第17章

“IfyouthinkIhaveanychance，I’llgostraightoverandaskherfatherforherthisveryevening，“saidLaddie，andevenmotherlaughed；thenallofusstartedtothehouse，foritwasalmostsuppertime。IgotreadyandthoughtI’dtakeonemorepeepatthedressbeforeSallypinneditinthesheetagain，andwhenIwentback，thereallhuddledinabunchbeforeitstoodMissAmelia，thetearsrunningdownhercheeks。

“DidSallysayyoumightcomehere？“Iasked。

“No，“saidMissAmelia，“butI’vebeensocrazytoseeIjustslippedintotakeapeepwhenInoticedtheopendoor。I’llgothisminute。Pleasedon’ttellher。“

Ididn’tsaywhatIwoulddo，butIdidn’tintendto。

“Whatareyoucryingabout？“Iinquired。

“Ah，Itoohaveknownlove，“sobbedMissAmelia。“OnceImadeaweddingdress，andexpectedtobeahappybride。“

“Well，wasn’tyou？“Iasked，andknewatonceitwasasillyquestion，forofcourseshewouldnotbeamiss，ifshehadnotmissedmarrying。

“Hedied！“sobbedMissAmelia。

Ifhecouldhaveseenherthen，Ibelievehe’dhavebeengladofit；butmaybehelookedasbonyanddejectedasshedidbeforehewent；andhemayhaveturnedtostoneafterward，assometimeshappens。RightthenIheardSallycoming，soIgrabbedMissAmeliaanddraggedherunderthefourposter，whereIalwayshidwhencaughtdoingsomethingIshouldn’t。ButSallyhadsomuchstuffshecouldn’tkeepallofitonthebed，andwhenshestoopedandliftedtheruffletoshoveaboxunder，shepusheditrightagainstus，andknelttolook，andtherewewere。

“Welluponmysoul！“shecried，andsatflatonthefloor，holdingtheruffle，peeringin。“MissAmelia！Andintears！

Whateveristhetrouble？“

MissAmelia’sfacewasredderthananycryingevermadeit，andI

sawshewantedtokillmeforgettingherintosuchafix，andifshebecametooangryprobablyshe’dtakeitoutonmeinschoolthenextday，soIthoughtI’dbetterkeepheratworksheddingtears。

“`HEDIED！’“ItoldSallyaspatheticallyaseverIcould。

Sallydroppedtheruffleinstantly，butIsawherkneesshakeagainstthefloor。AfterawhilesheliftedthecurtainandofferedMissAmeliaherhand。

“Iwasleavingmydresstoshowyoubeforeputtingitaway，“shesaid。

Ididn’tbelieveit；butthatwaswhatshesaid。Maybeitwasanimpulse。MotheralwayssaidSallywasacreatureofimpulse。

Whenshetookoffherflannelpetticoatandgaveittopoorlittlehalf-frozenAnnieHasty，thatwasagoodimpulse，butitsentSallytobedforaweek。AndwhenshethrewashovelofcoalsonBillRamsdell’sdog，becauseBillwasashiftlesslout，andthedogwassostarveditallthetimecameoverandsuckedoureggs，thatwasabadimpulse，becauseitdidn’tdoBillaparticleofgood，andithurtthedog，whichwouldhavebeengladtosuckeggsathome，nodoubt，ifBillhadn’tbeentooworthlesstokeephens。

Thatwasagoodimpulseshehadthen，forsheaskedMissAmeliatohelpherstraightentheroom，andofcoursethatmeanttofoldandputawayweddingthings。Anywomanwouldhavebeenwildtodothat。ThenshetoldMissAmeliathatshewasgoingtoaskfathertodismissschoolforhalfaday，andallowhertoseethewedding，andsheaskedherifshewouldhelpservethebreakfast。

MissAmeliawipedhereyes，andsoonlaughedandwasjustbeaming。Iwouldhavebeenwillingtobetmythreecentsforleadpencilsthenexttimethehuckstercame，thatSallyneverthoughtofwantingheruntilthatminute；andthenshearrangedforhertowaitontabletokeepherfromtryingtoeatwiththeweddingparty，becauseMissAmeliahadnoprettyclothesforonething，andforanother，youshouldn’tactasifyouwerehungryoutincompany，andsheateeverymealasifshewerebreakingafortydays’fast。Iwonderedwhatherfolkscookedathome。

AftersupperPetercame，andtheinstantIsawhimIthoughtofsomething，anditwassuchateasingthoughtIfollowedaroundandwatchedhimhardereveryminute。Atlasthenoticedme，andputhisarmsaroundme。

