 

Polly, Rose, and Sprite were just saying that Gwen and Max had keptout of sight in spite of their declaration that they would be in theprocession, in costumes of their own choosing, when Polly happened toturn, and look back. 

"Oo--oo--oo! Look!" she cried, and Rose and Sprite, and even thestately Sea King turned to learn what had startled her. 

Too surprised to speak, they watched a little team with two occupants, approaching at headlong speed. 

A smart cart drawn by a gray donkey came tearing down the beach. Maxdressed as a farmer, with blue overalls and straw hat, was making adesperate effort to control the donkey, while Gwen in a chintz frockand pink sunbonnet sat close beside him, clinging to her seat inabject fear. 

Evidently they had been late in getting started, and had endeavored togain sufficient speed to "catch up" with the procession. 

Max had been vexed that at first the balky little beast could not beinduced to hasten, and for a long time he continued to walk at afearfully slow pace, paying no heed to shouting, or a taste of thewhip. 

Then, when Max put down the whip, and let the reins lie loosely acrossthe little creature's back, Neddy suddenly decided to go, and go hedid, galloping along at a rate that set the light cart swaying fromside to side, and threatening, at any moment, to throw Max and Gwenout. 

"Stop him! Do stop him!" cried Gwen, "He's running away!"

"I _cant_!" screamed Max. "First he wouldn't go, and now he won'tstop!"

The procession halted, and a big boy sprang forward, endeavoring tosnatch at the bridle. 

The intention was good, but the donkey, maddened that anyone shouldtry to stop him, shied, and the boy and girl were hurled out upon thesand. 

Max turned a complete somersault and came up on his feet, declaringhimself unhurt, but Gwen took an entirely different view of thematter. 

She was not hurt, but her temper was decidedly ruffled. 

"Well, I declare!" she cried, "I do think everyone is horrid, but Ithink Max is just a _little_ horrider than the rest!"

"Why, Gwen, he did his best to stop, but the donkey just wouldn't, "said Sprite. 

"Well, I wouldn't have been spilled if I hadn't been riding with Max, would I?" cried Gwen. "Something always happens when I go anywherewith Max. Funny I don't ever remember it. Just as soon as something'shappened, away I go somewhere else with him. "

Gwen could not imagine why they all laughed. 

Meanwhile the donkey having run as far as he cared to, stood far downthe beach, looking out across the waves, as calmly as if he couldstand there for hours. Indeed one could hardly think that he was thesame little beast that, a short time before, had bolted so furiously. 

Captain Atherton, who had left the crowd, and quietly followed Neddy, now quickly approached him. He made no attempt to escape, but instead, allowed himself to be led as gently as if he really preferred to gothat way. 

Very meek he looked, as with the Captain's firm hand on the bridle, heapproached the crowd that had watched him when he ran wildly along thebeach. 

Max was more than willing to clamber into the cart, and for theremainder of the route, be a part of the procession. Gwen, firstflatly refused to ride, but after much coaxing she finally consented, and took her place beside Max, and so odd was the expression of herface that Max afterward said that he could not tell whether she was"mad or scared. "

"Half mad and half scared, " Gwen replied. "Mad to have to ride againwith you, and scared for fear Neddy would run away again. "

The donkey behaved very well, however. He had run all he cared to forone while, and he walked along behind the Sea King's chariot, asquietly as if he had never once dreamed of running away. 

After a while, Gwen began to be so glad that she was indeed, in thepageant, that she looked about her, and actually smiled when some ofthe other children spoke to her. 

At the end of the route, a fine lunch was served in a pavilion thatlooked out on the beach. 

Captain Atherton had provided it, and it was heartily enjoyed by allwho had taken part in the pageant, as well their friends who were alsoinvited. 

After the good things had been partaken of, the little guests dancedto the music furnished by an orchestra that had been playing duringthe feasting, and eyes sparkled, and cheeks grew rosy with excitement. 

It had been a delightful day, and for days afterward the children andthose who had been spectators, talked of the lovely pageant, that hadmade its glittering way along the beach. 

Captain Seaford sat just outside the door of his house, mending a net, or rather, attempting to mend it, for his mind was not upon his work, and from time to time he let the net lie on his knees, while he lookedout across the dancing waves as he was hoping to see a vessel appearon the horizon. 

He would sit thus for a time, and then shake his head and resume hiswork. 

A dancing, springing footstep brought Sprite to the door, and as soonas she saw how eagerly he scanned the sea, she crept softly towardhim, and laying her hand upon his shoulder, peeped around into hiseyes. 

"What you thinking of, Pa?" she asked quickly. 

"Nothing much little girl, " he said gently. 

She lifted her fore-finger, nodding wisely as she spoke. 

"It might not be much, " she said, "but it's enough so you worry aboutit. Tell me, Pa, what's vexing you. "

After a moment in which both were silent, she spoke again, but withher soft little arms about his neck. 

"Was it about Ma, or me you were thinking?" she asked. "You looked sosober, that I know it was about someone that you cared for. "

"I was thinking of you both, Sprite, " he said, as he drew her closer, "and of the vessel that is almost a week overdue. If she comes in, theventure that I made on her cargo, will bring what some folks wouldcall a small sum of money, but to us, it would be a small fortune. "

"A week overdue! I'm not so selfish that I don't give a thought forthose on board that have perished if she's lost. That's simply doubledthe worry. "

A warm tear fell on his rough hand, and he looked up quickly. 

"Tut, tut! Little Sprite! Don't cry yet. It may be that she's onlydelayed, and will sail into port, with all hands on board and hercargo safe. You're too young to worry now. Cheer up! Pa's not reallyworrying yet, only wondering, little Sprite, wondering. "

That would have settled the matter for some children, but Sprite sawmore clearly, thought more deeply than does the average child, and sheknew that he was trying to cheer and comfort her while at heart he wasdeeply concerned, for the fate of the vessel for which he had beeneagerly waiting. 

"But she could come in now and be all right, couldn't she?" Spriteasked. "Or is it so late that you almost know that something hashappened to her?"

"No, no, Sprite. It's not too late for her to arrive safe and sound, but as the days pass I catch myself watching a bit closer for hercoming. Why did the tears come, Sprite? I never like to have yougrieving, dear. "

"The tears always come if I think anything has disappointed you, orMa, " Sprite said, softly. "That's why I tried so hard to win the prizelast Spring, when all the other pupils were working for it, too. Ididn't care half so much about getting it for myself, as for you. "

He drew her yet closer. 

"Dear little Sprite, " he said. 

"And now I'm going to hope that the vessel will come sailing in witha big load of luck on board. I'll tell you one thing; I saw the moonover my right shoulder last night, and all the sailors say that'slucky. "

Captain Seaford laughed at this bit of superstition offered to him asa crumb of comfort. 

She laughed with him, and stooping, picked up a small star fish. 

"I'll toss this up three times. If it comes down on the sand, twiceout of three times right side up, it will be the same as saying thatthe vessel is safe, and will return all right. "

Three times she tossed it up, only a few inches from the sand lest itbreak. 

"Once! Right side up!" she cried, a rippling laugh following herwords. 

"Twice! Wrong side up! Oh, Pa, which will it be next time?"

A moment she stood irresolute as if half fearing to test their luckthe third time. She turned the star fish over and over in her hand, then, as if she thought waiting useless, she tossed it lightly up. 

"Oo--oo! Look! Look Pa!" she cried, "It's right side up! Pa, I dobelieve the vessel will come in safely. My! Wouldn't it have beenawful if the star fish had fallen the other side up?"

"My little Sprite is a great comfort, " he said, "and the tossing ofthe star fish is harmless fun, but I'd not like to think that you'dbelieve all the superstitious yarns that the sailors tell. "

"Oh, no, " was the earnest reply. "I know that some of them could notbe true, but there's one funny one that a sailor down on the pier toldyesterday. 

"He said you could go down stairs backwards after dark, and look intoa mirror you held in your hand, and see something, I don't know what, but I'm going to try it. I'll try it just to know what I'd see, or tofind out what would happen. He said something was sure, just _sure_ tohappen. "

"The something that would happen would be that you'd fall, and perhapsbreak your pretty neck, " Captain Seaford said, "but as to what you'dsee in the glass! Why, that is all nonsense. Here and there is asailor that's as full of such silly notions as a weather vane. 

"That sort of sailor listens to all the yarns he hears, believes themall, tells them all, and generally he isn't any too careful to tellthem just as he heard them. 

"He's apt to add just a little of his own nonsense to the yarn heheard to make it interesting. "

CHAPTER VII

A WEDDING AT CLIFFMORE

The playmates who were at Cliffmore for the Summer were having adelightful time, but in a quiet way, John Gifford, or "Gyp, " as he wasstill called, was very happy, and also very busy. 

At the end of the school year in June, he had stood at the head of hisclass, and now, employed by Captain Atherton, he knew that he wasrespected, and that he had honestly earned that respect. 

"I'm to be the hired 'man' on his place, " he said, "so I'll be earningsomething, while I study evenings, for I mean to get somewhere worthwhile. I don't mind if anyone in Avondale who likes me, calls me"Gyp. " It sounds friendly, but I'll not always be known as Gyp, thegypsy boy. When I get out in the world I'll be John Gifford, and Imean business. I don't know yet just what I'll do, but CaptainAtherton will advise me, and with his help, I'll be able to decide. "

Of course there were a few who continued to shake their heads, and saythat "A gypsy is always a gypsy, and what can you expect of a boybrought up, or rather permitted to grow up, as Gyp has been?"

The larger number of the people of Avondale seemed determined to takea more cheerful view of it, and to believe in the boy, even as he nowseemed to believe in himself. 

Gyp proved that he needed no watching, for he commenced work earlyeach day, and never stopped until night. 

The lawn was carefully clipped, the flowers and lawn were given anabundance of water, vines were trained, and shrubs were trimmed, untilafter a month of Gyp's care, the place looked finer than ever before. 

Captain Atherton left Cliffmore one day to visit Avondale, and getsome papers that he remembered having left in his safe. 

As he walked up the path he noticed what fine care the place hadreceived during his absence. The lawn had never looked so green, theplants and shrubs had never blossomed so freely. 

