ThatwassoexcitingIthoughtI’djusttryit，soIstoodonthetoprail，spreadmyarms，wavedthem，andstarted。IwasbumpedinfiftyplaceswhenIrolledintothecowslipbedatthefootofthesteephill，forstonesstuckoutalloverthesideofit，andIfeltprettymeanasIclimbedbacktothepulpit。
TheonlyconsolationIhadwaswhatDr。Fennerhadsaid。Thatwouldbethegreatestpossiblehelpinmanagingfatherormother。
IwasundecidedaboutwhetherIwouldgotoschool，ornot。Mustbeperfectlydreadfultodresslikeforchurch，andsitstillinastuffylittleroom，anddoyour“abs，“and“bes，“and“bis，“
and“bos，“alldaylong。Icouldspellquitewellwithoutlookingataschoolhouse，andreadtoo。IwaswonderingifI
everwouldgoatall，whenIthoughtofsomethingelse。Dr。
Fennerhadsaidtogivemeplentyofgoodbooks。Iwaswildforsomethatwerealreadypromisedme。Well，whatwouldtheyamounttoifIcouldn’tunderstandthemwhenIgotthem？THATseemedtomakeitsureIwouldbecompelledtogotoschooluntilIlearnedenoughtounderstandwhatthebookscontainedaboutbirds，flowers，andmoths，anyway；andperhapstherewouldbesomehavingFairiesinthem。Ofcoursethosewouldbeinteresting。
Ineverhateddoinganythingsobadly，inallmylife，butI
couldsee，withnoonetotellme，thatIhadputitoffaslongasIdared。IwouldjusthavetostartschoolwhenLeonandMaywentinSeptember。TillyBaher，wholivedacrosstheswampnearSarahHood，hadgonetwowintersalready，andshewasonlyayearolder，andnothalfmysize。Istoodonthepulpitandlookedalongtimeineverydirection，intotheskythelongestofall。
Itwassettled。Imustgo；Imightaswellstartandhaveitover。Icouldn’tlookanywhere，rightthereathome，andnotseemorethingsIdidn’tknowaboutthanIdid。Whenmothershowedmeinthecity，Iwouldn’tbesnappeduplikehotcakes；I’dbeablockheadnoonewouldhave。ItmademesovexedtothinkIhadtogo，IsetHezekiahonmyshoulder，tookBobbyundermyarm，andwenttothehouse。Ontheway，ImadeupmymindthatI
wouldaskagain，verypolitely，toholdthelittlebaby，andiftherestofthemwentandpiggeditupstraightalong，I’dpinchit，ifIgotachance。
CHAPTERIV
TheLastDayinEden“’Tisthesunsetoflifegivesmemysticallore，Andcomingeventscasttheirshadowsbefore。“
Ofcoursethebabywasasleepandcouldn’tbetouched；buttherewassomeexcitement，anyway。Fatherhadcomefromtownwithaletterfromthenewschoolteacher，thatsaidshewouldexpecthimtomeetheratthestationnextSaturday。Motherthoughtshemightaswellgettheroomreadyandletherstayatourhouse，becauseweweremostconvenient，anditwouldbethebestplaceforher。Shesaidthateverytime，andtheteacheralwaysstayedwithus。Reallyitwasbecausefatherandmotherwantedtheteacherwheretheycouldknowasmuchaspossibleaboutwhatwasgoingon。Sallydidn’tlikehavingheratall；shesaidwiththeweddingcoming，theteacherwouldbeanuisance。Shelleyhadfinishedourschool，andtheGrovevillehighschool，andinsteadofattendingcollegeshewasgoingtoChicagotostudymusic。
Shewassoanxiousoverherdressesandgettingstarted，shedidn’tseemtothinkmuchaboutwhatwasgoingtohappentousathome；soshedidn’tcareifMissAmeliastayedatourhouse。Maysaiditwouldbebesttohavetheteacherwithus，becauseshecouldhelpuswithourlessonsathome，andwecouldgetaheadoftheothers。Mayalreadyhaddecidedthatshewouldbeattheheadofherclasswhenshefinishedschool，andeverytimeyouwantedherandcouldn’tfindher，ifyouwouldlookacrossthefootofmother’sbed，Maywouldbetherewithaspellingbook。
Onceshehadspelleddownourschool，whenLaddiewasnotthere。
FatherhadmetPeterDoverintown，andhehadsaidthathewascomingtoseeSally，becausehehadsomethingofespecialimportancetotellher。
“Didhesaywhatitwas？“askedSally。
“OnlywhatIhavetoldyou，“repliedfather。
Sallywantedtotakethebroomandsweeptheparlour。
“It’scleanasaribbon，“saidmother。
“Ifyougointhere，you’llwakethebaby，“saidLucy。
“WillitkillitifIdo？“askedSally。
“No，butitwillmakeitcrossasfire，soitwillcryallthetimePeterishere，“saidLucy。
