author - "Lydia Miller Middleton"
d as though thegolden floor of heaven had come to rest upon earth. The path, withits sentinel trees, led straight as a rod to a distant house, longand low, surrounded by a vine-covered veranda. There were strange,sweet smells in the air, which felt soft and warm. The sky wasbrilliantly blue, and on the fence across the road a gorgeous parrotsat preening its feathers in the sunshine.
Mollie looked about her with curious eyes, wondering where she was.Not in England, of that she was sure--there was a different feel inthe air, colours were brighter, scents were stronger, and thatradiant parrot would never perch itself so tranquilly upon anEnglish fence.
Then she saw, coming down the path, a girl of about her own age,dressed in a brown-holland overall trimmed with red braid, high tothe throat, and belted round the waist. She wore no hat, and herhair fell over her shoulders in plump brown curls. By her side paceda large dog, a rough-haired black-and-white collie with sagaciousbrown eyes. He lea
d as though thegolden floor of heaven had come to rest upon earth. The path, withits sentinel trees, led straight as a rod to a distant house, longand low, surrounded by a vine-covered veranda. There were strange,sweet smells in the air, which felt soft and warm. The sky wasbrilliantly blue, and on the fence across the road a gorgeous parrotsat preening its feathers in the sunshine.
Mollie looked about her with curious eyes, wondering where she was.Not in England, of that she was sure--there was a different feel inthe air, colours were brighter, scents were stronger, and thatradiant parrot would never perch itself so tranquilly upon anEnglish fence.
Then she saw, coming down the path, a girl of about her own age,dressed in a brown-holland overall trimmed with red braid, high tothe throat, and belted round the waist. She wore no hat, and herhair fell over her shoulders in plump brown curls. By her side paceda large dog, a rough-haired black-and-white collie with sagaciousbrown eyes. He lea