“Well，sinceyouhaveprovedthatyoucankeepyourmouthshut，foralittlewhile，anyway，I’mgoingtotakeyouinonthis，“
saidLeon。“Youkeepyoureyesonme。Whentheweddinggetsgoinggood，youwatchme，andslipout。That’sall！I’llbefixedtodotherest。Butmindthis，getoutwhenIdo。“
“Allright，“Ipromised。
Theymusthavewakenedaboutfouro’clockontheweddingday；itwasn’treallylightwhenIgotup。Ihadsomebreakfastinmynightdress，andthenIwasallfixedupinmynewclothes，andmadetositonachair，andnevermoveforfearIwouldsoilmydress，fornoonehadtimetodomeover，andtherewasonlyonedressanyway。Therewassomuchtoseeyoucouldkeepinterestedjustwatching，andIwasasanxioustolooknicebeforetheboysandgirls，andthebigpeople，asanyone。
Everymantelandtableandbureauwascoveredwithflowers，andyoucouldhavesmelledthekitchenamileaway，Iknow。Thediningtablewassetfortheweddingparty，ourfatherandmother，andPeter’s，andtheothershadtowait。Youcouldn’thavelaidtheflatofyourhandonthattableanywhere，itwassocoveredwiththingstoeat。MissAmelia，inadressnoneofuseverhadseenbefore，arealnicewhitedress，prancedarounditandsmirkedateveryone，andwavedthepeacockfeatherbrushtokeepthefliesfromthejelly，preserves，jam，butter，andthingsthatwerenotcooked。
ForhoursMrs。Freshetthadstoodinthekitchenononesideofthestovefryingchickenandheapingitinbakingpansintheoven，andAmandaDeamontheother，fryingham，whileSarahHoodcookedotherthings，andmadeawashboilerofcoffee。
Everythingwasreadybythetimeitshouldhavebeen。IhadwatchedthemuntilIwastired，whenSallycamethroughtheroomwhereIwas，andshesaidImightcomealongupstairsandseeherdressed。WhenwereachedthedoorIwonderedwhereshewouldputme，butshepushedclothingtogetheronabed，andhelpedmeup，andthatwasgreatfun。
Shehadbeenbathedandhadonherbeautifulnewlinenunderclothingthatmotherpunchedfullofholesandembroideredinflowersandvines，andShelleywasbrushingherhairwhensomeonecalledout：“ThePrincessiscoming！“
Ijumpedforthewindow，andallofthem，evenSally，crowdedbehind。Well，talkaboutcarriages！NooneeverhadseenTHAT
onebefore。ItWASacarriage。Andsuchhorses！Thefunny“’orse，’ouse“manwhomadethePryorgardenwasdriving。Hestoppedatthegate，gotoutandopenedadoor，andthePrincess’
fathersteppeddown，tallandstraight，allinshinyblack。Heturnedaroundandheldouthishand，bowingdouble，andthePrincesslaidherhandinhisandsteppedouttoo。Hewalkedwithhertothegate，madeanotherbow，kissedherhand，andsteppedback，andshecamedownthewalkalone。Hegotinthecarriage，themanclosedthedoor，andtheydroveaway。
SallymusthavearrangedbeforethatthePrincesswastocomeearly，forshecamestraightupstairs。Sheworeasoftwhitesilkdresswithbigfadedpinkrosesinit，andherhairwasfastenedateachearwithabunchoflittlepinkroses。Shewaslovely，butshedidn’t“outdressoroutshine“Sallyonebit，andsheneverevenglancedatthemirrortoseehowshelooked；shebeganhelpingwithSally’shair，andtodressher。WhenBessKuntzprinkedsolongshemadeeveryonedisgusted，thePrincesssaid：“Ohsaveyourtrouble。Noonewilllookatyouwhenthere’sabrideinthehouse。“
