第15章

“Youknewwhenyoubeganthatyouwouldcometothoselines。“

“Inevereventhoughtofsuchathing。“

“Butyouknewthatishowyourfatherwouldregardanyrelationship，friendlyordeeper，withme！“

“Icannotpossiblybeheldresponsibleforwhatmyfatherthinks。“

“Itisnaturalthatyoushouldthinkalike。“

“Notnecessarily！Youtoldmerecentlythatyoudidn’tagreewithyourfatheronmanysubjects。“

“Kindlyanswermethis，“saidLaddie：“DoyoufeelthatI’ma`clown’becauseI’mnotschooledtothepointonallquestionsofgoodmanners？DoyoufindmegrossbecauseIplowandsow？“

“Yousurpriseme，“saidthePrincess。“Myconsentingtoknowandtospendafriendlyhourwithyouhereissufficientanswer。I

havenotfoundtheslightestfaultwithyourmanners。Ihaveseennosuspicionof`grossness’aboutyou。“

“Willyoutellme，frankly，exactlywhatyoudothinkofme？“

“Surely！Ithinkyouareaclean，decentman，whooccasionallykindlyconsentstoputatouchofhumaninterestintoanhour，foraverylonelygirl。Whathashappened，Laddie？Thisisnotlikeyou。“

Laddiesatstraightandstudiedthebeechbranches。Fathersaidbeechtreesdidn’tamounttomuch；butIfirstlearnedallaboutthemfromthatone，andwhatittaughtmemademealmostworshipthemalways。Therewerethebigtrunkwithgreatroughspreadingroots，thebarkinlittleridgesinplaces，smoothpurplegraybetween，biglichensforornament，thelowflatbranches，thewaxy，wavy-edgedleaves，withclearveins，andthedeliciousnutsintheirlittlebrownburrs。ThePrincessandIbothstaredatthebranchesandwaitedwhilealittlebreathofairstirredtheleaves，thesunshineflickered，andacricketsangasortoflonesomesong。Laddieleanedagainstthetreeagain，andhewasthinkingsohard，tolookathimmademebegintorepeattomyselfthebeechpartofthatbeautifulchurchyardpoemourbigfolksrecite：

“There，atthefootofyondernoddingbeech，Thatwreathesitsoldfantasticrootssohigh，Hislistlesslengthatnoontidehewouldstretch，Andporeuponthebrookthatbabblesby。“

Onlyhewasstudyingsodeeplyyoucouldalmostfeelwhatwasinhismind，anditwasnotaboutthebrookatall，evenifoneranclose。Soonhebegantalking。

“Notsobad！“hesaid。“Youmightthinkworse。Iadmitthecleanliness，Istrivefordecency，Idelightinbeinghumanelyinteresting，evenforanhour；youmightthinkworse，muchworse！

Youmightconsidermea`clown。’`Acountryclod。’Ratheralowdown，commonthing，a`clod，’don’tyouthink？Anda`clown’！

And`gross’ontopofthat！“

“Whatcanyoumean？“askedthePrincess。

“Sinceyoudon’tseemtosharetheestimateofme，IbelieveI’lltellyou，“saidLaddie。“TheotherdayIwasdrivingfromthegravelpitwithaveryheavyload。Theroadwaswideandleveloneitherside。Amancametowardmeonhorseback。Nowthelawoftheroadistogivehalftoavehiclesimilartotheoneyouaredriving，buttokeepallofitwhenyouareheavilyloaded，ifyouarepassingpeopleafootorhorseback。Themantookhalftheroad，andkeptituntilthenoseofhishorsetouchedoneoftheteamIwasdriving。Istoppedandsaid：`Goodmorning，sir！

Doyouwishtospeakwithme？’Hecalledangrily：`Getoutofmyway，youclod！’`Sorrysir，butIcan’t，’Isaid。`ThelawgivesmethisroadwhenIamheavilyloaded，andyouareonfootorhorseback。’“

