Polly had been away but two weeks.  She had gone to visit Rose Atherton, intending to remain but a single week.  Then when she was at “The Cliffs” she had written for permission to stay “just a little longer,” and Mrs. Sherwood had extended the time an extra week.

During that time the house next to the Osborne’s had been purchased, the family had moved in and the little daughter of the family had become very intimate with Inez, her near neighbor.

A short time surely for so much to have been accomplished.

Perhaps the “new little girl,” as the other children called her, found it easier to capture Inez, and hold her for her best friend, because Inez was very eager for a little “chum.”

She had hoped to be chosen by Princess Polly, to take the place of Rose.  Disappointed, and angry because Polly Sherwood did not prefer her, she would not try to choose a mate from her other playmates.  Instead, she gave all of her time to the “new little girl,” and never were two small girls more intimate.

A few days after Polly’s return she was sitting on the stone wall near the entrance to the driveway.

A bright hued Japanese parasol kept the sun from her head and shoulders, and she sang a cheery melody, hitting her little heels against the wall to mark the time.

    “Sunshine and showers,
     Bees in the flowers,
     Blue sky and floating clouds,
     Soft Summer air;
     Bright yellow butterfly,
     His gauzy wings to try,
     Floats like the thistledown,
     Without a care.

    “Now, to the velvet rose,
     Off and away he goes,
     Far from all other blooms
     Roving so free;
     Flighty, and light of heart,
     Having of care no part,
     Gay yellow butterfly,
     Happy is he.”

Inez Varney, with her new playmate, ran along the avenue.  Inez was the only one of Polly’s friends who had not been up to see her since her visit to Rose.

Now, in great haste, she clasped the hand of her little friend and ran to where Polly was sitting.

“This is Gwen Harcourt,” said Inez, “and Gwen, this is Polly Sherwood, that all the children call ‘Princess Polly.’”

“I won’t!” said little Miss Harcourt, stoutly.

“You needn’t,” said Polly, coolly.

The new little girl was surprised.  She had believed that Polly would be very angry.  Indeed, she was quite disappointed that Polly seemed not in the least to care.

“Is that your house up there between the trees?” she asked.

“Yes,” said Polly, but she did not say:  “‘Will you come in?’”

That did not trouble Gwen, however.  She needed no invitation.  She could invite herself, and she did.

“I’m coming over to see you some day,” she said.

Inez giggled.  She thought her new friend’s pertness very smart.

“You don’t say you’ll be glad to see me, but I’m coming just the same,” said Gwen; “and p’raps I’ll come to-morrow, and p’raps it’ll be next week, but I’m truly coming.”