Then his glance fell on the two small strangers coming through his gate down the avenue toward him.

One was the friskiest dog he had ever seen in his life.

The other was a child he judged to be about five years old.
Her shoes were covered with dust, and her white sunbonnet had slipped off and was hanging over her shoulders.

A bunch of wild flowers she had gathered on the way hung limp and faded in her little warm hand.

Her soft, light hair was cut as short as a boy's.
There was something strangely familiar about the child, especially in the erect, graceful way she walked.
Old Colonel Lloyd was puzzled.