As he stood looking about him the click of the lawn mower caused himto turn just as Gyp came around the corner of the house. 

"You've worked wonders here, Gyp, " the Captain said. "I always had afairly good lawn, and much could be said of the vines and theflowers, but everything looks far better than it ever did before. Where did you get the knowledge to do the work so well, and sosuccessfully?"

"I asked the gardener down in the Center, the one who takes care ofthe parks, to tell me how to do my best for you, and then--I did it, "Gyp said, simply. 

"Work like that at whatever you undertake, and you'll be pretty sureto achieve success, " said Captain Atherton. 

"I mean to, " Gyp replied, firmly, and as he looked after the finefigure ascending the steps to the porch he murmured:

"I'll do my very best for him, " while Captain John Atherton said, ashe opened the door of his safe to take out the papers that he needed:"That boy is worth helping, and I'll help him. "

With the genial Captain away, the housekeeper felt free to enjoy a bitof gossip, and seeing the cook in the garden of the next house, sheslipped out of the rear door, and across the lawn, where, that hercoming might look like a mere happening, she took a bit of paper fromher pocket, and commenced scribbling upon it. 

She wished the cook in the next garden to think that she was jottingdown a few things that she wished to remember. 

Curiosity was at once aroused, and the cook moved toward the hedge. 

"E'hem!" she coughed softly. 

The housekeeper turned coolly. 

"Oh, good morning, " she said. "I just come out here for a bit of arest, there's so much going on just now, that I'm nearly wild with theplanning. "

"Do tell!" cried the cook. "I've heard there was to be great doingsof some sort over at 'The Cliffs, ' but I haven't yet heard what it is. What's it all about? I'm wild to know. "

Mrs. Wilton sighed, as if she were already very weary. 

"We're not more than half ready for the great event, " she said, "butCaptain Atherton does not wish me to tell anyone the least thing aboutit. "

"Mercy sakes! Why I came out purpose to hear!" said the cook, herround face very red, and her little eyes snapping. 

"Well, you'll hear later, " Mrs. Wilton said, and turning, she walkedacross the lawn and entered the house. 

Inside the door she whispered:

"There! I guess that paid her for being so private that she wouldn'ttell me a thing about the company that left their house in such ahurry one day last week, and hustled off before daylight at that!"

The cook, still standing with her fat arms akimbo, stared wrathfullyat the closed door where the housekeeper had vanished. 

"Well, of all the mean things not even telling a decent woman likemyself one bit of what's going on there! I'll find out, though, someway. To-morrow is my afternoon off, and I'll go from one end of thistown to the other to see what I can hear. "

Even little Rose Atherton was pledged to keep the secret. 

"We're to have a lovely time at our house, " she said to Polly andSprite, one morning. "We're to have a perfectly lovely time, andyou'll be there to enjoy it, but that is all I can tell. Uncle Johnsaid I could say that if I wished to but that I musn't tell any morejust now. "

"Well, we won't mind waiting to hear just what it is, " Polly said, "because we know it will be nice, whatever sort of party it is. Wealways have a nice time at your house. "

"And we'll like it all the better because there's to be a surprise ofsome sort, " said Sprite. 

"We can wonder and wonder, and then when the day comes we'll have thefun of not guessing what it is, but just knowing what it is andenjoying it. "

Rose looked very wise. 

"It's to be lovely, I told you that, and there's one thing more I cantell, and that is that it will be different from any party we everwent to, or any party any of us ever had. "

"Won't we be glad when we haven't to wait any longer to know just whatkind of a party it is?" said Sprite. 

"Oh, yes, " agreed Princess Polly, "and so will ever so many otherpeople, for I've heard people talking about it, and saying that theywere tired of guessing, and that they wished they knew now, instead ofhaving to wait still longer to know. "

"It won't be very long now before they know, " Rose said, laughinggaily. 

 * * * * *

The secret was out, because the invitations were out. 

Captain John Atherton, the genial master of the beautiful home atCliffmore, known as "The Cliffs, " and of an equally beautiful estateat Avondale, was to marry the girl whom he had always faithfullyloved. 

The misunderstanding that had parted them had come about because ofthe loss of a miniature of the girl, Iris Vandmere. 

Its loss had grieved John Atherton. 

He could not imagine how it could have so completely vanished. Intruth, it had been stolen, but Iris thought that her lover must havevalued it lightly, believing if he had properly guarded it, it couldnot have been taken from him. One word had led to another, and she hadsent him away, grieving and wretched. 

Her own heart was not less sad, but she had endeavored to hide that. Then, on that lucky day of the Summer before, Princess Polly had foundthe exquisite miniature lying in the middle of the sandy road. 

How it came to be there, no one could say. Evidently someone, perhaps, the one who had stolen it, had dropped it, and travelled on, unawarethat the famous miniature lay waiting a claimant, on the main road ofCliffmore. 

The Summer colony was excited, but of all those who were invited to bepresent, none were more lovingly interested than the children. 

John Atherton loved the children, and they dearly loved him. 

One would have thought that the grand old house of the Vandmere'swould have been chosen for the wedding, but Iris was quite alonethere, save for her servants. 

Both parents had but recently passed away, and the lonely girl feltthat the home with its sad memories was not at all the place for thehappy event. 

"Let it be at Cliffmore, " she had said, and at Cliffmore it was to be. 

"Only think of it, " Princess Polly said one morning, "Rose is to bemaid of honor, and Sprite and I are to be bridesmaids. Rose is to wearpink, with pink roses, and we shall wear white with pink roses. MissIris will wear white, because brides always wear white. Mamma, whycan't brides sometimes wear something else?"

Mrs. Sherwood laughed. 

"This time the bride will wear 'something else. ' Miss Vandmere's gownwill be of the palest blue satin, and beautiful lace, " she said. 

"Oh, how lovely!" cried Princess Polly. 

At last the great day arrived, just as the children felt that theycould not wait much longer. 

It was like a dream of Fairyland, for the great gardens at "TheCliffs" had never looked finer, the rooms were bowers of flowers andfoliage, soft music floated through the halls, and then, Iris inshimmering blue satin, attended by her dainty little maids, cameforward to the floral arch, where handsome Captain Atherton stoodwaiting. 

After the ceremony, the guests moved forward to kiss the lovely bride, and Iris, bent to give her first kiss to her little maid of honor. 

"You are _my_ little Rose, now, " she whispered, and Rose, happy Rose, clasped her arms about her soft, white neck. 

And quite as the weddings in the old fairy tales it was, for thebanquet was like an old time feast, and dancing, in which the Captainand his bride took part, followed. 

When, after a gay, brilliant evening, the happy pair said "good-bye, "their friends gathered about them, wishing them a pleasant voyage onthe _Dolphin_, a safe return, and all good fortune. 

Never a thought of loneliness had little Rose. During Uncle John'sabsence, she was to be with her dear Princess Polly, and what could bebetter than that?

For a few more weeks they would be at the shore, and Rose would be atthe Sherwood's cottage, at play all day with Princess Polly andSprite. 

Then she would leave Cliffmore with the Sherwoods, and go with them toAvondale, there to remain until, upon his return, Uncle John, and thelovely, new Aunt Iris, should come for her. Rose was delighted to staywith Princess Polly, and she looked forward to her home with UncleJohn, now to be even pleasanter than before, because of the sweet, newrelative, whom she already loved. 

The day after the wedding, Gwen decided to go over to "The Cliffs" tolearn if Rose were there, and if she were so lucky as to find her, toremain and play with her. It would be a fine way to spend the morning. 

She had quarreled with Max. 

She was always either vexed with him or just making up, and no onecould ever guess which had happened, because Gwen looked quite ascheerful after a disagreement, as when the friendship had beenrenewed. 

She hurried along the beach, rushing past a group of small girls whomshe often played with, because she meant surely to find Rose beforeshe might leave "The Cliffs" to go over to Princess Polly's house. 

She knew that the walk would be a long one, yet it seemed farther thanshe thought. 

The sun was hot, and the sand seemed burning under the thin soles ofher dainty shoes. 

"How long it takes me to get there!" she said impatiently. "I couldn'trun all the way. "

She reached the low gate a few minutes later, however, and opening it, swung it wide between the two stone posts, and ran up the path, laughing when the gate swung to with a clang of its iron latch. 

Mrs. Wilton, the housekeeper, opened the door, believing that someimportant person had arrived, for the bell had rung as if the openingof the door were imperative. 

She was not pleased to see the small girl standing there. 

"No, Rose is not here, " she said in answer to Gwen's question. "She isto stay with Polly while her Uncle John is away. She went over therethis morning. "

"Why this is 'this morning', " Gwen said, pertly. 

"It is ten o'clock, and Rose went over to the Sherwood house ateight, " the housekeeper said, at the same time stepping back, as ifshe intended to close the door. 

She was free to close it as soon as she chose, for Gwen had turned, and without a word or a glance, raced down the path, out of thegateway and up the beach to join Rose and Polly whom she now sawstanding and talking. 

"Hello!" she cried, as she drew nearer. "I've been over to 'TheCliffs' to find you, Rose, and then I came here. What you two talkingabout?"

"Trying to choose what to play, " Rose said. 

Both wished that Gwen had remained away, but they could not be rude, so she of course would join in the game, whatever it might be. It wasa warm morning, and Princess Polly was just thinking that it would befine to choose a shady spot, and sit there telling fairy tales, butGwen's arrival made that impossible. 

She never cared to listen while someone told a story. To be happy shemust be the story teller, and as her stories were always wildlyimprobable, and always about her silly little self, they were never atall interesting. 

For that matter, she was never willing to join in any game unless itwas very exciting. 

Several games were suggested by Rose and Polly, but to all Gwen shookher head, and refused to play either one of them. 

One she thought too stupid, another she declared that she had neverliked, and, yet another was "awfully dull" she said. 

At last Rose lost patience. 

"What _will_ you play?" she asked sharply, her cheeks flushing. 

"Oh, I don't know, " Gwen replied carelessly. "I guess I won't play atall, anyway not with you two. I'll run back and find Max Deland. He'sgood fun, and he'll surely be able to think of something I'll like toplay. He most always does, and I like him because he is wide awake. Good-bye!" and she was off like a flash down the beach. 

