Thenhekissedme，andTHATwassettled。SoIwonderedwhenyoulongedforanythingsohardyoureallyfeltitwasworthbotheringGodabout，whetherthequickestwaytogetitwastoaskHimforit，ortotrytoputalotofloveintotheheartofsomepersonwhocoulddowhatyouwanted。IdecideditallwentbacktoGodthough，formostofthetimeprobablywewouldn’tknowwhotherightonewastotrytoawakenlovein。IwasmightysurenoneofuseverdreamedLaddiecouldwalkovertoPryors’，andcomebackwiththathorse，inawayperfectlysatisfactorytoeveryone，slickasaneel。
YoushouldhaveseenLeonfollowingaroundafterLaddie，tryingtodothingsforhim，takingonhisworktogivehimmoretimewiththehorses，gettingupearlytofinishhisownstunts，sohecouldgoovertoPryors’andhelp。Mothersaidithaddonemoretomakeamanofhimthananythingthateverhappened。IthelpedShelley，too。Somethingseemedtobreakinher，whenshecriedsowithLeon，becausehewasintrouble。ThenhewassocrazytoshowoffhishorsehehadShelleyrideupanddownthelane，whileheranalongandled，soshegotalotofexercise，anditmadehergoodandhungry。Ifyoudon’tthinkbythistimethatmymotherwasthebeatenestwomanalive，I’llproveittoyou。
Whenthesupperbellrangtherewasstrawberrypreservesinsteadoftheapplebutter，biscuit，friedchicken，andmashedpotatoes。
Shemusthaveslappedthosechickensintotheskilletbeforetheyknewtheirheadswereoff。WhenShelleycametothetable，forthefirsttimesinceshe’dbeenhome，hadpinkinhercheeks，andtalkedsome，andatetoo，motherforgotherownsupper。Shefumbledoverherplate，butscarcelytouchedeventhelivers，andthosedeliciouslittlekidneysinthetailpiecelikeLeonandI
hadatSally’swedding。Whenwefinished，anditwastimeforhertogivethesignaltoarise，noonehadaskedtobeexcused，shesaid：“LetushaveawordwiththeMostHigh。“Thenshebowedherhead，soallofusdidtoo。“OLord，wepraiseTheeforallThytendermercies，andallThylovingkindness。Amen！“
Ofcoursefatheralwaysaskedtheblessingtobeginwith，andmostlyitwasthesameone，andthatwasallatmealtime，butthiswasalittleextrathatmothercouldn’tevenwaituntilnighttotelltheAlmighty，shewassopleasedwithHim。MaybeI
haven’ttoldeverythingabouther，afterall。Fathermusthavethoughtthatwaslovelyofher；hesurelyfeltashappyasshedid，toseeShelleybetter，forhehuggedandkissedheroverandover，finishingathernecklikehealwaysdid，andthenIbe-
hanged，ifhedidn’thugandkisseverylastoneofus——tight，eventheboys。Shelleyheheldlongandclose，andpattedheralittlewhenhelethergo。Itmademewonderiftherestofusdidn’tgetours，sohe’dhaveachanceatherwithouthernoticingit。Onethingwasperfectlyclear。Ifshamecametous，theyweregoingtoloveher，andsticktighttoherrightstraightthroughit。
Nowthateverythingwasclearedupso，Shelleyseemedalittlemorelikeherselfeveryday，althoughitwasbadenoughyet；I
thoughtImightaswellhurryuptheendalittle，andstopthetroublecompletely，soIbeganwatchingforachancetoaskher。
ButIwantedtogetherawayoffalone，sonoonewouldseeifsheslappedme。Ididn’tknowhowlongI’dhavetowait。I
triedcoaxinghertotheorchardtoseeabluebird’snest，butsheaskedifbluebirdswerebuildinganydifferentthatyear，andIhadtoadmittheywerenot。ThenItriedtheblue-eyedMarybed，butshesaidshesupposeditwasstillundertheclingpeachtree，andtheflower，twowhitepetalsup，twobluedown，andsoitwas。JustasIwasbeginningtothinkI’dhavetotakethattotheLordinprayer，Igotmychancebyaccident。
