Ifsheeverworkedastroke，nooneknewit。Alldaylongshesatintheparlour，theverybestone，everyday；oronbenchesunderthetreeswithembroideryframesorbooks，someofthemfearful，big，difficultlookingones，orrodeoverthecountry。
　　Sherodeinsunshineandsherodeinstorm，untilyouwouldthinkshecouldn’tseeherwaythroughhertangledblackhair。Sherodethroughsnowandinpouringrain，whenshecouldhavestayedoutofit，ifshehadwantedto。Shedidn’tseemtobeafraidofanythingonearthorinHeaven。Everyonethoughtshewaslikeherfatheranddidn’tbelievetherewasanyGod；sowhenshecameamongusatchurchoranypublicgathering，asshesometimesdid，peoplewereinnohurrytobefriendly，whileshelookedstraightaheadandneverspokeuntilshewasspokento，andthenshewaspreciseandcold，Itellyou。
　　Mentookofftheirhats，gotoutoftheroadwhenshecamepoundingalong，andstaredafterherlike“be-addledmummies，“mymothersaid。Butthatwasallshe，oranyoneelse，couldsay。
　　Theyoungfellowswerewildabouther，andiftheytriedtosidleuptoherinthehopethattheymightleadherhorseorgettoholdherfootwhenshemounted，theyalwayssawwhentheyreachedher，thatshewasn’tthere。
　　Butshewashere！Ihadseenheronlyafewtimes，butthiswasthePryorgirl，justassureasIwouldhaveknownifithadbeenSally。WhatdazedmewasthatsheansweredineveryparticularthedescriptionLaddiehadgivenmeoftheQueen’sdaughter。Andworstofall，fromthedayshefirstcameamongus，movingsoproudandcold，blabbingoldHannahDoversaidshecarriedherselflikeaPrincess——asifHannahDoverknewHOWaPrincesscarriedherself！——everylivingsoul，myfathereven，hadcalledherthePrincess。AtfirstitwasbecauseshewasliketheythoughtaPrincesswouldbe，butlatertheydiditinmeanness，tomakefun。Aftertheyknewhername，theywereusedtocallingherthePrincess，sotheykeptitup，butsomeofthemweresecretlyproudofher；becauseshecouldlook，anddo，andbewhattheywouldhavegivenanythingto，andknewtheycouldn’ttosavethem。
　　Iwasneverinsuchafixinallmylife。ShelookedmoreasLaddiehadsaidthePrincesswouldthanyouwouldhavethoughtanywomancould，butshewasPamelaPryor，nevertheless。EveryonecalledherthePrincess，butshecouldn’tmakerealityoutofthat。Shejustcouldn’tbetheFairyQueen’sdaughter；sothelettercouldn’tpossiblybeforher。
　　Shehadnobusinessinourwoods；youcouldseethattheyhadplentyoftheirown。Shewentstraighttothedoorofthewillowroomandwalkedinasifshebelongedthere。WhatifshefoundthehollowandtookLaddie’sletter！FastasIcouldslipovertheleaves，Iwentback。Shewasonthemosscarpet，onherknees，andtheletterwasinherfingers。It’sagoodthingtohaveyourmannerssoundlythrashedintoyou。You’vegottobescaredstiffbeforeyouforgetthem。Iwasn’tsoafraidofherasIwouldhavebeenifIhadknownsheWAStheprincess，andhaveLaddiesletter，sheshouldnot。Whathadthekindofgirlshewas，fromahomelikehers，toteachanyonefromourhouseaboutmakingsunshine？Iwasatthewillowwallbythattimepeeringthrough，soIjustparteditalittleandsaid：“Pleaseputbackthatletterwhereyougotit。Itisn’tforyou。“
　　Shekneltonthemosses，theletterinherhand，andherface，assheturnedtome，wasratherstartled；butwhenshesawmeshelaughed，andsaidinthesweetestvoiceIeverheard：“Areyousoverysureofthat？“
　　“WellIoughttobe，“Isaid。“Iputitthere。“
　　“MightIinquireforwhomyouputitthere？“
　　“Noma’am！That’sasecret。“
　　Youshouldhaveseenthelightflameinhereyes，thereddeepenonhercheeks，andthelittlecurloflaughterthatcurvedherlips。
　　“Howinteresting！“shecried。“IwondernowifyouarenotLittleSister。“
　　“IamtoLaddieandourfolks，“Isaid。“Youareastranger。“
