Sunshine above, around us,
White caps floating by,
None in the world is happier
Than you, my love, and I."




CHAPTER III

GWEN


Little Sprite Seaford felt so completely "at home," that it seemed to
her as if she had always lived at Avondale. There were times when she
felt homesick. At early morning, before Polly was awake, she would lie
with wide open eyes, gazing around the lovely room, and missing the
dear voices that always greeted her so cheerily. At twilight, when the
shadows grew deeper, there would be a longing for the dear ones at
home, and her loving little heart would ache, and she would have to
struggle to keep back the tears.

She knew, however, that she must be a bright, cheerful little guest.
Had not dear father and mother said so?

Throughout the sunny days she was the life of the merry playmates who
lived so near that they were always together. Polly and Rose she had
played with at the shore in the Summer, and at the children's party
that Mrs. Sherwood had given, she had met the boys and girls who had
come from Avondale for that evening.