IfIcouldhavepainted，I’dhavemadeapictureofShelleywithacircleoflightaboveherheadliketheoneoftheboyJesuswhereHetalkedwiththewisemeninthetemple。Iaskedfatherifhenoticedhowmuchprettierandnicershewas，andhesaidhedid。ThenIaskedhimifhethoughtnow，thatacitywassuchabadplacetolivein，andhesaidwhereshewashadnothingtodowithit，thesamethingwouldhappenhere，oranywhere，whenlife’sgreatestexperiencecametoagirl。Thatwasallhewouldsay，butfiguringitoutwaseasy。Thegreatestexperiencethathappenedtoourgirlswaswhentheymarried，likeSally，soitmeantthatShelleyhadgoneandfalleninlovewiththatlawyerman，andshelikedsittingonthesofawithhim，andnodoubtshefixedhisties。ButifanyonethoughtIwouldtellanythingI
sawwhenhecametheywerebadlymistaken。
Allofusrushedaroundlikewewerecrazy。Iffatherandmotherhadn’theldsteadyandkeptusdown，wemighthaveraisedtheroof。WewereallsogladaboutgettingLeonandthemoneyback；
motherhadn’tbeensicksincethefishcuredher；thenewbluegoosewassoliketheonethathadburst，evenfathernevernoticedanydifference；allthechildrenwereeitherhomeorcoming，andafterwehadourgiftsandthebiggestdinnerweeverhad，Christmasnightallofuswouldgototheschoolhousetoseeourschooltrytospelldownthreeotherstowhomtheyhadsentsaucyinvitationstocomeandbebeaten。
Mothersatinthedining-roombesidethekitchendoor，sothatshecouldwatchthebaking，brewing，pickling，andspicing。Ittookfourmentohandlethebacklog，whichInoticedfatherpronouncedeveryyear“justalittlethefinestweeverhad，“andLaddiestrungthehousewithbittersweet，evergreens，andthemostbeautifulspraysofmyrtlethatherakedfromunderthesnow。Fatherdrovetotowninthesleigh，andthelistofthingstobepurchasedmothergavehimasareminderwasalmostayardlong。
TheminutetheyfinishedtheoutdoorworkLaddieandLeonbeganbringinginbasketsofapples，goldenbellflowers，greenpippins，whitewinterpearmains，RhodeIslandgreenings，andstripedrambosallcoveredwithhoarfrost，yetnotfrozen，andsofullofjuiceyouhadtobiteintothemcarefullyortheydrippedandoffendedmother。Thesetheywashedandcarriedtothecellarreadyforuse。
Thentheycrackedbigdishesofnuts；andpoppedcornthatpoppedwiththemostresoundingpopsinallmyexperience——poppedatubful，andLaddiemeltedmaplesugarandpouredoveritandmadebigballsoffluffandsweetness。Hetookapanandfilleditwithgrains，selectedoneatatime，theverylargestandwhitest，andmadeanespecialball，inthemiddleofwhichheputalovelypinkcandyheartonwhichwasprintedinredletters：
“Howcanthisheartbemine，yetyours，unlessourheartsareone？“Hewouldn’tletanyofthemseeitexceptme，andheonlyletmebecauseheknewI’dbedelighted。
ItwasalmostduskwhenfathercamethroughthekitchenloadedwithbundlesandfoundCandaceandthegirlsstillcooking。
Weweresoexcitedwecouldscarcelybegatheredaroundthesuppertable，andmothersaidwechattereduntilshecouldn’thearherselfthink。AfterawhileLaddielaiddownhisforkandlookedatourfather。
“Haveyouanyobjectiontomyusingthesleighto-morrownight？“
heasked。
Fatherlookedatmother。
“Hadyouplannedtouseit，mother？“
Mothersaid：“No。IfIgo，I’llrideinthebigsledwithallofus。Itissuchalittleway，andtheroadsarelikeglass。“
Sofathersaidpolitely，ashealwaysspoketous：“Thenitwillgivemegreatpleasureforyoutotakeit，myson。“