TherewasarollalmostasthickasyourarmofgartersthatalltheothergirlswantedSallytowearforthemsotheywouldgetachancetomarrythatyear，andAgnesKuntz’swassolargeitwenttwicearound，andtheyjustlaughedaboutit。TheyputablueribbononSally’sstaysforluck，andsheborrowedPeter’ssisterMary’scombtoholdherbackhair。Theyhadthemostfun，andwhenshewasallreadyexceptherdresstheywentaway，andSallystoodinthemiddleoftheroomtremblingalittle。Outsideyoucouldhearcarriagewheelsrolling，thebeatofhorses’hoofs，andvoicescryinggreetings。“Therewasasoundofrevelry，“byday。Mothercameinhurriedly。Sheworehernewbrownsilk，withalacecollarpinnedatthethroatwiththepinthathadabrowngoldstonesettinginit，andherpreciousringwasonherfinger。Shewasdaintyandprettyenoughtohavebeenabrideherself。SheturnedSallyaroundslowly，touchingherhairalittleandherskirts；thenshewenttothecloset，tookouttheweddingdress，puttheskirtoverSally’shead，andshecameupthroughthewhiteness，pinkandglowing。Sheslippedherarmsintothesleeves，andmotherfastenedit，shookouttheskirt，sawthatthebeadfringehungright，andthelacecollarlayflat，thenshetookSallyinherarms，heldhertightandsaid：
“Godblessyou，dear，andkeepyoualways。Amen。“
Thenshesteppedtothedoor，andPeter，allshiningandnew，camein。HehuggedSallyandkissedherlikeitdidn’tmaketheleastdifferencewhethershehadoncalicooraweddingdress，andhejuststared，andstaredather，andneversaidaword，soatlastsheasked：“WellPeter，doyoulikemydress？“
Andtheidiotsaid：“WhySally，Ihadn’tevenseenit！“
Thenbothofthemlaughed，andthePresidingEldercame。
Ineverlikedtolookathimverywellbecausesomethinghadhappened，andhehadonlyoneeye。Ialwayswonderedifhehad“pluckeditout“becauseithad“offended“him；butifyoucouldforgethiseye，andjustlistentohisvoice，itwaslikethesweetestmusic。Hemarriedthosetwopeoplerightthereinthebedroom，allbutaboutthreewordsattheend。Iheardandsaweverybitofit。ThenSallysaiditwastimeformetogotomother，butshefollowedmeintotheboys’roomandshutthedoor。Thenshekneltinherbeautifulsilverdress，andputherarmsaroundmeandsaid：“Honest，LittleSister，aren’tyougoingtokissmegoodbye？“
“OhIcanifyouwantmeto，“Isaid，butIdidn’tlookather；I
lookedoutofthewindow。
Shelaughedabreathlesslittlecatchysortoflaughandsaid：
“That’sexactlywhatIdowant。“
“Youdidn’tevenwantme，tobeginwith，“Iremindedher。
“Thereisn’tadoubtbutwhoevertoldyouthat，couldhavebeeninbetterbusiness，“saidSally，angry-like。“Iwasmuchyoungerthen，andthereweremanythingsIdidn’tunderstand，anditwasn’tyouIdidn’twant；itwasjustnobabyatall。Iwouldn’thavewantedaboy，oranyothergirlabitmore。Ifoolishlythoughtwehadchildrenenoughinthishouse。Iseenowveryplainlythatwedidn’t，forthisfamilynevercouldgetalongwithoutyou，andI’msorryIeverthoughtso，andI’dgiveanythingifIhadn’tstruckyouand——“
“Ohbestill，andgoonandgetmarried！“Isaid。Icouldjustfeelaregularbellercominginmythroat。“Iwasonlyfoolingtopayyouup。Imeantallthetimetokissyougood-byewhentheothersdid。I’llnearlydiebeinglonesomewhenyou’regone——“
ThenIranfordownstairs，andwhenIreachedthedoor，wherethestepswentintothesitting-room，Istopped，scaredatallthepeople。Itwaslikecamp-meeting。Youcouldseetheyardfullthroughthewindows。JustasIwasthinkingI’dgobacktotheboys’room，andfromthereintothegarret，anddownthebackstairway，Laddiewentandsawme。Hecameover，ledmetotheparlourdoor，putmeinside，andtheremothertookmyhandandheldmetight，andIcouldn’tseeLeonanywhere。
Iwascaught，buttheydidn’thavehim。Motherneverhungonasshedidthatday。Itriedandtriedtopullaway，andsheheldtight。Itwasonlyaminuteuntilthedooropened，peoplecrowdedback，andthePresidingElder，followedbySallyandPeter，cameintotheroom，andtheybeganbeingmarriedalloveragain。