MayandCandacewereforevergoingsnakehunting。Youwouldthinkanyonewithcommonsensewouldleavethemaloneandbegladofthechance，butnoindeed！Theywentnearlyeverydayassoonasthenoonworkwasfinished，andstayeduntiltimetogetsupper。Theydidhaveheapsoffunandwildexcitement。Maywasgentle，andtenderwitheverythingelseonearth；soI’sposeshehadarighttobruisetheserpentwithherheel——reallysheusedsticksandstones——ifshewantedto。IaskedherhowsheCOULD，andshesaidtherewasaplaceintheBiblethattoldhowasnakecoaxedEvetoeatanapple，thattheLordhadtoldhershemustn’ttouch；andsoshegotusintomostofthetroubletherewasintheworld。MaysaiditwasallthefaultoftheSNAKEtobeginwith，andshemeanttopayupeveryoneshecouldfind，becauseshehadnoneoftheapple，andlotsofthetrouble。
CandacecriedsomuchbecauseFrederickSwartzhadbeenlaidinthetomb，thatmotherwaspleasedtohavehercheerup，evenenoughtogosnakehunting。
ThatafternoonMehitabelHeastyhadcometovisitMay，soshewentalong，andIfollowed。Theypokedaroundthedriftwoodatthefloodgatebehindthebarn，andweregivinguptheplace。
Candacehadcrossedthecreekandwascomingback，andMayhadstarted，whenshesawatinylittleoneandchasedit。Wedidn’tknowthenthatitwasagoodthingtohavesnakestoeatmoles，fieldmice，andotherpeststhatbotheryourcrops；theBiblehadnomercyonthematall，sowewerenotsavingoursnakes；andanywaywehadmorethanweneeded，whilesomeofthemweretoobigtobesafetokeep，andafewpoisonascouldbe。Maybegantobruisetheserpent，whenoutofthedriftwoodwheretheyhadn’tfoundanythingcameitsmammy，agreatbigblacksnake，maddestyoueversaw，withitspappyrightafterher，madasevertoo。CandacescreamedatMaytolookbehindher，butMaywasbusywiththesnakeanddidn’tlookquickenough，sotheoldmammystruckrightinherback。ShejustcaughtinthehemofMay’sskirt，andherteethstuckinthegoods——youknowhowasnake’steethturnback——soshecouldn’tletgo。Maytookonelookandraceddownthebanktothecrossing，throughthewater，andtowardus，withthesnakedraggingandtwisting，andtryingherbesttogetaway。MaywasscreamingateveryjumpforCandace，andMehitabelwasflyingupanddowncrying：“Ohthere’ssnakesinmyshoes！There’ssnakesinmyshoes！“
ThatwasafairsampleofhowmuchsenseaHeastyeverhad。IttookallMehitabel’sshoescoulddotoholdherfeet，forafteronewentbarefootallweek，andneverputonshoesexceptonSundayorforavisit，thefeetbecamesospreadout，shoeshadalltheycoulddotomanagethem，andthenmostlytheypincheduntiltheymadeonesquirm。Butshejumpedandsaidthat，whileMayranandscreamed，andCandacegrippedherbighickorystickandtoldMaytostandstill。Thenshebruisedthatserpentwithherwholefoot，forshestoodonit，andswattedituntilshebrokeitsneck。Thensheturnedreadyfortheotherone，butwhenitsawwhathappenedtoitsmate，itdecidedtogoback。
Evensnakes，itdoesn’tseemrighttobreakupfamilieslikethat；sobythetimeCandacegotthemammykilled，loosefromMay’shem，andstretchedoutwiththebackup，soshewouldn’tmakeitrain，whenCandacewasn’tsurethatfatherwantedrain，I
hadenough。IwentdownthecreekuntilIwasbelowtheorchard，thenIcrossed，passedthecowslipbed，climbedthehillandfence，andstoppedtothinkwhatIwoulddofirst；andthereonlyafewfeetawaywasShelley。Shewassittingintheshade，herkneesdrawnup，herhandsclaspedaroundthem，staringstraightbeforeheracrossthemeadowatnothinginparticular，thatI