　　Allthedancinglightswentfromherface。Shelookedasifsheweregoingtocryunlessshehurriedupandswalloweditdownhardandfast。
　　“Thatisquitetrue，“shesaid。“Iamastranger。Doyouknowthatbeingastrangeristhehardestthingthatcanhappentoanyoneinallthisworld？“
　　“Thenwhydon’tyouopenyourdoors，inviteyourneighboursin，gotoseethem，andstopyourfatherfromsayingsuchdreadfulthings？“
　　“Theyarenotmydoors，“shesaid，“andcouldyoukeepyourfatherfromsayinganythinghechooses？“
　　Istoodandblinkedather。OfcourseIwouldn’tevendaretrythat。
　　“I’msosorry，“wasallIcouldthinktosay。
　　Icouldn’taskhertocometoourhouse。Iknewnoonewantedher。ButifIcouldn’tspeakfortheothers，surelyImightformyself。Iletgothewillowsandwenttothedoor。ThePrincessaroseandsatontheseatLaddiehadmadefortheQueen’sdaughter。Itwasanawfulpitytotellhersheshouldn’tsitthere，forIhadmydoubtsifthereal，truePrincesswouldbehalfaslovelywhenshecame——ifsheeverdid。SomewaythePrincess，whowasnotaPrincess，appearedsoreal，Icouldn’tkeepfrombecomingconfusedandforgettingthatshewasonlyjustPamelaPryor。AlreadythelovelylightshadgonefromherfaceuntilitmademesosadIwantedtocry，andIwasnoeasycry-
　　babyeither。IfIcouldn’tofferfriendshipformyfamilyI
　　wouldformyself。
　　“YoumaycallmeLittleSister，ifyoulike，“Isaid。“Iwon’tbeastranger。“
　　“Whyhowlovely！“criedthePrincess。
　　Youshouldhaveseenthedancinglightsflybacktohereyes。
　　Probablyyouwon’tbelievethis，butthefirstthingIknewIwasbesideheronthethrone，herarmwasaroundme，andit’sthegospeltruththatshehuggedmetight。IjusthadsenseenoughtoreachoverandpickLaddie’sletterfromherfingers，andthenIwasonherside。Idon’tknowwhatshedidtome，butallatonceIknewthatshewasdreadfullylonely；thatshehatedbeingastranger；thatshewassorryenoughtocrybecausetheirhousewasoneofmystery，andthatshewouldopenthedoorifshecould。
　　“Ilikeyou，“Isaid，reachinguptotouchhercurls。
　　IneverhadseenherthatIdidnotwantto。TheywerelikeI
　　thoughttheywouldbe。FatherandLaddieandsomeofushadwavyhair，butherswascrisp——anditclungtoyourfingers，andwrappedaroundthemandseemedtotugatyourheartlikeitdoeswhenababygripsyou。Idrewawaymyhand，andthehairstretchedoutuntilitwaslongasanyofours，andthencurledupagain，andyoucouldseethatnotinshadstabbedintoherheadtomakethosecurls。Ibegantryingtosingleoutonehair。
　　“Whatareyoudoing？“sheasked。
　　“Iwanttoknowifonlyonehairisstrongenoughtodrawadrowningmanfromthewaterorstrangleanunhappyone，“Isaid。
　　“Believeme，no！“criedthePrincess。“ItwouldtakeallIhave，wovenintoarope，todothat。“
　　“Laddieknowscurlsthatjustonehairofthemisstrongenough，“
　　Iboasted。
　　“Iwondernow！“saidthePrincess。“IthinkhemusthavebeenmakingpoetryortellingFairytales。“
　　“Hewastellingthetruth，“Iassuredher。“Fatherdoesn’tbelieveinFairies，andmotherlaughs，butLaddieandIknow。DoyoubelieveinFairies？“
　　“OfcourseIdo！“shesaid。
　　“ThenyouknowthatthisCOULDbeanEnchantedWood？“
　　“Ihavefounditso，“saidthePrincess。
　　“AndMAYBEthisisaMagicCarpet？“
　　“ItsurelyisaMagicCarpet。“
　　“AndyoumightbethedaughteroftheQueen？Youreyesare`moonlitpoolsofdarkness。’Ifonlyyourhairwerestronger，andyouknewaboutmakingsunshine！“
　　“MaybeitisstrongerthanIthink。Itneverhasbeentested。
　　PerhapsIdoknowaboutmakingsunshine。PossiblyIamastrueasthewoodandthecarpet。“
　　Idrewawayandstaredather。ThelongerIlookedthemoreuncertainIbecame。MaybehermotherwastheQueen。Perhapsthatwasthemystery。Itmightbethereasonshedidn’twantthepeopletoseeher。MaybeshewassobusymakingsunshineforthePrincesstobringtoLaddiethatshehadnotimetosewcarpetrags，andtogotoquiltings，andfunerals，andmakevisits。Itwashardtoknowwhattothink。
