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。OnenightIbeggedsohardandpromisedsofaithfullyhetrustedme；hedidoften，afterIdidn’ttellabouttheStation；andIwenttotheloftwithhim，andwatchedhimworkanhour。Hehadahollowlimbaboutsixinchesthroughandfourteenlong。Hehadcutandburnedittoamereshell，andthenhehadscrapeditwithglassinsideandout，untilitshonelikepolishedhorn。Hehadshavedthewoolfromapieceofsheepskin，soaked，stretched，anddriedit，andthenfitteditoveroneendofthedrumlikethinghehadmade，andtackedandbounditinalittlegrooveattheedge。Heputtheskinondampsohecouldstretchittight。Thenhepunchedatinyholeinthemiddle，andpulledthroughit，downinsidethedrum，asheepskinthongrolledinresin，withaknotbigenoughtoholdit，andnottearthehead。ThenhetookitunderhisarmandweslippedacrosstheorchardbelowtheStation，andwentintothehollowandtriedit。
Itworked！Ialmostfelldeadwiththefirstfrightfulsound。
Itjustbellowedandroared。Inonlyalittlewhilehefounddifferentwaystomakeitsoundbyhismannerofworkingthetongue。Along，steady，evenpullgotthatkindofaroar。A
short，quickonemadeitbark。Apullhalfthelengthofthethong，apause，andanotherpull，madeitsoundlikeabarkandayelp。Topullhardandquick，madeitgolouder，andsoftandeasymadeitwhine。Beforehehadtriedittenminuteshecoulddofiftythingswithitthatwouldalmostscaretheliversoutofthosenastyoldfoxesthatweretakingeveryone’sgeese，Dorkingroosters，andevenbabylambsandpigs。Ofcoursepeoplecouldn’tstandthat；somethinghadtobedone！
EvenintheBibleitsays，“Bewareofthelittlefoxesthatspoilthevines，“andgeese，especiallyblueones，Dorkingroosters，lambs，andpigsweremuchmorevaluablethanmerevines；soLeonmadethatawfulthingtoscarethefoxesfromtheirholesthat’sintheBibletoo，abouttheholesImean，notthescaring。I
wantedLeontosliptothebackdoorandmakethedumb-bell——
that’swhathecalledit；ifIhadbeennamingitIwouldhavecalleditthethunder-bell——go；buthewouldn’t。Hesaidhedidn’tproposetoworkashehad，andthenhavesomeonefindout，andfixonelikeit。Hesaidhewouldn’tletitmakeasounduntilthenightbeforethechase，andthenhe’draisethedead。Idon’tknowaboutthedead；butitwastrueoftheliving。Fatherwentafootabovehischairandcried：“Whoo-
pee！“Allofus，evenI，whenIwaswaitingforit，screamedasifPaddyRyanravedatthedoor。ThenLeoncameinandshowedus，andeveryonewantedtoworkthedumb-bell，evenmother。
Leonmarchedaroundandshowedoff；helooked“Seetheconqueringherocomes，“allover。IneverfeltworseaboutbeingmadeintoagirlthanIdidthatnight。
Icouldn’tsleepforexcitement，andmothersaidImightaswell，foritwouldbeatleastoneo’clockbeforetheywouldround-upinourmeadowbelowthebarn。Alltheneighboursweretoshutuptheirstock，tietheirdogs，orleadthemwithchains，iftheytookthem，sowhenthefoxesweresurrounded，theycouldcatchthemalive，andsavetheirskins。Iwonderedhowsomeofthosechasingpeople，evenLaddie，Leon，andfather——thinkofthat！
fatherwasgoingtoo——Iwonderedhowtheywouldhavelikedtohavehadsomethingasmuchbiggerthantheywere，astheywerebiggerthanthefoxes，chasethemwithawfulnoises，gunsanddogs，andcatchthemalive——tosavetheirskins。NowonderI
couldn’tsleep！Iguessthefoxeswouldn’teither，iftheyhadknownwhatwascoming。Maybehereafterthemeanoldthingswouldeatrabbitsandweasels，andleavetheDorkingroostersalone。