ThatmadeLeonbanghisforkloudlyashedaredandsquirminhischair，forwellheknewthatifhehadasked，theanswerwouldhavebeendifferent。IfLaddietookthesleighhewouldharnesscarefully，drivefast，butreasonably，blankethishorse，comehomeattherighttime，andputeverythingexactlywherehefoundit。ButLeonwouldpitchtheharnessonsomeway，raceeverystep，neverthinkofhissteaminghorse，comehomewhentherewasnoonesowildashelefttoplayprankswith，andscattertheharnesseverywhere。HeknewourfatherwouldlovetotrusthimthesameashedidLaddie。Hewouldn’talwaysprovehimselftrustworthy，butheenviedLaddie。
“Youthinkyou’lltakethePrincesstothespellingbee，don’tyou？“hesneered。
“Imeantoaskher，“repliedLaddie。
“Maybeyouthinkshe’llrideinouroldhomemade，hickorycheesebox，whenshecansailalloverthecountrylikeabirdinavelvet-linedcutterwitharealbuffalorobe。“
Therewasaquickcatchinmother’sbreathandIfeltherhandonmychairtremble。Father’slipstightenedandafrownsettledonhisface，whileLaddiefairlyjumped。Hewentwhitetothelips，andonehanddroppedonthetable，palmup，thefingersclosingandunclosing，whilehiseyesturnedfirsttomother，andthentofather，indumbappeal。Weallknewthathewassuffering。Noonespoke，andLeonhavingshothisarrowstraighthome，sawaspeoplesooftendointhisworldthatthedamageofunkindwordscouldnoteasilyberepaired；sohegrewredinthefaceandsquirmeduncomfortably。
AtlastLaddiedrewadeep，quiveringbreath。“Ineverthoughtofthat，“hesaid。“ShehasseemedhappytogowithmeseveraltimeswhenIaskedher，butofcourseshemightnotcaretorideinours，whenshehassuchafinesleighofherown。“
Father’svoicefairlyboomeddownthelengthofthetable。
“Yourmotheralwayshasfoundoursleighsuitable，“hesaid。
Thefactwas，fatherwasrarelyproudofit。Hehadselectedthehickoryinourwoods，cutitandhauledittothemill，curedthelumber，andusedallhissparetimefortwowintersmakingit。
Withtheexceptionofhavingtherunnersturnedatafactoryandiron-boundatasmithy，hehadcompleteditalonewithgreatcare，eventostainingitabeautifulcherrycolour，andfittingwhitesheepskinsintothebed。Wehadallwatchedhimandbeensoproudofit，andnowLeonwassneeringatit。Hemightjustaswellhaveundertakentolaughatfather’sweddingsuitortomakefunof“Clark’sCommentaries。“
Laddieappealedtomother：“DoyouthinkI’dbetternotaskher？“
Hespokewithaneffort。
“Laddie，thatisthefirsttimeIeverheardyouproposetodoanyoneaninjustice，“shesaid。
“Idon’tseehow，“saidLaddie。
“Itisn’tgivingthePrincessanychanceatall，“repliedmother“You’vejustsaidthatshehasseemedpleasedtoaccompanyyoubefore，nowyouareproposingtocutheroutofwhatpromisestobethemostdelightfuleveningofthewinter，withoutevengivingherthechancetosaywhethershe’dgowithyouornot。Hassheevermadeyoufeelthatanythingyouofferedherorwantedtodoforherwasnotgoodenough？“
“Never！“exclaimedLaddiefervently。
“Untilshedoes，then，doyouthinkitwouldbequitemanlyandhonourabletomakedecisionsforher？Yousayyouneverthoughtofanythingexceptapleasanttimewithher；possiblyshefeelsthesame。Unlessshechanges，Iwouldscarcelyletaboy’sfoolishtonguedisturbherpleasure。Moreover，astothematterofwealth，yourfathermaybeasrichashers；buttheyhaveone，wehavemany。Ifwhatwespendonallourbroodcouldbeconfinedtoonechild，wecouldeasilyduplicateallherluxuries，andIthinkshehasthegoodsensetorealizethefactasquicklyasanyone。I’venodoubtshewouldgladlyexchangehalfshehasforthecompanionshipofasisterorabrotherinherlonelylife。“
Laddieturnedtofather，andfather’ssmilewashappyagain。
