第11章

ThatwassoexcitingIthoughtI’djusttryit，soIstoodonthetoprail，spreadmyarms，wavedthem，andstarted。IwasbumpedinfiftyplaceswhenIrolledintothecowslipbedatthefootofthesteephill，forstonesstuckoutalloverthesideofit，andIfeltprettymeanasIclimbedbacktothepulpit。

TheonlyconsolationIhadwaswhatDr。Fennerhadsaid。Thatwouldbethegreatestpossiblehelpinmanagingfatherormother。

IwasundecidedaboutwhetherIwouldgotoschool，ornot。Mustbeperfectlydreadfultodresslikeforchurch，andsitstillinastuffylittleroom，anddoyour“abs，“and“bes，“and“bis，“

and“bos，“alldaylong。Icouldspellquitewellwithoutlookingataschoolhouse，andreadtoo。IwaswonderingifI

everwouldgoatall，whenIthoughtofsomethingelse。Dr。

Fennerhadsaidtogivemeplentyofgoodbooks。Iwaswildforsomethatwerealreadypromisedme。Well，whatwouldtheyamounttoifIcouldn’tunderstandthemwhenIgotthem？THATseemedtomakeitsureIwouldbecompelledtogotoschooluntilIlearnedenoughtounderstandwhatthebookscontainedaboutbirds，flowers，andmoths，anyway；andperhapstherewouldbesomehavingFairiesinthem。Ofcoursethosewouldbeinteresting。

Ineverhateddoinganythingsobadly，inallmylife，butI

couldsee，withnoonetotellme，thatIhadputitoffaslongasIdared。IwouldjusthavetostartschoolwhenLeonandMaywentinSeptember。TillyBaher，wholivedacrosstheswampnearSarahHood，hadgonetwowintersalready，andshewasonlyayearolder，andnothalfmysize。Istoodonthepulpitandlookedalongtimeineverydirection，intotheskythelongestofall。

Itwassettled。Imustgo；Imightaswellstartandhaveitover。Icouldn’tlookanywhere，rightthereathome，andnotseemorethingsIdidn’tknowaboutthanIdid。Whenmothershowedmeinthecity，Iwouldn’tbesnappeduplikehotcakes；I’dbeablockheadnoonewouldhave。ItmademesovexedtothinkIhadtogo，IsetHezekiahonmyshoulder，tookBobbyundermyarm，andwenttothehouse。Ontheway，ImadeupmymindthatI

wouldaskagain，verypolitely，toholdthelittlebaby，andiftherestofthemwentandpiggeditupstraightalong，I’dpinchit，ifIgotachance。

CHAPTERIV

TheLastDayinEden“’Tisthesunsetoflifegivesmemysticallore，Andcomingeventscasttheirshadowsbefore。“

Ofcoursethebabywasasleepandcouldn’tbetouched；buttherewassomeexcitement，anyway。Fatherhadcomefromtownwithaletterfromthenewschoolteacher，thatsaidshewouldexpecthimtomeetheratthestationnextSaturday。Motherthoughtshemightaswellgettheroomreadyandletherstayatourhouse，becauseweweremostconvenient，anditwouldbethebestplaceforher。Shesaidthateverytime，andtheteacheralwaysstayedwithus。Reallyitwasbecausefatherandmotherwantedtheteacherwheretheycouldknowasmuchaspossibleaboutwhatwasgoingon。Sallydidn’tlikehavingheratall；shesaidwiththeweddingcoming，theteacherwouldbeanuisance。Shelleyhadfinishedourschool，andtheGrovevillehighschool，andinsteadofattendingcollegeshewasgoingtoChicagotostudymusic。

Shewassoanxiousoverherdressesandgettingstarted，shedidn’tseemtothinkmuchaboutwhatwasgoingtohappentousathome；soshedidn’tcareifMissAmeliastayedatourhouse。Maysaiditwouldbebesttohavetheteacherwithus，becauseshecouldhelpuswithourlessonsathome，andwecouldgetaheadoftheothers。Mayalreadyhaddecidedthatshewouldbeattheheadofherclasswhenshefinishedschool，andeverytimeyouwantedherandcouldn’tfindher，ifyouwouldlookacrossthefootofmother’sbed，Maywouldbetherewithaspellingbook。

Onceshehadspelleddownourschool，whenLaddiewasnotthere。

FatherhadmetPeterDoverintown，andhehadsaidthathewascomingtoseeSally，becausehehadsomethingofespecialimportancetotellher。

“Didhesaywhatitwas？“askedSally。

“OnlywhatIhavetoldyou，“repliedfather。

Sallywantedtotakethebroomandsweeptheparlour。

“It’scleanasaribbon，“saidmother。

“Ifyougointhere，you’llwakethebaby，“saidLucy。

“WillitkillitifIdo？“askedSally。

“No，butitwillmakeitcrossasfire，soitwillcryallthetimePeterishere，“saidLucy。

“I’llbesurprisedifitdoesn’tscreameveryminuteanyway，“

saidSally。

“Ihopeitwill，“saidLucy。“ThatwillmakePeterthinkawhilebeforehecomessooften。“

ThatmadeSallysoangryshecouldn’tspeak，soshewentoutandbegankillingchickens。Ihelpedhercatchthem。TheyweresousedtometheywouldcomerighttomyfeetwhenIshelledcorn。

