THE ADOPTING OF ROSA MARIE _by_ CARROLL WATSON RANKIN _Illustrated by_ FLORENCE SCOVEL SHINN _Frontispiece and jacket in full color by_ MIRIAM SELSS In this charming girl's book we meet again the four chums of _Dandelion Cottage_. Their friendship knit closer than ever by their summer at playing house, the girls enlarge their activity by mothering a pretty little Indian baby. "Those who have read _Dandelion Cottage_ will need no urge to follow further.... A lovable group of four children, happily not perfect, but full of girlish plans and pranks and a delightful sense of humor." --_Boston Transcript._ Just the type of book that every girl _from eight to fifteen_ enjoys. [Illustration: "MY SOUL, WHAT ARE YOU, ANYWAY?"] Dandelion Series THE ADOPTING OF ROSA MARIE (_A Sequel to Dandelion Cottage_) BY CARROLL WATSON RANKIN Author of "Dandelion Cottage," "The Girls of Gardenville," etc. _With Illustrations by_ FLORENCE SCOVEL SHINN [Illustration] NEW YORK HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1908, BY HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY COPYRIGHT, 1936, BY CARROLL WATSON RANKIN PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO EMILY, PHYLLIS, POLLY AND SUZANNE CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. BORROWED BABIES 1 II. ROSA MARIE 9 III. MABEL'S DAY 18 IV. AN UNUSUAL EVENING 27 V. RETURNING ROSA MARIE 34 VI. THE DARK SECRET 43 VII. DISCOVERY 52 VIII. THE FUGITIVE SOLDIER 64 IX. A SURPRISE 73 X. BREAKING THE NEWS 83 XI. THE ALARM 91 XII. THE FIRE 101 XIII. A HEROINE'S COME-DOWN 111 XIV. A BIRTHDAY PARTY 119 XV. AN UNEXPECTED TREAT 130 XVI. A SCATTERED SCHOOL 140 XVII. AN INVITATION 151 XVIII. OBEYING INSTRUCTIONS 161 XIX. WITH HENRIETTA 173 XX. THE CALL RETURNED 183 XXI. GETTING EVEN 195 XXII. A FULL AFTERNOON 204 XXIII. TAKING A WALK 215 XXIV. THE STATUE FROM INDIA 226 XXV. COMPARING NOTES 237 XXVI. CHRISTMAS EVE 248 XXVII. A CROWDED DAY 256 XXVIII. A BETTIE-LESS PLAN 265 XXIX. ANXIOUS DAYS 275 XXX. AN APRIL HARVEST 286 THE PERSONS OF THE STORY BETTIE TUCKER, aged 12: } JEANIE MAPES, aged 14: } The Cottagers MARJORY VALE, aged 12: } MABEL BENNETT, aged 11: } ROSA MARIE: The Unreturnable Baby. THE MOTHER OF ROSA MARIE. ANNE HALLIDAY: } THE MARCOTTE TWINS: } Borrowed Babies. THE LITTLE TUCKERS: } HENRIETTA BEDFORD: The New Girl.