Cirrus@Austlit

'Penny came from the sea ... A homeless, motherless, enchanting little waif, carried by the waves of the Gulf into the life of Barbara Campbell ... Her story is told in Tide of Chance by Elizabeth Powell (Author of Sunset Hill and The Beehive)

'It is a vivid and most appealing piece of work, rich in humour and pathos, and of the strongest human interest.

'Nestling among the dunes along the Gulf of St Vincent, in South Australia is 'The Beehive,' home of Major Campbell, scientist, explorer, and author, and his family. Alone among them all Barbara - Barby for short - is dissatisfied. Bored by the freedom of sun, sea and air, she longs for what she calls a 'career,' and determines to seek employment in Sydney. Fate, however, takes a hand when her twelve-year-old brother, Bubbles, finds the half-drowned body of a little girl on the beach one night. The mother's body is washed up next day, and Barby realises that her career lies in the taking care of this homeless waif, who answers to the name of Penny.'

(Publisher's Advertisement and blurb).