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Iwasjustperfectlyamazedatgrownpeople！Afterallthethingsourfolkshadsaid！You’dhavesupposedthatLaddiewouldhavebeenlockedinthebarn；fatherreadingthethirtysecondPsalmtothePrincess，andmotheronherkneesaskingGodtoopenhereyeslikeSaul’swhenhetriedtokickagainstthepricks，andmakehertosee，ashedid，thatGodwasnotamyth，Well，therewasnooneinthesitting-roomortheparlour，buttherewerevoicesfartheron；soIslippedin。Ireallyhadtoslip，fortherewasnootherplacetheycouldbeexcepttheparlourbedroom，andSally’sweddingthingswerelockedupthere，andwewerenottoseeuntileverythingwasfinished，likeItoldyou。
Well，thiswaswhatIsaw：ourbedroomhadbeenaporchonce，andwhenwehadbeencrowdedonaccountofallofuscoming，fatherencloseditandmadearoom。Butheneverhadtakenoutthewindowinthewall。SoallIhadtodowhenIwantedtoknowhowfastthedresseswerebeingmade，wastoshoveupthewindowabovemybed，pushbacktheblind，andlookin。Ididn’tcarewhatshehad。Ijustwantedtogetaheadofherandseebeforeshewasready，topayherforbeatingme。Iknewwhatshehad，andImeanttotellher，andwalkawaywithmynoseintheairwhensheofferedtoshowme；butthiswasdifferent。IwaswildtoseewhatwasgoingonbecausethePrincesswasthere。Theroomwassmall，andthebigcherryfour-posterwasverylarge，andallofthemweretalking，sonoonepaidtheslightestattentiontome。
Mothersatinthebigrockingchair，withSallyononeofitsarms，leaningagainsthershoulder。ShelleyandMayandthesewingwomanwerecrowdedbetweenthewallandthefootboard，andtheotherslinedagainstthewall。Thebedwasheapedinatumbleofeverythingawomaneverwore。Seemedtometherewasmorestufftherethanalltherestofushad，puttogether。Theworkingdressesandapronshadbeenmadeonthemachine，buttherewereheapsandstacksofhand-madeunderclothes。Icouldseethelovelychemisemotherembroideredlyingontopofapileofbedding，andoverandoverSallyhadsaidthateverystitchintheweddinggownmustbetakenbyhand。ThePrincessstoodbesidethebed。Afunnylittletighthatlikeaman’sandaridingwhiplayonachaircloseby。Icouldn’tseewhatshewore——herusualridingclothesprobably——forshehadanipineachshoulderofadressshewasholdingtoherchinandlookingdownat。Afterall，Ihadn’tseeneverything！NeverbeforeorsincehaveIseenalovelierdressthanthat。ItwaswhatalwayshadbeenwrappedinthesheetonthefootofthebedandIhadn’tgotapeepatit。Thepalegreensilkwithtinypinkmossrosesinit，thatIhadbeenthinkingwastheweddingdress，lookedaboutrighttowashthedishesin，comparedwiththis。
Thiswasaweddingdress。Youdidn’tneedanyonetotellyou。
ThePrincesshadasmuchredasIeverhadseeninhercheeks，hereyeswerebright，andshewashalf-laughingandhalf-crying。
“Ohyoulucky，luckygirl！“shewassaying。“Whataperfectlybeautifulbrideyouwillbe！NeverhaveIseenamorewonderfuldress！Wheredidyougetthematerial？“
Nowwehadbeentrainedalwaystowaitformothertoansweravisitorasshethoughtsuitable，oratleasttospeakoneatatimeandnotinterrupt；butaboutsixofthosegrownpeopletoldthePrincessallatthesametimehowouroldestsisterElizabethwasmarriedtoamerchantwhohadastoreatWestchesterandhowhegotthedressinNewYork，andgaveittoSallyforherweddingpresent，orshenevercouldhavehadit。
ThePrincesslifteditandsetitdownsoftly。“Ohlook！“shecried。“Look！Itwillstandalone！“