Ifithadn’tgrownsosolemnmymothersprungatear，Ineverwouldhavemadeit。Shejusthadtoletmegotosopherface，becausetearsaresalty，andtheywouldturnhernewbrownsilkfrontyellow。Theminutemyhandwasfree，Islippedbetweenthepeopleandlookedattheparlourdoor。Itwaswedgedfullandmorestandingonchairsbehindthem。Noonecouldgetoutthere。
IthoughtIwouldfailLeonsure，andthenIrememberedtheparlourbedroom。Igotthroughthatdooreasyasanything，anditwasnotrickatalltoslipbehindtheblind，raisethewindow，anddropintomother’sroomfromthesill。FromthereI
reachedthebackdining-roomdooreasyenough，wentaroundtothekitchen，andcalledLeonsoftly。HeopenedthedooratonceandIslippedin。Hehadjustgotthere。Welookedallaroundandcouldn’tseewheretobeginatfirst。Therewasenoughcookedfoodtheretoloadtwowagons。
Anoldpillow-casethathaddriedsageinitwaslyingacrossachairandLeonpickeditupandpouredthesageintothewood-
box，andhandedthecasetome。Hewentoverandkneltbeforetheoven，whileIfollowedandheldopenthecase。Leonrolledhiseyestotheceilingandsaidsoexactlylikefatherwhenheisservingcompanythatnotoneofuscouldhavetoldthedifference：“Whichpartofthefowldoyouprefer，BrotherLemon？“
Itwassofunnyitmademesnigger，butIstraightenedupandansweredaswellasIcould：“I’mespeciallyfondoftherump，BrotherStanton。“
Leonstirredtheheapandpiledfourorfivetailsinthecase。
IthoughtthatwasallIcouldmanagebeforetheywouldspoil，soIsaid：“Doyoupreferlightordarkmeat，SisterAbigail？“
“Iwishtochoosebreast，“saidLeon，simperingjustlikethatsillyAbigailWebster。Heputinsixbreasts。Thenwefoundthemhiddenawaybackintheoveninapiepan，forthebride’stable，Ibet，andwetooktwoliversapiece；wedidn’tdaretakemoreforfeartheyhadbeencounted。Thenhethrewinwhateverhecametothatwasafirstchoicebigpiece，untilIwasreallyscared，andbeggedhimtostop；butherepeatedwhatthefoxsaidinthestoryofthe“QuarrelsomeCocks“——“Pocowasverygood，butIhavenothadenoughyet，“sohepiledinpiecesuntilIranawaywiththepillow-case；thenheslidinawholeplatefulofbread，anotherofcake，andputtheplatesinatubofdishesunderthetable。Thenwetooksomeofeverythingthatwasn’ttoorunny。Justthenthesilencebrokeinthefrontpartofthehouse，andwescootedfromthebackdoor，closingitbehindus，rantothewoodhouseandclimbedtheladdertotheloftoverthefrontpart。Thereweweresafeascouldbe，wecouldseetotheroad，hearalmosteverythingsaidinthekitchen，and“eatourbitesinpeace，“likePeterJusticetoldthePresidingElderatthechurchtrialthathewantedhiswifeto，thetimeheslappedher。Beforeverylong，theybegancallingus，andcalled，andcalled。Wehadn’tanideawhattheywanted，soweateaway。WeheardthemfirstwhileIwasholdingoverabacktoletLeontastekidney，anditmadehimblinkwhenhegotitgood。
“Wellmysoul！“hesaid。“Nowonderfatherdidn’twanttofeedthattoanothermanwhenmotherisn’tverywell，andlikesit！
Nowonder！“
Thenhegavemeabigbiteofbreast。Itwassortofdryandtasteless；Ididn’tlikeit。
“Why，Ithinkneckorbackbeatsthatalltopieces！“Isaidinsurprise。
“Factis，theydo！“saidLeon。“Iguessthepeoplewho`wishtochoosebreast，’doittogetthebiggestpiece。“
Ineverhadthoughtofitbefore，butofcoursethatwouldbethereason。
“Allowme，SisterStanton，“saidLeon，holdingoutapieceofthigh。
Thatwasreallychicken！Thenwewentoverthebacksandpickedoutallthekidneys，andatethelittlecrustyplaces，andallthecakewecouldswallow；thenLeonfixedupthebagthebesthecould，andsetitinsideanoldcrackedchurnandputonthelid。