“I’llbesurprisedifitdoesn’tscreameveryminuteanyway，“
saidSally。
“Ihopeitwill，“saidLucy。“ThatwillmakePeterthinkawhilebeforehecomessooften。“
ThatmadeSallysoangryshecouldn’tspeak，soshewentoutandbegankillingchickens。Ihelpedhercatchthem。TheyweresousedtometheywouldcomerighttomyfeetwhenIshelledcorn。
“I’mgoingtokillthree，“saidSally。“I’mgoingtobesurewehaveenough，butdon’tyoutelluntiltheirheadsareoff。“
Whileshewasworkingonthemmothercameoutandaskedhowmanyshehad，soSallysaidthree。Mothercountedusandsaidthatwasn’tenough；therewouldhavetobefouratleast。
AftershewasgoneSallylookedatmeandsaid：“Well，forland’ssake！“
Itwassofunnyshehadtolaugh，andbythetimeIcaughtthefourthone，andbeganhelpingpickthem，shewasoverbeingprovokedandwehadlotsoffun。
TheminuteIsawPeterDoverhemademethinkofsomething。I
rodehishorsetothebarnwithLeonleadingit。TherewesawLaddie。
“Guesswhat！“Icried。
“Nevercould！“laughedLaddie，givingPeterDover’shorseaslapasitpassedhimonthewaytoastall。
“Fourchickens，ham，biscuit，andcake！“Iannounced。
“Isitabarbecue？“askedLaddie。
“No，theextraoneisforthebaby，“saidLeon。“Squallylittlerunt，Icallit。“
“It’sanicebaby！“saidLaddie。
“Whatdoyouknowaboutit？“demandedLeon。
“Well，consideringthatIstartedwithyou，andhavebroughtuptwootherssince，Iamschooledinallthereistoknow，“saidLaddie。
“Guesswhatelse！“Icried。
“More？“saidLaddie。“Outwithit！Don’tkillmewithsuspense。“
“FatherisgoingtotownSaturdaytomeetthenewteacherandshewillstayatourhouseasusual。“
Leonyelledandfellbackinamanger，whileLaddieheldharnessoiltohisnose。
“More！“criedLeon，grabbingthebottle。
“Areyousure？“askedLaddieofmeearnestly。
“It’sdecided。Mothersaidso，“Itoldhim。
“Nameofablackcat，why？“demandedLaddie。
“Mothersaidweweremostconvenientfortheteacher。“
“Aren’tthereenoughofus？“askedLeon，straighteningupsniffingharnessoilasifhislifedependedonit。
“Anyunprejudicedpersonwouldprobablysaysotolookin，“saidLaddie。
“I’llbetshe’llbesixtyandacat，“saidLeon。“Won’tIhavefunwithher？“
“Maybeso，maybenot！“saidLaddie。“Youcan’talwaystell，forsure。RememberyourAlamo！Youweregoingtohavefunwiththeteacherlastyear，butshehaditwithyou。“
Leonthrewtheoilbottleathim。Laddiecaughtitandsetitontheshelf。
“Idon’tunderstand，“saidLeon。
“Ido，“saidLaddiedryly。“THISisonereason。“HehitPeterDover’shorseanotherslap。
“Maybeyes，“saidLeon。
“Shelleytomusicschool，two。“
“Yes，“saidLeon。“PeterDoversarethegreatestexpense，andPeterwon’thappenbutonce。Shelleywillhaveatleasttwoyearsinschoolbeforeitisherturn，andyoucomenext，anyway。“
“Shutup！“criedLaddie。
“Thanky！Yourordersshallbeobeyedgladly。“
Helaiddownthepitchfork，wentoutside，closedthedoor，andlatchedit。Laddiecalledtohim，butherantothehouse。WhenLaddieandIfinishedourwork，andhis，andwantedtogo，wehadtoclimbthestairsandleavethroughthefrontdoorontheembankment。
“Themonkey！“saidLaddie，buthedidn’tgetmad；hejustlaughed。
TheminuteIsteppedintothehouseandsawtheparlourdoorclosed，Ithoughtofthat“something“again。Iwalkedpastit，butcouldn’thearanything。Ofcoursemotherwantedtoknow；andshewouldbeverythankfultomeifIcouldtellher。Iwentoutthefrontdoor，andthoughtdeeplyonthesituation。Thewindowswerewideopen，butIwasfarbelowthemandIcouldonlyhearasortofmurmur。Whycan’tpeoplespeakuploudandplain，anyway？Ofcoursetheywouldsitonthebighairclothsofa。
Didn’tLeoncallitthe“sparkingbench“？Thehemlocktreewouldbebest。Iclimbedquieterthanacat，fortheybreakbarkandmakeanawfulscratchingwiththeirclawssometimes；mybarefeetweresoundless。UpandupIwent，slowly，foritwasdreadfullyrough。Theywerenotonthesofa。Icouldseeplainlythroughtheneedles。ThenIsawthesprucewouldhavebeenbetter，fortheywerestandinginfrontoftheparlourdoorandPeterhadonehandontheknob。HisotherarmwasaroundmysisterSally。
BreathlesslyIleanedasfarasIcould，andwatched。