CHAPTER VIII

AUNT ROSE CALLS

There had been many sunny days with blue skies, and never a cloud insight, when one day, to the surprise of everyone, the sky appeared tobe a solid mass of dark, leaden clouds, and the sea that for such along time had been glistening and sparkling, now showed only a darksullen surface, with here and there a whitecap to break its monotony. 

Rose and Polly had decided to remain indoors, and all the afternoonthey had been busy sorting the shells that they had been collecting. 

"I wish I had more of these, " said Polly, pointing to a little heap ofoddly shaped shells, white in color, with here and there markings ofsoft brown. 

"I wish so too, " Rose said. "We've less of that kind than we have ofany of the others. I wonder how it happened that we didn't get more ofthose?"

"I don't know, but if it is pleasant to-morrow, let's hunt for some, "said Polly. 

Mrs. Sherwood called, and Polly putting the tray full of shells uponthe table, went out across the hall to reply. 

Rose hurried down stairs to the hall, out onto the piazza, along theflower bordered path to the gate, then out and off down the beach. 

Polly never liked to be out when the sky was cloudy and the wind raw, but Rose cared not a bit, and she had gone out thinking to give Pollya surprise. 

She meant to find some of the coveted shells, and run home with thembefore Polly should have missed her. 

She looked back at the Sherwood cottage. How pretty it was, and quitelike a country house with its well kept lawn, its flowers in thegardens, and even at the gate, a rose vine clambering over. 

Swiftly she ran along the beach to a spot where usually they had foundthe most shells. 

A few there were, but none like those that Polly wanted, and shetrudged along, looking sharply at every shell that lay imbedded in thehard, wet sand, from which the tide had receded. 

She had been gone nearly an hour although she did not dream that itwas so long since she had left the house. 

She had known that Polly would not follow her, because of the coldwind that was blowing so briskly. A rift in the clouds had let thesunlight through, and when she reached the gate, the garden was bathedin sunlight. 

Rose paused for a moment to look at the flowers, now gay in the brightsunshine, when the sound of voices came toward her, and while one wasthe pleasant voice of Mrs. Sherwood, the other was surely the voiceof--Great Aunt Rose!

"Captain Atherton asked that Rose might remain with us while he isaway, " Rose heard Mrs. Sherwood say to which the cold voice of GreatAunt Rose replied sternly:

"Well, and if he did, I see no reason why she can not spend a part ofthe time with me at the old Atherton house which I have always feltwas her proper home. "

Little Rose Atherton's heart beat faster. She still stood at thegate, and she wondered that, for a moment, neither spoke. 

Then Great Aunt Rose broke the silence. 

"I was away at the time of the wedding, but had I been present, Ishould have at that time _insisted_ that the Captain leave her withme, not only during his cruise on the _Dolphin_, but after his return. 

"The young woman whom he has married is a beauty, and so of course, will be too full of dress and society to have any interest in littleRose. If John has chosen to wed a flighty beauty, he should at leastgive Rose to me. "

"Miss Vandmere is indeed beautiful to look at, but she is lovely incharacter as well, and I know that she loves Rose, " Mrs. Sherwood saidquietly. 

She would not argue, but she felt that, in justice she must giveutterance to the fine regard in which she held Iris Vandmere. 

 [Illustration: "She still stood at the gate. "]

"There are, I suppose, some beauties who are neither vain nor foolish, but however that may be, I am determined to see Rose to-day, and toask her if she does not wish to return with me. "

At these words uttered in a shrill, angry voice, Rose turned and raceddown the beach. 

She dropped the shells that she had been tightly holding, and withouta thought of recovering them, she ran at top speed, as if, at thatvery moment stately Great Aunt Rose had been actually chasing her. 

She had no idea how far she had run, she had not paused for even asecond, nor had she once looked back. Now as she looked up, she saw anarrow side street that commenced at the shore, but well up from thewater, and ran toward the center of the little village. 

She was almost breathless as she turned into the little street, butshe dared not stop running. 

The very thought of ever returning to the stately old Atherton house, with its great dark halls, its formal drawing-room, and for companion, gentle Aunt Lois, kind but so deaf that it was almost impossible totalk with her, and cold, dignified, haughty Great Aunt Rose, filledlittle Rose with terror. 

She was now completely tired out, and as she turned the corner of thenext street, she stumbled, and would have fallen but for two strongarms that caught her. She looked up. 

"Why little Rose!"

"Oh, Aunt Judith! Dear Aunt Judith, take me home with you now, rightoff, this very minute!" cried Rose. "Don't stop to ask why! Just takeme now! Come! They may be here any minute! Come!"

"Why, Rose! What does this mean?" cried Aunt Judith. 

"I was on my way to call upon Mrs. Sherwood, and ask you and Polly tocome up to my little cottage and spend to-morrow with me, and here youare, looking for all the world as if you were running away. I musn'trun off with you like this. "

"Oh, but _do_, Aunt Judith. Please do! It isn't safe to wait a minute. I'll tell you everything when we're safe at your cottage. Come!"

The fear in Rose's brown eyes was so evident, that although it seemeda strange thing to do, Aunt Judith turned about, and with Roseclinging to her arm, started in the direction of the station. A trainwas already made up, and about to start for Avondale. 

They were soon seated, and Rose drew a sigh of relief when the trainstarted. 

"Now, I'm safe, " she said, leaning against Aunt Judith. 

It was not until they were inside the cottage at Avondale, attwilight, the shades drawn and the lamps lighted that Rose told whathad frightened her, and why she had run away. 

"I don't wonder that you were frightened, " Aunt Judith said. "If Johnhad been at home you would have been brave, but gentle Mrs. Sherwoodseemed to you to be no match for Great Aunt Rose. I do not think asyou do. For all her gentleness Mrs. Sherwood is a fine character, andI do not think she would permit anyone to take you from her home whenyou had been left in her care by your Uncle John. 

"There is another thing to be thought of. Great Aunt Rose has left theSherwood cottage long before this, and Mrs. Sherwood and PrincessPolly I believe are greatly frightened by your absence. Don't you knowthat they must have been searching for you now for at least two hours, and not finding you, they will fear that you have come to harm. 

"If only you had told me what it was that had so frightened you, Iwould have returned with you to Mrs. Sherwood, and have helpedconvince your aunt that you could not go home with her. 

"Great Aunt Rose would not actually take you by force. "

"Oh, she would!" cried Rose, "and I'm glad we're here, but we can letthem know that I am safe, and that I am here with you, and why I came. I'd go back to them to-morrow if I knew Great Aunt Rose wouldn't gothere again, and try to get me. 

"Oh, the great old Atherton house is so grand, and yet so lonely, andshe doesn't love me. She was always telling me while I was there thatthe reason she wanted me to live there was because I was an Atherton, and she said the proper place for me to live was in the old Athertonhouse. 

"She said there had always been a 'Rose Atherton' in the family even'way, 'way back, and that every 'Rose Atherton' had lived in thathouse, and when I said I pitied them, she was angry, and she said I'dno reason to. She said the others were proud of this family, and gladto live there, and that I was the odd one. She said it was strangeI'd rather live with Uncle John, and I said it _wasn't_ strangebecause he was so loving. 

"Oh, I can't bear to think of the time that I lived there, and I'mglad I ran away from Polly's house before Great Aunt Rose saw me. Iknow she would have snatched me away from the Sherwood's. 

"I was peeping in at the gate when I heard her voice. 

"She was telling Mrs. Sherwood that I ought to go home and stay withher while Uncle John is away. 

"I didn't wait a minute, but raced down the beach just as fast as Icould. Then I thought if she came out, she might see me on the beacheven at a distance, so I turned into a side street, and the nextcorner I turned brought me straight to you. "

There was indeed consternation in the Sherwood cottage when, after theunpleasant caller had left the house, Polly commenced to look forRose, and no Rose could be found, though thorough search was made, theservants gladly assisting, and just as Polly was crying, and declaringthat she could not taste the least bit of food until Rose was found, the telephone rang. 

Glad news it was that Rose was safe with Aunt Judith, and Mrs. Sherwood and Polly accepted Aunt Judith's invitation to come and spendthe next day at her cottage. 

Aunt Judith had gone a short distance to Mrs. Grafton's house, and shehad sent her message from there. 

"Hurrah!" cried Harry, as Aunt Judith turned from the telephone. "I'mglad it happened that Rose had to run away, for we've missed her allthese weeks that she's been spending at the shore. We'll be overto-morrow to see her, won't we, Leslie?" and he gave one of Leslie'slong curls a sly twitch. 

"We surely will, unless you pull all my hair out when I'd want to hidemy head, " Leslie said, laughing. 

"Oh, pshaw! The way I pull your curls amounts to just love pats, "Harry cried. 

"You wouldn't say so if I twitched your hair like that, " Leslieresponded. 

"I guess I'll go down and get my hair shingled so you won't be able toget hold of it, " he said. "Lend me a quarter, Leslie? I spent all Ihad to-day on candy and a new bat. "

Leslie refused and Harry chased her, the two laughing as they ran. 

"I never saw a brother and sister who played together so prettily, "Aunt Judith said. 

"They are great chums, " Mrs. Grafton said. "Of course Harry has hisboy friends, and Leslie is very fond of Lena Lindsey, but for all thatmy boy and girl are fast friends, and they love each other dearly. "

"I like to see it, " Aunt Judith said. 

She hurried back to the cottage where Rose at the window was eagerlywatching for her. 

"Mrs. Sherwood's voice sounded very anxious when she replied to mycall at the telephone, and the tone of quick relief when I told herthat you were safe here at the cottage with me was very evident. 

"Polly had cried until she was about sick, but of course, she will beall right now, and they will both be with us here to-morrow, for theday. "

"That will be fine, " cried Rose, "and you'll set the larger tableto-morrow, and make it look fine, but to-night, Aunt Judith, justto-night let's have the little tea table, just as we used to when Ilived here with you, with the pretty pale green dishes, and the dearlittle sugar and cream set with the pink moss-rose buds on it. May we, Aunt Judith?"

Aunt Judith came and took the pretty face between her two hands, andlooked into the eager brown eyes for a moment. 