“I’mgoingtokillthree，“saidSally。“I’mgoingtobesurewehaveenough，butdon’tyoutelluntiltheirheadsareoff。“

Whileshewasworkingonthemmothercameoutandaskedhowmanyshehad，soSallysaidthree。Mothercountedusandsaidthatwasn’tenough；therewouldhavetobefouratleast。

AftershewasgoneSallylookedatmeandsaid：“Well，forland’ssake！“

Itwassofunnyshehadtolaugh，andbythetimeIcaughtthefourthone，andbeganhelpingpickthem，shewasoverbeingprovokedandwehadlotsoffun。

TheminuteIsawPeterDoverhemademethinkofsomething。I

rodehishorsetothebarnwithLeonleadingit。TherewesawLaddie。

“Guesswhat！“Icried。

“Nevercould！“laughedLaddie，givingPeterDover’shorseaslapasitpassedhimonthewaytoastall。

“Fourchickens，ham，biscuit，andcake！“Iannounced。

“Isitabarbecue？“askedLaddie。

“No，theextraoneisforthebaby，“saidLeon。“Squallylittlerunt，Icallit。“

“It’sanicebaby！“saidLaddie。

“Whatdoyouknowaboutit？“demandedLeon。

“Well，consideringthatIstartedwithyou，andhavebroughtuptwootherssince，Iamschooledinallthereistoknow，“saidLaddie。

“Guesswhatelse！“Icried。

“More？“saidLaddie。“Outwithit！Don’tkillmewithsuspense。“

“FatherisgoingtotownSaturdaytomeetthenewteacherandshewillstayatourhouseasusual。“

Leonyelledandfellbackinamanger，whileLaddieheldharnessoiltohisnose。

“More！“criedLeon，grabbingthebottle。

“Areyousure？“askedLaddieofmeearnestly。

“It’sdecided。Mothersaidso，“Itoldhim。

“Nameofablackcat，why？“demandedLaddie。

“Mothersaidweweremostconvenientfortheteacher。“

“Aren’tthereenoughofus？“askedLeon，straighteningupsniffingharnessoilasifhislifedependedonit。

“Anyunprejudicedpersonwouldprobablysaysotolookin，“saidLaddie。

“I’llbetshe’llbesixtyandacat，“saidLeon。“Won’tIhavefunwithher？“

“Maybeso，maybenot！“saidLaddie。“Youcan’talwaystell，forsure。RememberyourAlamo！Youweregoingtohavefunwiththeteacherlastyear，butshehaditwithyou。“

Leonthrewtheoilbottleathim。Laddiecaughtitandsetitontheshelf。

“Idon’tunderstand，“saidLeon。

“Ido，“saidLaddiedryly。“THISisonereason。“HehitPeterDover’shorseanotherslap。

“Maybeyes，“saidLeon。

“Shelleytomusicschool，two。“

“Yes，“saidLeon。“PeterDoversarethegreatestexpense，andPeterwon’thappenbutonce。Shelleywillhaveatleasttwoyearsinschoolbeforeitisherturn，andyoucomenext，anyway。“

“Shutup！“criedLaddie。

“Thanky！Yourordersshallbeobeyedgladly。“

Helaiddownthepitchfork，wentoutside，closedthedoor，andlatchedit。Laddiecalledtohim，butherantothehouse。WhenLaddieandIfinishedourwork，andhis，andwantedtogo，wehadtoclimbthestairsandleavethroughthefrontdoorontheembankment。

“Themonkey！“saidLaddie，buthedidn’tgetmad；hejustlaughed。

TheminuteIsteppedintothehouseandsawtheparlourdoorclosed，Ithoughtofthat“something“again。Iwalkedpastit，butcouldn’thearanything。Ofcoursemotherwantedtoknow；andshewouldbeverythankfultomeifIcouldtellher。Iwentoutthefrontdoor，andthoughtdeeplyonthesituation。Thewindowswerewideopen，butIwasfarbelowthemandIcouldonlyhearasortofmurmur。Whycan’tpeoplespeakuploudandplain，anyway？Ofcoursetheywouldsitonthebighairclothsofa。

Didn’tLeoncallitthe“sparkingbench“？Thehemlocktreewouldbebest。Iclimbedquieterthanacat，fortheybreakbarkandmakeanawfulscratchingwiththeirclawssometimes；mybarefeetweresoundless。UpandupIwent，slowly，foritwasdreadfullyrough。Theywerenotonthesofa。Icouldseeplainlythroughtheneedles。ThenIsawthesprucewouldhavebeenbetter，fortheywerestandinginfrontoftheparlourdoorandPeterhadonehandontheknob。HisotherarmwasaroundmysisterSally。