“Fathersaidhe’dgivemethemoneytobuyahalfinterest，andfurnishahousenicely，ifyousaid`yes，’Sally，“saidPeter。
Sallyleanedbackallpinksomeandblushful，andwhileshelaughedathimshe“CarelesslytossedoffacurlThatplayedonherdelicatebrow。“
exactlylikeMaryDowinMcGuffey’sThird。
“Well，whatdidISAY？“sheasked。
“Cometothinkofit，youdidn’tsayanything。“
Sally’sfacewasallafirewithdancinglights，andshelaughedthegayestlittlelaugh。
“Areyousoverysureofthat，Peter？“shesaid。
“I’mnotsureofanything，“saidPeter，“exceptthatIamsohappyIcouldfly。“
“Tryit，fool！“Isaidtomyself，deepinmythroat。
Sallylaughedagain，andPetertookhisotherhandfromthedoorandputthatarmaroundSallytoo，andhedrewhertohimandkissedher，thelongest，hardestkissIeversaw。Iletgoandrolled，tumbled，slid，andscratcheddownthehemlocktree，droppedfromthelastbranchtotheground，andscamperedaroundthehouse。Ireachedthedining-roomdoorwheneveryonewasgatheringforsupper。
“Mother！“Icried。“Mother！Yes！They’reengaged！He’skissingher，mother！Yes，Lucy，they’reengaged！“
Irushedintotellallofthemwhattheywouldbegladtoknow，andiftheredidn’tstandPeterandSally！Howtheyevergotthroughthatdoor，andacrossthesitting-roombeforeme，Idon’tunderstand。Sallymadeadiveatme，andIwassoastonishedI
forgottorun，soshecaughtme。Shestartedforthewoodhousewithme，andmotherfollowed。Sallyturnedatthedoorandshewasthewhitestofanythingyoueversaw。
“Thisismyaffair，“shesaid。“I’llattendtothisyounglady。“
“Verywell，“saidmother，andasIlivesheturnedandleftmetomysadfate，asitsaysinastorybookwehave。Iwishwhenpeoplearegoingtopunishme，they’dtakeaswitchandstrikerespectably，likemotherdoes。Thisthingofhavingsomeonegetalloverme，andnothavinganideawhereI’mgoingtobehit，istheworstpunishmentthatIeverhad。I’dbeendownthehillandupthehemlockthatday，anyway。I’dalwaysbeentoldSallydidn’twantme。ShePROVEDitrightthen。Finallyshequit，becauseshewastootiredtostrikeagain，soIcreptamongtheshavingsontheworkbenchandwenttosleep。ITHOUGHTtheywouldliketoknow，andthatIwasgoingtopleasethem。
Anyway，theyfoundout，forbythetimeSallygotbackPeterhadtoldthemaboutthestore，andthefurnishedhouse，andaskedfatherforSallyrightbeforeallofthem，whichfathersaidwasprettybrave；butPeterknewitwasallrightorhecouldn’thavecomelikehe’dbeendoing。
Afterthat，youcouldn’thearanythingatourhousebutwedding。
Sally’sshareoflinenandbeddingwasallfinishedlongago。
FathertookhertoFortWayneonthecarstobuyherwedding，travelling，andworkingdresses，andherhat，cloak，andlinen，likeyouhavewhenyoumarry。
ItwasstrangethatSallydidn’twantmothertogo，butshesaidthetripwouldtirehertoomuch。MothersaiditwasbecauseSallycouldcoaxmoredressesfromfather。Anyway，mothertoldhimtosetalimitandsticktoit。Shesaidsheknewhehadn’tdoneitasshegotthefirstglimpseofSally’sfacewhentheycameback，butthechildlookedsobeautifulandhappyshehadn’tthehearttospoilherpleasure。
Thenextdayasewingwomancame；andallofthemwereshutupinthesitting-room，whilethesewingmachinejustwhizzedontheworkingdresses。Sallysaidtheweddingdresshadtobemadebyhand。Shekepttheroomlocked，andeverynewthingthattheymadewaslaidawayonthebedintheparlourbedroom，andnoneofushadapeepuntileverythingwasfinished。Itwasawfullyexciting，butIwouldn’tpretendIcared，becauseIwashuffyather。ItoldherIwouldn’tkisshergoodbye，andI’dbeGLAD
whenshewasgone。
Sallysaidtheschool-ma’amsimplyhadtogotoWinters’，orsomeplaceelse，butmothersaidpossiblyastrangerwouldhavesomeideas，andknowsomenewstyles，soSallythenthoughtmaybetheyhadbettertryitafewdays，andshecouldhaveherplaceandbecompanywhensheandShelleyleft。Shelleywasrathersilentandblue，andbeforelongIfoundhercrying，becausemotherhadtoldhershecouldn’tstartforChicagountilafterthewedding，andthatwouldmakehermisssixweeksatthestart。