"We'll have our little tea just as we used to, because it will pleaseyou, and because I'd like nothing better, " she said. 

"And let me help at the table, just as I used to, " Rose said, andtogether they worked, Rose bringing the rosebud china, while AuntJudith brought the pale green plates, and cups and saucers from thelittle china closet, and placed them upon the dainty, spindle-leggedtable. There were tiny, fresh rolls, chocolate with cream, a dish ofraspberry jam of which Rose was very fond, and even the little roundpound cakes that Rose so well remembered. Aunt Judith had sent a smallboy to purchase them for her while she was telephoning at Mrs. Grafton's. 

When all was ready, they took their places, Aunt Judith pouring thechocolate, while Rose served the cream from the dainty jug, anddropped the cubes of sugar from the quaint little silver tongs. 

"Aunt Judith, I'm so happy with Uncle John, that everything I have athis home seems perfect, but there's one queer thing that I don'tunderstand. No raspberry jam ever seems just like the jam I alwayshad at this cottage. "

Aunt Judith was delighted. 

"To think that you would always remember the jam, and think it a bitnicer than any other!" she said. 

"Perhaps it was because we were choice of it, and served it on Sundaysand holidays that made you think it extra nice. "

Rose leaned toward her and laid her hand upon her arm. "And perhaps itwas because you always kept the jam in that lovely cream colored crockthat has the butterflies upon it. I do believe things taste nicer forbeing kept in pretty jars like that. "

"I think so, too, " Aunt Judith said, "but your Uncle John hasbeautiful china, so doubtless his housekeeper could find plenty ofpretty dishes for serving. "

"Oh, she does, " Rose replied, "but in the closet, the jam is kept in astone crock, while yours was always in the butterfly jar that I alwaysthought so lovely. "

"The dearest thing about this cosy little tea is the fact----" AuntJudith bent to kiss her cheek, "that I have you for my guest, littleRose. "

CHAPTER IX

AT AVONDALE

Harry was ready to go over to the cottage at eight the next morning, but Leslie declared it a ridiculous hour to call. 

"Call!" cried Harry. "Who's going to make a prim old call, I'd like toknow? S'pose a fellow is going to lug a card case just to go and playwith Rose?"

"Of course not, " said Leslie, "but even if we are just going over tothe cottage to play, we'd not care to get there when she's eatingbreakfast. "

"Well, I guess there's no chance of doing that, Leslie. Look at theclock. It is after eight now, and we're still at table. "

"I'll go over with you at nine, " Leslie said, and when the clockstruck nine, she found him just outside the door, his shrill whistlehaving told her where to find him. 

"Come on!" he cried. "It's nine, and if you won't come with me nowI'll go over to see Rose without you. "

"Well, I'll have to go back now, " Leslie said, and turning, she ranacross the hall, and up the stairway, laughing as she went. 

"Good-bye!" shouted Harry, and off he sped, thinking it a great jokeon Leslie that he should keep his word, and because she was causingthe delay, run off to the cottage instead of waiting for her. 

Leslie, never dreaming but that he was waiting on the walk justoutside the door, wondered that he did not whistle or call to her tohurry. 

She had gone back for a book that she intended to give Rose, and inher haste she could not at once find it. 

At last she saw a bit of its cover beneath a mass of lace and ribbon, in the corner of the drawer where she had placed it for safe keeping, and catching it up, flew down the stairway and out upon the porch. 

For a moment she paused, wondering where Harry might be, when a merryshout made her look up. 

Away up the avenue, just opening the cottage gate, was Harry, and evenas she looked, he disappeared behind the tall shrubbery in the garden. 

"Well, isn't he great?" Leslie said, as she started to run. 

Rose and Harry were just behind a tall shrub that overhung thegateway, and as Leslie pushed the gate open they sprang forward in afine attempt to startle her, but she only laughed. 

"You couldn't make me jump, " she said, "because I saw a bit of Rose'spink dress between the branches, and Harry moved his head so that Isaw his yellow hair. "

"Why didn't you speak, and tell us you knew where we were hiding?"Harry asked, a nice bit vexed that Leslie had not "jumped. "

"I thought you ought to have the fun of springing out at me, afteryou'd hidden so nicely, " Leslie said. 

"Better luck next time, " said Rose, and together they ran aroundbehind the cottage to learn if the little brook was as clear, and asrippling as when Rose, in the early Summer, had sailed her little boatupon it. 

"The brook is here!" cried Harry. "It hasn't run away yet. "

A ragged little chap now approached them, but they did not see him. They were kneeling on the bank and looking at the reflections in alittle pool where no ripple stirred the surface. 

The comical little fellow might have kept away from them had they beenfacing him, but as their backs were toward him, he felt quite brave. 

He was a droll looking urchin. His trousers evidently belonged to anolder brother, as the legs had been rolled over and over in an effortto make them short enough so that he might walk without treading uponthem. His blouse must have been the property of the same person, forthe sleeves had received the same treatment as the trouser legs, thathe might be able to use his hands. Upon his head rested an old strawhat. A big hole in the crown permitted a sprout of red hair to popout, and a pair of shoes, not mates, completed his odd costume. Hecontinued to approach until he stood within a few feet of HarryGrafton, and then he paused, as if wishing that one of the group mightturn, and greet him. 

With chubby hands clasped behind his back he waited. He was evidentlyin no hurry, but after a time he became impatient. 

"Hello!" he said, and Harry turned. 

"Hello, little chap! Who are you?" Harry asked. 

Ignoring the question, the small boy eyed Harry for a second, then helisped:

"Where'th Gyp? Ma thaid: 'Find Gyp. '"

"Are you Gyp's little brother?" Harry asked. 

The small head in the big hat nodded. 

"What's your name?" inquired Harry. 

"Motheth, " said the child. 

"_Moses!_" cried Harry. "You must be wise. Are you?"

"I do' no', but I got to find Gyp, for Ma thaid I wouldn't have nodinner unleth I found him, an' I want my dinner now. "

"And yet you haven't found Gyp, " Harry said. "Well, I saw him a littlewhile ago at work on the lawn over at Captain Atherton's house. Runover there and look for him. Scoot! He may go off while you're waitingto think about it. "

Wee Moses waited for no urging, but raced across Aunt Judith's lawn, out of the gate, and down the avenue, the tuft of red hair waving likea flaming feather on the crown of his hat. 

"Just notice his speed, " cried Harry, and Rose and Leslie laughed asthe comical figure turned, and bolted up the driveway of the Athertonplace. 

"That is only one of Gyp's small brothers, " Leslie said. 

"I never knew that he had one named Moses, " said Rose. 

"I've heard you tell their names, Harry, " Leslie said, "but I neverremember them all. I know there is a Mike, and a Pete, and isn't onenamed Hank?"

"Yes, and there's Luke and a little fellow that they call Sonny whilethey're trying to decide what to name him, " said Harry, "and reallyhe's such a funny looking little fellow that it would be hard work tothink of a name that would fit him. "

"There is a girl over on the other part of the town whose name isTulip Rose Lillian Buttrick, and she told the girls that her parentsgave her all those names because they couldn't decide which they likedbest. "

"What an idea!" cried Rose. "Well, I'm glad I haven't Tulip andLillian added to my name. "

"I don't see why those people stopped at all, " Harry said, "forthere's dandelion, and phlox and marigold, and a whole lot of otherflower names. Seems sort of stingy to give her only three. "

"Oh, Harry! Nobody would name a girl 'Phlox, ' think how it would lookwritten, " Leslie said. 

"I guess they don't worry about how it would look written, " Harrysaid. 

 * * * * *

It was when Rose and Leslie and Harry were resting after an excitinggame, that Mrs. Sherwood and Princess Polly arrived. 

Then the fun began. 

Mrs. Sherwood went in to talk with Aunt Judith, and the four playmatesran over to the Grafton's for a game of tennis. And while they wereplaying, eagerly hoping to win, each trying to outdo the other, littleSprite Seaford sat in the odd little living room of her home, sortingher treasures, and at the same time thinking what a fine time PrincessPolly must be having at Aunt Judith's cottage with Rose and her otherplaymates. 

The pretty shells, the coral, and the star fish, each had places oftheir own, but they had been taken out to show to some callers theafternoon before, and Sprite was now engaged in replacing them, eachin its own especial place. 

Captain Seaford was out fishing and Mrs. Seaford had gone to thevillage to do a few errands so Sprite was free to take her time aboutthe task. 

Softly she sang as she placed the white shells in one row, and thepink shells in another. 

A smart tap at the door made her start, then she called:

"Come in, " and Gwen entered. 

Sprite wished that she had not answered the rap. 

"Goodness! What a heap of shells. What are you going to do with them?Going to keep them?" Gwen asked, in a manner that implied that shethought he lovely sea treasures simply rubbish. 

"_Keep_ them!" echoed Sprite. "Why of course I'm going to keep them. "

"They're pretty of course, " Gwen admitted, "but it must be a horridjob to keep them in order. Leave them where they are and come out onthe beach. "

"Oh, I can't, " said Sprite, and she was about to say that she mustplace her shells and coral in safe positions before going out, butGwen did not wait to hear what she had intended to say. 

Instead, she hurried out, banging the door behind her. 

"I'll find someone who'll do as I want to, " she declared, and she ranup the beach to find Princess Polly, but Princess Polly and Rose wereboth at Avondale, and Gwen ran on to the center of the little coastvillage. 

"I'll find someone to play with, I don't care who it is, " she said, asshe raced along. 

When the sea trophies were all in their places, Sprite stepped back toview her work. 

A smile curved her lips, and her eyes grew brighter. 

"They look finer than they ever did before, " she said softly, "and nowI'll try to keep them just as they are arranged. "

Sprite Seaford was often called a little "Water Witch, " from the factthat she was so much at home on the water. 

She could swim wonderfully well for so small a girl, and she managedher boat with skill. 

After another approving glance at the rows of softly tinted shells, she ran out onto the beach, and soon in her boat she was gliding alongon the shallow water near the shore, her oars moving with slowprecision, keeping time to the song that she was singing, or rather tothe songs that she was singing, for she was making a gay little medleyof many familiar tunes. 