Hesaidthatwoulddoalmostaswellasthecellar，andthefoodwouldkeepuntilto-morrow。IwantedtoslipdownandputitintheUndergroundStation；butLeonsaidfathermustbespendingalotofmoneyrightnow，andhemightgotheretogetsome，sothatwouldn’tbesafe。Thenhecleanedmyface，andItoldhimwhenhegothisright，andweslippedfromthebackdoor，crossedtheLawtonblackberrypatch，andwenttothehousefromtheorchard。Leontookanappleandbrokeitintwo，andwewentineatingasifwewerestarving。Whenfatheraskeduswhereinthisworldwehadbeen，Leontoldhimwethoughtitwouldbesoawfullongbeforethefourthorfifthtable，andwehadn’thadmuchbreakfast，andweweresohungrywewentandhuntedsomethingtoeat。
“Ifyou’donlyheldyourhorsesaminute，“saidfather；“theywerecallingyoutotakeplacesatthebride’stable。“
Wellforland’ssake！Ourmouthsdroppedopenuntilit’sawonderthecakeandchickendidn’tshow，andweneversaidaword。Theredidn’tseemtobeanythingtosay，forLeonlovedtobewithgrownfolks，andtohaveeatenatthebride’stablewouldhavebeenthebiggestthingthateverhappenedtome。Atlast，whenIcouldspeak，Iaskedwhohadtakenourplaces，andblessyourheartifitwasn’tthatmealy-facedlittlesisterofPeter’s，andoneoftheauntsfromOhio。Theyhadfinished，andSallywasupstairsputtingonhertravellingdress，whiletheguestswereeating，whenIheardLaddieaskthePrincesstoridewithhimandSally’sotherfriends，whoweregoingtoescorthertothedepot。
“You’llwantallyourhorses。WhatcouldIride？“
“IfIfindyouagoodhorseandsaddlewillyougo？“
“Iwill。Ithinkitwouldbefinesport。“
Laddieturnedandwentfromsightthatminute。ThePrincesslaughedandkeptonmakingfriendswitheveryone，helpingwaitonpeople，thinkingofnicethingstodo，andjustasthecarriagewasatthegateforfatherandmother，andSallyandPeter，andeveryoneelsewasuntyingtheirhorsestorideintheprocessiontothevillage，fromwhereIwasstandingonthemountingblockIsawsomethingcomingdowntheLittleHill。I
tookonelook，rantothePrincess，andalmostdraggedher。
UpracedLaddie，hisfacebright，hiseyessnappingwithfun。HerodeFlos，wasleadingthePrincess’horseMaud，andcarryingabigbundleunderhisarm。Heleapedfromthesaddleandfastenedbothhorses。
“GraciousHeaven！Whathaveyoudone？“gaspedthePrincess。
“Broughtyourmount，“saidLaddie，quiteasifhewereusedtogoingtoPryors’afterthesausagegrinderorthegrainsacks。
ButthePrincesswaspaleandtrembling。Shesteppedsocloseshetouchedhim，andheimmediatelygotalittlecloser。Youcouldn’tgetaheadofLaddie，andhedidn’tseemtocarewhosaw，andneitherdidshe。
“Tellmeexactlywhatoccurred，“shesaid，justasfatherdoeswhenhemeanstowhaleuscompletely。
“Irappedatthefrontdoor，“saidLaddie。
“Andwhoopenedit？“criedthePrincess。
“Yourfather！“
“Myfather？“
“Yes，yourfather！“saidLaddie。“AndbecauseIwasinsuchahurry，Ididn’twaitforhimtospeak。Isaid：`Goodmorning，Mr。Pryor。I’moneoftheStantonboys，andIcameforMissPryor’smountandhabit。Alltheyoungpeoplewhoareonhorsebackaregoingtorideanescorttothevillage，aroundmysister’sbridalcarriage，andMissPryorthinksshewouldenjoygoing。Pleaseexcusesuchhaste，butweonlythisminutemadetheplan，andthetrainwon’twait。’“
“Andhe？“
“Hesaid：`Surely！Holdoneminute。’Istoodonthestepandwaited，andIcouldhearhimgivetheordertosomeonetogetyourridinghabitquickly，andthenheblewashrillwhistle，andyourhorsewasatthegatethefastestofanythingIeversaw。“
“Didhedoorsay——“