“Well，whatisit，LittleSister？“heasked。

Ididwishhewouldquitthat。Noonereallyhadarighttocallmethat，exceptLaddie。MaybeIhadtoputupwithPeterdoingitwhenIwashissisterbylaw，butbefore，theoldnamethepreacherbaptizedonmewasgoodenoughforPeter。Iwasthinkingaboutthatsohard，Ididn’tanswer，andheaskedagain。

“IhaveseenSally’sweddingdress，“Itoldhim。

“Butthat’snoreasonwhyyoushouldstareatme。“

“That’sjustexactlythereason，“Ianswered。“Iwastryingtoseewhatintheworldthereisaboutyoutobeworthadresslikethat。“

Peterlaughedandlaughed。Atlasthesaidthathewasnotreallyworthevenacalicodress；andhewassolittleworthyofSallythathewouldbuttonhershoes，ifshewouldlethim。Hegotthatmixed。Thebuttonswereonherslippers：hershoeslaced。ButitshowedahumblespiritinPeter。NotthatIcareforhumblespirits。IamsuretheCrusadersdidn’thavethem。I

don’tbelieveLaddiewouldlaceeventhePrincess’shoes，atleastnottomakeasteadybusinessofit。ButmaybePeterandSallyhadanagreementtohelpeachother。Shewasalwaysfixinghistie，andstraighteninghishair。Maybethatwasanimpulse，though，andmothersaidSallywouldgetoverbeingsoimpulsivewhenshecuthereyeteeth。

CHAPTERVII

WhenSallyMarriedPeter“Midpleasuresandpalacesthoughwemayroam，Beiteversohumblethere’snoplacelikehome！

Acharmfromtheskiesseemstohallowusthere，Which，seekthroughtheworld，isne’ermetwithelsewhere。“

Whentheybeganarrangingthehouseforthewedding，itcouldbeseenthattheyhadbeenexpectingit，andgettingreadyforalongtime。Fromalltheclosets，shelvesandchestspouredheapsofnewthings。First，thewallswerecleanedandsomeofthemfreshlypapered，thenthewindowswereallwashedlongbeforeregularhousecleaningtime，thefloorswerescrubbedandnewcarpetputdown。MotherhadsomewindowblindsthatWinfieldhadbroughtherfromNewYorkinthespring，andshehadlaidthemaway；nooneknewwhy，then。Weallknewnow。Whenmotherwasreadytoputthemup，fatherhadabusydayandcouldn’thelpher，andshewasreallyprovoked。Shealmostcriedaboutit，whenLeonrodeinbringingthemail，andsaidHannahDoverhadsomeexactlylikeoursatherwindows，thathersonhadsentfromIllinois。Fatherfeltbadlyenoughthen，forhealwaysdideverythinghecouldtohelpmothertobefirstwitheverything；

butsoshewouldn’tblamehim，hesaidcrosslikethatifshehadlethimputthemupwhentheycame，ashewantedto，she’dhavebeensixmonthsahead。

Whentheyfinallygotreadytohangtheblindsnooneknewhowtheywent。Theywereabeautifulshinygreen，plainononeside，andontheothertherewasasilverborderacrossthebottomandonepinkroseasbigasapieplate。MotherhadneglectedtoaskWinfieldonwhichsidetherosebelonged。Fathersaidfromthewaytherollran，itwentinside。Mothersaidtheywererolledthatwaytoprotecttheroses，andthatdidn’tproveanything。

Laddiesaidhewouldjumponahorseandrideroundthesection，andseehowHannahDoverhadhers，andexactlyoppositewouldberight。Everyonelaughed，butnoonethoughthemeantit。Motherhadfatherholdoneagainstthewindow，andshesteppedoutsidetoseeifshecouldtellfromthere。Whenshecameinshesaidtheflowerlookedmightypretty，andsheguessedthatwastheway，sofatherstartedhangingthem。HehadonlytwoupwhenLaddiecameracingdowntheBigHillbareback，callingforhimtostop。

“Itellyouthat’snotright，mother！“hesaidashehurriedin。

“ButIwentoutsideandfatherheldone，anditlookedrealpretty，“saidmother。

“One！Yes！“saidLaddie。“Buthaveyoustoppedtoconsiderhowtworowsacrossthehousearegoingtolook？Ninebigpinkroses，withthesunshiningonthem！AnythingfunnierthanDovers’frontIneversaw。Andlookhere！“

Laddiepickedupablind。“Seethisplainback？It’sdoublecoatedlikeaglaze。Thatissothesunshiningthroughglasswon’tfadeit。Theflowerswouldbegoneinaweek。Theybelonginside，mother，sureasyoulive。“