Thereitstood！Silkstiffenoughtostandbyitself，madeintoalittleroundwaist，cutwitharoundneckandsleeveselbowlengthandflowingalmosttowhereSally’skneeswouldcome。Itwasapalepearl-graysilkcrossedinbarsfourinchessquare，madeupofadimyellowlinealmostaswideasawheatstraw，withathreadofblackoneachsideofit，andallover，verywideapart，werelittlefaintsplashesofblackasiftheyhadbeenlightlypaintedon。Theskirtwassowideitalmostfilledtheroom。Everyinchofthatdresswaslinedwithsoft，whitesilk。Therewasexquisitelacemadeintoaflatcollararoundtheneck，andruffledfromsightuptheinsideofthewidesleeves。Thatwasthebeginning。Thefinishwassomethingyouneversawanythinglikebefore。Itwasatrimmingmadeofwhiteandyellowbeads。Therewasalittleheadingofwhitebeadssewedintoapattern，thenalacyfringethatwaspaleyellowbeads，whiteinside，eachaninchlong，thatdangled，andeverybeadendedwiththreetinywhiteones。Thatwentaroundtheneck，theoutsideofthesleeves，andinapatternlikeabigletterVallthewayaroundtheskirt。Andthereitstood——
alone！
ThePrincess，gracefulasabirdandglowinglikefire，dancedaroundit，andtouchedit，andliftedthesleeves，andmadethebeadfringeswing，andlaughed，andtalkedeverysecond。Sally，andmother，andallofthemhadsmiledsuchwidesmilesforsolong，theirfaceslookedalmostassetasSabethany’s，butofcoursefardifferent。Beingdeadwasonething，gettingreadyforaweddinganother。
AnditlookedtooasifGodmightbeamyth，foralltheycared，solongasthePrincesscouldmaketheweddingdressstandalone，andtalkabluestreakofthingsthatpleasedthem。Itwasnotputoneither，fortherestoodthedress，shimmeringliketheinsideofapearl-linedshell，whiteasalily，andthetinklygoldfringe。NooneCOULDhavesaidenoughaboutit，sonomatterwhatthePrincesssaid，ithadtobeallright。Shekeptstraightonshowingallofthemhowlovelyitwas，exactlyasiftheyhadn’tseenitbefore，andshehadtomakethemunderstandaboutit，asifshefeltafraidtheymighthavemissedsomeeleganttouchshehadseen。
“DolookhowthelacefallswhenIraisethissleeve！Ohhowwillyouwearthisandthinkofamanenoughtosaytherightwordsintherightplace？“
Motherlaughed，andsodidallofthem。
“Dopleaseshowmetherest，“beggedthePrincess。“Iknowthereareslippersandabonnet！“
Sallyjustoozedpride。Sheuntiedthestringsandpushedtheprettieststripedbagfromalovelypinkbandboxandtookoutadearlittlegraybonnetwithwhiteribbons，andtheyellowbeadfringe，andabunchofwhiteroseswithafewgreenleaves。
Theseshetouchedsoftly，“I’mnotquitesureabouttheleaves，“
shesaid。
ThePrincesshadthebonnet，turningandtiltingit。
“Perfect！“shecried。“Quiteperfect！Youneedthattouchofcolour，anditblendswitheverything。HowIenvyyou！Ohwhydoesn’tsomeoneaskme，soIcanhavethingslikethese？I
thinkyourbrotherisagenius。I’mgoingtoridetoWestchestertomorrowandgivehimanordertofillformethenexttimehegoestothecity。NooneshowsmesuchfabricswhenIgo，andAuntBeatricesendsnothingfromLondonIlikenearlysowell。
Oh！Oh！“
Shewasonherkneesnow，liftingtheskirttosetunderlittlewhitesatinslipperswithgoldbuckles，andwhitebeadbuttons。
Whenshehadthemarrangedtosuither，shesatonthefloorandkeptstraightonsayingthethingsmymotherandsistersseemedcrazytohear。WhenSallyshowedherthelongwhitesilkmittsthatwentwiththebonnet，thePrincesscried：“OhdoridehomewithmeandletmegiveyouahandkerchiefAuntBeatricesentme，tocarryinyourhand！“