“Whatdidhedo？“askedthePrincess。

AndfromthewayshelookedIjustknewsheguessedthemanwasthesameoneIthoughtof。

“Heraisedhiswhiptostrikemyhorse，“saidLaddie。

“Ah，surely！“saidthePrincess。“Alwaysanarmraisedtostrike。Andyou，Man？Whatdidyoudo？“shecriedeagerly。

“Istoodonmyload，suddenly，“saidLaddie，“andIcalled：

`Holdoneminute！’“

“Andhe？“breathedthePrincess。

“Somethingmadehimpausewithhisarmstillraised。Isaidtohim：`Youmustnotstrikemyhorse。Itneverhasbeenstruck，anditcan’tdefenditself。Ifyouwanttocomeafewstepsfartherandtackleme，comeahead！Icantakeitorreturnit，asIchoose。’“

“Goon！“saidthePrincess。

“That’sall，“saidLaddie，“oratleastalmostall。“

“Didhestrike？“

“Hedidnot。Hestaredatmeasecond，andthenherodearoundme；buthewasmakingforcefulremarksashepassedabout`countryclods，’andtherewasaninterestingoneabouta`grossclown。’Whatyoureadmademethinkofit，thatisall。“

ThePrincessstaredintothebeechbranchesforatimeandthenshesaid：“Iwillaskyourpardonforhim。Healwayshadadomineeringtemper，andtroublehehadlatelyhasalmostdrivenhimmad；heisscarcelyresponsibleattimes。Ihesitateaboutmakinghimangry。“

“Ithinkperhaps，“saidLaddie，“IwouldhavedonemyselfcreditifIhadrecognizedthat，andgivenhimtheroad，whenhemadeapointofclaimingit。“

“Indeedno！“criedthePrincess。“Tobebeatenatthegamehestartedwasexactlywhatheneeded。Ifyouhadturnedfromhisway，hewouldhaveconsideredyouaclodallhislife。Sinceyoumadehimgoaround，itmaypossiblydawnonhimthatyouareaman。Youdidtheverybestthing。“

Thenshebegantolaugh，andhowshedidlaugh。

“Iwouldgivemyallowanceforaquartertohaveseenit，“shecried。“Imusthurryhomeandtellmother。“

“Doesyourmotherknowaboutme？“hedemanded。“Doessheknowthatyoucomehere？“

ThePrincessaroseandstoodverytallandstraight。

“Youmaybegmypardonorceasetoknowme，“shesaid。“WhateverledyoutosupposethatIwouldknowormeetyouwithoutmymother’sknowledge？“

Thenshestartedtowardtheentrance。

“Oneminute！“criedLaddie。

Aleapcarriedhimtoherside。Hecaughtherhandsandheldthemtight，andlookedstraightintohereyes。Thenhekissedherhandsoverandover。Ithoughtfromthelookonherfacehemighthavekissedhercheekifhehaddaredriskit；buthedidn’tseemtonotice。Thenshestoopedandkissedme，andturnedtowardhome，whileLaddieandIcrossedthewoodstothewestroad，andwentbackpasttheschoolhouse。IwassotiredLaddietiedthestringstogetherandhungmyshoesacrosshisshouldersandtookmebythearmthelastmile。

Allofthemwereathomewhenwegotthere，andMissAmeliacametothegatetomeetus。Shewasmealy-mouthedandgoodaspie，notatallasIhadsupposedshewouldbe。IwonderwhatLaddiesaidtoher。Butthenhealwayscouldmanagethingsforeveryone。Thatsetmetowonderingifbyanypossiblemeanshecouldfixthemforhimself。Iclimbedtothecatalpatothink，andthemoreIthought，themoreIfearedhecouldn’t；butstillmotheralwayssaysonenevercantelluntiltheytry，andIknewhewouldtrywitheveryounceofbrainandmuscleinhim。Isatthereuntilthesupperbellrang，andthenIwashedandreachedthetablelast。Theveryfirstthing，motheraskedhowIbruisedmyface，andbeforeIcouldthinkwhattotellher，Leonsaidjustascarelesslike：“Ohshemusthaverunagainstsomethinghard，playingtagatrecess。“LaddiebegantalkingaboutPetercomingthatnight，andeveryoneforgotme，butprettysoonI

slippedaglanceatMissAmelia，andsawthatherfacewasredderthanmine。

CHAPTERVI

TheWeddingGown“ThegaybellesoffashionmayboastofexcellingInwaltzorcotillon，atwhistorquadrille；

