“ThenwillyoukeepthesecretuntilIhavetimetotry——sayuntilthistimenextyear？“
　　“I’llkeepitjustaslongasLaddiewantsmeto。“
　　“Good！“saidthePrincess。“NowonderLaddiethinksyouthefinestLittleSisteranyoneeverhad。“
　　“DoesLaddiethinkthat？“Iasked“Hedoesindeed！“saidthePrincess。
　　“ThenI’mnotafraidtogohome，“Isaid。“AndI’llbringhisletterthenexttimehecan’tcome。“
　　“Wereyouscaredthistime？“
　　ItoldheraboutthatSomethinginthedrybed，thewolves，wildcats，PaddyRyan，andtheGypsies。
　　“Youlittlegoosie，“saidthePrincess。“IamafraidthatbrotherLeonofyoursisthebiggestroguelooseinthispartofthecountry。Didn’titeveroccurtoyouthatpeoplenamedWolfeliveoverthere，andtheycallthatcrowdnextus`wildcats，’
　　becausetheyjustwentonsomelandandtookit，andbeganlivingtherewithoutanymorepermissionthanrealwildcatsasktoenterthewoods？DoyousupposeIwouldbehere，andeverywhereelseI
　　wanttogo，iftherewereanydanger？Didanythingreallyharmyoucoming？“
　　“You’reharmedwhenyou’rescareduntilyoucan’tbreathe，“I
　　said。“Anyway，nothingcouldgetmecoming，becauseIheldthelettertightinmyhand，likeLaddiesaid。Ifyou’dwritemeonetotakeback，I’dbesafegoinghome。“
　　“Isee，“saidthePrincess。“ButI’venopencil，andnopaper，unlessIusethebackofoneofLaddie’sletters，andthatwouldn’tbepolite。“
　　“Youcanmakenewfashions，“Isaid，“butyoudon’tknowmuchaboutthewoods，doyou？IcouldfixfiftywaystosendamessagetoLaddie。“
　　“Howwouldyou？“askedthePrincess。
　　RunningtothepawpawbushesIpulledsomebigtenderleaves。
　　ThenItookthebarkfromtheboxandlaidaleafonit。
　　“Presswithoneofyourrings，“Isaid，“andprintwhatyouwanttosay。IwritetotheFairieseverydaythatway，onlyIuseanoldknifehandle。“
　　Shetried。Shespoiledtwoorthreebybearingdownsohardshecuttheleaves。Shedidn’tevenknowenoughtowriteonthefrostyside，untilshewastold。Butprettysoonshegotalongsowellsheprintedallovertwobigones。ThenItookastickandpunchedlittleholesandstuckapieceoffoxfirebloomthrough。
　　“Whatmakesyoudothat？“sheasked。
　　“That’sthestamp，“Iexplained。
　　“Butit’smyletter，andIdidn’tputitthere。“
　　“HastobethereortheFairieswon’tlikeit，“Isaid。
　　“Wellthen，letitgo，“saidthePrincess。
　　Iputbackthebarkandreplacedthestone，gatheredupthescatteredleaves，andputthetwowithwritingonbetweenfreshones。
　　“NowImustrun，“Isaid，“orLaddiewillthinktheGypsieshavegotmesure。“
　　“I’llgowithyoupastthedrycreek，“sheoffered。
　　“Youbetternot，“Isaid。“I’dlovetohaveyou，butitwouldbebestforyoutochangetheiropinion，beforefatherormotherseesyouontheirland。“
　　“Perhapsitwould，“saidthePrincess。“I’llwaithereuntilyoureachthefenceandthenyoucallandI’llknowyouareintheopenandfeelcomfortable。“
　　“Iammostalloverbeingafraidnow，“Itoldher。
　　Justtoshowher，Iwalkedtothecreek，climbedthegateandwentdownthelane。AlmosttotheroadIbeganwonderingwhatI
　　coulddowiththeletter，whenlookingaheadIsawLaddiecoming。
　　“Iwasjuststartingtofindyou。You’vebeenanage，child，“hesaid。
　　Ihelduptheletter。
　　“Nooneislooking，“Isaid，“andthiswon’tgoinyourpocket。“
　　Youshouldhaveseenhisface。
　　“Wheredidyougetit？“heasked。
　　Itoldhimallaboutit。Itoldhimeverything——aboutthehairthatmaybewasstrongerthanshethought，andthatshewasgoingtochangefather’sandmother’sopinions，andthatIputtheredfloweron，butsheleftit；andwhenIwasdoneLaddiealmosthuggedthelifeoutofme。Ineverdidseehimsohappy。
　　“Ifyoubevery，verycarefulnevertobreatheawhisper，I’lltakeyouwithmesomeday，“hepromised。
　　CHAPTERII
　　OurAngelBoy“Ihadabrotheronce——agraciousboy，Fullofallgentleness，ofcalmesthope，Ofsweetandquietjoy，——therewasthelookOfheavenuponhisface。“