ThenherfaceflushedandsheaddedwithoutgivingSallytimetosaywhatshewoulddo：“OrIcanbringitthenexttimeIcomepast。ItbelongswiththesethingsandIhavenouseforit。
MayI？“
“Pleasedo！I’lluseitforthethingIborrow。“
“ButImeanittobeagift，“saidthePrincess。“Itwasmadetogowiththeselacemittsandsatinslippers。Youmusttakeit！“
“Thankyouverymuch，“saidSally。“Ifyoureallywantmetohaveit，ofcourseI’dloveto。“
“I’llbringitto-morrow，“promisedthePrincess。“AndIwishyou’dletmetryawayIknowtodresshairforawedding。Yoursissobeautiful。“
“You’rekind，I’msure，“saidSally。“IhadintendedtowearitasIalwaysdo，soIwouldappearperfectlynaturaltothefolks；
butifyouknowamorebecomingway，Icouldbeginitnow，andtheywouldbefamiliarwithitbythattime。“
“Ishan’ttouchit，“saidthePrincess，studyingSally’sface。
“Yourideaisright。Youdon’twanttocommenceanynew，unfamiliarstylethatwouldmakeyouseemdifferent，justatatimewheneveryoneshouldseehowlovelyyouare，asyoualwayshavebeen。Butdon’tforgettowearsomethingblue，andsomethingborrowedforluck，andohdopleaseputononeofmygarters！“
“Wellformercysake！“criedmymother。“Why？“
“Sosomeonewillproposetomebeforetheyearisout，“laughedthePrincess。“Ithinkitmustbethemostfunofall，tomakebeautifulthingsforyourveryownhome，andlovelydresses，andbesurroundedbyfriendsalleagertohelpyou，andtoarrangeahouseandlivewithamanyoulovewellenoughtomarry，andfixforlittlepeoplewhomightcome——“
“Youknowperfectlythereisn’tasinglemaninthecountywhowouldn’tproposetoyou，ifyou’dlethimcomewithinamileofyou，“saidShelley。
“WhentherightmancomesI’llgohalfthemiletomeethim？youmaybesureofthat；won’tI，Mrs。Stanton？“thePrincessturnedtomother。
“Ihaveknowngirlswhowentevenfarther，“saidmymotherratherdryly。
“Idrawthelineathalf，“laughedthePrincess。“NowImustgo；
IhavebeensolongmypeoplewillbewonderingwhatI’mdoing。“
Standinginthemiddleoftheroomsheputonherhat，pickedupherwhipandgloves，andledthewaytothehitchingrack，whileallofusfollowed。AtthegatestoodLaddieashehadcomefromthefield。Hisoldhatwasonthebackofhishead，hisfaceflushed，hiscollarloosenedsothathisstrongwhiteneckshowed，andhissleeveswererolledtotheelbow，astheyhadbeenallsummer，andhisarmswereburnedalmosttoblisters。
Whenhehearduscomingheopenedthegate，wenttotherack，untiedthePrincess’horseandleditbesidethemountingblock。
Asshecametowardhim，hetookoffhishatandpitcheditoverthefenceonthegrass。
“MissPryor，allowmetomakeyouacquaintedwithmyson，“saidmother。
IfeltasifIwouldblowup。Icouldn’tkeepmyeyesfromturningtowardthePrincess。Gee！Icouldhavesavedmyfeelings。ShemademothertheprettiestlittlecourtseyIeverseteyeson，andthenturnedandmadeadeeperonetoLaddie。
“Imetyoursoninoneofthevillagestoressometimeago，“shesaid。“Backheronestepfarther，please！“
Laddiebackedthehorse，andquickerthanyoucouldseehowitwasdone，sheflashedupthestepsandsatthesaddle；butassheleanedoverthehorse’snecktotakethereinfromLaddie，hegotonelevellookstraightintheeyesthatIwassurenoneoftheotherssaw，becausetheywerenotwatchingforit，andIwas。