couldsee。ShejumpedasifIhadbeenasnakewhenshesawme，thenshesaid，“Oh，isityou？“likeshewashalfgladofit。Mychancehadcome。
Iwenttoher，satclosebesideherandtriedsnugglingupalittle。Itworked。Sheputherarmaroundme，drewmetight，rubbedhercheekagainstmyheadandwesatthere。IwaswonderinghowintheworldIcouldaskher，andnotgetslapped。
Iwasgrowingmosttoobigforthatslappingbusiness，anyway。
Wesatthere；Iwaslookingacrossthemeadowasshedid，onlyI
waswatchingeverythingthatwenton，sowhenIsawagrosbeakflyfromthewildgrapewhereShelleyhadputthecrockforsap，itmademethinkofherhair。Sheusedtoliketohavemeplaywithitsowell，she’dgivemepenniesifIdid。Igotup，andbeganpullingoutherpinscarefully。IknewIwasgettingastartbecauserightawaysheputupherhandtohelpme。
“Icangetthem，“Isaidjustasflannel-mouthedaseverIcould，likeallofustalkedtohernow，soIgoteveryoneandneverpulledamite。WhenIreachedoverhershouldertodroptheminherlap，beingsocloseIkissedhercheek。ThenIshookdownherhair，spreaditout，liftedit，partedit，andheldupstrandstolettheaironherscalp。Sheshiveredandsaid：
“Mercychild，howgoodthatdoesfeel！Myheadhasachedlatelyuntilit’sawonderthere’sahairleftonit。“
SoIwaspleasingher。Ineverdidhandlehairsocarefully。I
triedeverysinglethingitfeelsgoodtoyoutohavedonewithyourhair，rubbedherheadgently，andtocheerherupItoldheraboutMayandthesnake，andwhatfoolMehitabelhadsaid，andshecouldn’thelplaughing；soIhadherfeelingaboutasgoodasshecould，forthewaysheactuallyfelt，butstillIdidn’treallygetahead。Comerighttotheplacetodoit，thatwasnoveryeasyquestiontoaskaperson，whenyouwouldn’thurttheirfeelingsforanything；IwasbeginningtowonderifIwouldlosemychance，whenallatonceawayIcouldmanagepoppedintomymind。
“Shelley，“Isaid，“theytoldyouaboutLaddieandthePrincess，didn’tthey？“
Iknewtheyhad，butIhadtomakeabeginningsomeway。
“Yes，“shesaid。“I’mgladofit！Ithinkshe’sprettyasapicture，andniceasshelooks。Laddiemayhavetohumphimselftosupporther，butifhecan’tgetherasfineclothesasshehas，herfolkscanhelphim。Theyseemtohaveplenty，andshe’stheironlychild。“
“They’regoingto。IheardMr。PryoraskLaddieifhe’dbesounkindastoobjecttothemhavingthepleasureofgivingherthings。“
“Well，thegreenhorndidn’tsayhewould！“
“No。Hedidn’twanttoputhisnosetothegrindstonequitethatclose。Hesaiditwasbetweenthem。“
“Ishouldthinkso！“
“Shelley，there’saquestionI’vebeenwantingtoasksomeoneforquiteawhile。“
“What？“
“Why，this！Youknow，LaddiewasinlovewiththePrincess，likeyouarewhenyouwanttomarryfolks，foralong，longtime，beforehecouldbesurewhethershelovedhimback。“
“Yes。“
“Well，now，’sposesheneverhadlovedhim，wouldhehavehadanythingtobeashamedof？“
“Ican’tseethathewould。Someonemuststartacourtship，ortherewouldbenomarrying，andit’sconcededtobetheplaceoftheman。No。Hemightbedisappointed，ordreadfullyhurt，buttherewouldbenoshameaboutit。“
“Well，then，supposeshelovedhim，andwantedtomarryhim，andhehadn’tlovedher，orwantedher，wouldSHEhavehadanythingtobeashamedof？“
“Idon’tthinkso！Ifshewasattractedbyhim，andthoughtshewouldlikehim，shewouldhavearighttogotoacertainextent，tofindoutifhecaredforher，andifhedidn’t，why，she’djusthavetogivehimup。Butanysensiblegirlwaitsforamantomaketheadvances，andplentyofthem，beforesheallowsherselfeventodreamoflovinghim，oratleast，Iwould。“
