fittedintothelandscape，thebutterflieswouldthinkmeaflowertoo，andalightonmyhair，dress，andmyhands，even。
Godnevermadeanythingmorebeautifulthanthosebutterflies，withtheirwingsofbrightlypaintedvelvetdown，theirbrighteyes，theircuriousantennae，andtheirqueer，ticklyfeet。
Laddiehadpromisedmeabooktellingallabouteverykindtherewas，thefirsttimehewenttoacity，soIwaswishingIhadit，andwasamongmypetbeautieswithit，whenIdiscoveredhimbendingoverme。
Hetookmyarm，andmarchingbacktohisplace，helpedmetothedeepwindowseatbesidehim，wherewithmyheadonalevel，andwithinafootofhis，Icouldseeeverythinginthewholeroom。
Idon’tknowwhyIeverspentanytimepiningforthebeautiesofGeorgianaJaneTitcomb’sgrave，evenwithitshandsomeheadstoneonwhichwascarvedalambstandingonthreefeetandholdingabanneroveritsshoulderwiththefourth，andthegeraniums，roses，andtheweepingwillowthatgrewoverit，thrownin。I
mighthavetrustedLaddie。Heneverhadforgottenme；untilhedid，Ishouldhavekeptunwaveringfaith。
Now，Ihadthebestplaceofanyoneintheroom，andIsmoothedmynewplaidfrockandshookmyhandmadecurlsjustasnearlikeShelleyaseverIcould。Butitseemsthatmostoftheointmentinthisworldhasaflyinit，likeintheBible，forfineasmylocationwas，IsoonknewthatIshouldaskLaddietoputmedown，becausethewindowbehindmedidn’tfititsframe，andthenightwasbitter。BeforehalfanhourIwasstiffwithcold；butIdoubtifIwouldhavegivenupthatlocationifIhadknownI
wouldfreeze，becausethiswasthemostfunIhadeverseen。
MissAmeliabeganwithMcGuffey’sspellingbook，andwheneversomepoorunfortunatemadeabadbreakthecrowdroaredwithlaughter。PeterJusticestooduptospellandbeforethreeroundshewasnoddingonhisfeet，soshepronounced“sleepy“tohim。SomeonenudgedPeteandhewakedupandspelledit，s-l-e，sle，p-e，pe，andbecausehereallywassosleepyitmadeeveryonelaugh。JamesWhittakerspelledcompromisewithak，andIsaacThomasspelledsoap，s-o-a-p-e，anditwasallthefunnierthathecouldn’tspellit，forfromhislooksyoucouldtellthathehadnoacquaintancewithitinanyshape。ThenMissAmeliagaveout“marriage“tothespooniestyoungmaninthedistrict，and“stepfather“toamanwhowascourtingawidowwithninechildren；and“coquette“toourShelley，whohadbeenmakingsheep’seyesatJohnnyMyers，soittookherbysurpriseandshejoinedthemajority，whichbythattimeoccupiedseats。
Therewasmuchlaughingandclappingofhandsforatime，butwhenMissAmeliahadletthemhavetheirfunandthinnedthelinestohalfadozenoneachsidewhocouldreallyspell，shebeganbusiness，andpronouncedthehardestwordsshecouldfindinthebook，andthespellerscaughtthemupandrattledthemofflikemachines。
“Incompatibility，“shegaveout，andbeforethesoundofhervoicediedawaythePrincesswasspelling：“I-n，in，c-o-m，com，incom，p-a-t，pat，incompat，i，incompati，b-i-l，bil，incompatibil，i，incompatibili，t-y，ty，incompatibility。“
ThenLaddiespelled“incomprehensibility，“andtheyfinishedupthe“bilities“andthe“alities“witharushandchangedMcGuffey’sforWebster，withfiveonLaddie’ssideandthreeonthePrincess’，andwhentheyquitwithit，thePrincesswasalone，andLaddieandourlittleMayfacingher。