Laddiebowedfromthewaist，andputthereinsinherfingersallinonemovement。Hecaughttheglanceshegavehimtoo；Icouldalmostfeelitlikeabandpassingbetweenthem。Thenshecalledalaughinggood-byetoallofusatonce，andshowedushowtorideright，assheflashedtowardtheLittleHill。Thatwasriding，youmaybelieve，andmothersighedasshewatchedher。
“IfIwereagirlagain，“shesaid，“Iwouldrideaswellasthat，orI’dnevermountahorse。“
“She’sbeentrainedfromhercradle，andherfatherdealsinhorses。Halfthebattleinridingisathoroughbred，“saidLaddie。“Nosuchhorseasthateversteppedtheseroadsbefore。“
“Andnosuchgirlevertravelledthem，“saidmymother，foldingherhandsoneovertheotherontopofapostofthehitchingrack。“ImustsayIdon’tknowhowthisiscomingout，andittroublesme。“
“Why，what’sup？“askedLaddie，coveringherhandswithhisandlookingherintheeyes。
“Justthis，“saidmymother。“She’smorebeautifuloffaceandformthanGodoughttoallowanywomantobe，inmercytothemenwhowillbeforcedtomeether。Herspeechishighlycultured。
Hermannersareperfect，andthatisabigandunusualthinginagirlofherage。Everywordshesaid，everymoveshemadeto-
day，wasexactlyasIwouldhavebeenproudtohear，andtoseeadaughterofminespeakandmove。IfIhadonlymyselftoconsider，Iwouldmakehermyfriend，becauseI’mseasonedinthewaysoftheworld，andshecouldinfluencemeonlyasIchosetoallowher。Withyouyoungstersitisdifferent。You’llfindhercaptivating，andyoumayletherwaysswayyouwithoutevenknowingit。Alltheseoutwardthingsarenotessential；theyarepleasing，Igrant，buttheyhavenothingtodowiththeonebig，elementalfactthataGodlesslifeisnotevenhalfalife。I
neveryethaveknownanymanorwomanwhoattempteditwhodidnotwastelife’sgrandestopportunities，andthencomecrawlinganddefeatedtothefootofthecrossintheend，askingGod’smercywherenonewasdeservedorearned。Itseemstomeacravenway。Iknowallabouttheforgivenessonthecross！IknowGodisbigenoughandmercifulenoughtoacceptevendeath-bedrepentance，butwhatisthattocomparewithlayingoutyourcourseandrunningitalifetimewithoutswerving？Idetestanddistrustthisinfidelbusiness。Iwantnochildofmineunderitsinfluence，orincontactwithit。“
“Butwhenyourtimecomes，ifyousaidjustthosethingstohersandwonher，whatatriumph，littlemother！“
“`If！’“answeredmother。“That’salwaysthetrouble！Onecan’tbesure！`If’IknewIcouldaccomplishthat，IwouldgetonmykneesandwrestlewiththeLordforthesalvationofthesoulofagirllikethat，nottomentionherpoor，houseboundmother，andthatmanwiththeunhappiestfaceIeverhaveseen，herfather。
It’sworthtrying，butsupposeItryandfail，andatthesametimefindthatinbringingheramongusshehasinfluencedsomeofminetothelossoftheirimmortalsoulsthen，whatwillI
havedone？“
“Mother，“saidLaddie；“mother，haveyousuchapooropinionofthethingsyouandfatherhavetaughtus，andthelivesyou’velivedbeforeus，thatyou’rereallyafraidofaslipofagirl，almostastranger？“
“ThemostattractivegirlIeverhaveseen，andmightywillingtobenolongerastranger，Lad。“
“Well，Ican’tpromisefortheothers，“saidLaddie，“butformyselfIwillgiveyoumywordofhonourthatIwon’tbeinfluencedthebreadthofonehairbyher，inadoctrinalway。“
“Humph！“saidmymother。“AnditisforyouIfear。Ifayoungmanisgiventheslightestencouragementbyagirllikethat，evenhisGodcan’talwaysholdhim；andyouneverhavemadeaconfessionoffaith，Laddie。Itisyoushewillbemostlikelytocaptivate。“
