CHAPTER

  1. [An October Day]
  2. [The Captain's Story]
  3. [Renée Finds a Home]
  4. [Gardens]
  5. [First Aid]
  6. [Eagles and Golden Eaglets]
  7. [Aunt Pen Plans]
  8. [Breadwinners]
  9. [The New Lodger]
  10. [A Scout's Honor]
  11. [Young Wings]
  12. [The Game]
  13. [The Christmas Party]
  14. [Hill-top]
  15. [Pat's Pride and Its Fall]
  16. [Good Turns]
  17. [Angeline]
  18. [For His Country]
  19. [A Letter From France]
  20. [The Lost Baby]
  21. [Renée's Box]
  22. [Surprises]
  23. [The Best of All]

LARKSPUR

CHAPTER I

AN OCTOBER DAY

On an October day--a sunny day, and except for the yellow leaves that quivered on rapidly bearing branches, very like spring--Patricia Everett, from the window of her home, watched an automobile drive out of sight, carrying her mother and sister away to Florida, and confided to the empty room that she was the very unhappiest girl in the whole world!

Conflicting emotions tormented the soul of the little lady. She disliked very much seeing anyone depart from anywhere without her! Then, too, so hurried had been the departure that nothing in the shape of candy, books or toys had been left behind to comfort her! And saddest of all, at the last moment her mother had decided that she must not return to Miss Prindle's because of an epidemic of measles!

The curious quiet that had fallen upon the house after the bustle of departure added to Patricia's loneliness. With a heart bursting with pity for herself, she wandered up the stairs to her room--a pretty room, its windows hung in flowered chintz, a bird singing from a cage hanging in the sunshine.

When his little mistress walked into the room Peter Pan trilled more gayly than before--it was as though he bade her come to the window and look across the way!

If she had looked she would have seen in the kitchen window of the shabby brick house, across the intersecting street, Mrs. Mary Quinn and her daughter Sheila rocking in one another's arms and laughing like two children!