Chapter I: Front Matter

THE ADOPTING OF ROSA MARIE

_by_
CARROLL WATSON RANKIN

_Illustrated by_
FLORENCE SCOVEL SHINN

_Frontispiece and jacket in full
color by_ MIRIAM SELSS

In this charming girl's book we meet again the four chums of _Dandelion Cottage_. Their friendship knit closer than ever by their summer at playing house, the girls enlarge their activity by mothering a pretty little Indian baby.

"Those who have read _Dandelion Cottage_ will need no urge to follow further.... A lovable group of four children, happily not perfect, but full of girlish plans and pranks and a delightful sense of humor."

--_Boston Transcript._

Just the type of book that every girl _from eight to fifteen_ enjoys.

Dandelion Series

THE ADOPTING OF ROSA MARIE

(_A Sequel to Dandelion Cottage_)

BY

CARROLL WATSON RANKIN

Author of "Dandelion Cottage," "The Girls of
Gardenville," etc.

_With Illustrations by_
FLORENCE SCOVEL SHINN

NEW YORK
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1908,
BY
HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY

COPYRIGHT, 1936,
BY
CARROLL WATSON RANKIN

PRINTED IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

TO

EMILY, PHYLLIS, POLLY
AND SUZANNE

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. BORROWED BABIES 1
II. ROSA MARIE 9
III. MABEL'S DAY 18
IV. AN UNUSUAL EVENING 27
V. RETURNING ROSA MARIE 34
VI. THE DARK SECRET 43
VII. DISCOVERY 52
VIII. THE FUGITIVE SOLDIER 64
IX. A SURPRISE 73
X. BREAKING THE NEWS 83
XI. THE ALARM 91
XII. THE FIRE 101
XIII. A HEROINE'S COME-DOWN 111
XIV. A BIRTHDAY PARTY 119
XV. AN UNEXPECTED TREAT 130
XVI. A SCATTERED SCHOOL 140
XVII. AN INVITATION 151
XVIII. OBEYING INSTRUCTIONS 161
XIX. WITH HENRIETTA 173
XX. THE CALL RETURNED 183
XXI. GETTING EVEN 195
XXII. A FULL AFTERNOON 204
XXIII. TAKING A WALK 215
XXIV. THE STATUE FROM INDIA 226
XXV. COMPARING NOTES 237
XXVI. CHRISTMAS EVE 248
XXVII. A CROWDED DAY 256
XXVIII. A BETTIE-LESS PLAN 265
XXIX. ANXIOUS DAYS 275
XXX. AN APRIL HARVEST 286

THE PERSONS OF THE STORY

BETTIE TUCKER, aged 12: }
JEANIE MAPES, aged 14: } The Cottagers
MARJORY VALE, aged 12: }
MABEL BENNETT, aged 11: }

ROSA MARIE: The Unreturnable Baby.

THE MOTHER OF ROSA MARIE.

ANNE HALLIDAY: }
THE MARCOTTE TWINS: } Borrowed Babies.
THE LITTLE TUCKERS: }

HENRIETTA BEDFORD: The New Girl.

MRS. HOWARD SLATER: } Of Henrietta's Household.
SIMMONS: }

THE JANITOR: An Unappreciated Hero.

DR. TUCKER: A Clergyman with More Children than Money.

DR. BENNETT: A Physician.

MR. BLACK: A Friend to Children.

MRS. CRANE: His Sister.

AUNTY JANE: Marjory's Sole Visible Relative.

SOME MOTHERS AND BROTHERS.

MRS. MALONY: The Light-hearted Egg-woman.

ILLUSTRATIONS

MY SOUL, WHAT ARE YOU, ANYWAY _Frontispiece_
PAGE
ROSA MARIE AND THE SIDEWALK WERE ONE 16
THE STURDY FELLOW CARRIED HER OUT OF THE ROOM 112
THE DECIDEDLY DEPRESSED FOUR STARTED DOWN THE STREET 164
"ANOTHER 'EATHEN GOD FROM HINDIA" 234

THE ADOPTING OF ROSA MARIE