THE HAPPY VENTURE BY EDITH BALLINGER PRICE AUTHOR OF "BLUE MAGIC," "US AND THE BOTTLEMAN," "SILVER SHOAL LIGHT," ETC. ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR Published in 1920, 1921, by The Century Co. CONTENTS I TALES IN THE RAIN II HAVOC III UP STAKES IV THE FINE OLD FARMHOUSE V THE WHEELS BEGIN TO TURN VI THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HEDGE VII A-MAYING VIII WORK IX FAME COMES COURTING X VENTURES AND ADVENTURES XI THE NINE GIFTS XII "ROSES IN THE MOONLIGHT" XIII "THE SEA IS A TYRANT" XIV THE CELESTINE PLAYS HER PART XV MARTIN! XVI ANOTHER HOME-COMING LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS "Now can you see it? _Now_?" The Maestro sat down beside Kirk The slack length of it flew suddenly aboard "Phil--Phil!" Kirk was saying then THE HAPPY VENTURE CHAPTER I [Illustration: "Now can you see it? _Now?_"] TALES IN THE RAIN "'How should I your true love know, From another one? By his cockle hat and staff, And his sandal shoon...'" It was the fourth time that Felicia, at the piano, had begun the old song. Kenelm uncurled his long legs, and sat up straight on the window-seat. "Why on earth so everlasting gloomy, Phil?" he said. "Isn't the rain bad enough, without that dirge?" "The sky's 'be-weeping' him, just the way it says," said Felicia. She made one complete revolution on the piano-stool, and brought her strong fingers down on the opening notes of another verse. "'He is dead and gone, ladie, He is dead and--'" Kenelm sat down again in the window-seat. He knew that Felicia was anxious about their mother, and he himself shared her anxiety. The queer code of fraternal secrecy made him refrain from showing any sign of this to his sister, however. He yawned a little, and said, rather brusquely: "This rain's messing up the frost pretty well. There shouldn't be much left of it by now." "Crocuses soon ..." Felicia murmured. She began humming to an almost inaudible accompaniment on the piano: "'Ring, ting, it is the merrie springtime....'" The rain rolled dully down the clouded window-panes and spattered off the English-ivy leaves below the sill. They quivered up and down on pale stems--bright, waxed leaves, as shining as though they had been varnished. Kirk drifted in and made his way to Felicia. "She's better," he observed. "She said she was glad we were having fun." He frowned a little as he ran his finger reflectively down Felicia's sleeve. "But she's bothered. She has think-lines in her forehead. I felt 'em." "You have a think-line in your own forehead," said Felicia, promptly kissing it away. "Don't _you_ bother." "Where's Ken?" Kirk demanded. "In the window-seat." Thither Kirk went, a tumble of expectancy, one hand before him and his head back. He leaped squarely upon Ken, and made known his wishes at once. They were very much what Kenelm expected. "See me a story--a long one!" "Oh, law!" Kenelm sighed; "you must think I'm made of 'em. Don't crawl all over me; let me ponder for two halves of a shake."