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Show - 12 - ancient Irish folk lore which kept the girls entranced for hours on end. Her thick Irish brogue only made the stories more interesting. Surely, this was a happy home and certainly there could be no shadows hovering over it! Now that Gaven House was in order and everything in its proper place, the girls found themselves with time on their hands. It was a bright sunny afternoon and Athena was upstairs with Maddie checking the linens. They were anxious to get away from the close environs of the house and do some exploring on their own. "What do you think we should do first," said Penny. "I suppose we could go up to the attic or down to the basement and look around." "I'm so tired of staying in the house," replied her sister. "When the weather turns rainy we'll have time enough to do that. Why don't we see what lies beyond the big iron fence to the West? Right now a walk beyond the Eucalyptus grove in the back of the house would be more fun." "Sounds great to me," said Penny. Off they went with Dixie running at their heels. Vicky, as usual leading the way, her skirt flying and the ribbon in her short hair blowing in the breeze. Penny followed at a slower pace. Her slender figure in its sweater and matching skirt and low oxford shoes made her look younger than her fourteen years. She wore no ribbon in her straight blonde hair today. Most of the time it was impossible to keep it on, as it was always slipping or loosely hanging down her back so she inevitably would pull it off and stuff it in her pocket. Out in the garden they met Tom. He was busy pruning, cutting and shaping the bushes. He seemed preoccupied and the girls nodded to him and went on to the West gate. The heavy schrubs beneath the old Oak trees, |