AndseekadmirationbyvauntinglytellingOfdrawingandpainting，andmusicalskill；

Butgivemethefairone，incountryorcity，Whosehomeanditsdutiesaredeartoherheart，Whocheerfullywarblessomerusticalditty，Whileplyingtheneedlewithexquisiteart：

Thebrightlittleneedle，theswift-flyingneedle，Theneedledirectedbybeautyandart。“

ThenextmorningMissAmeliafinishedthechapter——thatmadetwoforourfamily。Fatheralwaysreadonebeforebreakfast——nowonderIknewtheBiblequitewell——thenwesangasong，andshemadeastiff，littleprayer。Ihadmydoubtsaboutherprayers；

shewasonnosuchtermswiththeLordasmyfather。HegotrightatHimandtalkedlikeadoctor，andyoufelthehadsomeinfluence，andtherewasatleastapossibilitythathemightgetwhatheaskedfor；butMissAmeliaprayedasiftheLordweretenmillionmilesaway，andshewouldbesurprisedtopiecesifshegotanythingshewanted。WhensheaskedtheAlmightytomakeusgood，obedientchildren，therewasnotawordshesaidthatshowedshetrustedeithertheLordorus，orthoughttherewasanythingbetweenusandheaventhatmightmakeusgoodbecausewewantedtobe。Youcouldn’tkeepyoureyesfromthebiggadandruleronherdesk；sheoftenfingeredthemassheprayed，andyouknewfromherstiff，little，sawed-outpetitionthatherfaithwasinimplements，andshe’dhityouacracktheminuteshewastheleastangry，sameasshehadmethedaybefore。Ididn’tfeelanytoogoodtowardher，butwhenthebloodoftheCrusaderswasintheveins，rightmustbedoneevenifittookastruggle。

Ihadtoliveuptothoselittlegoldshellsonthetrinket。

FathersaidtheyknewIwascomingdowntheline，sotheyputonabirdforme；butItoldhimIwouldbeworthyoftheshellstoo。ThistookaboutashardafightformeasanyCrusadewouldforabig，trainedsoldier。Ihadbeenwrong，Laddiehadmademeseethat。SoIheldupmyhand，andMissAmeliasawmeasshepickedupRay’sarithmetic。

“Whatisit？“

Iheldtothedesktobracemyself，andtriedtwicebeforeI

couldraisemyvoicesothatsheheard。

“Please，MissAmelia，“Isaid，“Iwaswrongaboutthebirdsyesterday。Notthattheydon’tfight——theydo！ButIwaswrongtocontradictyoubeforeeveryone，andonyourfirstday，andifyou’llonlyexcuseme，thenexttimeyoumakeamistake，I’lltellyouafterschooloratrecess。“

Theroomwassostillyoucouldheartheothersbreathing。MissAmeliapickeduptherulerandstartedtowardme。PossiblyI

raisedmyhands。ThatwouldbenoCrusaderway，butyoumightdoitbeforeyouhadtimetothink，whentherulerwasbigandyourheadwastheonlyplacethatwouldbehit。ThelastglimpseI

hadofherinthemidstofallmytroublemademethinkofSabethanyPerkins。

Sabethanydied，andtheyburiedheratthefootofthehillinourgraveyardbeforeIcouldremember。Butherpeoplethoughtheapsofher，andspentmuchmoneyonthebiggesttombstoneinthecemetery，andplantedpiniesandpurplephloxonher，andwenteverySundaytovisither。Whentheymovedaway，theymissedherso，theydecidedtocomebackandtakeheralong。Themenwereatwork，andLeonandIwenttoseewhatwasgoingon。

