Andifshehadbeendisgracedbeforeeveryone，draggedfromherhomeawayacrossabigseatoliveamongstrangers，andnotknownwhereherboywasforyears，I’mnotabitsurethatshe’dhavedonebetterthanMrs。Pryor。Yes，shewouldtoo；cometothinkitout——she’dhavekeptonbelievingtheLordhadsomethingtodowithit，andthatHe’dfixitsomeway；andIknowsheandfatherwouldhaveheldhandsnomatterwhathappenedorwheretheywent。
IguessthebiggestthingthematterwithPryorswasthattheydidn’tknowhowtogoaboutlovingeachotherright；maybeitwasbecausetheydidn’tloveGod，sotheycouldn’tknowexactlywhatPROPERLOVEwas；becauseGodislove，likefathersaid。
Mrs。Pryordidn’twanttoseeMr。Pryor——Ican’tgetusedtocallingthemPaget——andshedidn’taskanythingabouthim。I
guessshewasprettymadathim。SheneverhadlikedtheEmmetcousin，andshe’dhadnothingbuttroublewithhimallthetimehehadbeeninherfamily，andthenthatawfuldisgrace，thatshealwaysTHOUGHTwasallhim，butshecouldn’tproveit，andshehadnomoney。
That’saverybadthing。Awomanshouldalwayshavesomemoney。
Sheworksashardasanyone，andusuallyshehasmorethatworriesher，soit’sonlyfairforhertohavepartofwhattheworkandworrybring。Motheralwayshasmoney。Why，shehassomuch，shecanhelpfatheroutwhenheispushedwithbills，asshedidlastfall，tostartShelleytomusicschool。It’snowaytobeforcedtolivewithaman，justtogetahome，food，andclothing。Idon’tbelievemothereverwoulddoitinallthisworld。Butthenmotherhasworkedallherlife，andsoiffatherdoesn’tdoasshewantshimto，she’dknowexactlyhowtogoabouttakingcareofherself。
AfterallMrs。Pryordidn’tneedtositbackonherdignityandlooksoabused。Hecouldn’tknockherdown，anddragherclearhere。Whydidn’tshesayrightout，inthebeginning，thathersonCOULDN’Tbeathief，thatsheknewit，andshe’dstayathomeandwaitforhimtocomeback？Shecouldhaveputapieceinthepapersayingsheknewherboywasallright，andforhimtocomeback，sotheycouldgotoworkandPROVEit。Ibetifshe’dhadonetenthofthegingermotherhas，she’dhavestoppedthewholefussinthestart。Ilookedatheralmoststeadily，tryingtofigureoutjustwhatmotherwouldhavedoneinherplace。MaybeI’mmistakenaboutexactlyhowshewouldhavesettowork，butthisIKNOW：she’dhavestucktotheLord；she’dhavelovedfather，sodearly，hejustCOULDN’Thavewantedhertodothingsthathurtheruntilitgaveherhearttrouble；andshenever，neverwouldhavegivenuponeofus，andsatholdingherheartformonths，refusingtoseeortospeaktoanyone，whileshewaitedforsomeoneelsetodosomething。Motherneverwaits。
Shealwaysthinksaminute，ifshe’sindoubtsheasksfather；ifhecan’tdecide，bothofthemaskGod；andthenyououghttoseethingsbegintofly。
ThemoreIwatchedMrs。Pryor，themoreIbegantothinkshewasalady；andjustaboutwhenIwassurethatwaswhatailedher，I
heardfathersay：“Perhapstheladywouldlikeacupoftea。“I
hadabignotiontotellhertocomeon，andIwouldshowherwherethecannisterwas，butIthoughtIbetternot。Iwantedto，though。She’dhavefeltmuchbetterifshehadgotupandworkedliketherestofus。Withalltheexcitement，andeverythinghappeningatonce，you’dhavethoughtmotherwouldbeflatonherback，butflatnothing！Everythingwaspickedupandslidback，fastasitwastorndown；shefoundtimetoflannelhernoseandbrushherhair，hercollarwasstraight，andthegoldstonepinshoneinthelight，whileherstarchedwhiteapronflutteredasshewentthroughthedoors。ShesaidafewwordstoCandaceandMrs。Freshett，Maytookoutalinenclothandbegantosetplacesforallthegrownpeople，soIknewthere’dbestrawberrypreservesandfriedham，butinallthat，wouldyoueverhavethoughtthatshe’dfindasecondtomakebiscuit，andteacakesherself？PlainaspreachingIheardhersaytoMrs。
