“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。