　　“Iwishyou’dtellmeplainoutifyouaretheQueen’sdaughter，“
　　Isaid。“It’smostimportant。Youcan’thavethisletterunlessIKNOW。It’stheveryfirsttimeLaddieevertrustedmewithaletter，andIjustcan’tgiveittothewrongperson。“
　　“Thenwhydon’tyouleaveitwherehetoldyou？“
　　“Butyouhavegoneandfoundtheplace。Youstartedtotakeitonce；youwouldagain，soonasIleft。“
　　“Lookmestraightintheeyes，LittleSister，“saidthePrincesssoftly。“AmIlikeapersonwhowouldtakeanythingthatdidn’tbelongtoher？“
　　“No！“Isaidinstantly。
　　“HowdoyouthinkIhappenedtocometothisplace？“
　　“Maybeourwoodsareprettierthanyours。“
　　“HowdoyouthinkIknewwheretheletterwas？“
　　Ishookmyhead。
　　“IfIshowyousomeothersexactlyliketheoneyouhavethere，thenwillyoubelievethatisforme？“
　　“Yes，“Ianswered。
　　Ibelieveditanyway。ItjustSEEMEDso，thebetteryouknewher。ThePrincessslippedherhandamongthefoldsofthetrailingpalegreenskirt，andfromahiddenpocketdrewotherlettersexactlyliketheoneIheld。SheopenedoneandranherfingeralongthetoplineandIread，“TothePrincess，“andthenshepointedtotheendinganditwasmerelysigned，“Laddie，“butallthewordswrittenbetweenwerehiswriting。SlowlyIhandedhertheletter。
　　“Youdon’twantmetohaveit？“sheasked。
　　“Yes，“Isaid。“IwantyoutohaveitifLaddiewroteitforyou——butmotherandfatherwon’t，notatall。“
　　“Whatmakesyouthinkso？“sheaskedgently。
　　“Don’tyouknowwhatpeoplesayaboutyou？“
　　“Someofit，perhaps。“
　　“Well？“
　　“Doyouthinkitistrue？“
　　“Notthatyou’restuckup，andhatefulandproud，notthatyoudon’twanttobeneighbourlywithotherpeople，no，Idon’tthinkthat。ButyourfathersaidinourhomethattherewasnoGod，andyouwouldn’tletmymotherinwhensheputonherbestdressandwentinthecarriage，andwantedtobefriends。Ihavetobelievethat。“
　　“Yes，youcan’thelpbelievingthat，“saidthePrincess。
　　“Thencan’tyouseewhyyou’llbelikelytoshowLaddiethewaytofindtrouble，insteadofsunshine？“
　　“Icansee，“saidthePrincess。
　　“OhPrincess，youwon’tdoit，willyou？“Icried。
　　“Don’tyouthinksuchabigmanasLaddiecantakecareofhimself？“sheasked，andthedancinglightsthathadbeguntofadecameback。“Overthere，“shepointedthroughourwoodstowardthesouthwest，“livesamanyouknow。Whatdohisneighbourscallhim？“
　　“Stiff-neckedJohnny，“Iansweredpromptly。
　　“Andthemanwholivesnexthim？“
　　“Pinch-fistWilliams。“
　　Herfingerveeredtoanotherneighbour’s。
　　“Thegirlsofthathouse？“
　　“Giggle-headSmithsons。“
　　“Whataboutthemanwholivesoverthere？“
　　“Hebeatshiswife。“
　　“Andthehousebeyond？“
　　“Motherwhispersaboutthem。Idon’tknow。“
　　“Andthewomanonthehill？“
　　“Shedoesn’tdoanythingbutgussipandmakeeveryonetrouble。“
　　“Exactly！“saidthePrincess。“Yetmostofthesepeoplecometoyourhouse，andyourfamilygoestotheirs。Doyousupposepeopletheyknownothingaboutaresomuchworsethantheseothers？“
　　“IfyourfatherwilltakeitbackaboutGod，andyourmotherwillletpeoplein——mymotherandfatherbothwantedtobefriends，youknow。“
　　“ThatIcan’tpossiblydo，“shesaid，“butmaybeIcouldchangetheirfeelingstowardme。“
　　“Doit！“Icried。“Oh，I’djustloveyoutodoit！Iwishyouwouldcometoourhouseandbefriends。Sallyisprettyasyouare，onlyadifferentway，andIknowshe’dlikeyou，andsowouldShelley。IfLaddiewritesyoulettersandcomeshereaboutsunshine，ofcoursehe’dbedelightedifmotherknewyou；becausesheloveshimbestofanyofus。Shedependsonhimmostasmuchasfather。“