Freshett：“IdohopeandpraythatMr。Pryorwillcomeoutofitright，sowecantakehimhome，andteachhimtobehavehimself；
butifhe’sgonethisminute，IintendtohaveanotherdecentmealforShelleytoofferheryoungman；andIdon’tcareifI
showMrs。Pryorthatwe’renothungryoverhere，ifwedolackservantstocarryinfoodonsilverplatters。“
“ThatIjestwould！“saidMrs。Freshett。“Evenifheturnsuphistoes，’tain’tYOURfuneral，thanktheLord！an’lookyhere，I’djestassoonsetthingsinabakepanan’pass’emforyou，myself。I’lldoit，ifyousaytheword。“
Motherbitherlip，andfoughtherfacetokeepitstraight，asshesaidconfidential-like：“No，I’mnotgoingtotoadytoher。
Ionlywanthertoseethatamealreallyconsistsoffoodafterall；Idon’tmindputtingmybestfootforemost，butIwon’tapeher。“
“Huccometheytofusslikethis，peaceableasMr。Stantonbe，an’
what’sShelley’sbeautothem？“
“IshouldthinkyoucouldtellbylookingatPryors，“saidmother。“He’stheirmystery，andalsotheirson。ShelleymethiminChicago，hecameheretoseeher，andranrightintothem。
I’lltellyouaboutitbeforeyougo。Now，Imustkeeptheseapplicationshot，forI’vesetmyheadonpullingMr。Pryoroutsothathecanspeak，andhaveafewdecentyearsoflifeyet。“
“Butwhydidtheolddevil——EX-cuseme，ImeantheoldGENTLEMAN，wanttoshootyourman？“
“Hedidn’t！I’lltellyouallaboutitafterthey’regone。“
“Ibetyoudon’tgetshetofthemthenight，“saidMrs。Freshett。
“Allright！“saidmother。“WhateverDr。Fennerthinks。Iwon’thaveMr。Pryormoveduntilitcan’thurthim，ifhestaysaweek。
IblameherquiteasmuchasIdohim；fromwhatIknow。Ifawomanisgoingtolivewithaman，therearetimeswhenshe’sgottoputherfootdown——flat——mostunmercifullyflat！“
“Ain’tshethough！“saidMrs。Freshett；thensheandmotherjustlaughed。
There！WhatdidItellyou？Ifeelasgoodasiffatherhadpattedmeontheheadandbraggedonmealot。ITHOUGHTmotherwouldn’tthinkthatMr。PryorwasALLtoblame，andshedidn’t。
Ifiguredthatoutbymyself，too。
EveryminuteMr。Pryorgrewbetter。Hebreathedeasier，andmothertiltedonhertoesandwavedherhands，whenhemovedhisfeet，threwbackhishead，liftedhishandtoit，andactedlikehewasalmostoverit，andstillinshapetomanagehimself。ShehurriedtotellMrs。Pryor，andIknowmotherdidn’tlikeitwhensheneverevensaidshewasglad，orwenttoseeforherself。
LaddieandthePrincesswatchedhim，whileeveryoneelsewenttosupper。LaddiepickedupMrs。Pryor’schair，carriedhertothedining-room，andsetherinmyplacebesidefather。HeplacedDr。Fennernexther，andleftRoberttositwithShelley。I
don’tthinkMrs。Pryorquitelikedthat，butnooneaskedher。
Iwatchedandlisteneduntileverythingseemedtobegoingrightthere，andthenIslippedintotheparlour，whereLaddieandthePrincesswerecaringforMr。Pryor。WithonehandLaddieheldhers，theothergraspedMr。Pryor’swrist。Laddienevertookhiseyesfromthatwhite，drawnface，excepttosmileather，andsqueezeherhandeverylittlewhile。AtlastMr。Pryorturnedoverandsighed，prettysoonheopenedhiseyes，andlookedatLaddie，thenatthePrincess，anditwasnothingnewtoseethem，sohesmiledanddozedagain。Afterawhileheopenedthemwider，thenhesawthepiano——thatwasaneye-openerforanyone——andthestrangeroom，soheasked，mostasplainasheevertalked，whyhewasatourhouseagain，andthenhebegantoremember。Hestruggledtositupandthecolourcameintohisface。SoLaddieletgothePrincess，andheldhimdownwhilehesaid：“Mr。Pryor，answermethis。Doyouwanttospendtheremainderofyourlifeinaninvalid’schair，orwouldyouliketowalkabroadandsitahorseagain？“
