"Dorothy Dainty has been reading us a lovely story," said a little girl, whose merry eyes showed that she had enjoyed it.
"What"s it about?" Jack asked, and then, "Oh, _fairy_ tales!" he said.
"Don"t you like fairy tales?" Flossie questioned, looking up at him.
No one liked to differ with dear little Flossie, least of all, Jack Tiverton.
"Oh, I like them _some_," he said, awkwardly, "but,--are there any stories about bandits or pirates in that book?"
"Oh, no," they cried, in a laughing chorus, "and there aren"t any wild Indians in it, either."
"I don"t care much about Indian stories," Jack replied, "but I do like to read about pirates."
"But just hear what this one was about," said Nancy.
"The wandering prince had, for years, been searching for a lovely princess, who should look like a beautiful picture that hung in his father"s palace. One day he came to a castle where the people told him a handsome princess was imprisoned, and he asked why she was kept there.
They told him that she was enchanted, and that some day, a wandering prince would sing beneath her window, and then the spell would be broken, and she would be free."
Jack was interested.
"But s"posing he couldn"t sing?" he asked.
"Oh, a prince could surely sing!" said Flossie.
"And p"raps he could sing under her window, if he couldn"t anywhere else," ventured a dreamy-eyed little girl who sat near Dorothy.
"And how would he know _what_ to sing?" a cheery voice questioned, and a pair of merry eyes peered over the piazza railing.
"Oh, Uncle Harry!" cried Flossie, "what difference would it make?"
"All the difference in the world," declared Uncle Harry, "for while the proper melody would set the princess free, how are we to know that the wrong melody might not chain her closer than before!"
"Why, the story doesn"t say that," said Nancy.
"Perhaps not, but the prince took an _awful_ risk when he chose what to sing," declared Uncle Harry.
"You"re laughing when you say it," said Dorothy.
"He is," agreed Flossie, "and what he says is funny, but I know this: I"d love to hear some one singing under _my_ window!"
Some ladies, who sat near enough to hear the conversation, were amused at the children"s enthusiasm, and at Uncle Harry"s evident interest.
"The prince had his guitar slung over his shoulder by a ribbon," said Dorothy. "See the picture," and she slipped from the hammock, and offered the book that he might see the ill.u.s.tration.
"I"m glad he carried his guitar instead of a banjo," he said.
"Why are you glad of that?" Flossie asked.
"Oh, because I really _am_, in fact, I might even say I am delighted,"
he replied.
"I do believe he intends to serenade those children," said a handsome woman, to her friend who sat beside her; "he is a brilliant man, and one who is blessed with many talents, and one of his greatest charms is his love of children. He will go far out of his way to afford them a bit of fun."
That evening, when nearly every one had left the piazza, and all of the children were in their rooms, the soft tw.a.n.ging of guitar strings floated up toward Flossie"s window.
She was not yet asleep, and she sat up in bed, and listened.
Yes, it was a guitar! Was it Uncle Harry"s?
A little prelude softly played, drew her toward the window.
She crept closer, and peeped out. Yes, there he was, looking right up toward her window.
Now his fine voice was softly singing, and Flossie held her breath.
"Under thy window, my little lady, Under thy window, Flossie dear, Here where the moonbeams softly flicker, Sing I this song that you may hear.
"Moonlight, and starlight weave enchantment, Yet shall my song your freedom bring, You shall be happy little lady, Give me your love for the song I sing."
"Oh, Uncle Harry, you have it _now_!" cried Flossie. "I love you, when you"re singing, and _all_ the time."
"I know that, dear little girl, but I _must_ have my fun, so I came here to sing the song I made for you," he said gently.
"Well, you"re _dear_," she cried, "and I"ll throw you a kiss," and she did, reaching far out of the window that he might surely see her.
"I caught it!" he cried, and as he turned toward the porch, she heard him softly strumming the prelude again.
Others had heard the pretty song, for Dorothy and Nancy had a room next to Flossie"s.
The next morning he was coaxed and teased to sing the song again, but he declared that he could only sing it in the moonlight, that the daylight would spoil its effect.
The sunny days sped on wings, and soon the guests began to think of turning homeward.
Mrs. Dainty"s party and the Barnets were to leave the hotel at the same time, and Dorothy, Nancy, and Flossie were delighted that they were to take the return trip together.
They were talking of the pleasures that they were looking forward to, and telling of some delightful events that were already planned, when Jack Tiverton gave them a genuine surprise.
"Mamma has just told me something fine," he said, "and I ran right down to tell it to you."
"Oh, tell it quick!" said Flossie.
"We"re going to live in Merrivale, and we"ll be there soon after we leave here. I"m glad. Are you, _all_ of you?" he asked.
"Of course we"re glad," said Dorothy and Nancy; and Flossie hastened to add:
"Every one of us is glad."
There were bright days, and many pleasures in store for the little friends, and those who would like also to enjoy them, and to know what happened during the winter, may read of all this in