NowIwasgettingsomewhere！
“Ofcourseyouwould！“Isaid。“ThatwouldbetheWAYmotherwould，wouldn’tit？“
“Surely！“
“IfthatPagetmanyouusedtowriteabouthadseemedtobejustwhatyouliked，you’dhavewaitedtoknowifhewantedyou，beforeyoulovedhim，wouldn’tyou？“
“Icertainlywould！“answeredShelley。“Oratleast，I’dhavewaiteduntilITHOUGHTsureasdeath，Iknew。Itseemsthatsometimesyoucanbefooledaboutthosethings。“
“Butifyouthoughtsureyouknew，andthenfoundoutyouhadbeenmistaken，youwouldn’thaveanythingtobeASHAMEDof，wouldyou？“
“Not-on-your-life-I-wouldn’t！“criedShelley，hammeringeachwordintoherrightkneewithherdoubledfist。“Whatareyoudrivingat，Blatherskite？Whathaveyougotintoyourhead？“
“Ohjuststudyingaboutthings，“Isaid，whichwasexactlythetruth。“Sallygettingmarriedlastfall，andLaddiegoingtothis，juststartedmetowondering。“
Fooledher，too！
“Ohwell，there’snoharmdone，“shesaid。“Thesooneryougetthesemattersstraightenedout，thebetterableyouwillbetotakecareofyourself。Ifyouevergotoacity，you’llfindoutthatagirlneedsconsiderablecaretakenofher。“
“Youcouldlookoutforyourself，Shelley？“
“Well，Idon’tknowasImadesuchagloriousfistofit，“shesaid，“butatleast，asyousay，I’venothingtobeashamedof！“
Ialmosthuggedherheadoff。
“Ofcourseyouhaven’t！“Icried。“Ofcourseyouwouldn’thave！“
Ijustkissedheroverandoverforjoy；Iwassogladmyhearthurtforfatherandmother。Shamehadnotcometothem！
“Now，IguessI’llruntothehouseandgetacomb，“Itoldher。
“Goon，“saidShelley。“Iknowyouaretired。“
“I’mnotintheleast，“Isaid。“Don’tyourememberIalwaysuseacombwhenIfusswithyourhair？“
“Itisbetter，“saidShelley。“Gogetone。“
AsIgotuptostartItookalastlookather，andtherewassomethinginherfacethatIcouldn’tbear。Ikneltbesideher，andputbotharmsaroundherneck。
“Shelley，it’sasecret，“Isaidinabreathlesshalfwhisper。
“It’sagreat，bigsecret，butI’mgoingtotellyou。TwicenowI’vehadapowerfulprayerallreadytotry。It’sthekindwhereyougotothebarn，allalone，standonthattopbeambelowthehighestwindowandlooktowardtheeast。Youkeepperfectlystill，andjustthinkwithallyourmight，andyoulookawayoverwhereJesususedtobe，andwhentherightfeelingcomes，youpraythatprayerasifHestoodbeforeyou，anditwillcometrue。IKNOWitwillcometrue。ThereasonIknowisbecausetwicenowI’vebeenalmostreadytotryit，andwhatIintendedtoaskforhappenedbeforeIhadtime；soI’vesavedthatprayer；
butShelley，shallIprayitaboutthePagetman，foryou？“
Shegrippedme，andsheshookuntilshewasalltwistedup；youcouldhearherteethclick，shechilledso。Thetearsjustgushed，andshepulledmeupcloseandwhisperedrightinmyear：
“Yes！“
Itwasonlypretendaboutthecomb；whatIreallywantedwastogettofatherandmotherquick。Iknewhewasatthebarnandhewasgoingtobetoohappyforwordsinaminute。ButasIwentupthelane，Iwasn’tsurewhetherI’dratherprayaboutthatPagetmanorbruisehimwithmyheellikeaserpent。TheonlywayIcouldfixitwastorememberifShelleylovedhimso，hemustbemightynice。Fatherwasinthewagonshovellingcornfromittoaplatformwhereitwouldbehandytofeedthepigs，soIranandcalledhim，andputonefootonahubandraisedmyhands。Hepulledmeupandwhenhesawhowimportantitwas，hesatontheedgeofthebed，soItoldhim：“Father，youhaven’tgotathingintheworldtobeashamedofaboutShelley。“
“PraisetheLord！“saidfatherlikeIknewhewould，butyoushouldhaveseenhisface。“Tellmeaboutit！“