HeglaredatLaddie，butheheardhowthingswereplainlyenough。
Laddieheldhim，whileheexplainedwhatafightwehadtounlockhismuscles，andstarthimgoingagain，andhow，ifwehadn’tlovedhim，andwantedhimso，andhadlefthimuntoucheduntiltheDoctorcame，verylikelyhe’dhavebeenparalyzedalltherestofhislife，ifhehadn’tdied；andhesaidhewishedheHAD，andhedidn’tTHANKanyoneforsavinghim。
“Ohyesyoudo！“saidLaddie，thesameashe’dhavetalkedtoLeon。“Youcan’tstuffmeonthat，andyouneedn’ttry。Beingdeadisacold，clammyproposition，thatallofusputoffaslongaswecan。YouknowyouwanttoseePamelainherownhome。
YouknowyouareinterestedinhowIcomeoutwiththosehorses。
Youknowyouwantthelittlepeopleyouspokeof，aroundyou。
Youknowthepainandsuspenseyouhavebornehavealmostdrivenyouinsane，anditwasbecauseyoucaredsodeeply。Nowliestill，andkeepquiet！Allofusaretiredandthere’snosenseinmakingusgothroughthisagain，besidestheriskofcripplingyourselfthatyourun。Righthereinthishousearethepaperstoprovethatyournephewtookyourmoney，andhiditinyourson’sclothing，ashealreadyhaddoneahundredlesserthings，before，purposelytoestrangeyou。Holdsteady！Youmusthearthis！Thesooneryouknowit，thebetteryou’llfeel。Youremember，don’tyou，thatbeforeyournephewenteredyourhome，youidolizedyourson。Youthoughtthethingshedidwereamusing。Aboyisaboy，andifhe’salive，he’sveryapttobelively。MothercouldtellyouafewpranksthatLeonhasputusthrough；butthey’reonlyaboy’sfoolishness，theyarenotunusualorunforgivable。I’vegoneovertheevidenceyoursonbrings，withextremecare，sohasfather。Bothofusarequitefamiliarwithcommonlaw。Hehaseveryproofyoucanpossiblydesire。Youcan’tgetaroundit，evenifyourheartwasn’twornoutwithrebellion，andyouwerenotcrazytohavethelovingsympathyofyourfamilyagain。“
“Idon’tbelieveawordofit！“
“Youhavegotto！ItellyouitisPROOF，man！Thedocumentsareinthishousenow。“
“Heforgedthem，orstolethem，ashetookthemoney！“
Laddiejustlaughed。
“Howyoudolong，andfight，tobeconvinced！“hesaid。“Idon’tblameyou！Whenanythingmeansthismuch，ofcourseyoumustbesure。Butyou’llknowyournephew’ssignature；alsoyourlawyer’s。You’llknowlettersfromoldfriendswhoareabovequestion。SandyMcSheelhaswrittenyouthathewaswithRobertthroughallofit，andhegivesyouhiswordthateverythingisallright。Youwillbelievehim，won’tyou？“
BigtearsbegantosqueezefromunderMr。Pryor’slids，untilLaddieandthePrincesseachtriedtoseehowmuchofhimtheycouldholdtokeephimtogether-like。
“Tellme！“hesaidatlast，sotheytookturnsexplainingeverythingplainasday，andsoonhelistenedwithoutbeingheld。
Whentheyhadtoldhimeverythingtheycouldthinkof，heasked：
“DidRobertkillEmmet？“
“Iamveryhappytobeabletotellyouthathedidnot。Itwouldhavebeenpainful，andnothelpedabadmatteraparticle。
Yournephewhaddissipateduntilhewasonlyaskeletonjustbreathinghislast。It’sprobablethathisfearofdeathhelpedyoursonout，sothathegottheevidencehewantedeasierthanhehopedtointhebeginning。Idon’tmeanthatheisdeadnow；
