Produced by Al Haines. *LARKSPUR* BY *JANE D. ABBOTT* AUTHOR OF HAPPY HOUSE, KEINETH, ETC. GROSSET & DUNLAP PUBLISHERS NEW YORK Made in the United States of America COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY PRINTED IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE FLOWERS OF MY OWN GARDEN I DEDICATE THIS STORY *CONTENTS* CHAPTER I. An October Day II. The Captain’s Story III. Renée Finds a Home IV. Gardens V. First Aid VI. Eagles and Golden Eaglets VII. Aunt Pen Plans VIII. Breadwinners IX. The New Lodger X. A Scout’s Honor XI. Young Wings XII. The Game XIII. The Christmas Party XIV. Hill-top XV. Pat’s Pride and Its Fall XVI. Good Turns XVII. Angeline XVIII. For His Country XIX. A Letter From France XX. The Lost Baby XXI. Renée’s Box XXII. Surprises XXIII. 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!