“Thenwhentheblindsarerolledtothemiddlesashinthedaytimenoonecanseethem，“wailedmother，whowaswildaboutpinkroses。

“Butatnight，whentheyaredown，youcanputthecurtainsbackenoughtolettherosesshow，andthinkhowprettytheywilllookthen。“

“Laddieisright！“saidfather，climbingonthebarreltotakedowntheoneshehadfixed。

“Whatdoyouthink，girls？“askedmother。

“IthinkthePrincessiscomingdowntheLittleHill，“saidShelley。“Hurry，father！Takethemdownbeforeshesees！I’msurethey’rewrong。“

Fathergotoneallright，buttorethecorneroftheother。

Motherscoldedhimdreadfullycross，andhewassoflusteredheforgotaboutbeingonthebarrel，sohesteppedbackthesameasonthefloor，andfellcrashing。Hemighthavebrokensomeofhisbones，ifLaddiehadn’tseenandcaughthim。

“IfyouareSUREtheflowersgoinside，fixonebeforeshecomes！“criedmother。

Fathersteppedtooclosetheedgeofthechair，andbythattimehedidn’tknowhowtohanganything，soLaddieclimbedupandhadonenailedbeforethePrincessstopped。ShecametobringSallythehandkerchief，anditwastheloveliestoneanyofuseverhadseen。Therewasalittlepatchinthemiddleaboutfourinchessquare，andarounditawideruffleofdaintylace。Itwasmadetocarryinahandcoveredwithwhitelacemitts，whenyouwerewearingaweddinggownofsilversilk，linedwithwhite。Ofcourseitwouldn’thavebeentheslightestuseforafuneralorwithacoldinyourhead。Andithadcomefromacrossthesea！

Fromtheminuteshetookitbyapinchinthemiddle，Sallycarriedherheadsomuchhigherthansheeverhadbefore，thatyoucouldnoticethedifference。

Laddiewentstraightonnailinguptheblinds，andeveryonehefixedheletdownfulllengthsothePrincesscouldseetheroseswereinside；hewassosurehewasright。Aftershehadtalkedafewminutesshenoticedtheblindsgoingup。Laddie，inafrontwindow，wavedtoherfromthebarrel。Shelaughedandansweredwithherwhip，andthenshelaughedagain。

“Doyouknow，“shesaid，“thereisthefunniestthingatDovers’。

IrodepastonthewaytoGrovevillethismorningandtheyhavesomeblindslikethoseyouareputtingup。“

“Indeed？“inquiredmymother。“WinfieldsentusthesefromNewYorkinthespring，butIthoughtthehotsummersunwouldfadethem，soIsavedthemuntilthefallcleaning。Theweddingcomingonmakesusalittleearlybut——“

“Well，theymaynotbeexactlythesame，“saidthePrincess。“I

onlysawfromthehighway。“Shemeantroad；thereweremanythingsshesaiddifferently。“Haveyoursbigpinkrosesandsilverscrollsinside？“

“Yes，“saidmother。

ThePrincessbubbleduntilitmadeyouthinkoneofthoseyelloworiolebirdshadperchedonhersaddle。“Thatpoorwomanhasgoneandputhersupwrongsideout。Theeffectofallthosebigpinkrosesonherwhitehousefrontismostamusing。Itlooksasifthehousewerecoveredwithaparticularlygaudypieceofcomfortcalico。Onlyfancy！“

Shelaughedagainandrodeaway。Mothercameinjustgasping。

“Well，forallHismercies，largeandsmall，theLordbepraised！“shecriedpiously，asshedroppedintothebigrockingchair。“THATiswhatIconsiderescapingbytheskinofyourteeth！“

ThenfatherandLaddielaughed，andsaidtheythoughtsotoo。

Whentheblindswereup，theoutsidelookedwell，andyoushouldhaveseentheinside！Thewoodworkwasenamelledwhite，andthewallpaperwasstripedinwhiteandsilver。Everysofaronthesilvertherewasalittlepinkmossrosehavinggreenleaves。

Thecarpetwasplumredandgreeninwidestripes，andthelacecurtainswerefreshlywashed，snowy，andtouchedthefloor。Thebigrocker，thestraight-backedchairs，andthesofawerebeautifulredmahoganywood，andtheseatsshininghaircloth。Ifnoonehappenedtobelooking，youcouldsitonasofaarm，stickyourfeetoutandshootofflikeridingdownahaystack；thelandingwasmuchbetter。Onthesofayoubouncedtwofeethighthefirsttime；one，thesecond；andalittlewaythethird。Onthehaystack，maybeyouhitasoftspot，andmaybeyoustruckarock。Sometimesifyougotsmart，andtriedanewplace，andyourfeetcaughtinatangleofweedsandstuck，youcameupstraight，pitchedover，andlandedonyourhead。THENifyoustruckarock，youwerestill，quiteawhile。Iwasonce。Butyouneverdaredletmotherseeyou——onthesofa，Imean；shedidn’tcareaboutthehaystack。

