The Delicate Pioneer

Surprisingly, the challenge suited her. Slowly she made friends with the Indians and discovered a love of animals. Chief Seattle befriended and encouraged her to make 'strong shining thoughts'. She cut off her limp colorless plaits, tamed feral cats, learned to cook and housekeep-and to tease Arne back They had almost become friends, when Uncle Jon's family arrived-including the beautiful, charming, golden-haired and genteel Adelaide who had always reduced Felicity to sullen inferiority. And she was loudly horrified to find Felicity tanned, sturdy, crop-curled, barefoot, cooking in a log cabin, on friendly terms with Indians and skunks. She was also too refined, delicate and ladylike to do anything at all. And to make it worse, Arne fell heels over head for her charm and beauty.

But Felicity had the last word, after all.