第20章

“Nothingabout`clods，andclowns，andgrossness！’EveryotherwordhespokewaswhenIsaid，`Thankyou，andgoodmorning，’andwasturningaway。Heasked：`DidMissPryorsaywhethershepreferredtoridehome，orshallIescortherinthecarriage？’“

“`Shedidnot，’Ianswered。`Theplanwassosuddenshehadnotimetothinkthatfar。Butsinceshewillhaveherhorseandhabit，whynotallowmyfathertoescorther？’Soyousee，I’mgoingtotakeyouhome，“exultedLaddie。

“ButyoutoldhimyourFATHER，“saidthePrincess。

“Andtherebycreatedtheurgentnecessity，“saidLaddiewithaflourish，“forspeakingtohimagain，andtellinghimthatmyfatherhadvisitorsfromOhio，andcouldn’tleavethem。Wewillgetallthefunfromthedaythatwecan；butbeforedusk，tooearlyforthemtohaveanycauseforcavil，`thegrosscountryclod’isgoingtotakeyouhome！“

Oneatatime，Laddiepoundedthoselastwordsintothehitchingpost，withhisdoubledfist。

“Supposehesetsthedogsonyou！Youknowhekeepstwodreadfulones。“

Laddiejustroared。Heleanedcloser。

“BeaucheousLady，“hesaid，“Ihavefedthosesamedogsandrubbedtheirearssomanynightslately，he’llgetthesurpriseofhislifeifhetriesthat。“

ThePrincessdrewawayandstaredatLaddiethefunniest。

“Onmylife！“shesaidatlast。“Wellforacountryclod——！“

Thensheturnedwiththehabitbundle，andranintothehouse。

Fatherandmothercamefromthefrontdoorarminarmandwalkedtothecarriage，andSallyandPeterfollowed。My，buttheylookedfine！ThePrincesshadgonetothegardenandgatheredflowersandlinedallthechildreninrowsdowneachsideofthewalk。TheywereloadedwithbloomstothrowatSally；butwhenshecameout，inherbeautifulgraypoplintravellingdress，trimmedinbrownribbon，thesameshadeashercurls，herfaceallpink，hereyesshining，andthetiesofherlittlebrownbonnetwavingtoherwaist，shewassoperfectlybeautiful，everysinglechildwatchedheropenmouthed，grippeditsflowers，andforgottothrowthematall。

Andthisyouscarcelywillbelieveafterwhatshehadsaidthedayshemadeherlist，andwhenallofusknewherheartwasalltornup，Sallyjustsweptalongsmilingateveryoneandcalling“good-bye“tothosewhohadnowaytoridetothevillage，asifleavingdidn’tamounttomuch。Atthecarriage，alittlewhite，butstillsmiling，sheturnedandtookonelonglookateverything，andthenshegotinandcalledforme，rightoutloudbeforeeveryone，soIgottoholdupmyheadashighasitwouldgo，andstepintoo，andrideallthewaytoGrovevillebetweenherandPeter，andinsteadofholdinghishand，sheheldmine，justgrippedittight。Shegrippedsohardshesqueezedallthesorenessatherfrommyheart，andwhenshekissedmegood-byetheverylastofall，IwhisperedinherearthatIwouldn’teverbeangryanymore，andIwasn’t，becauseaftershehadexplainedIsawhowithadbeen。Itwasn’tMEshedidn’twant；itwasjustnobaby。

AfterourcarriagecamePeter’speople，thenonefatherborrowedfortheOhiorelatives，thentheotherchildren，andalltheneighboursfollowed，andwhenwereachedthehighhillwhereyouturnbesidethewoods，Isawfathergatherupthelinesandbracehimself，forNedandJowerewhathecalled“mettlesome。““Thencameaburstofthundersound，“asitsaysin“Casablanca，“andthehorsebackriderscamesweepingaroundus，LaddieandthePrincessleading。Thesetworodeaheadofus，andtheotherslinedthreedeeponeitherside，andthenextcarriagedroppedbackandletthemcloseinbehind，soSallyandPeterwere“inthemidstthereof。“Insteadofthrowingoldshoes，asalwayshadbeendone，thePrincesscoaxedthemtothrowriceandroses，andeveryotherflowerpulledfromthebouquetsathome，andfromthegardenswehadpassed。Everyonewasoutwatchingusgoby，andwhenWilliamJustusrodebesidethefencescrying，“Flowersforthebride！Giveusflowersforthebride！“someofthewomenweresoexcitedtheypulledthingsupbytherootsandgavehimarmloads，andherodeaheadandsuppliedLaddieandthePrincess，andtheykeptscatteringthemintheroaduntileveryfootofthewaytoGrovevillewascoveredwithflowers，“thefairyoungflowersthatlatelysprangandstood。“Heevenmadeside-cutsintoswampyplacesandgatheredarmloadsofthoseperfectlylovely，fringybluegentians，caughtup，andfilledthecarriageandscatteredtheminawickedway，becauseyoushouldonlytakeafewofthoserare，lateflowersthatonlygrowfromseed。