May，Candace，andMissAmeliaweregoingtoDeams’towait，andwhentheround-upformedasolidline，theyplannedtostandoutside，andseethesport。Iftheyhadbeenthefoxes，maybetheywouldn’thavethoughtitwassofunny；butofcourse，peoplejustcouldn’thaveeventheirpigsandlambstaken。Wehadtohavewooltospinyarnforourstockings，weaveourblanketsandcoverlids，andourSundaywinterdressesofwhiteflannelwithnarrowblackcrossbarswerefromthebacksofourownsheep，andwehadtohavehamtofrywitheggs，andboilforSundaynightsuppers，andbacontocookthegreenswith——ofcourseitwasallright。
BeforeitwasneardaylightIheardLaddiemakingthekitchenfire，sofathergotrightup，Leoncamedown，andallofthemwenttothebarntodothefeeding。Iwantedtogetuptoo，butmothersaidIshouldstayinbeduntilthehousewaswarm，becauseifItookmorecoldI’dbesickagain。AtbreakfastMayaskedfatheraboutwhentheyshouldstartforDeams’tobeaheadofthechase，andhesaidbyteno’clockatleast；becauseafoxdrivenmadbypursuit，dogs，andnoise，wasaverydangerousthing，andabitemightmakehy——thesamethingasamaddog。
Hesaidourbackbarndooropeningfromthethreshingfloorwouldaffordafineviewofthemeet，butCandace，May，andMissAmeliawantedtobecloser。Imightgowiththemiftheywouldtakegoodcareofme，andtheypromisedto；butwhenthetimecametostart，therewassuchaqueerfeelinginsideme，Ithoughtmaybeitwasmorefever，andwithmotherwouldbethebestplaceforme，soIsaidIwantedtowatchfromthebarn。Fatherthoughtthatwasacapitalidea，becauseIwouldbeontheeastside，wheretherewouldbenosunandwind，anditwouldbeperfectlysafe；also，Ireallycouldseewhatwasgoingonbetterfromthatheightthanontheground。
Thesunwasgoingtoshine，butithadn’tpeepedaboveDeams’
strawstackwhenfatheronhisbestsaddlehorse，andLaddieonFlos，rodeaway，theireyesshining，theirfacesred，theirbloodpoundingsoitmadetheirvoicessoundexcitedanddifferent。
Leonwastogoonfoot。Fathersaidhewouldrideahorsetodeath。Hejustgrinnedandnevermadeawordofcomplaint。
Seemedfunnyforhim。
“Iwasoverhavingalittleconfidentialchatwithmyhorse，lastnight，“hesaid，“andnextyearwe’llbeinthechase，andwe’llshowyouhowtotakefences，andcutcurves；justyouwait！“
“Leon，DON’Tbuildsoonthathorse，“wailedmother。“I’msurethatmoneywasstolenlikeours，andtheownerwillclaimit！I
feelitinmybones！“
“Aw，shucks！“saidLeon。“Thatmoneyismine。Hewon’teither！“
Whentheystarted，fathertookLeonbehindhimtorideasfarasthecountyline。Hesaidhewouldgoslowly，anditwouldn’thurtthehorse，butLeonslippedoffatHoods’，andsaidhe’dgowiththeirboys，sofatherlethim，becauselightasLeonwas，bothofthemwerequitealoadforonehorse。LaddiewenttoridewiththePrincess。WecouldseepeoplemovingaroundinPryors’barnyardwhenourmenstarted。Candacewashed，MissAmeliawipedthedishes，Mayswept，andallofthemmadethebeds，andthentheywenttoDeams’，whileIstayedwithmother。
Whenshethoughtitwastime，shebundledmeupwarmly，andI
wenttothebarn。Fatherhadtheeastdoorsstandingopenforme，soIcouldsitinthesun，hangmyfeetagainstthewarmboards，andseeeveryinchofourmeadowwherethemeetwastobe。Iwasreallytoowarmthere，andhadtotakeoffthescarf，untiemyhood，andunbuttonmycoat。
Itwasatriflemuddy，butthefrosthadnotleftthegroundyet，thesparrowsweresingingfittoburst，sowerethehens。I
