"My dear little girl, there are other ways of being generous beside bestowing gifts. It is VERY generous of you, when Donald has treated you so cruelly, to ask mercy for him. I'll remember your tender pleading in his behalf, but Donald must be made to know, and fully understand that what he did was far worse than merely naughty, it was wicked!
"And now, for the time, we'll talk no more about Donald. You and Polly are safe and sound, the little boat is floating just behind us, all the sky is blue and cloudless. We are bounding over the sparkling waves, without a thought or care.
"I am master of the Dolphin, and you and Polly are two lovely little sea fairies that I have invited aboard to keep me company."
CHAPTER IX
PRINCESS POLLY RETURNS
THE days spent at the shore sped as if on golden wings, and Uncle John declared that the sunlight seemed brighter while Rose remained under the red roof of "The Cliffs."
He had given his little guests every pleasure, he had bought them a beautiful collection of shells, and a tiny ship for each to sail in the brook at Sherwood Hall. Was there anything that he had not done for their happiness, their delight while with him at the shore?
Now the day for their departure had arrived, and his genial face looked strangely quiet, and he forgot to laugh and joke with them.
He watched Rose closely, and once, when she looked up at him, she thought his eyes looked grieved.
She laid her hand on his arm, and spoke the thought that was troubling her.