“Youknewwhenyoubeganthatyouwouldcometothoselines。“
“Inevereventhoughtofsuchathing。“
“Butyouknewthatishowyourfatherwouldregardanyrelationship，friendlyordeeper，withme！“
“Icannotpossiblybeheldresponsibleforwhatmyfatherthinks。“
“Itisnaturalthatyoushouldthinkalike。“
“Notnecessarily！Youtoldmerecentlythatyoudidn’tagreewithyourfatheronmanysubjects。“
“Kindlyanswermethis，“saidLaddie：“DoyoufeelthatI’ma`clown’becauseI’mnotschooledtothepointonallquestionsofgoodmanners？DoyoufindmegrossbecauseIplowandsow？“
“Yousurpriseme，“saidthePrincess。“Myconsentingtoknowandtospendafriendlyhourwithyouhereissufficientanswer。I
havenotfoundtheslightestfaultwithyourmanners。Ihaveseennosuspicionof`grossness’aboutyou。“
“Willyoutellme，frankly，exactlywhatyoudothinkofme？“
“Surely！Ithinkyouareaclean，decentman，whooccasionallykindlyconsentstoputatouchofhumaninterestintoanhour，foraverylonelygirl。Whathashappened，Laddie？Thisisnotlikeyou。“
Laddiesatstraightandstudiedthebeechbranches。Fathersaidbeechtreesdidn’tamounttomuch；butIfirstlearnedallaboutthemfromthatone，andwhatittaughtmemademealmostworshipthemalways。Therewerethebigtrunkwithgreatroughspreadingroots，thebarkinlittleridgesinplaces，smoothpurplegraybetween，biglichensforornament，thelowflatbranches，thewaxy，wavy-edgedleaves，withclearveins，andthedeliciousnutsintheirlittlebrownburrs。ThePrincessandIbothstaredatthebranchesandwaitedwhilealittlebreathofairstirredtheleaves，thesunshineflickered，andacricketsangasortoflonesomesong。Laddieleanedagainstthetreeagain，andhewasthinkingsohard，tolookathimmademebegintorepeattomyselfthebeechpartofthatbeautifulchurchyardpoemourbigfolksrecite：
“There，atthefootofyondernoddingbeech，Thatwreathesitsoldfantasticrootssohigh，Hislistlesslengthatnoontidehewouldstretch，Andporeuponthebrookthatbabblesby。“
Onlyhewasstudyingsodeeplyyoucouldalmostfeelwhatwasinhismind，anditwasnotaboutthebrookatall，evenifoneranclose。Soonhebegantalking。
“Notsobad！“hesaid。“Youmightthinkworse。Iadmitthecleanliness，Istrivefordecency，Idelightinbeinghumanelyinteresting，evenforanhour；youmightthinkworse，muchworse！
Youmightconsidermea`clown。’`Acountryclod。’Ratheralowdown，commonthing，a`clod，’don’tyouthink？Anda`clown’！
And`gross’ontopofthat！“
“Whatcanyoumean？“askedthePrincess。
“Sinceyoudon’tseemtosharetheestimateofme，IbelieveI’lltellyou，“saidLaddie。“TheotherdayIwasdrivingfromthegravelpitwithaveryheavyload。Theroadwaswideandleveloneitherside。Amancametowardmeonhorseback。Nowthelawoftheroadistogivehalftoavehiclesimilartotheoneyouaredriving，buttokeepallofitwhenyouareheavilyloaded，ifyouarepassingpeopleafootorhorseback。Themantookhalftheroad，andkeptituntilthenoseofhishorsetouchedoneoftheteamIwasdriving。Istoppedandsaid：`Goodmorning，sir！
Doyouwishtospeakwithme？’Hecalledangrily：`Getoutofmyway，youclod！’`Sorrysir，butIcan’t，’Isaid。`ThelawgivesmethisroadwhenIamheavilyloaded，andyouareonfootorhorseback。’“
“Whatdidhedo？“askedthePrincess。
