Excerpt from Larkspur On an October day - a sunny day, and except for the yellow leaves that quivered on rapidly bearing branches, very like spring - Patricia Everett, from the window of her home, watched an automobile drive out of sight, carrying her mother and sister away to Florida, and confided to the empty room that she was the very unhappiest girl in the whole world Conflicting emotions tormented the soul of the little lady. She disliked very much seeing anyone depart from anywhere without her Then, too, so hurried had been the departure that nothing in the shape of candy, books or toys had been left behind to comfort her And saddest of all, at the last moment her mother had decided that she must not return to Miss Prindle's because of an epidemic of measles