The light breeze lifted her long, waving hair, and let it flutter backfrom her face, it kissed her cheeks, and made them pink like theshells that she valued most. 

The great gulls hovered overhead, flapping their wings, and circlingabout as if trying to determine what sort of little being it was thatboasted such long tresses. 

Skimming over a bit of shallow water, she chanced to look down andthere, on the sandy bottom, was a shell, different in shape from anyin her collection. 

"I must have it, " she cried, and in a second she had drawn the oarsinto the boat, had slipped into the shallow water, and having pushedthe light boat toward the shore, swam along under water until she cameto the spot where the shell lay. 

She came up to the surface to get the air, laughed, and swam downwardagain, snatched the coveted shell, and then made her way to where thelittle boat rocked on the waves. 

She was in it in a moment, and again plying the oars, her shell on theseat opposite that on which she was sitting. 

She had dressed herself in her little bathing suit, and she laughed asshe saw that the warm breeze playing with her hair, was drying it, while her blouse and skirt were dripping and would continue to dripuntil hung up where the wind could blow through them. 

Rarely a day passed that Sprite did not spend with Polly and Rose, butto-day they were away, and she must amuse herself. They were her twodearest playmates, but the dancing waves were the next best. 

"I love to play with Princess Polly, and with Rose Atherton, and whenI'm not playing with them, I like my boat, " she said softly. "I wouldhave asked Gwen to stay but I didn't want to her to. 

"Gwen so often says unpleasant things. Polly and Rose never do, andsurely the boat doesn't. It never even answers back, " she added with alaugh. Then for a time she plied the oars in silence, rowing alwaysclose along the shore, out from one little bay, and into another. 

Then someone hailed her. 

"Hi! Sprite! Sprite Seaford!"

She turned on her seat, and there, on the beach, close to the water, was Max Deland. 

"Say! Have you seen Gwen Harcourt?" he asked, his hands heldtrumpet-wise, to carry his voice to her. 

"I saw her, oh, much as an hour ago, it may be longer, " Spriteanswered. 

"Oh, pshaw! I mean have you seen her within a short time?" cried Max, impatiently. 

"I _said_ I saw her an hour ago, and maybe longer, " Sprite said. 

"I wonder it wasn't a week!" cried Max. "I want her now. "

With that he ran off down the beach, and Sprite wondered why he was insuch evident haste. 

She turned the boat about, and rowed along in the direction that Maxwas going. 

She saw him run along the beach, then stop and take something, a smallbook she thought, from his pocket, look steadfastly at it for a fewmoments, and then, after thrusting it back into his pocket, run onagain. 

She wondered what sort of book it was, and why Max seemed so veryimpatient in regard to seeing Gwen. He seemed bent upon running theentire length of the beach, and she watched him until he eitherentered, or ran behind the little shanty that some workmen were usingas a tool house. 

"I believe Max is as queer in some ways as Gwen is, " mused Sprite. 

"I wonder what that little book was, and why he had to stop to readit?"

A moment later she laughed, as she said: "There's one thing everyoneknows, and that is that when Max and Gwen are together, they're sureto get into mischief. No one ever spends a minute wondering aboutthat, because they _know_. "

She ran the boat into shallow water, made it fast to a pile that hadbeen placed there for the purpose, tying the rope through the ironring on the post. Then she stepped over the side of the boat into thewater, and waded ashore. She wrung the water from her skirt, took offher shoes and emptied the water from them, and then ran up the beachtoward home. 

She opened the door and ran in. 

The Captain would be out on the fishing trip all day, and it wasevident that Mrs. Seaford had not yet returned from her trip to thestore. 

Sprite changed her drenched bathing suit for dry clothing, and hungthe skirt and blouse up to dry. 

She wondered why it was that she kept thinking of Max and his littlebook. 

CHAPTER X

THE SHIP COMES IN

It had been a warm, sunny day, the little waves had danced gaily, andthe beach had been dazzling in the full glare of noonday, but theafternoon had been cooler, and at twilight the wind had changed fromits warm quarter, to Northeast. 

Snug and warm in the "Syren's Cave, " they heard the wind rising untilit became an actual gale. 

The Captain had built a fire of drift wood, the squatty lamp on thetable gave out a yellow glare, and around the table sat the threemembers of the family, the cat occupying the tiny rug in front of thefire. Puss purred contentedly, blinking when the sparks snapped andtwinkled. 

Sprite bent over a fascinating book of fairy tales. The pictures werecharming, the stories held her captive. 

Usually she enjoyed playing with puss in front of the fire, saving herbook for stormy days, but she had opened the book to look at thesoftly tinted pictures, and the first story that held her attentionwas the "Tale of the Gold Children, " and she became so interested intheir travels in search of their fortunes and of each other, that shecould not put the book aside. 

Her waving hair fell about her shoulders as she read, and the lightfrom the big lamp shimmered upon it. 

Mrs. Seaford, busy with her sewing, paused at times to look at thechild absorbed in her book. 

Captain Seaford, in a big arm chair, reading the "Cliffmore News, "looked exceedingly comfortable, but his wife knew that while he heldthe paper before him, he was merely glancing at the reading matter, while his mind was elsewhere. 

Often he put the paper down, laying it across his knees as if he weredone reading. For a few moments he would sit thus, then again he wouldlift the paper as if he were endeavoring to keep his mind upon it, butfinding it a difficult task. 

A heavy gust of wind made the windows rattle, and shook the door as ifclamoring for admittance. A second later, something was hurled againstthe side of the house, as if the gale were using small pieces ofdriftwood for missiles. 

The Captain arose, dropped his paper in his chair, and strode to thedoor. 

He seemed to be trying to scan the horizon, as if looking for a sail, but no object, far or near could possibly be distinguished in theutter darkness that hung over land and sea. 

He turned about, closed the door, and picking up the paper, seatedhimself once more before the fire, but he did not read, allowing thepaper to lie idly on his knees. 

"What is worrying you?" his wife asked gently, laying her hand uponhis arm, and looking intently at him. "Is it anything new?"

"It's the same thing, dear, that has kept me fretting for the lastthree weeks, " he said slowly. 

"When the vessel was two weeks overdue I was more anxious than I caredto admit, but now that the third week is nearly gone, I find myselfunable to keep my mind upon the paper that I try to read, or for thatmatter upon anything else. "

"If any vessels intended coming in to-night, they would be obliged toget into some harbor where they would be safe until the sea is calm, "said Mrs. Seaford, "and that would make them a few days later, sowe'll still hope to see the one we're looking for come sailing in withflying colors. "

Sprite, listening, while they thought that she was reading, now camearound the table, and leaned against the Captain's sturdy shoulder. 

"Pa, I wish you wouldn't worry, for some way I'm sure she's coming inall safe, I'll tell you why. Now don't you laugh. I dreamed last nightthat she came sailing in with flags flying, and oh, her hull and hermasts were of shining gold, so let's think that means good luck. Willyou, Pa?" she coaxed, winding her little arms around his neck. 

She could not bear to see him so worried. 

"You're a comfort, little Sprite, and your Ma is another. Don't seemreasonable for a man to fret with two such blessings in hispossession, but the truth is I wanted the luck that I believed thevessel would bring, for you two dear ones, far more than I wanted itfor myself. "

"Then don't say you _wanted_ it, for that does not sound hopeful, "Mrs. Seaford said. 

"No, say you _want_ it for us, for that sounds as if it were coming, "Sprite said, "and I'm sure it will come, only it's delayed. "

He summoned up a smile for the child who was endeavoring to cheerhim. 

"I surely can truthfully say, 'I want it for you', " he said. 

"I have ventured all that I had on that ship's cargo, because Ibelieved it was sure to bring back a little fortune that would enableme to give greater comfort to your mother, Sprite, and you. "

"Well, it's coming! It's coming! I know it is. I saw the golden shiplast night in my dreams, and I sprang up and looked from the window, and the moonlight was making a bright, glittering path on the waves, just where, in my dream, the ship had been. "

She had left the Captain's side to skip and dance about in herexcitement, but now she came softly back to lean against him, as hesat in his big chair. 

She laid her cheek against his a second, then looking into his kindlyeyes, she said:

"It is stormy to-night, and it may storm to-morrow, but when itclears, I know, oh, I just _know_ the ship will come in. "

It was later than Sprite usually sat up, and the Captain pointed tothe clock. 

"It's late even for a cheerful little prophet to be up, " he said, andSprite danced away to her tiny chamber, happy in the thought that shehad really cheered them. The next day the storm continued, but atnight the gale diminished, and on the following day the sun rosebright, and golden, giving promise of a fine day. 

Sprite ran out onto the beach. 

She looked far out across the dancing waves, to the horizon, whereplainly she could see the sails of incoming vessels. 

Was either one of these distant vessels the one for which the Captainwas so eagerly looking?

"They all look alike 'way off there!" she murmured, but a moment latershe whispered in disgust:

"What a goosie I am! Those vessels have only one sail! They're neitherof them ships. Who'd think I was a Captain's daughter?"

Still she stood scanning the line where the sky and ocean met. At anymoment a big ship might come in sight, and she thought how quickly shewould run to tell the news. Then she hesitated. 

No, she would not hasten to tell it, for it might indeed be a ship, and yet not the one for which the Captain had long been looking, or itmight be one that was not bound for Cliffmore, but instead would gofarther out to sea. 

There was one sail on which the bright sunlight lingered, making itwhiter than those of the other vessels, so that it was easier for herto watch that one than either of the others. 

"Why! It has turned about!" she cried, "and now, oh now, I see othermasts and other sails! It's a ship! It's a ship! Oh, is it the onethat Pa longs to see?"

She would gladly have stood watching until that vessel sailed intoCliffmore, but a long, silvery note from the horn called her in tobreakfast. 

Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks pink with excitement, and theCaptain looking across the table, sighed as he thought of all that hehad planned to do with the money that he had so confidently expected. He had built rosy air castles, had dreamed of comforts, and pleasuresfor the two dear ones who now sat opposite him at the table, the onefull of hope, and cheer, the other trying to summon cheer that shedid not feel, in order to comfort him. The forenoon passed swiftly, because the three were busy. 