Motherwaslittlebutshewasmighty。WithonlyafewwordsshehadmadeLeonfeelhowunkindandfoolishhehadbeen，quietedLaddie’salarm，andsoothedthehurtfather’spridehadfeltinthathehadnotbeenabletofurnishherwithsofineaturnoutasPryorshad。
Nextmorningwhentheexcitementofgiftsandgreetingswasover，andLaddie’smorningworkwasallfinished，hetookabeautifulvolumeofpoemsandhispopcornballandstartedacrossthefieldsduewest；allofusknewthathewasgoingtocallonandofferthemtothePrincess，andasktotakehertothespellingbee。IsupposeLaddiethoughthewastakingthattripalone，butreallyhewassurrounded。Iwatchedhimfromthewindow，andmyheartwentwithhim。Presentlyfatherwentandsatbesidemother’schair，andstrokingherhand，whisperedsoftly：“Pleasedon’tworry，littlemother。Itwillbeallright。Yourboywillcomehomehappy。“
“Ihopeso，“sheanswered，“butIcan’thelpfeelingdreadfullynervous。IfthingsgowrongwithLaddie，itwillspoiltheday。“
“IhavemuchfaithinthePrincess’goodcommonsense，“repliedfather，“andconsideringwhatitmeanstoLaddie，itwouldhurtmesoretoloseit。“
Mothersatstill，butherlipsmovedsothatIknewshewasmakingsoftlittlewhisperedprayersforherbestlovedson。ButLaddie，plowingthroughthedrift，neverdreamedthatallofuswerewithhim。HewasalwaysbetterlookingthananyothermanI
everhadseen，butwhen，twohourslater，hestampedintothekitchenhewassomuchhandsomerthanusual，thatIknewfromtheflushonhischeekandthelightinhiseye，thatthePrincesshadbeenkind，andbythepackageinhishand，thatshehadmadehimapresent。Hereallyhadtwo，abeautifulbookandanecktie。Iwonderedtomysoulifshegavehimthat，soshecouldfixit！Ididn’tbelieveshehadbegunonhistiesatthattime；butofcoursewhenhelovedherashedid，hewishedshewould。
ItwastheveryjolliestChristmasweeverhad，butthedayseemedlong。Whennightcamewewereinapreciousbustle。Thewagonbedonbobs，filledwithhayandcovers，drawnbyNedandJo，wasbroughtupforthefamily，andthesleighmadespick-and-
spananddrawnbyLaddie’sthoroughbred，stoodbesideit。Laddiehadfilledthekitchenovenwithbricksandhungupacomfortatfouro’clocktokeepthePrincesswarm。
Becausehehadtodriveoutofthewaytobringher，Laddiewantedtostartearly；andwhenhecamedowndressedinhiscollegeclothes，andlookingthemanliestofmen，someofthefolksthoughtitfunnytoseehimcarefullyrakehishotbricksfromtheoven，andpintheminanoldredbreakfastshawl。I
thoughtitwasfine，andIwhisperedtomother：“DoyousupposethatifLaddieevermarriesthePrincesshewillbegoodtoherasheistoyou？“
Mothernoddedwithtear-dimmedeyes，butShelleysaid：“I’llwagerastrongyounggirllikethePrincesswilllaughatyouforbabyingoverher。“
“Why？“inquiredLaddie。“Itisalongdriveandabitternight，andifyoufancythePrincesswilllaughatanythingIdo，whenI
amdoingthebestIknowforhercomfort，youaremistaken。Atleast，thatistheimpressionshegavemethismorning。“
Isawtheswiftglancemothershotatfather，andfatherlaiddownhispaperandsaid，whilehepretendedhisglassesneededpolishing：“Nowthereistherightsortofagirlforyou。Nofoolishnessabouther，whenshehaseverychance。HurrahforthePrincess！“
Itwaseasytoseethatshewasn’tgoingtohavenearlysohardatimechangingfather’sopinionasshewouldmother’s。Itwasnotnearlyayearyet，andherehewaschangedalready。Laddiesaidgood-byetomother——heneverforgot——gathereduphiscomfortandbricks，andstartedforPryors’downrighthappy。Wewenttotheschoolhousealittlelater，allofusscoured，curled，starched，andwearingourverybestclothes。My！butitwasfine。Thereweremanylightsintheroomanditwashungwithgreens。Therewasacrowdeventhoughitwasearly。OnMissAmelia’stablewasavolumeofhistorythatwastheprize，andeveryonewaslookingandactingtheverybestheknewhow，althoughtherewerecaseswheretheydidn’tknowsoverymuch。
