第34章

Youcouldn’tfindoutwhethertheyhadpureblood，truehearts，orcleansouls。NogirlcouldbesoverymuchprettierthanShelley；theysimplywerenotmadethatway。Sheknewhowtobehave；shehaditbeatenintoher，likeallofus。Andsheknewherbooks，whatourschoolscouldteachher，andGroveville，andLucy，whohadcitychancesforyears，andthereneverwasadayatourhousewhenbooksandpaperswerenotreadanddiscussed，andyourspellingwashammeredintoyoustandinginrowsagainstthewall，andmemorytests——whatonearthcouldbethematterwithShelleythatamanwhocouldmakeherlookandactasshedidatChristmas，wouldnowmakeherunhappy？SometimesIwantedtobegrownupdreadfully，andagain，timeslikethat，Iwishedmybedcouldstayinmother’sroom，andIcouldcreepbehindfather’spaperandgotosleepbetweenhiscoatandvest，andhavehimwarmmyfeetinhishandsforever。

Thisworldwastoomuchforme。IneverworkedandworriedinallmylifeasIhadoverLaddieandthePrincess，andLaddiesaidI，myself，neverwouldknowhowIhadhelpedhim。Ofcoursenothingwassettled；hehadtotrytomakeherlovehimbyteachingherhowlovablehewas。Weknew，becausewealwayshadknownhim，butshewasastrangerandhadtolearn。Itwasmightyfineforhimthathecouldforcehiswaypastthedogs，Thomas，theothermen，herhalf-crazyfather，andthroughthelockeddoor，andgotheretotrytomakehersee，onSundaynights，andweekdays，everysinglechancehecouldinvent，andhecouldthinkupmorereasonsforgoingtoPryors’thanmothercouldforputtingoutanextrawash。

NowjustasIgotsettledalittleabouthim，andwecouldseetheyreallywantedhimthere，atleastthePrincessandhermotherdid，andMr。PryormusthavebeenfairlydecentorLaddieneverwouldhavegone；andthePrincesscametoourhousetobringmethingstoeat，andaskhowmotherwas，andoncetolearnhowsheembroideredSally’sweddingchemise，andsocialthingslikethat；andwhenfatheractedasifhelikedhersomuchhehadn’tawordtosay，andmotherseemedtobegintofeelasifLaddieandthePrincesscouldbetrustedtofixitupaboutGod；

andtheoldmysterydidn’tmatterafterall；why，hereShelleypoppedupwithanothermystery，anditbelongedtous。ButwhateverailedthatmanIcouldn’tpossiblythink。Ithadgottobehim，forShelleywassoallrightatChristmas，itmadeherlookthatprettywehardlyknewher。

IwasthinkingaboutheruntilIscarcelycouldstudymylessons，soIcouldrecitetoLaddieatnight，andnotfallsofarbehindatschool。MissAmeliaofferedtohearme，butIjustbeggedLaddie，andfathercouldseethathetaughtmefiftythingsinalessonthatyoucouldtelltolookatMissAmelia，sheneverknew。Why，hecouldn’thearmeread：

“Wechargeduponaflockofgeese，AndputthemalltoflightExceptonesturdyganderThatthoughttoshowusfight，“——

withoutteachingmethattheoldestpictureinalltheworldwasmadeofarowofgeese，someofwhichwerekindswethenhad——theearthdidn’tseemsooldwhenyouthoughtofthat——andhowaflockofgeeseoncewakenedanarmyandsavedacity，andhowfarwildgeesecouldflywithoutalightinginmigration，andeverythingyoucouldthinkofaboutgeese，onlyhedidn’tknowwhyeatingthesamegrassmadefeathersongeeseandwoolonsheep。Anyway，MissAmelianevertoldyouawordbutwhatwasinthebook，andhowtoreadandspellit。Maysaidthatfatherwasverymuchdisappointedinher，andhewasnevergoingtohireanotherteacheruntilhemetandtalkedwithher，nomatterwhatkindoflettersshecouldsend。Hewasnotgoingtohelphergetasummerschool，andOmysoul！Ihopenoonedoes，foriftheydo，Ihavetogo，andI’dratherdiethangotoschoolinthesummer。

Leoncameinaboutthattimewithmorefoxstories。BeeninJacobHood’schickenhouseandtakenhisbestDorkingrooster，andfathersaiditwastimetodosomething。HeneversaidawordsolongastheytookDeams’，excepttheyshouldhavebarnroomfortheirgeese，butwhenanythingwasthematteratHoods’

fatherandmotherstarteddoingsomethingtheinstanttheyheardofit。SofatherandLaddierodearoundtheneighbourhoodandtalkeditover，andthenextnighttheyhadameetingatourschoolhouse；menformilescame，andtheyplannedaregularold-

fashionedfoxchase，andeveryonewaswildaboutit。

LaddietolditatPryors’andthePrincesswantedtogo；sheaskedtogowithhim，andifyouplease，Mr。Pryorwantedtogotoo，andtheirThomas。TheyattendedthemeetingtotellhowpeoplechasefoxesinEngland，wheretheyseemtohuntthemmostofthetime。Fathersaid：“ThankGodforevenafoxchase，ifitwillbringMr。Pryoramonghisneighboursandhelphimtoactsensibly。“Theyaregoingawayfifteenmilesorfarther，andformabigcircleofmenfromalldirections，somewalkinginaline，andothersridingtobringbackanyfoxesthatescape，andwithdogs，andguns，theyaregoingtoroutouteveryonetheycanfind，andkillthemsotheywon’ttakethegeese，littlepigs，lambs，andHoods’Dorkingrooster。LaddiehadahornthatMr。Pryorgavehimwhenhetoldhimthiscountrywasshowingsignsofbecomingcivilizedatlast；butLeongrinnedandsaidhe’dbeatthat。

Thenwhenyouwantedhim，hewasinthewoodhouseloftatwork，butfathersaidhecouldn’tgetintomischiefthere。Heshouldhaveseenthatchurnwhenitwasfullofweddingbreakfast！Weateforaweekafterward，untilthingswereallmoulded，andwedidn’tdareanymore。OnenightIbeggedsohardandpromisedsofaithfullyhetrustedm

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