AndfromthewayshelookedIjustknewsheguessedthemanwasthesameoneIthoughtof。
“Heraisedhiswhiptostrikemyhorse，“saidLaddie。
“Ah，surely！“saidthePrincess。“Alwaysanarmraisedtostrike。Andyou，Man？Whatdidyoudo？“shecriedeagerly。
“Istoodonmyload，suddenly，“saidLaddie，“andIcalled：
`Holdoneminute！’“
“Andhe？“breathedthePrincess。
“Somethingmadehimpausewithhisarmstillraised。Isaidtohim：`Youmustnotstrikemyhorse。Itneverhasbeenstruck，anditcan’tdefenditself。Ifyouwanttocomeafewstepsfartherandtackleme，comeahead！Icantakeitorreturnit，asIchoose。’“
“Goon！“saidthePrincess。
“That’sall，“saidLaddie，“oratleastalmostall。“
“Didhestrike？“
“Hedidnot。Hestaredatmeasecond，andthenherodearoundme；buthewasmakingforcefulremarksashepassedabout`countryclods，’andtherewasaninterestingoneabouta`grossclown。’Whatyoureadmademethinkofit，thatisall。“
ThePrincessstaredintothebeechbranchesforatimeandthenshesaid：“Iwillaskyourpardonforhim。Healwayshadadomineeringtemper，andtroublehehadlatelyhasalmostdrivenhimmad；heisscarcelyresponsibleattimes。Ihesitateaboutmakinghimangry。“
“Ithinkperhaps，“saidLaddie，“IwouldhavedonemyselfcreditifIhadrecognizedthat，andgivenhimtheroad，whenhemadeapointofclaimingit。“
“Indeedno！“criedthePrincess。“Tobebeatenatthegamehestartedwasexactlywhatheneeded。Ifyouhadturnedfromhisway，hewouldhaveconsideredyouaclodallhislife。Sinceyoumadehimgoaround，itmaypossiblydawnonhimthatyouareaman。Youdidtheverybestthing。“
Thenshebegantolaugh，andhowshedidlaugh。
“Iwouldgivemyallowanceforaquartertohaveseenit，“shecried。“Imusthurryhomeandtellmother。“
“Doesyourmotherknowaboutme？“hedemanded。“Doessheknowthatyoucomehere？“
ThePrincessaroseandstoodverytallandstraight。
“Youmaybegmypardonorceasetoknowme，“shesaid。“WhateverledyoutosupposethatIwouldknowormeetyouwithoutmymother’sknowledge？“
Thenshestartedtowardtheentrance。
“Oneminute！“criedLaddie。
Aleapcarriedhimtoherside。Hecaughtherhandsandheldthemtight，andlookedstraightintohereyes。Thenhekissedherhandsoverandover。Ithoughtfromthelookonherfacehemighthavekissedhercheekifhehaddaredriskit；buthedidn’tseemtonotice。Thenshestoopedandkissedme，andturnedtowardhome，whileLaddieandIcrossedthewoodstothewestroad，andwentbackpasttheschoolhouse。IwassotiredLaddietiedthestringstogetherandhungmyshoesacrosshisshouldersandtookmebythearmthelastmile。
Allofthemwereathomewhenwegotthere，andMissAmeliacametothegatetomeetus。Shewasmealy-mouthedandgoodaspie，notatallasIhadsupposedshewouldbe。IwonderwhatLaddiesaidtoher。Butthenhealwayscouldmanagethingsforeveryone。Thatsetmetowonderingifbyanypossiblemeanshecouldfixthemforhimself。Iclimbedtothecatalpatothink，andthemoreIthought，themoreIfearedhecouldn’t；butstillmotheralwayssaysonenevercantelluntiltheytry，andIknewhewouldtrywitheveryounceofbrainandmuscleinhim。Isatthereuntilthesupperbellrang，andthenIwashedandreachedthetablelast。Theveryfirstthing，motheraskedhowIbruisedmyface，andbeforeIcouldthinkwhattotellher，Leonsaidjustascarelesslike：“Ohshemusthaverunagainstsomethinghard，playingtagatrecess。“LaddiebegantalkingaboutPetercomingthatnight，andeveryoneforgotme，butprettysoonI