BreathlesslyIleanedasfarasIcould，andwatched。

“Fathersaidhe’dgivemethemoneytobuyahalfinterest，andfurnishahousenicely，ifyousaid`yes，’Sally，“saidPeter。

Sallyleanedbackallpinksomeandblushful，andwhileshelaughedathimshe“CarelesslytossedoffacurlThatplayedonherdelicatebrow。“

exactlylikeMaryDowinMcGuffey’sThird。

“Well，whatdidISAY？“sheasked。

“Cometothinkofit，youdidn’tsayanything。“

Sally’sfacewasallafirewithdancinglights，andshelaughedthegayestlittlelaugh。

“Areyousoverysureofthat，Peter？“shesaid。

“I’mnotsureofanything，“saidPeter，“exceptthatIamsohappyIcouldfly。“

“Tryit，fool！“Isaidtomyself，deepinmythroat。

Sallylaughedagain，andPetertookhisotherhandfromthedoorandputthatarmaroundSallytoo，andhedrewhertohimandkissedher，thelongest，hardestkissIeversaw。Iletgoandrolled，tumbled，slid，andscratcheddownthehemlocktree，droppedfromthelastbranchtotheground，andscamperedaroundthehouse。Ireachedthedining-roomdoorwheneveryonewasgatheringforsupper。

“Mother！“Icried。“Mother！Yes！They’reengaged！He’skissingher，mother！Yes，Lucy，they’reengaged！“

Irushedintotellallofthemwhattheywouldbegladtoknow，andiftheredidn’tstandPeterandSally！Howtheyevergotthroughthatdoor，andacrossthesitting-roombeforeme，Idon’tunderstand。Sallymadeadiveatme，andIwassoastonishedI

forgottorun，soshecaughtme。Shestartedforthewoodhousewithme，andmotherfollowed。Sallyturnedatthedoorandshewasthewhitestofanythingyoueversaw。

“Thisismyaffair，“shesaid。“I’llattendtothisyounglady。“

“Verywell，“saidmother，andasIlivesheturnedandleftmetomysadfate，asitsaysinastorybookwehave。Iwishwhenpeoplearegoingtopunishme，they’dtakeaswitchandstrikerespectably，likemotherdoes。Thisthingofhavingsomeonegetalloverme，andnothavinganideawhereI’mgoingtobehit，istheworstpunishmentthatIeverhad。I’dbeendownthehillandupthehemlockthatday，anyway。I’dalwaysbeentoldSallydidn’twantme。ShePROVEDitrightthen。Finallyshequit，becauseshewastootiredtostrikeagain，soIcreptamongtheshavingsontheworkbenchandwenttosleep。ITHOUGHTtheywouldliketoknow，andthatIwasgoingtopleasethem。

Anyway，theyfoundout，forbythetimeSallygotbackPeterhadtoldthemaboutthestore，andthefurnishedhouse，andaskedfatherforSallyrightbeforeallofthem，whichfathersaidwasprettybrave；butPeterknewitwasallrightorhecouldn’thavecomelikehe’dbeendoing。

Afterthat，youcouldn’thearanythingatourhousebutwedding。

Sally’sshareoflinenandbeddingwasallfinishedlongago。

FathertookhertoFortWayneonthecarstobuyherwedding，travelling，andworkingdresses，andherhat，cloak，andlinen，likeyouhavewhenyoumarry。

ItwasstrangethatSallydidn’twantmothertogo，butshesaidthetripwouldtirehertoomuch。MothersaiditwasbecauseSallycouldcoaxmoredressesfromfather。Anyway，mothertoldhimtosetalimitandsticktoit。Shesaidsheknewhehadn’tdoneitasshegotthefirstglimpseofSally’sfacewhentheycameback，butthechildlookedsobeautifulandhappyshehadn’tthehearttospoilherpleasure。

Thenextdayasewingwomancame；andallofthemwereshutupinthesitting-room，whilethesewingmachinejustwhizzedontheworkingdresses。Sallysaidtheweddingdresshadtobemadebyhand。Shekepttheroomlocked，andeverynewthingthattheymadewaslaidawayonthebedintheparlourbedroom，andnoneofushadapeepuntileverythingwasfinished。Itwasawfullyexciting，butIwouldn’tpretendIcared，becauseIwashuffyather。ItoldherIwouldn’tkisshergoodbye，andI’dbeGLAD

whenshewasgone。

Sallysaidtheschool-ma’amsimplyhadtogotoWinters’，orsomeplaceelse，butmothersaidpossiblyastrangerwouldhavesomeideas，andknowsomenewstyles，soSallythenthoughtmaybetheyhadbettertryitafewdays，andshecouldhaveherplaceandbecompanywhensheandShelleyleft。Shelleywasrathersilentandblue，andbeforelongIfoundhercrying，becausemotherhadtoldhershecouldn’tstartforChicagountilafterthewedding，andthatwouldmakehermisssixweeksatthestart。