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my father and mother, my two best friends, and also to all my other friends, whose names I say to myself lovingly, though I do not write them here.
S. O. J.
Contents
KATE LANCASTER'S PLAN
THE BRANDON HOUSE AND THE LIGHTHOUSE
MY LADY BRANDON
DEEPHAVEN SOCIETY
THE CAPTAINS
DANNY
CAPTAIN SANDS
THE CIRCUS AT DENBY
CUNNER-FISHING
MRS. BONNY
IN SHADOW
MISS CHAUNCEY
LAST DAYS IN DEEPHAVEN
Kate Lancaster's Plan
I had been spending the winter in Boston, and Kate Lancaster and I had been together a great deal, for we are the best of friends. It happened that the morning when this story begins I had waked up feeling sorry, and as if something dreadful were going to happen. There did not seem to be any good reason for it, so I undertook to discourage myself more by thinking that it would soon be time to leave town, and how much I should miss being with Kate and my other friends. My mind was still disquieted when I went down to breakfast; but beside my plate I found, with a hoped-for letter from my father, a note from Kate. To this day I have never known any explanation of that depression of my spirits, and I hope that the good luck which followed will help some reader to lose fear, and to smile at such shadows if any chance to come.
Kate had evidently written to me in an excited state of mind, for her note was not so trig-looking as usual; but this is what she said:--
Dear Helen,--I have a plan--I think it a most delightful plan--in which you and I are chief characters. Promise that you will say yes; if you do not you will have to remember all your life that you broke a girl's heart. Come round early, and lunch with me and dine with me. I'm to be all alone, and it's a long story and will need a great deal of talking over.
K.
I showed this note to my aunt, and soon went round, very much interested. My latch-key opened the Lancasters' door, and I hurried to the pa