Fromthatonyoucouldcallitrealspelling。Theyspelledfromthegrammars，hyperbole，synecdoche，andepizeuxis。Theyspelledfromthephysiology，chlorophyll，coccyx，arytenoid，andthenamesofthebonesandnerves，andallthehardwordsinsideyou。
Theytriedthediseasesandspelledjaundice，neurasthenia，andtongue-tied。Theytriedalltheoccupationsandprofessions，andwentthroughthestoresandspelledallsortsofhardware，chinaanddrygoods。Eachsidekeptcheeringitsownandurgingthemtodotheirbest，andeveryfewminutessomemaninthebackofthehousesaidsomethingthatwastoofunny。WhenMissAmeliapronounced“bombazine“toLaddieoursidecried，“Careful，Laddie，careful！you’reoutofyourelement！“
Andwhenshegave“swivel-tree“tothePrincess，hersidewhispered，“Goeasy！Doyouknowwhatitis？Makeherdefineit。“
Theybranchedoverthecountry。MaymetherJonahonthemountains。Katahdinwastoomuchforher，andLaddieandthePrincesswerelefttofightitoutalone。Ididn’tthinkLaddielikedit。I’msureheneverexpectedittoturnoutthatway。
Hemusthavebeencertainhecouldbeather，forafterhefinishedEnglishthereweretwoorthreeotherlanguagesheknew，andeveryoneinthedistrictfeltthathecouldwin，andexpectedhimtodoit。Itwasanawfulplacetoputhimin，I
couldseethat。Hestoodalittlemoreerectthanusual，withhiseyestowardthePrincess，andwhenhissidekeptcrying，“Keeptheprize，Laddie！Holdupthegloryofthedistrict！“hegroundoutthewordsasifhehadaspiteatthemfornotbeingsohardthathewouldhaveanexcuseforgoingdown。
ThePrincesswaspoisedlightlyonherfeet，herthickcurls，justtouchinghershoulders，shininginthelight；hereyeslikestars，herperfect，darkovalfaceflushedarichred，andherdeepbosomrisingandfallingwithexcitement。ManytimesinlateryearsIhavetriedtorememberwhenthePrincesswasloveliestofall，andthatnightalwaysstandsfirst。
Iwasthinkingfast。Laddiewasabigman。Menwerestrongonpurposesotheycouldbearthings。HelovedthePrincessso，andhedidn’tknowwhethershelovedhimornot；andeverymarriageablemaninthreecountieswasjustachingforthechancetocourther，andIdidn’tfeelthathedaredriskhurtingherfeelings。
Laddiesaid，tobethemanwhoconqueredthePrincessandtowhomsheliftedherlipsforafirstkisswasworthlifeitself。I
madeupmymindthatnightthatheknewjustexactlywhathewastalkingabout。Ithoughtsotoo。AndIseemedtounderstandwhyLaddie——Laddieinhisyouth，strength，andmanlybeauty，Laddie，whoboastedthattherewasnotanerveinhisbody——trembledbeforethePrincess。
Itlookedasifshehadsetherselfagainsthimandwasworkingforthehonours，andifshewantedthem，Ididn’tfeelthatheshouldchancebeatingher，andthen，too，itwasbeginningtobeplainthatitwasnonetoosurehecould。Laddiedidn’tseemtobetheonlyonewhohadbeenwelldrilledinspelling。
Iheldmyjawssetaminute，sothatIcouldspeakwithoutLaddieknowinghowIwasshivering，andthenIwhispered：“Excepthereyesaresofter，shelooksjustlikeacardinal。“
Laddienoddedemphaticallyandmovingastepnearerlaidhiselbowacrossmyknees。Heavens，howtheyspelled！TheyfinishedallthewordsIeverheardandspelledlikelightningthroughalotofothersthemeaningofwhichIcouldn’timagine。Fathernevergavethemoutathome。Theyspelledepiphany，gaberdine，ichthyology，gewgaw，kaleidoscope，andtroubadour。ThenLaddiespelledonewordtwodifferentways；andthePrincesswenthimonebetter，forshespelledanotherthree。
