
In a quiet English garden, a solitary little girl watches swallows dart across the sky, turning the ordinary window seat into a portal of wonder. With two fluffy kittens at her feet and the chattering birds as her only companions, she creates a vivid inner world where imagination fills every empty corner. The story captures the gentle rhythm of her days, the rustle of autumn leaves, and the yearning for shared adventure that lives just beyond the curtains.
When a concerned doctor and her mother discuss a move to sun‑lit Italy, the swallows become a metaphor for a daring escape from the cold, dreary routine. Dorothy clings to the idea of “flying with the swallows,” dreaming of warm breezes and new friends while leaving behind her familiar nursery. The narrative gently unfolds the tension between comfort and change, inviting listeners to share in her hopeful anticipation of a brighter horizon.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (116K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Delphine Lettau and the Online Distributed Proofreading Canada Team at http://www.pgdpcanada.net
Release date
2011-03-02
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1830–1899
A hugely popular Victorian writer in her day, she produced more than 200 stories, many of them for young readers and often built around history, faith, and memorable places. Her books were known for turning the past into lively, approachable fiction.
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