slippedaglanceatMissAmelia，andsawthatherfacewasredderthanmine。
CHAPTERVI
TheWeddingGown“ThegaybellesoffashionmayboastofexcellingInwaltzorcotillon，atwhistorquadrille；
AndseekadmirationbyvauntinglytellingOfdrawingandpainting，andmusicalskill；
Butgivemethefairone，incountryorcity，Whosehomeanditsdutiesaredeartoherheart，Whocheerfullywarblessomerusticalditty，Whileplyingtheneedlewithexquisiteart：
Thebrightlittleneedle，theswift-flyingneedle，Theneedledirectedbybeautyandart。“
ThenextmorningMissAmeliafinishedthechapter——thatmadetwoforourfamily。Fatheralwaysreadonebeforebreakfast——nowonderIknewtheBiblequitewell——thenwesangasong，andshemadeastiff，littleprayer。Ihadmydoubtsaboutherprayers；
shewasonnosuchtermswiththeLordasmyfather。HegotrightatHimandtalkedlikeadoctor，andyoufelthehadsomeinfluence，andtherewasatleastapossibilitythathemightgetwhatheaskedfor；butMissAmeliaprayedasiftheLordweretenmillionmilesaway，andshewouldbesurprisedtopiecesifshegotanythingshewanted。WhensheaskedtheAlmightytomakeusgood，obedientchildren，therewasnotawordshesaidthatshowedshetrustedeithertheLordorus，orthoughttherewasanythingbetweenusandheaventhatmightmakeusgoodbecausewewantedtobe。Youcouldn’tkeepyoureyesfromthebiggadandruleronherdesk；sheoftenfingeredthemassheprayed，andyouknewfromherstiff，little，sawed-outpetitionthatherfaithwasinimplements，andshe’dhityouacracktheminuteshewastheleastangry，sameasshehadmethedaybefore。Ididn’tfeelanytoogoodtowardher，butwhenthebloodoftheCrusaderswasintheveins，rightmustbedoneevenifittookastruggle。
Ihadtoliveuptothoselittlegoldshellsonthetrinket。
FathersaidtheyknewIwascomingdowntheline，sotheyputonabirdforme；butItoldhimIwouldbeworthyoftheshellstoo。ThistookaboutashardafightformeasanyCrusadewouldforabig，trainedsoldier。Ihadbeenwrong，Laddiehadmademeseethat。SoIheldupmyhand，andMissAmeliasawmeasshepickedupRay’sarithmetic。
“Whatisit？“
Iheldtothedesktobracemyself，andtriedtwicebeforeI
couldraisemyvoicesothatsheheard。
“Please，MissAmelia，“Isaid，“Iwaswrongaboutthebirdsyesterday。Notthattheydon’tfight——theydo！ButIwaswrongtocontradictyoubeforeeveryone，andonyourfirstday，andifyou’llonlyexcuseme，thenexttimeyoumakeamistake，I’lltellyouafterschooloratrecess。“
Theroomwassostillyoucouldheartheothersbreathing。MissAmeliapickeduptherulerandstartedtowardme。PossiblyI
raisedmyhands。ThatwouldbenoCrusaderway，butyoumightdoitbeforeyouhadtimetothink，whentherulerwasbigandyourheadwastheonlyplacethatwouldbehit。ThelastglimpseI
hadofherinthemidstofallmytroublemademethinkofSabethanyPerkins。
Sabethanydied，andtheyburiedheratthefootofthehillinourgraveyardbeforeIcouldremember。Butherpeoplethoughtheapsofher，andspentmuchmoneyonthebiggesttombstoneinthecemetery，andplantedpiniesandpurplephloxonher，andwenteverySundaytovisither。Whentheymovedaway，theymissedherso，theydecidedtocomebackandtakeheralong。Themenwereatwork，andLeonandIwenttoseewhatwasgoingon。