Captain Seaford was making some repairs that the gale had madenecessary. Indoors Mrs. Seaford had needed the help of little Spritein some work that she was doing, and when the noon hour came theycould hardly believe the clock. 

Sprite, usually eager to be out of doors, kept close at her mother'sside, pulling bastings from the garments that she was making. 

Sometimes she paused to look from the window, then again she wouldbusy herself with the bastings, and after a time, Mrs. Seaford, looking up, noticed with what rapt attention Sprite was gazing out atthe ocean. 

"What is it, Sprite?" she asked. "Are you thinking of the dream vesselthat you told us about last evening?"

"I can't help thinking of it, " Sprite answered, "and truly I dobelieve the dream meant good luck. " "I'd not wish you to believe verystrongly in dreams, " Mrs. Seaford said, "but I'll confess that eversince you told us that dream, I've been thinking of it, and, in someway, it has given me hope. "

The afternoon was spent much as the forenoon had been, save that thebastings were all out of the new garments, and while Mrs. Seafordstill plied her needle, Sprite picked up the book of fairy tales, andtried to read. 

There was one story that attracted her attention because itsillustration showed a great ship, of ancient design. The name of thestory was "The Gift Ship, " and Sprite began to read. Riches formed itscargo, jewels studded its masts, and its figure head, representing amermaid, was of solid gold. 

"Oh, that is grander than our ship was to be, " thought Sprite, and sheallowed the book to lie idly in her lap, while she looked out at thefloating clouds, and wondered where the white-sailed ship had gonethat, at early morning, had floated along that distant point where skyand water met. 

The captain looked in at the open door, and for a moment seemed to bestudying the two who sat near the window. Then he spoke. 

"I'm going down to the wharf to see Jack Windom. He wants my opinionof a fishing smack he's thinking of buying. I'll not be gone long. "

He started off at a quick pace, but a few minutes later, Sprite saw, from her window, that the captain had met his friend when but halfwayto the wharf. 

"Oh, Ma, Jack has come up halfway to meet Pa. I guess he was coming upto see if Pa had forgotten about going down to look at the new fishingsmack. 

"Why, Ma, they're shaking hands. They never do that. Why, they areboth coming back!"

Mrs. Seaford knew that something more than usual had happened. Shehurried to the door, just as the two men reached it, and then, thecaptain grasped both her hands, crying out in his excitement:

"It has come in, dear! It has come in! The vessel that I've beenlooking for, longing for, worrying for is in safe and sound, and thecargo, if my friend Jack isn't wild, is even more valuable than I haddreamed!

"Sprite! Sprite! Little girl, your dream has come true!"

What a day of rejoicing it was!

"The dream came true! The dream came true! The golden ship has comein!" cried Sprite, dancing about like a little wild thing, while Mrs. Seaford laid her slender hands on the captain's shoulders, her eyesfilled with happy tears as she quietly said:

"For your sake, dear, I am so glad. "

Jack Windom, hardy sailor, and bluff, kindly friend, was more movedthan he cared to admit. He drew the back of his hand across his eyes, remarking that the sun was "tur'ble glarin', " but his friends knewthat he was fully in sympathy with them, and that his honest eyes hadfilled with tears, as happy as their own, because of the good luckthat had come to them. 

"I'm glad for ye, all three of ye, and I wish I could hev lent a handter hurried her in, but she's here now, and I'm as glad as you be thatshe's in safe an' sound. It's a great day fer ye, Cap'n, an' I'm glad, I declare I am. "

Captain Seaford again started for the wharf, this time to see not onlythe new fishing smack, but the vessel that had brought such greatcheer to the little home, and with his arm locked in Jack Windom's hehurried down the beach. 

Mrs. Seaford and Sprite sat down to talk of their good fortune, andafter a time little Sprite said:

"I know I'm not to believe in signs or dreams, but truly I _did_ seethe new moon over my right shoulder, and I _did_ dream of a goldenship. "

"So you did, dear, " Mrs. Seaford said, "and you cheered me wonderfullylast evening just by your telling of your lovely dream. "

"That's why I told it, " Sprite said. 

"I thought while I was telling that, you'd not hear the gale, and byto-day the storm would have cleared away, and maybe the ship wouldcome in, and it did. "

For a few moments the two sat thinking, then Sprite spoke again of thethoughts that filled her mind. 

"Yesterday I tried to read a story in my fairy book, called 'The GiftShip, ' but the ship's masts were studded with jewels, and itsfigurehead was of pure gold, and some way it seemed too grand, toofine, while Pa was longing for just a plain ship like the other shipsthat we see every day. I knew it was its cargo that he was anxiousabout, but the story seemed too good to be true, and I didn't care toread it. 

"Now, oh, now I can read it, and enjoy it, too, for no matter howgrand the story ship is, Pa has seen the one that he has been lookingfor, and now we are happy. "

"Indeed we are, " Mrs. Seaford said; "we are thankful, too, Sprite. Think how different would be our thoughts to-night if Jack Windom'snews had been that the vessel that your father had been looking forhad foundered!

"We are thankful indeed, we are grateful, Sprite. Oh, we are blessedwith the best news that could have been brought to us, " said Mrs. Seaford. 

"I wish we could celebrate in some way when Pa comes back, " Spritesaid. 

"We shall have to be thinking of supper now. Suppose we go outtogether to set the table, and you shall help me to make itattractive. 

"Come! We'll use our prettiest dishes, and we'll set the rose-pinkgeranium in the center, and then we'll see what we can do towardproviding a treat. "

CHAPTER XI

LITTLE PITCHERS

The day spent at Aunt Judith's cottage had been delightful, and Harryand Leslie had been such fine playmates that Rose and Polly wishedthat they, too, were staying at Cliffmore. 

A few days had passed since the visit, and Princess Polly, stillthinking of the day at Avondale, sat stringing shells on a longrose-colored cord. 

She was sitting on a low seat in the garden, her box of shells besideher. The shells were for Leslie, and Polly was selecting them withmuch care, that they might be of nearly the same size. 

The garden was charming with its fine wall, and the lovely flowersthat blossomed within its enclosure. 

The house set well up on the beach, and its broad lawn and flower bedswere surely safe from any encroachment by the sea, yet as aprecaution, the massive wall had been built, and if by any chance astorm should drive the waves a bit too far, they would break againstthe wall, and then recede, leaving the garden unharmed. 

The string of shells was now nearly a half yard in length, and Pollyheld it up for the admiration of Rose and Sprite, who had justarrived, and were running along the path. 

"Oh, isn't it lovely?" said Rose, "and the colors, how nice they look, first bluish white and then cream white. "

"Leslie will like that, " said Sprite. 

"Anyone would, they're strung so prettily. "

"I've ten more shells to add to the string and then it will be allready for Leslie. Everybody keep still until I have the ten shells inplace, " said Princess Polly, "and then I'll talk with you. "

Rose and Sprite pretended to be making a great effort to keep still, but the task was evidently too much for them, and after a few secondsof silence, Rose laughed, Sprite echoed, and then Polly laughedbecause they did. 

"Oh, you two can't keep from talking, " she said, "and neither can I, that is, not for very long, but I did keep still until I put the tenthshell on the string, and I'll put it in this little box. There, nowI'll listen, for I know you've something to tell. "

The three little friends were now sitting on the long garden seat, thetall shrubs behind them making a cool shade. 

Mr. Sherwood had had the space inside the fine wall filled with richloam, so that inside the garden gate was a genuine country garden, while outside the wall lay the sandy beach, and the surf, and spray. 

The flowers in the garden seemed to like the breezes from the sea, fortheir colors were glowing, and their perfume sweet. 

"There's such queer news this morning, " Sprite said. "First, a sailorthat Pa knows came up from the wharf, and he said a vessel got 'wayout to sea, when they found a boy had hidden himself on board, aregular stowaway, and the first fishing smack they met, that washeading for Cliffmore, took him aboard and brought him back, and whodo you think that was?"

"Why, how could we ever guess?" Polly asked in surprise. 

"Well, that was John Selby, the grocer's boy. You know the store overat the Center, " said Sprite, "and I guess you've seen the boy. He's'bout fourteen, and has red hair, and he's the one that helps delivergoods from his father's store. "

Yes, they remembered him. 

Good-tempered, happy-go-lucky John Selby. What could have tempted himto leave home, and become a stowaway? Sprite knew why he had done it. 

"He said he didn't want to be a grocer when he grew up, " she said. "Hesaid he loved the sea, and would rather be a sailor, so now his fathersays if he'll stay at home and help in the store until he's a bitolder, he'll consent to his becoming a sailor, if he still thinks he'dlike a sailor's life. "

The pronouns were a bit confused, but Rose and Polly understood. 

They hardly knew whether to be sorry for John or his father. 

"It seems hard for John to want to go and leave his father, " Pollysaid, "and it's hard that John can't be a sailor boy if he wants to. "

"And you can't know which is the harder, " said Sprite. 

"Well, I wouldn't think any boy would run away from home when he knewthat his father and mother would grieve for him, " Rose said. 

"I'd think any boy would if he wanted to!" said a sharp voice. 

It was Max Deland who had entered the garden, and now, with a defiantair, stood staring at the group of playmates, as if daring them todisagree with him. 

His cap was tilted at a saucy angle, his hands were thrust into hispockets, and his feet, wide apart, were firmly braced. 

He looked as if ready to quarrel with anyone who chanced to differwith him. 

"Do you mean to say, Max, that you'd do such a thing?" Sprite asked. 

"I don't say I would, and I don't say I wouldn't, " Max said in asullen voice. 

"Well, _would_ you?" Princess Polly asked, but Max lookeddisagreeable, and in a few moments had turned and left them, asabruptly as he had come. 

For a moment Polly, Rose and Sprite sat very still, each looking intothe faces of the others. 

"What made him so cross?" Sprite asked, "and if he _did_ feel cross, and couldn't help it, then I should have thought he would have stayedaway. "

"So should I, " said Polly and Rose, and "so should I, " echoed Sprite. 

Outside the garden wall eager ears were listening, and the earsbelonged to a little figure that crouched close by the gateway, justout of sight of the three playmates, yet quite near enough to hear allthat had been said. 