Sallylookedjustasifshehadcomeintoherownandwasmadeforit；Ineverdidseeherlooksopretty，butPetersweatedandactedawfulsilly。Fatherhadatimewiththeteam。NedandJobecameexcitedandjustranted。Theysimplydanced。Laddiehadbraidedtheirmanesandtails，andtheywavedlikesilkenflossinthesunshine，andthecarriagewasfreshlywashedandthepatentleatherandbrassshone，andwerodeflower-covered。

Ahead，LaddieandthePrincessfairlytriedthemselves。Shehadn’tputonherhatorhabitafterall。WhenLaddietoldhertheyweregoingtolead，shesaid：“Verywell！ThenIshallgoasIam。Thedressmakesnodifference。It’sthefirsttimeI’vehadachancetospoilonesinceIleftEngland。“

Whentheothergirlssawwhatshewasgoingtodo，nearlyeveryoneofthemleftofftheirhatsandridingskirts。Everyfamilyhadsaddlehorsesthosedays，andwhentheriderscameracinguptheylookedlikeflyingflowers，theywerealllaughing，bloomladened，singingandcallingjokes。Ahead，LaddieandthePrincessjustplainshowedoff。HerhorsecamefromEnglandwiththem，andLaddiesaidithadArabbloodinit，liketheoneintheFourthReaderpoem，“Fretnottoroamthedesertnow，Withallthywingedspeed，“andthePrincesslovedherhorsemorethanthatmandidhis。Shesaidshe’dstarvebeforeshe’dsellit，andifherfamilywerestarving，she’dgotoworkandearnfoodforthem，andkeepherhorse。Laddie’swasaKentuckythoroughbredhe’dsavedmoneyforyearstobuy；andhetookayoungoneandtrainedithimself，almostlikeacircushorse。

BothofthemCOULDride；sothatdaytheydid。Theyranthosehorsesneckandneck，rightupthehillapproachingGroveville，untiltheywerealmostfromsight，thentheywhirledandcamesweepingbackfastasthewind。ThePrincess’eyeswerelikedeadcoals，andherblackcurlsstreamed，thethinsilkdresswrappedtightaroundherandwavedbacklikeagossamerwebsuchasspidersspininOctober。Laddie’shairwasblowing，hischeeksandeyeswerebright，andwithoneeyeonthePrincess——

shedidn’tneedit——andoneontheroad，hecutcurves，turned，wheeled，andraced，andasherode，sodidshe。

“Willtheybreaktheirfoolishnecks？“wailedmother。

“TheyarethehandsomestcoupleIeverhaveseeninmylife！“

saidfather。

“Yes，andyoutwowatchout，oryou’llstriketroublerightthere，“saidSally，leaningforward。

Igaveheranawfulnudge。ItmademesohappyIcouldhavescreamedtoseethemflyingawaytogetherlikethat。

“Well，ifthatgirlrepresentstrouble，“saidfather，“Godknowsitneverbeforecameinsuchcharmingguise。“

“YoucantrustamantoforgethisGodandhisimmortalsoulifasufficientlybeautifulwomancomesalong，“saidmymotherdryly，andallofthemlaughed。

Shedidn’tmeanthattobefunny，though。Youcouldalwaystellbythesetofherlipsandthelightinhereyes。