Theytoldus，andsaidwehadbettergoaway，becausepossiblythingsmighthappenthatchildrenwouldsleepbetternottosee。
Strangehowathinglikethatmakesyouboundyouwillsee。Wewentandsatonthefenceandwaited。SoontheyreachedSabethany，buttheycouldnotseemtogetherout。Theytried，andtried，andatlasttheysentformoremen。Ittooknineofthemtobringhertothesurface。Whatlittlewoodwasleft，theylaidbacktoseewhatmadehersofearfullyheavy，andthereshewasturnedtosolidstone。Theycouldn’tchipapieceoffherwiththeshovel。Motheralwayssaid，“Forgoodnesssake，don’tletyourmouthhangopen，“andasarulewekeptoursshut；
butyoushouldhaveseenLeon’swhenhesawSabethanywouldn’tchipoff，andnodoubtminewasasbad。
“WhenGabrielblowshistrumpet，andthedeadariseandcomeforth，whatonearthwilltheydowithSabethany？“Igasped。
“Why，shecouldn’tflytoHeavenwithwingsamilewide，andwhatusecouldtheymakeofherifshegotthere？“
“Ican’tseeathingshe’dbegoodforexceptahitchingpost，“
saidLeon，“andIguesstheydon’tlethorsesin。Let’sgohome。“
HeactedsickandIfeltthatway；sowewent，butthelastglimpseofSabethanyremainedwithme。
Asmyheadwentdownthatday，IsawthatMissAmelialookedexactlylikeher。Youwouldhaveneededapick-axoracrowbartoflakeoffevenatinyspeckofher。WhenIhadwaitedformyheadtobecracked，untilIhadtimetorememberthataCrusaderdidn’tdodgeandhide，Ilookedup，andthereshestoodwiththerulerlifted；butnowshehadturnedjusttheshadeofthewattlesonourfightingestturkeygobbler。
“Won’tyoupleaseforgiveme？“
IneverknewIhadsaidituntilIheardit，andthentheonlywaytobesurewasbecausenooneelsewouldhavebeenlikelytospeakatthattime。
MissAmelia’sarmdroppedandsheglaredatme。IwonderedwhetherIeverwouldunderstandgrownpeople；Idoubtediftheyunderstoodthemselves，forafterturningtostoneinasecond——
fathersaidithadtakenSabethanysevenyears——andchangingtogobblerred，MissAmeliasuddenlybegantolaugh。Tolaugh，ofallthings！Andthen，ofcourse，everyoneelsejustyelled。I
wassomortifiedIdroppedmyheadagainandbegantocryasI
neverwouldifshe’dhitme。
“Don’tfeelbadly！“saidMissAmelia。“Certainly，I’llforgiveyou。Iseeyouhadnointentionofgivingoffense，sononeistaken。Getoutyourbookandstudyhardonanotherlesson。“
Thatwassurprising。IsupposedI’dhavetodothesameoneover，butImighttakeanewone。Iwaseithergettingalongfast，orMissAmeliahadherfillofbirds。IwipedmyeyesasstraightinfrontofmeasIcouldslipupmyhandkerchief，andbeganstudyingthefirstlessoninmyreader：“Prettybee，praytellmewhy，thusfromflowertofloweryoufly，cullingsweetsthelivelongday，neverleavingofftoplay？“Thatwasapoetrypiece，anditwasquitecheery，althoughitwasallstrungtogetherlikeprose，butyoucouldn’tfoolmeonpoetry；Iknewiteverytime。AsIstudiedIfeltbetter，andwhenMissAmeliacametohearmeshewasgoodasgold。SheaskedifIlikedhoney，andIstartedtotellheraboutthequeenbee，butshehadnotimetolisten，soshesaidIshouldwaituntilafterschool。
Thenwebothforgotit，forwhenwereachedhome，thePrincess’
horsewashitchedtoourrack，andIfairlyranin，Iwassoanxioustoknowwhatwashappening。