It was Gwen Harcourt. 

She had been a bit too saucy to Max Deland, had called him a "sissy, "and what boy would bear that? Max had returned the favor by callingher a "Tom-boy, " and then he had made a horrid face, and raced off upthe beach. 

Then Gwen was sorry. She liked to play with Max, and while he couldrun away, and laugh as he went, Gwen was ready to cry. 

He was quite as fond of Gwen as she was of him, but he was a greattease, and beside that, he liked to hear her calling to him to return. 

It flattered his vanity. 

"Come back, Max! Come _back_!" she had shouted. 

"Max dear, I take it back. You're not a sissy. Max! Oh, Max, I'msorry!"

Max heard, but he chose to keep right on, and at last he reached theSherwood house, and pausing for breath near the gate, had overheardthe three friends talking about the boy who had run away from his homeat Cliffmore. 

A few moments later he had chosen to enter, especially because he wasfeeling rather cross with Gwen, and as Gwen was not at hand to quarrelwith, he entered the garden to sneer at what his playmates weresaying. 

Gwen had followed him, and the time that he had spent in the gardenhad given her the chance to catch up. Six little stone steps led downfrom the garden to the beach, and Max ran down, pushed the gate wide, and sprang out onto the hard white sand. 

Gwen crouched at his left, but he shaded his eyes with his hand, andlooked to the right down the beach. She was pert and willful with allthe others, but with Max she was humble indeed. 

"Max, here I am, and I'm sorry I teased you. Do be nice to me now, won't you? I won't ever call you 'sissy' again. "

"Guess you won't!" Max said, in anything but a pleasant tone. "Iwouldn't let you say it if I was here, but I've 'bout decided to runaway to sea!"

"Oh, Max, Max! I don't want you to, and just think! What would yourmother say?"

Gwen meant it rightly, but it did not please Max. 

"There you go!" he cried. "That's the same as saying 'sissy' again. Iguess I can go where I want to. A man can do as he likes withoutasking. "

Again Gwen blundered. 

"Oh, but Max, you're not a man. You're just a boy, and I wish youwouldn't talk as if you meant to go 'way off somewhere. "

Just a boy! That was aggravating. Max felt sure that in a moment moreshe would call him a _little_ boy, and that would indeed be too muchfor any boy to ever overlook. 

Gwen laid her hand on his arm, intending to coax him to stay, but Maxwas too angry to be easily pacified. 

"See here!" he cried, roughly brushing her hand from his arm. "Youheard me say I'd _'bout_ decided to run away to sea, but you don't_know_ whether I will or not, so look out and not be a tell-tale, forif I do go, and ever come back, and find out you told, I'd never speakto you!"

Before Gwen could get over her surprise, and grasp the meaning of whathe had said, he was off at top speed down the beach. 

She started to follow, but he turned and shouted: "Don't you dare totag on!"

Poor Gwen! Max was the only playmate with whom she had ever beengentle. She had treated him far better than she had ever treated thegirls at Avondale, or the new acquaintances at Cliffmore, and now hewas going to run away, and she was not to ever mention it!

She reached home very tired, and also very unhappy. 

At lunch she refused to eat, but that was not unusual. She often didthat to attract the attention of the other boarders. 

As usual Mrs. Harcourt commenced to fuss, and to question her. 

"What is it, dear?" she asked. 

"Is there nothing that looks tempting?"

Then glancing at those who sat opposite, she said: "Gwen's appetite isso very dainty and capricious, she rarely cares for what is servedhere. "

The guests were a bit tired of that speech, as they had heard it atevery meal during the Summer. 

"You're too tired to eat, darling, " Mrs. Harcourt said. "Did you playtoo hard with Max this morning?"

At the mention of Max, Gwen burst into tears, and ran from the table, dropping her napkin on the floor, and walking upon it in her flight. 

Mrs. Harcourt was really alarmed. She wondered what Max had done to soupset Gwen. Perhaps he had struck her. He had a terrible disposition, while Gwen had the temperament of an angel. So thought Mrs. Harcourtas she left the dining room, her own lunch untasted, to follow Gwen, and coax from her the reason for her distress. 

The cause of any disturbance that led Gwen to shed tears wasattributed to the outrageous temper of the other child, or children, as the case happened to be, and Mrs. Harcourt never dreamed thatsometimes Gwen showed a temper that was rather far from angelic. 

Max was not at lunch, but that caused no surprise, because he oftenwas absent at one o'clock, returning at six for dinner with anappetite that seemed more befitting a brawny tramp than a boy who wasalways well fed. 

On this day, however, he did not appear at dinner, and when seven, andeight, chimed forth from the hall clock, and still no Max in sight, Mrs. Deland was frightened. 

"Do keep up your courage, Mrs. Deland, " said a man who happened tostand near her. 

"Your small boy will come prancing in before long, just as he alwaysdoes. He usually remains out until you are nearly wild, and then hecomes crawling in by the back door, and wonders why the chef isn't onhand to cook a separate dinner for him. "

It was the truth, but Mrs. Deland thought the speaker exceedinglyhard-hearted. She had telephoned to everyone whom she thought mighthave seen Max, but all replied that he had not been noticed, and thatproved that he had not been near them, for the boy was so saucy, sonoisy, and so desperately active, that he must have been noticed if hewas anywhere within sight. 

"Nine!" chimed the clock, and a few of the guests of the houseorganized a searching party, and started out to hunt for Max. 

They felt little interest in the matter, from the fact that the samething had happened so many times that they seemed always to besearching for Max. 

The boy had made himself a nuisance in countless ways, and whileneither member wished any harm to come to Max, they felt that itwould be a great relief if he and his mother would leave Cliffmore, and never think of returning. 

Once outside the house, however, they made thorough work of theirsearch, but although they looked in every place that a small boy mightget into, and in many that seemed impossible, they did not find him. 

One man, tired and disgusted, grumbled as he tramped along, andseveral others who did not utter the thoughts that filled their minds, felt every bit as disgusted as he did. 

"It's nonsense, clear nonsense, tramping all over the place, huntingfor a little run-away rascal, who, at this moment, is doubtless eatinga comfortable meal, after having returned when he felt like it. "

When they reached the house, they were surprised to find that Max wasnot there. 

It was the first time that a party searching for the boy had returnedto learn that he was still missing. 

Mrs. Deland had become quite used to having Max away sometimes allday, and often until after eight in the evening, and, as a rule, shewas reasonably calm, but that nine o'clock should have passed withouthearing from him seemed beyond belief. 

With the return of the searching party her courage gave way, and shesank onto a low seat, her cheeks white, and her hands tightlyclenched. 

The women gathered about her, trying to comfort her, but she seemednot to hear what they said. 

How still she sat, her hands still tightly clasped, her eyes lookingfrom one face to another. 

Then her eyes closed. She had fainted, and gently they carried her toher room, one woman promising to remain with her, after the doctorshould have gone. 

Gwen had acted so strangely that Mrs. Harcourt had ordered a lightlunch sent up to their room, saying that Gwen was too ill to go downto dinner, and that she would remain with her. No sound of theexcitement reached them. It was in vain that she questioned Gwen. Gwenonly replied that she and Max had quarreled, and that he had been"just perfectly horrid. "

When morning came, Gwen awoke feeling a bit better. 

Having remained in their room all the afternoon and evening, they hadheard nothing of the search for Max, nor did they know that he hadnot, as usual, returned. 

CHAPTER XII

MAX A STOWAWAY

Soon after breakfast, Gwen, looking for someone to play with, ranacross the broad piazza to where, pale and weary, Mrs. Deland sat. 

"I want Max, " cried Gwen, in her usual pert manner. 

"Where is he? When is he coming out?"

Mrs. Deland uttered a low cry. 

"He's lost, little Gwen! Haven't you heard? They are searchingeverywhere for him, and they force me, his mother, to remain here, andwait with what patience I may. "

With a sudden impulse she threw her arms about Gwen, and held herclose, then more gently lifted her face so that their eyes met. 

"You loved my little Max, " she said. "Are you sorry that he is not yetfound? Stop a moment; you played with him yesterday. When did you lastsee him? When were you two children last together?"

"Oh, you're hurting me, holding me so tight. Let go, and I'll tellwhere I saw him, " cried Gwen. 

"Why, child, I didn't dream I was really hurting you. Now tell me. "

"I saw him 'way over to Princess Polly's house, " Gwen said slowly, "and we, --we, oh, we quarreled some, and Max didn't stay with me. "

"Well, where did he go when he left you?" Mrs. Deland asked eagerly. 

A crowd had gathered about the two, and stood listening. 

"He told me not to tell, " said Gwen, shutting her lips firmlytogether. 

"What? You know where he is, and will not tell me, his own mother?Why, child, I am sick with worrying. Tell me, this moment!"

Gwen made no reply. 

She loved Max, but she had never liked his mother, and that she shouldcommand her to tell made the little girl more stubborn than she hadever been before. 

"I wouldn't tell now even if Mrs. Deland and all those other womenstuck pins into me, " thought Gwen. 

It was in vain that they questioned her. Pleading, threatening, coaxing were equally unavailing, and when Mrs. Harcourt, seeing thegroup, came out upon the piazza, Gwen flew to her, saying thateveryone was teasing her. 

"It is an outrage!" cried Mrs. Harcourt, her voice shrill with anger. 

"I wonder what you can be thinking of? A half dozen grown peopletormenting one small girl. "

"My dear Mrs. Harcourt, you don't at all understand, " said a tall, haughty-looking woman. "Your little daughter knows where the lost boy, Max Deland, is, and, although his mother is nearly wild with anxiety, she will not tell, that we may know where to find him. "

Mrs. Harcourt hesitated. Then she looked at Gwen's flushed cheeks anddowncast eyes. 

"Do you know where Max is?" she asked. 

"No, I _don't_!" snapped Gwen. 

Mrs. Harcourt turned and faced them. She extended her hands. 

"There!" she cried. "You see, do you not, that it was idle to teaseGwen? She does not know where he is. "

"She certainly said that she knew where he went, " said a stout lady. "I do know where he _went_!" shouted Gwen, "but how do I know where heis _now_?"