JustthissideofGrovevillewepassedamanonhorseback。HetookoffhishatanddrewhishorsetoonesidewhenLaddieandthePrincessrodetowardhim。Hehadabigrollofpapersunderhisarm，toshowthathehadbeenforhismail。ButIknew，sodidLaddieandthePrincess，thathehadbeencompelledtosaddleandridelikemad，toreachtownandcomethatfarbackintimetowatchuspass；foritwasthePrincess’father，andWATCHwasexactlywhathewasdoing；hewantedtoseeforhimself。LaddieandthePrincessrodestraightathim，neckandneck，andthenbothofthemmadetheirhorsesdropontheirkneesandtheywavedasalute，andthentheywereupandaway。Ofcoursefatherandmothersaw，somotherbowed，andfatherwavedhiswhipaswepassed。Hesattherelikehe’dturnedthesameonhorsebackasSabethanyhadinhercoffin；buthehadtoseealmostamileofusdrivingourbesthorsesandcarriages，wearingourweddinggarmentsandfineraiment，andallthat“cavalcade，“fathercalledit，ofyoung，recklessriders。You’dhavethoughtiftherewereahintofasmileinhiswholebeingitwouldhaveshownwhenSallyleanedfromthecarriagetolethimseethatherfaceandclotheswereasgoodasneedbeandsmiledalovelysmileonhim，andthrewhimarose。Hedidleavehishatoffandbowlow，andthenShelley，alwaystheverydickensfordaring，roderightuptohimandlaughedinhisface，andsheleanedandthrustaflowerintohisbonyhands；youwouldhavethoughthewouldhavebeensimplyforcedtosmilethen，buthelookedfarmoreasifhewouldtumbleoverandrollfromthesaddle。Myheartachedforamanintroublelikethat。IaskedtheLordtopreserveusfromsecretswecouldn’ttelltheneighbours！

Atthestationtherewasn’tathingthoseyoungpeopledidn’tdo。

TheytiedflowersandribbonsalloverSally’ssatchelandtrunk。

Theysowedriceasifitwereseedingtimeinawheatfield。TheyformedacirclearoundSallyandPeterandasmushyasevertheycouldtheysang，“Assureasthegrassgrowsaroundthestump，Youaremydarlingsugarlump，“whiletheydanced。Theyjustsmiledallthetimenomatterwhatwasdonetothem。Someofitmademeangry，butIsupposetobepleasantwastherightway。

Sallywasstrongonalwaysdoingtherightthing，soshejustlaughed，andsodidallofus。Goinghomeitwaswilderyet，forallofthemracedandshowedhowtheycouldride。

Atthehousepeoplewerehungryagain，sothetablewassetandtheyateupeveryscrapinsight，andLeonandIatewiththemthattimeandsavedours。Thenonebyonethecarriages，springwagons，andhorsebackriderswentaway，allthepeoplesayingSallywastheloveliestbride，andhershadbeentheprettiestweddingthey’deverseen，andthemostgoodthingstoeat，andLaddieandthePrincesswentwiththem。Whenthelastonewasgone，andonlytherelativesfromOhiowereleft，motherpitchedonthebed，grippedherhandsandcriedasifshe’dgotopieces，andfathercriedtoo，andallofus，evenMrs。Freshett，whostayedtowashupthedishes。Shewassotickledtobethere，andsee，andhelp，thatmotherhadhardworktokeepherfromwashingthelinenthatsamenight。Shedidfinishthelastdish，scrubthekitchenfloor，blackthestove，andpackalltheborrowedchinaintubs，readytobetakenhome，andthingslikethat。Mothersaiditwasaburningshameforanyneighbourhoodtoletawomangetsostarvedoutandlonesomeshe’dactthatway。Shesaidenoughwasenough，andwhenMrs。Freshetthadcookedallday，andwasheddishesuntilthelastskilletwasinplace，shehaddoneasmuchasanyneighbouroughttodo，andtheotherthingsshewentonanddidwerearebuketous。

Ifeltsore，weepy，andtiredout。Itmademesicktothinkofthesagebaginthecrackedchurn，soIclimbedmyveryowncatalpatreeinthecorner，watcheduptheroadforLaddie，andthoughtthingsover。IfIevergetmarriedIwantadress，andaweddingexactlylikethat，butIwouldlikeamanquitedifferentfromPeter；likeLaddiewouldsuitmebetter。Whenherodeunderthetree，Idroppedfromalimbintohisarms，andwentwithhimtothebarn。Heaskedmewhatwasgoingonatthehouse，andI

toldhimaboutMrs。Freshettbeingarebuketous；andLaddiesaidshewas，andhedidn’tbelieveonewordagainsther。WhenI

toldhimmotherwasinbedcryinglikeanything，hesaid：“I

knewthathadtocomewhenshekeptupsobravelyatthestation。

ThanktheLord，sheshowedherbreedingbyholdinginuntilshegotwhereshehadarighttocryifshepleased。“