TheyspelledfromtheBible，Nebuchadnezzar，Potiphar，Peleg，Belshazzar，Abimelech，andahostofothersIneverheardtheministerpreachabout。Thentheydidthemostdreadfulthingofall。“Broom，“pronouncedtheteacher，andIbeganmentally，b-r-
o-o-m，butLaddiespelled“b-r-o-u-g-h-a-m，“andIstaredathiminadaze。AsecondlaterMissAmeliagaveout“Beecham“tothePrincess，andagainItriedit，b-e-e-c-h，butthePrincesswasspelling“B-e-a-u-c-h-a-m-p，“andIalmostfellfromthewindow。
TheykeptthatupuntilIwasnearlycrazywithnervousness；I
forgotIwashalffrozen。IpulledLaddie’ssleeveandwhisperedinhisear：“Doyouthinkshe’llcryifyoubeather？“
Iwashalfcryingmyself，thestrainhadbeenawful。Iwastornbetweenthesedearestlovesofmine。
“Seenmehaveanychancetobeather？“retortedLaddie。
MissAmeliaseemedtohaveusedmostofherbooks，andatlastpickedupanoldgeographyandbegangivingoutpointsaroundthecoast，whileLaddieandthePrincesstookturnssnatchingthewordsfromhermouthandspellingthem。Fatheroftendidthat，soLaddiewassafethere。TheywerejustgoingitwhenMissAmeliapronounced，“TerradelFuego，“tothePrincess。“T-e-r-r-
a，Terra，d-e-l，del，F-i-e-u-g-o，“spelledthePrincess，andsatdownsuddenlyinthemidstofamightygroanfromherside，swelledbyawailfromonelittlehomedistrictdeserter。
“Next！“calledMissAmelia。
“T-e-r-r-a，Terra，d-e-l，del，F-e-u-g-o，“spelledLaddie。
“Wrong！“wailedMissAmelia，andoursidebreathedonebiggroaninconcert，andIliftedupmyvoiceinthatalso。Theneveryonelaughedandpretendedtheydidn’tcare，andthePrincesscameoverandshookhandswithLaddie，andLaddiesaidtoMissAmelia：
“JustletmetakethatbookaminuteuntilIseehowthethingreallydoesgo。“Itwaswelldoneandsatisfiedthecrowd，whichclappedandcheered；butasIhadheardhimspellitmany，manytimesforfather，hedidn’tfoolme。
LaddieandthePrincessdrewslipsforthebookanditfelltoher。HewassopleasedhekissedmeasheliftedmedownandnevernoticedIwassostiffIcouldscarcelystand——andIdidfalltwicegoingtothesleigh。Mybedwaswarmandmyroomwaswarm，butIchilledthenightthroughanduntilthenextafternoon，whenIgrewsofaintandsleepyIcrepttoMissAmelia’sdesk，halfdeadwithfright——itwasmyfirsttriptoaskanexcuse——andbegged：“Ohteacher，I’msosick。Pleaseletmegohome。“
Ithinkoneglancemusthavesatisfiedherthatitwastrue，forshesaidverykindlythatImight，andshewouldsendLeonalongtotakecareofme。ButmytroubleswereonlyhalfoverwhenI
hadherconsent。ItwasveryprobableIwouldbecalledababyandsentbackwhenIreachedhome，soIrefusedcompanyandstartedalone。Itseemedamilepastthecemetery。IwassotiredIstopped，andleaningagainstthefence，peepedthroughatthewhitestonesandthewhitermoundstheycovered，andwonderedhowmymotherwouldfeelifshewerecompelledtolaymebesidethetwolittlewhoopingcoughandfeversistersalreadysleepingthere。Idecidedthatitwouldbesoverydreadful，thatthetearsbegantorolldownmycheeksandfreezebeforetheyfell。