"Where did he go?" questioned Mrs. Harcourt. 

"I promised him I wouldn't tell, " said Gwen, "and I won't!"

She wriggled from her mother's grasp, and racing across the piazza, fled up the stairway to her room. 

"Gwen is too honorable to break a promise, " sighed Mrs. Harcourt, asshe left the group of disgusted ladies, to follow her small girl toher apartment. 

"Too stubborn would be nearer the truth, " muttered the stout lady. 

"That child should be made to tell, " said another. 

"She shall be made to tell, " Mrs. Deland said as she turned toward thesmall room that served as an office. 

Gwen, as stubborn as a little mule, refused to tell the proprietor ofthe house, when he called her into his office, and after talking for ahalf hour on the naughtiness of being stubborn, and the especialnaughtiness of not telling where Max went, and thus helping thesearchers to find him, she again flatly refused. 

If it had been true honor in being determined to keep her promise thatmade Gwen refuse, one could not but praise her courage, but herimpulse was wholly selfish. 

Max had said that if he ever returned and found that she had told, hewould never speak to her again. 

She valued Max's friendship above that of any of her playmates, andshe refused to tell where he went, because he had insisted. 

 * * * * *

There was great rejoicing at "The Syren's Cave. "

The "coming in" of the ship that Captain Seaford had long been lookingfor proved to be even more fortunate than he had dreamed. 

Its cargo was indeed valuable, and as he obtained a much higher pricefor it than he had expected, his kindly heart was filled withgratefulness, and his eyes grew brighter, and he walked with a lighterstep. 

Mrs. Seaford went about the little house, singing at her work, andSprite, happy, laughing Sprite, danced upon the beach, played in thesurf, or rocked in her boat, singing, always singing of the watersprites, the mermen and mermaids of whom she never tired of hearing. 

Princess Polly and Rose were both delighted when they heard of theSeafords' good fortune, but of the disappearance of Max they had notheard, because they had been away on a little ocean trip. 

It happened, on the day that Max decided to run away, that no steamerlay at the wharf, nor was there so much as a ship in sight. 

There was, however, a coal barge, and Max, determined to go on thatvery day, watched his chance, and at the first opportunity slippedaboard, where in frantic haste he looked for a hiding place. 

Steps approaching set him into panic, and an empty barrel standing ina shadowy corner of the little cabin seemed his only refuge. 

"There's only a few er these ol' pertaters, so I'll chuck 'em interthis barrel in the cabin, " shouted a gruff voice, and in they wentonto Max's head and shoulders. Not a sound did he make, although thepotatoes felt decidedly hard, and evidently had been thrown in withnone too gentle a hand. 

It seemed to the boy in his cramped position as if the coal bargewould never start. 

At twilight, however, he felt the motion, and knew that he was sailingaway from Cliffmore, the empty barge to return with another load ofcoal, but he, Max Deland, to keep straight on in search of a landwhere a fellow didn't have to mind his mother, but could seek andeasily find a fortune, and then return sufficiently independent tohave his own way. 

It happened that Max had been seen sneaking aboard the vessel, and abit later jumping into the empty barrel to hide, and the sailors hadfirst thought of putting him ashore with a sharp warning to keep awayfrom the barge in the future. 

Then it occurred to them that a better lesson could be given him byletting him remain on board for a few days, and then placing himaboard of the first fishing smack that they met, bound for Cliffmore. 

The potatoes had not been carelessly thrown in upon him. It had beendone intentionally, to act as a part of his punishment. 

Long before anyone on board was asleep, Max was wishing that he hadnever thought of running away. 

He thought of the fine dinner that had been served at Cliffmore hoursbefore, and here was he, Max Deland, in an old and dirty barrel thatvegetables had been stored in, very hungry, and with no way ofobtaining anything to eat. 

After a time, his cramped position became unbearable, and slowly butsurely he crept out of the barrel, and upon the cabin floor, where, because he was so weary, he fell into sound sleep. 

At daylight a group of sailors were looking down at the sleeping boy. 

The captain of the barge spoke. 

"Good-looking little chap, but he must learn not to try this trickagain. Let him lie there until he wakes. Then give him some breakfast, hard tack and water, remember, and then give him the task I set forhim. When the first fishing smack, bound for Eastville appears, starthim for home. "

"Aye, aye, sir!" was the prompt reply, and the boy stirred as if hehad heard it. 

"Come now! Step lively!" cried the mate. "No loitering on shipboard. "

Max, hardly awake, barely grasped the meaning of the words, andscrambled to his feet. 

"Now, then, forward march if you want something to eat. "

Max marched. He dared not refuse, but he did rebel when he saw whatwas offered for his breakfast. 

"I can't eat that!" he said angrily. 

"All right! Forward, march! We'll let ye work on an empty stomach ifye really hanker to. "

All sorts of tasks were set for him, and for the next few days he waskept exceedingly busy. 

He learned to do as he was told, and to do it promptly; to eat whatwas given him without grumbling, and there was something else that helearned by his hard experience. He learned what a fortunate boy he hadalways been; to appreciate all the good things that had always been sofreely given him, and above all these, he longed for his mother'slove. 

He thought what a good boy he'd be if ever he reached the shore, andhe resolved never to run away, whatever happened that displeased him. 

A happy boy was Max when a passing smack stopped long enough so thathe could be taken on board, and then headed straight for Cliffmore. 

Max thought nothing had ever looked so beautiful as the cliffs fromwhich Cliffmore took its name, when in the early morning they sailedinto the bay, and saw the warm sunlight kissing land and sea. 

Ah, he would never run away again, for now he knew the value of homeand love. 

He ran all the way from the wharf, and up the beach and climbed thegreat ledge on which sat the house where with his mother he had beenstaying. He rushed up the steps to the piazza, wildly crying:

"Where are you? Where is everybody? I've come home! I've come home!"

They came at once, and from every direction, like ants from an anthill, and swarmed around him, asking more questions than he couldanswer. 

A tall, handsome woman rushed across the piazza, her eyes bright withhope. 

"Stand aside!" she cried. "It is Max! My little Max! I know his voice!Oh, let me reach him!"

The crowd parted, and the boy was instantly clasped in his mother'sarms. 

"My own! My darling!" she sobbed. 

"I won't ever run away again!" he responded, his arms about her neck. 

"Come!" said one of the crowd that had gathered. "Let them be alonetogether for a while, " and as with one accord the group melted, theguests going far from the two who, for the time being, needed no othercompany than each other. 

Of course, a bit later Max told his story to eager listeners, and whenhe had finished the little tale, he said: "And you folks ought to knowthat Gwen was a regular brick, to keep the secret I told her not tolet out. Any girl but Gwen would have told it first thing, but Gwenis a brick. Don't all of you think so?"

A gentleman on the outskirts of the little crowd proposed cheers. 

"Three cheers for Max and his brick!" he shouted, and they gave themwith a will. 

On the same morning that the little fishing smack brought Max home toCliffmore, the beautiful steam yacht, _Dolphin_, sailed into the bay, with its owner, Captain John Atherton, and his beautiful bridestanding together on the deck, and returning the salutes of the hostof friends who awaited them on the wharf. 

Handkerchiefs were waved by the ladies, hats were swung by the men, and foremost in the waiting crowd stood little Rose Atherton, a basketof roses to offer them, and the housekeeper close beside her, lest inher excitement she might actually be swept off the pier. 

"Oh, I'm so glad, so glad!" cried Rose. "Dear Uncle John, anddear----" she paused. 

What should she call this lovely young woman?

Iris laughed. 

"You must learn to call me 'Aunt Iris, '" she said, stooping to kissthe little blushing face. 

"I'll love to, " Rose said, "and I won't have to learn, same's I won'thave to learn to love you, for I love you now, you are so sweet, solovely. "

"Oh, John, was there ever a sweeter welcome? I am so happy. "

At the reception a week later, Rose stood beside the dear, new aunt, and felt very proud and happy "helping to receive. "

Princess Polly and Sprite were delighted that Rose was now to be sohappy. 

"Of course it is dearest to have one's own mamma, " Polly said, "butRose had neither papa nor mamma, so lovely Mrs. Iris is next best, andI do truly think she is dear. "

"So do I, " agreed Sprite, "and of course if Rose was happy with herUncle John she'll be just so much happier with her new aunt, but whotold you to call her 'Mrs. Iris'?"

"No one, " said Polly, "but for that minute I couldn't think ofAtherton, and I couldn't call her Mrs. Captain John. Of course she isMrs. Atherton now. "

"Oh, yes, " agreed Sprite, "and my mamma says she's almost an angel. She did truly say that this morning, and Pa said:

"That's just what she is, and Captain John Atherton is a lucky man andI'm glad for him. "

Already, plans were being made for the return to Avondale, and Rose, Princess Polly and Sprite were looking forward to the opening ofschool when, with Harry and Leslie, Lena and Rob, Vivian, and all theother playmates, they would be having the pleasant school days, andthe good times that were always enjoyed at Avondale. 

Gyp was to be "indoor man" on Captain Atherton's place, and study inevening classes, taking a business course that would fit him for abetter position that the captain assured him should surely be his, ifhe excelled in his class work. 

Sprite was indeed to be happy. The year before she had spent at theAvondale school, making her home with Princess Polly and Rose. Shehad been happy with them, but of course, at times, she was somewhathomesick. 

This year would be so different. Captain Seaford's good fortuneenabled him to rent a small apartment for the Winter at Avondale, andthere Sprite could enjoy her school, and merry playmates, and yet bewith her parents. 

Gwen Harcourt was telling all whom she met at Cliffmore that she wasvery tired of living at Avondale, and that she did not think sheshould live there much longer. She said that if she fussed enoughabout it, her mamma would take her somewhere else. All who knew Gwenfelt reasonably sure that she would "fuss. "

Rose knew that her home at Avondale would now be perfect. Uncle Johnwould love her as he always had loved her, and of her new aunt shewas already very fond. 

Surely it promised to be a bright and happy Winter for Princess Pollyand her friends, the merry playmates at Avondale, where good times andgay spirits prevailed and kind and happy hearts worked with equal zealat study and at merry-making. 

THE END

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