Theytoldus，andsaidwehadbettergoaway，becausepossiblythingsmighthappenthatchildrenwouldsleepbetternottosee。

Strangehowathinglikethatmakesyouboundyouwillsee。Wewentandsatonthefenceandwaited。SoontheyreachedSabethany，buttheycouldnotseemtogetherout。Theytried，andtried，andatlasttheysentformoremen。Ittooknineofthemtobringhertothesurface。Whatlittlewoodwasleft，theylaidbacktoseewhatmadehersofearfullyheavy，andthereshewasturnedtosolidstone。Theycouldn’tchipapieceoffherwiththeshovel。Motheralwayssaid，“Forgoodnesssake，don’tletyourmouthhangopen，“andasarulewekeptoursshut；

butyoushouldhaveseenLeon’swhenhesawSabethanywouldn’tchipoff，andnodoubtminewasasbad。

“WhenGabrielblowshistrumpet，andthedeadariseandcomeforth，whatonearthwilltheydowithSabethany？“Igasped。

“Why，shecouldn’tflytoHeavenwithwingsamilewide，andwhatusecouldtheymakeofherifshegotthere？“

“Ican’tseeathingshe’dbegoodforexceptahitchingpost，“

saidLeon，“andIguesstheydon’tlethorsesin。Let’sgohome。“

HeactedsickandIfeltthatway；sowewent，butthelastglimpseofSabethanyremainedwithme。

Asmyheadwentdownthatday，IsawthatMissAmelialookedexactlylikeher。Youwouldhaveneededapick-axoracrowbartoflakeoffevenatinyspeckofher。WhenIhadwaitedformyheadtobecracked，untilIhadtimetorememberthataCrusaderdidn’tdodgeandhide，Ilookedup，andthereshestoodwiththerulerlifted；butnowshehadturnedjusttheshadeofthewattlesonourfightingestturkeygobbler。

“Won’tyoupleaseforgiveme？“

IneverknewIhadsaidituntilIheardit，andthentheonlywaytobesurewasbecausenooneelsewouldhavebeenlikelytospeakatthattime。

MissAmelia’sarmdroppedandsheglaredatme。IwonderedwhetherIeverwouldunderstandgrownpeople；Idoubtediftheyunderstoodthemselves，forafterturningtostoneinasecond——

fathersaidithadtakenSabethanysevenyears——andchangingtogobblerred，MissAmeliasuddenlybegantolaugh。Tolaugh，ofallthings！Andthen，ofcourse，everyoneelsejustyelled。I

wassomortifiedIdroppedmyheadagainandbegantocryasI

neverwouldifshe’dhitme。

“Don’tfeelbadly！“saidMissAmelia。“Certainly，I’llforgiveyou。Iseeyouhadnointentionofgivingoffense，sononeistaken。Getoutyourbookandstudyhardonanotherlesson。“

Thatwassurprising。IsupposedI’dhavetodothesameoneover，butImighttakeanewone。Iwaseithergettingalongfast，orMissAmeliahadherfillofbirds。IwipedmyeyesasstraightinfrontofmeasIcouldslipupmyhandkerchief，andbeganstudyingthefirstlessoninmyreader：“Prettybee，praytellmewhy，thusfromflowertofloweryoufly，cullingsweetsthelivelongday，neverleavingofftoplay？“Thatwasapoetrypiece，anditwasquitecheery，althoughitwasallstrungtogetherlikeprose，butyoucouldn’tfoolmeonpoetry；Iknewiteverytime。AsIstudiedIfeltbetter，andwhenMissAmeliacametohearmeshewasgoodasgold。SheaskedifIlikedhoney，andIstartedtotellheraboutthequeenbee，butshehadnotimetolisten，soshesaidIshouldwaituntilafterschool。

Thenwebothforgotit，forwhenwereachedhome，thePrincess’

horsewashitchedtoourrack，andIfairlyranin，Iwassoanxioustoknowwhatwashappening。