butheispassingslowly，andloathsomely。Robertthinkswordthathehasgonewillcomeanyhour。Thinkhowpleasantitwillbetohaveyourson！Thinkhowhappyyourhomewillbenow！
ThinkhowyouwilllovetoseeSandy，andallyouroldfriends！
Thinkhowgladyou’llbetogohome，andtakechargeofyourestate！“
“Think！“criedMr。Pryor，pushingLaddieawayandsittingup：
“ThinkhowIshallenjoywringingthelastdropofbloodfromthatcraven’sbodywiththeseoldhands！“
Whatasighthedidlooktobesure！Sick，half-crazy，ontheveryvergeofthegravehimself，andwantingtokillapoormanalreadydying。Aren’tsomepeopletoocurious？
Laddiecarefullylaidhimdown，straightenedhimoutandheldhimagain。Motheralwayssaidhewas“patientasJob，“andthatdayitprovedtobeagoodthing。
“You’redeterminedtokeepyourselfwellsuppliedwithtrouble，“
laughedLaddie。Idon’tbelieveanyoneelsewouldhavedared。
“Nowtoanunbiasedobserver，itwouldseemthatyou’dbereadytoletwellenoughalone。Youhaveyoursonback，youhavehimfullyexonerated，youhavemuchofyourproperty，youarenowreadyforfreedom，life，andlove，withthebestofus；youhavealsotwoweddingsonyourhandsinthenearfuture。Whyinthenameofsenseareyouanxiousformore？“
“IshouldhavethoughtthatSandyMcSheel，ifhe’sarealfriendofmine——“
“Sandytellsyouallaboutitintheletterhehassent。HewentwithRobertfullyintendingtodothatverythingforyou，butthepoorcreaturewastooloathsome。ThesightofhimmadeSandysick。Hewritesyouthatwhenhesawthehorriblespectacle，allhecouldthinkofwastosecuretheevidenceneededandgetaway。“
SuddenlythePrincessaroseandkneltbesidethedavenport。Sheputherarmsaroundherfather’sneckanddrewhiswrinkled，whiteoldfaceupagainstherlovelyone。
“Daddy！DearoldDaddy！“shecried。“I’vehadsuchahardspotinmyheartagainstyouforsolong。Ohdolet’sforgeteverything，andbeginalloveragain；beginawaybackwherewewerebeforeEmmetevercame。OhDaddy，dolet’sforget，andbeginallovernew，likeotherpeople！“
Heheldhertightaminute，thenhislipsbeganwhisperingagainstherear。Finallyhesaid：“Takeyourselvesoff，andsendRoberthere。Iwantmyson。OhIwantmyboy！“
ItwasalongtimebeforeRobertcamefromtheparlour；whenhedid，itwasonlytogethismotherandtakeherbackwithhim；
thenitwasastilllongertimebeforethedooropened；butwhenitdid，itwasperfectlysurethattheywereallfriendsagain。
ThenLeonwenttotellThomas，andhecamewiththebigcarriage。
Whiteandshaking，Mr。Pryorwasliftedintoitandtheywenthometogether，takingShelleywiththemtostaythatnight；sonodoubtshewasproposedtoandgotherkissbeforesheslept。
Thatfallthereweretwoweddingsatourchurchatthesametime。
Sally’shadbeenfine；butitwasn’tworthmentioningbesideLaddieandthePrincess，andRobertandShelley。Youshouldhaveseenmymother！Sherockedlikeakingbirdonthetoptwigofthewinesap，whichwasthetallesttreeinourorchard，andforoncetherewasn’tasingleflyinherointment，notone，shesaidsoherself，andsodidfather。Aswewatchedthebigve-hi-
ackle，asLeoncalledit，creepslowlydowntheLittleHill，itmademethinkofthatpatheticpoem，“TheThreeWarnings，“inMcGuffey’sSixth。IguessIgaveMr。Pryorthefirst，thattimehegotsoangryhehithishorseuntilitalmostranaway。
Motherdeliveredthesecondwhenshecurry-combedhimaboutthetaxes，andMrs。Freshettfinishedthejob。Thelasttwolinesreadasiftheyhadbeenespeciallywrittenabouthim：
“AndnowoldDodson，turningpale，Yieldstohisfate——soendsmytale。“
TheEnd