Therewerepicturesinovalblackframeshavingfancyedges，andawhatnotwhereallourChristmasandbirthdaygifts，almosttoodaintytohandle，werekept。Youfairlyheldyourbreathwhenyoulookedatthenestofspungreenglass，withthewhitedoveinit，thatGeorgeWashingtonMitchellgavetoShelley。Ofcourseadove’snestwasneverdeep，andround，andgreen，andthebirddidn’thaveredeyesandablackbill。Ithoughtwhoevercouldblowglassasbeautifullyasthat，mightjustaseasyhavemadeitrightwhilehewasatit；butanyway，itwaspretty。Therewerepitchers，mugs，andvases，almosttoodelicatetotouch，andthecloth-coveredboxwithbraidsofhaircoiledinwreathsfromtheheadsofthelittlefeverandwhoopingcoughsisters。

LaddieaskedSallyifsheandPeterweregoingtohavetheceremonyperformedwhiletheysatonthesofa。Seemedtherightplace。Theyhaddonealltheircourtingthere，evenonhotsummerdays；butIsupposedthatwasbecauseSallydidn’twanttobeseenfixingPeter’stieuntilshewasready。Shemadenobonesaboutitthen。Shefixeditwhenevershepleased；likewiseheheldherhand。Shelleysaidthatwasdisgusting，andyouwouldn’tcatchher。Leonsaidhebetadollarhewould；andI

saidifheknewhe’dgetbeatenasIdid，Ibettwodollarshewouldn’ttellwhathesaw。Themantelwaswhite，withvasesofthelovelygrassesthatgrewbesidethestreamatthefootoftheBigHill。Mothergatheredthefanciesteveryfall，driedthem，anddippedtheminmeltedalumcolouredwithcopperas，aniline，andindigo。Thenshetookbunchesofthecoloursthatwenttogetherbestandmadebouquetsforthebigvases。Theywereprettyinthedaytime，butatnightyoucouldwatchthemsparkleandshimmerforever。

Ialwaysthoughtthesitting-roomwasnicerthantheparlour。

Thewoodworkwaswhiteenameltheretoo，butthebureauandchairswerejustcherryandnottooprecioustouse。Theywereeverybitaspretty。Themantelwasmuchlarger。Icouldstandupinthefireplace，andittooktwomentoputonaneverydaylog，fourtheChristmasone。Oneachsidewerethebookshelvesabove，andthelinenclosetsbelow。Themantelsetbetweenthese，andmotheralwaysusedthebiggest，mostgorgeousbouquetsthere，becauseshehadsomuchroom。Thehearthwasaslabofstonethatcamefarintotheroom。Wecouldsitonitandcracknuts，roastapples，chestnuts，andwarmourcider，thensweepallthemusswemadeintothefire。Thewallpaperwaswhiteandpalepinkinstripes，andonthepinkwerelittlehandledbasketsfilledwithtinyflowersofdifferentcolours。Wesewedtheragsforthecarpetourselves，anditwastheprettiestthing。Onestripewaswide，allgray，brown，anddullcolours，andtheotherwaspink。Thereweregreenblindsandlacecurtainsherealso，andnicebraidedrugsthatallofusworkedonofwinterevenings。Everythinggotspickerandspannereachday。

Mothersaidtherewasnouseinputtingdownacarpetinadining-roomwhereyouconstantlyfedahost，andtheboysdidn’tcleantheirfeetascarefullyastheyshouldinwinter；buttherewereusefulragswheretheybelonged，andinourbedroomopeningfromitalso。Thedining-roomwallpaperhadabroadstripeofrichcreamwithpinkcabbagerosesscatteredoveritandanarrowpinkstripe，whilethewoodworkwassomethingperfectlymarvellous。Ididn’tknowwhatkindofwooditwas，butamanwhocouldturnhishandtoanything，paintedit。First，heputonapaleyellowcoatandletitdry。Thenheaddedwoodbrown，andwhileitwaswet，withacoarsetoothedcomb，arag，andhisfingers，heimitatedthegrain，theevenwood，andknotholesofdressedlumber，untilmanyatimeIfoundmyselfstaringsteadilyataknottoseeifawormwouldn’treallycomeworkingout。Youhavetoseeathinglikethattounderstandhowwonderfulitis。