They were meant to be at the cottage at the meadows by now, but Papa Don just had to stay in the city one more long week. Oh! How Emmeline longed to be with her friends! She thought she might die of the suffocating oppression of the noise, the horses, the children, all of the reeking city if they didn't go soon, but her Papa knew best, so here she sat, bored, hot, and out of sorts.

Really, though, she knew it would be worth the wait. Papa Don had promised a special new song when they went down to the country this year and she knew it had to do with his visit to that special store, the Ancients, or whatever it was named.

He mind skipped ahead to the cottage where she had a room with a view. She imagined the leafy bowers, the sun hot on the blossoms of so many fragrant flowers, bees droning in a lazy fashion. She would be wearing one of her new summer muslim dresses, probably the lilac for it complimented her dark hair and violet eyes. Papa Don would be sitting under the arbor, strumming quietly until he got it just right. Everyone would gather round and she would sink to the grass at his feet, gaze up at her Papa loving and ask, "Papa, tell us again, how you came to have this wonderful Martin and the song that came to you for it? Please, Papa?" And, he would spin the story in his elegant voice, while her friends and family sat around, sipping cool lemonade, relishing the story but eager for the song.

"Emmeline! Enneline! Where are you? We are ready to go, honestly girl, come here!"

She jumped up with a start. "Coming Papa!" And, with that she was off to the carriage, her Papa back from his quest, black case securely placed beside him on the seat. "I have a new song for this year, Emmeline. One I think you will like. It has Elderlys in it and this wonderful new Martin, plus a dashing large Irish fellow with a voice like an angel and even your uncle is in it."

"Oh, Papa, I would love to hear it!"

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