didn’tcaremuchforthemusicofthehen，butIcouldseeshemeantwell。Shelikedhernestquiteasmuchastheredvelvetbirdwithblackwings，orthebubblyyellowone，andasforbabychickens，fromthefirstpeeptheybeatalittlenaked，blind，wobblytreebird，soanyhenhadarighttosingforjoybecauseshewasgoingtobethemotherofalargefamilyofthem。Ahenhadsomethingwasgoingtobethemotherofalargefamilyofthem。Ahenhadsomethingtosingaboutallright，andsohadwe，whenwethoughtofpoachedeggsandfriedchicken。WhenI
rememberedthem，Isawthatitwasnowondertheusefulhenwarbledsoproudlike；butthatwasallnonsense，forIdon’tsupposeahenevertastedpoachedeggs，andsurelyshewouldn’tbehappyovertheprospectofbeingfried。Maybeonereasonshesangwasbecauseshedidn’tknowwhatwascoming；Ihardlythinkshe’dbesotunefulifshedid。
Sometimesthegeese，shutinthebarn，raisedanawfulclatter，andthehorsesandcattlecomplainedaboutbeingkeptfromthesunshineandfreshair。Youcouldn’tblamethem。Itwasalovelyday，andthebigupperdoorthepleasantestplace。I
didn’tcareifthefoxhuntersnevercame，therewassomuchtosee，hear，andsmell。Everythingwasbusymakingsignsofspring，andonecouldbecometiredoficeandsnowafterawhile，andsohungryforsummerthatthosefirstdayswhichwerejusthintsofwhatwascomingwerealmostbetterthantherealthingwhenitarrived。Budperfumewasstrongerthanlastweek，manydovesandbluebirdswerecalling，andthreedaysmoreofsuchsunshinewouldmakecross-countryridingtoomuddytobepleasant。Isattherethinking；grownpeopleneverknowhowmuchchildrendothink，theyhavesomuchtime，andsomanybothersomethingstostudyout。Ihearditbehindme，along，wailing，bellowingroar，andmyhoodraisedrightupwithmyhair。Iwasinthemiddleofthethreshingfloorinasecond，inanotheratthelittlewestdoor，cutintothebigone，openingitatinycracktotakeapeep，andseehowclosetheywere。
Icouldseenothing，butIheardaroarofdreadfulsoundsteadilyclosinginacirclearoundme。NodoubtthemeanoldfoxeswishedthentheyhadlettheDorkingroostersalone。
Closeritcameandmoredreadful。NeveragaindidIwanttohearsuchsoundscomingatme；evenwhenIknewwhatwasmakingthem。
Andthenawayoff，beyondPryors’，andHoods’，andDovers’，I
couldseealineoftinyspeckscomingtowardme，andracingflyingthingsthatmusthavebeenpeopleonhorsesridingbackandforthtogivethefoxesnochancetofindahidingplace。Nochance！LaddieandthePrincess，Mr。Pryorandfather，andallofthemwereafterthebadoldfoxes；andtheyweregoingtogetthem；becausethey’dhavenochance——Notwithasolidlineofmenwithravingdogssurroundingthem，andpeopleonhorsebackracingafterthem，no！thefoxeswouldwishnowthattheyhadleftthepigsandlambsalone。Inthatawfulroaringdin，theywouldwish，Ohhowtheywouldwish，theywerebirdsandcouldfly！FlybacktotheirholesliketheBiblesaidtheyhad，wheremaybetheyLIKEDtolive，andnodoubttheyhadlittlefoxesthere，thatwouldstarvewhentheirmammieswerecaughtalive，tosavetheirskins。
Tosavetheirskins！Icouldhearmyselfbreathe，andfeelmyteethclick，andmykneesknocktogether。Andthen！Ohdear！
Theretheycameacrossourcornfield。Twoofthem！Andtheycouldfly，almost。Atleastyoucouldscarcelyseethattheytouchedtheground。Themeanoldthingswerepayingupforthepigsandlambsnow。Throughthefence，acrosstheroad，straighttowardmetheycame。Almostredbacks，nearlywhitebeneath，longflyingtails，beautifulpointedears，andlongtongues，firered，hangingfromtheiropenmouths；theirsleeksidespulsing，andthatawfuldincomingthroughthewoodsbehindthem。Onesecond，thefirstpausedtoglancetowardeitherside，andthrewbackitsheadtolisten。Whatitsaw，andheard，showedit。I