ThenIwhisperedforfearLeonmightbearound：“Didhesetthedogsonyou？“

“Hedidnot，“saidLaddie，laughingsoftly。

“Didhecallyounamesagain？“

“Hedid！“saidLaddie，“butIstartedit。Yousee，whenwegotthere，ThomaswasrakingthegrassandhecametotakethePrincess’horse。Herfatherwasreadingonabenchunderatree。

Ihelpedherdown，andwalkedwithhertothedoorandsaidgood-

bye，andthankedherforthepleasureshehadaddedtothedayforus，loudlyenoughthathecouldhear；thenIwentovertohimandsaid：`Goodevening，Mr。Pryor。Ifmyfatherknewanythingaboutit，hewouldverymuchregretthatcompanyfromOhiodetainedhimandcompelledmetoescortyourdaughterhome。Hewouldgreatlyhaveenjoyedtheprivilege，butIhonestlybelievethatIappreciateditfarmorethanhecould。’“

“OhLaddie，whatdidhesay？“

“Hearoseandglaredatme，andchokedonit，andhetriedseveraltimes，untilIthoughttheclodsweregoingtoflyagain，butatlasthejustspluttered：`Youblatheringrascal，you！’

ThatwassuchacomplimentcomparedwithwhatIthoughthewasgoingtosaythatIhadtolaugh。Hetried，buthecouldn’tkeepfromsmilinghimself，andthenIsaid：`Pleasethinkitover，Mr。Pryor，andifyoufindthatMissPryorhashadanagreeable，entertainingday，won’tyougiveyourconsentforhertocomeamongusagain？Won’tyouallowmetocomehere，ifitcanbearrangedinsuchawaythatIintrudeonnoone？’“

“OhLaddie！“

“Heexplodedinakindofasnarlthatmeant，I’llseeyouintheBadPlacefirst。SoIsaidtohim：`Thankyouverymuchforto-

day，anyway。I’msureMissPryorhasenjoyedthisday，andithasbeenthehappiestofmylife——onetoberememberedalways。

OfcourseIwon’tcomehereifIamunwelcome，butIaminhonourboundtotellyouthatIintendtomeetyourdaughterelsewhere，wheneverIpossiblycan。Ithoughtitwouldbeabetterwayforyoutoknowandhaveuswhereyoucouldseewhatwasgoingon，ifyouchose，thanforustomeetwithoutyourknowledge。“

“OhLaddie，“Iwailed，“nowyou’vegoneandruinedeverything！“

“Notsobadasthat，LittleSister，“laughedLaddie。“Nothalfsobad！Heexplodedinanothergrowl，andheshookhiswalkingstickatme，andhesaid——guesswhathesaid。“

“Thathewouldkillyou，“Ipanted，clingingtohim。

“Right！“saidLaddie。“Youhaveitexactly。Hesaid：`Youngman，I’llbrainyouwithmywalkingstickifeverImeetyouanywherewithmydaughter，whenyouhavenotcometoherhomeandtakenherwithmypermission。’“

“What！“Istammered。“What！OhLaddie，sayitover！Doesitmean——？“

“Itmeans，“saidLaddie，squeezingmeuntilIwasnearlosingmybreath，“itmeans，LittleSister，thatIshallmarchtohisdoorandaskhimsquarely，andifitisanywherethePrincesswantstogo，Ishalltakeher。“

“Like，`Seetheconqueringherocomes？’“

“Exactly！“laughedLaddie。

“Whatwillmothersay？“

“Shehasn’tmadeuphermindyet，“answeredLaddie。

“Doyoumean——？“Igaspedagain。

“Ofcourse！“saidLaddie。“Iwasn’tgoingtoletagirlgetfaraheadofme。TheminuteIknewshehadtoldhermother，Itoldminetheveryfirstchance。“

“MotherknowsthatyoufeelaboutthePrincessasfatherdoesabouther？“

“Motherknows，“answeredLaddie，“andsodoesfather。Itoldbothofthem。“

Bothofthemknew！Andithadn’tmadeenoughdifferencethatanyonelivingrightwiththemeverydaycouldhavetoldit。Timeandworkwillbeneededtounderstandgrownpeople。