DowntheBigHillslowlyIwent。Howbareitlookedthen！Onlyleaflesstreesanddriedseedpodsrattlingonthebushes，thesandfrozen，andnotarushtobeseenforthethickblanketofsnow。Afewrodsabovethebridgewasafootpath，smoothandwellworn，thatleddowntothecreek，beatenbythefeetofchildrenwhoracediteverydayandtookarunningslideacrosstheice。Istruckintothepathasalways；butIwastoostifftorun，forItried。Iwalkedontheice，andbeingalmostwornout，satonthebridgeandfelltowatchingthewaterbubblingundertheglassycrust。Iwassodullahorse’sfeetstruckthebridgebeforeIheardthebells——forIhadbellsinmyearsthatday——andwhenIlookedupitwasthePrincess——thePrincessinherreddressandfurs，withasilkhoodinsteadofherhat，hersleighlikeapicture，withabuffalorobe，thatitwaswhisperedaboutthecountry，costoverahundreddollars，andherthoroughbredmareMauddancingandprancing。“Blessme！Isityou，LittleSister？“sheasked。“ShallIgiveyouaridehome？“
BeforeIcouldscarcelyrealizeshewasthere，Iwasbesideherandshewastuckingthefinewarmrobeoverme。Iliftedapairofdulleyestoherface。
“OhPrincess，Iamsogladyoucame，“Isaid。“Idon’tthinkI
couldhavegoneanotherstepifIhadfrozenonthebridge。“
ThePrincessbenttolookinmyface。“Why，youpoorchild！“Sheexclaimed，“you’rewhiteasdeath！Whereareyouill？“
Ileanedonhershoulder，thoughordinarilyIwouldnothaveofferedtotouchherfirst，andmurmured：“Iamnotill，outdoors，onlydull，sleepy，andfreezingwiththecold。“
“Itwasthatwindow！“sheexclaimed。“Ithoughtofit，butI
trustedLaddie。“
Thatrousedmealittle。
“OhPrincess，“Icried，“youmustn’tblameLaddie！Iknewitwastoocold，butIwouldn’ttellhim，becauseifheputmedownI
couldn’tseeyou，andwethought，butforyoureyesbeingsofter，youlookedjustlikeacardinal。“
ThePrincesshuggedmecloseandlaughedmerrily。“Youdarling！“
shecried。
Thensheshookmeupsharply：“Don’tyoudaregotosleep！“shesaid。“Imusttakeyouhomefirst。“
Oncethereshequietedmymother’salarm，putmetobed，drovethreemilesforDr。Fennerandhadmestartednicelyontheroadtoamonthoflungfever，beforesheleft。InmydeliriumI
spelledvolumes；andthemiracleofitwasInevermissedaworduntilIcameto“TerradelFuego，“andthereIcoveredmylipsandstoutlyinsistedthatitwasthePrincess’secret。
Tokeepmefromthatdangersleepontheroad，sheshookmeupandaskedaboutthespellingbee。IthoughtitwasthegrandestthingIhadeverseeninmylife，andItoldherso。Shegatheredmecloseandwhispered：“Tellmesomething，LittleSister，please。“
Theminx！SheknewIthoughtthatafarfinertitlethanhers。
“WouldLaddiecare？“Iquestioned。
“Notintheleast！“
“Wellthen，Iwill。“
“CanLaddiespell`TerradelFuego？’“shewhispered。
Inodded。
“Areyousure？“
“Ihaveheardhimdoitoverandoverforfather。“
ThePrincessforgotIwassosick，forgotherhorse，forgoteverything。Shethrewherheadbackandherhandsup，untilherhorsestoppedinanswertotheloosenedline，andshelaughedandlaughed。Shelaugheduntilpealonpealre-echoedfromourBigWoodsclearacrossthewesteighty。Shelaugheduntilherringingnotessetmyslowpulsesonfire，andstartedmynumbedbraininonelasteffort。Istoodupandtookherlovelyfacebetweenmypalms，turningituntilIcouldseewhetherthethoughtthathadcometomeshowedinhereyes，anditdid。
“Ohyoudarling，splendidPrincess！“Icried。“YoumisseditonpurposetoletLaddiebeat！Youcanspellittoo！“