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Updated: May 3, 2025
"That was a lovely story," said Rose, "and I always like them when they commence, 'Once upon a time, and end with, 'They lived happy ever after." "So do I," said Sprite, "and just think of the lovely times we'll have this Summer, when we're all at the Cliffs, at Cliffmore, that is, if you're coming down to the shore. Oh, are you?"
Her home at the shore had been placed on a broad stretch of sand, and only a few of the residences at Cliffmore boasted a flower, or tree on its grounds. Now, with the garden gay with geraniums, tall gladioli, dahlias, and scarlet salvia, she looked in amazement and delight at the riot of color. "Oh, how beautiful it is here!" she said. Suddenly she remembered her precious letter.
"Why, Sprite Seaford!" cried Rose. "How did you dare to send fifty dollars in gold?" "Because," said Sprite, "I didn't send it by mail. I gave it to one of the very best men in this world, and that is Uncle John, to take it to pa for me, and he did. He rode over to Cliffmore last Saturday. That's a week ago, and don't you know it was a stormy day? Well, that's why we didn't go with him."
There must have been a very rough sea, for the hammock rolled and pitched, until it seemed as if the little voyagers would surely be thrown overboard, so violently did the steamer lurch. The passengers were evidently but little frightened. In truth, they appeared to think the trip a huge joke, for they laughed gaily; at last Sprite cried: "Cliffmore! Cliffmore!
They were soon running along country roads, where men were busy in the fields, and where early fall wild flowers bordered the roads. Then in a brief space, they began to miss the wild flowers, and to notice bold bits of ledge, the roads became more sandy, and as they swung around a bend, they caught a glimpse of the sea. "Cliffmore!
Oh, it's Cliffmore!" cried Sprite her hands tightly clasped, and her eyes bright as stars. "Isn't it Cliffmore, Mr. Atherton?" she asked, her little hand patting his shoulder nervously, as she waited his reply. He stopped the car, and turned to gaze up into the lovely, eager face. Sprite, standing, her long golden hair blowing back from her face, looked for all the world like a sea fairy.
Sprite nodded her head wisely as she spoke, and the sunbeams danced on her rippling hair. "And I'll tell you something I've thought of," she said. "It was Friday after school that I asked him about sending it, and he said we'd all take the trip to Cliffmore. And when Saturday came it was so stormy we couldn't go.
"You'll be happier, Rose, if we talk of something else," said Polly, "so I'll tell you that Sir Mortimer is strutting around our garden this morning with a new collar that I bought for him, and the big pink satin bow upon it is very becoming." "And I'll tell a bit of news. I sent my prize right straight to the 'Mermaid's Cave," said Sprite, "and pa put it in the Cliffmore bank for me."
"Uncle John says we'll enjoy the earlier part of the Summer here, and then go over to his lovely house at Cliffmore for the rest of the Summer." "Why, that's just what my papa said, last evening," said Princess Polly, "and I do believe they've planned it together."
She was thinking that it was strange that a little girl who wore lovely frocks, and lived in a handsome house was willing to be as rude as any little vagrant who roamed the beach at Cliffmore, gathering sea weed. "Our house is just an old ship's hull turned upside down, and fixed up for a house, but mother never let me speak like that to anyone, and besides, I wouldn't want to," she thought.
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