OurShelleywasthehandsomestgirlthere，untilthePrincesscame，andthentheybothwere。ShelleyworeoneofhercityfrocksandaquiltedredsilkhoodthatwasoneofherChristmasgifts，andshelookedjustlikeahandsomedoll。Shemadeeverymalecreatureinthatroomfeelthatshewaspiningforhimalone。Mayhadagayplaidfrockandcurlsnearlyayardlong，andsohadI，butbothourfrocksandcurlswerehomemade；motherwouldhavethemonceinawhile；fatherandIcouldn’tstopher。
Buttherewasnotasoultherewhodidn’thavesomesortofgifttorejoiceover，andlaughterandshoutsof“MerryChristmas！“
filledtheroom。Itwasgrowinglateandtherewassometalkofchoosers，whenthedooropenedandinarushoffrostyairthePrincessandLaddieentered。Everyonestoppedshortandstared。
Therewasgoodreason。ThePrincesslookedasifshehadaccidentallysteppedfromaframe。Shewasalwayslovelyandbeautifullydressed，butto-nightshewasprettierandfinerthaneverbefore。Youcouldfairlyheartheirteethclickassomeofthemostenviousofthosegirlscaughtsightofher，forshewaswearinganewhat！——ablackvelvetstorehat，fittingcloselyoverhercrown，witharimoftwistedvelvet，ascarletbird’swing，andabigsilverbuckle。Herdresswasofscarletclothcutinforms，anditfittedasifshehadbeenmeltedandpouredintoit。Itwasedgedaroundthethroat，wrists，andskirtwithnarrowbandsoffur，andsheworealoose，long，silk-linedcoatofthesamematerial，andworstofall，furs——furssuchaswehadheardwealthyandstylishcityladieswerewearing。Agoldenbrowncapethatreachedtoherelbows，withendsfallingtotheknees，finishedinthetailsofsomeanimal，andforherhandsamuffasbigasanailkeg。
Now，therewasnotagirlinthatroom，exceptthePrincess，anshehadthoseclothes，whowouldn’thaveflirtedlikeapeacock，almostburstingwithpride；butbecausethePrincesshadthem，andtheydidn’t，theysatstolidandsullen，andcastglancesateachotherasiftheyweresaying：“Thestuck-upthing！“
“Thinksshe’ssmart，don’tshe？“
Manyofthemshouldhavegonetomeetherandmadeherwelcome，forshewasnotofourdistrictandreallytheirguest。Shelleydidgo，butInoticedshedidn’thurry。
Thechoosersbeganatonce，andLaddiewasthefirstpersoncalledforourside，andthePrincessforthevisitors’。Everyoneintheroomwaschosenononesideortheother；evenmynamewascalled，butIonlysatstillandshookmyhead，forIverywellknewthatnooneexceptfatherwouldremembertopronounceeasyonesforme，andbesidesIwassobitterlydisappointedI
couldscarcelyhavestoodup。Theyhadputmeinaseatnearthefire；thespellerslinedeitherwall，andagoodlynumberthatrefusedtospelloccupiedthemiddleseats。Icouldn’tgetaglimpseofLaddieorthehomefolks，orworstofall，ofmyidolizedPrincess。
InevercouldbeartofindafaultwithLaddie，butIsadlyreflectedthathemightaswellhaveleftmeathome，ifIweretobeburiedwhereIcouldneitherhearnorseeathing。IwasjustwishingitwassummersoIcouldstealouttothecemetery，andhaveagoodvisitwiththebutterfliesthatalwaysswarmedaroundGeorgianaJaneTitcomb’sgraveatthecornerofthechurch。IneverknewGeorgianaJane，butherpeoplemusthavebeenveryfondofher，forhergravewasscarletwithgeraniums，andpinkwithrosesfromearliestspringuntilfrost，andthebrightcoloursattractedswarmsofbutterflies。IhadlearnedthatifIstuckafewblossomsinmyhair，rubbedsomesweetsmellingonesovermyhands，andkneltandkeptsoquietthatI