　　Itwassuppertimewhenwereachedhome，andBobbywasatthefrontgatetomeetme。Healwayshuntedmeallovertheplacewhenthebigbellintheyardrangatmealtime，becauseifhecrowednicelywhenhewastold，hewasallowedtostandonthebackofmychairandeverylittlewhileIheldupmyplateandsharedbiteswithhim。Ihaveseenmanywhitebantams，butneveranotherlikeBobby。MybigbrothersboughthimformeinFortWayne，andsenthiminabox，aloneonthecars。FatherandI
　　drovetoGrovevilletomeethim。Theminutefatherpriedoffthelid，Bobbyhoppedontheedgeoftheboxandcrowed——thebiggestcrowyoueverheardfromsuchamiteofabody；hewasn’tintheleastafraidofusandwewerepleasedaboutit。Youscarcelycouldseehisbeadyblackeyesforhisbushytopknot，hiswingtipstouchedtheground，histailhadtwobeautifulplumyfeathersmuchlongerthantheothers，hisfeetwerecoveredwithfeathers，andhiskneetuftsdragged。Hewasthesauciest，spunkiestlittlefellow，andwhiteasmuslin。Wewenttosuppertogether，butnooneaskedwhereIhadbeen，andbecauseIwassoburstingfullofimportance，ItalkedonlytoBobby，inordertobesafe。
　　AftersupperIfinishedHezekiah’strousers，andMaycuthiscoatforme。SchoolwouldbegininSeptemberandourclotheswerebeingmade，soIusedthescrapstodresshim。Hissuitwasdonebythenextforenoon，andfatherneverlaughedharderthanwhenHezekiahhoppeddownthewalktomeethimdressedinpinktrousersandcoat。ThecoathadflowingsleeveslikethePrincesswore，soHezekiahcouldfly，andheseemedtolikethem。
　　HissuitwassuchasuccessIbeganasunbonnet，andwhenthatwastiedonhim，thefolksalmosthadspasms。Theysaidhewouldn’tlikebeingdressed；thathewouldflyawaytopunishme，buthedidnosuchthing。Hestayedaroundthehouseandwastameasever。
　　WhenIbecametiredsewingthatafternoon，Iwentdownthelaneleadingtoourmeadow，whereLeonwaskillingthistleswithagrubbinghoe。Ithoughthewouldbegladtoseeme，andhewas。
　　Everyonehadbeenbusyinthehouse，soIwenttothecellartheoutsidewayandateallIwantedfromthecupboard。ThenI
　　spreadtwobigslicesofbreadthebestIcouldwithmyfingers，puttingapplebutteronone，andmashedpotatoesontheother。
　　Leonleanedonthehoeandwatchedmecoming。Hewasahungryboy，andlonesometoo，buthecouldn’tbeforcedtosayso。
　　“Laddieisatworkinthebarn，“hesaid。
　　“I’mgoingtoplayinthecreek，“Ianswered。
　　Crossingourmeadowtherewasastreamthathadgrassybanks，bigtrees，willows，bushesandvinesforshade，asolidpebblybed；
　　itwasallturnsandbendssothatthewaterhurrieduntilitbubbledandsangasitwent；initlivedtinyfishcolouredbrightlyasflowers，besideitrankilldeer，ploverandsolemnblueheronsalmostastallasIwascamefromtherivertofish；
　　foraplacetoplayonanAugustafternoon，itcouldn’tbebeaten。Thesheephadbeenputinthelowerpasture；sothecrossoldShropshireramwasnottheretobotherus。
　　“Cometotheshade，“IsaidtoLeon，andwhenwewerecomfortablyseatedunderabigmapleweighteddownwithtrailinggrapevines，Iofferedthebread。Leontookapieceineachhandandbegantoeatasifhewerestarving。Laddiewouldhavekissedmeandsaid：“Whatafinetreat！Thankyou，LittleSister。“
　　Leonwasdifferent。Heatesogreedilyyouhadtoknowhewasgladtogetit，buthewouldn’tsayso，notifhenevergotanymore。Whenyouknewhim，youunderstoodhewouldn’tforgetit，andhe’dbecertaintodosomethingniceforyoubeforethedaywasovertopayback。Wesattheretalkingabouteverythingwesaw，andatlastLeonsaidwithagrin：“Shelleyisn’tgettingmuchgrapesapisshe？“
　　“Ididn’tknowshewantedgrapesap。“
　　“Shereadaboutitinapaper。Itsaidtocutthevineofawildgrape，catchthedrippingsandmoistenyourhair。Thiswouldmakeitglossyandgrowfaster。“
　　“WhatonearthdoesShelleywantwithmorehairthanshehas？“
　　“Oh，shehashearditbraggedonsomuchshethinkspeoplewouldsaymoreifshecouldimproveit。“
　　Ilookedandtherewasthevine，dryascouldbe，andamilkcrockbeneathit。
　　“Didn’tthesillyknowshehadtocutthevineinthespringwhenthesapwasrunning？“
　　“Bearwitness，Ovine！thatshedidnot，“saidLeon，“andspeak，yevoicelesspottery，andtestifythatsheexpectedtofindyouoverflowing。“
　　“Toobadthatshe’sgoingtobedisappointed。“
　　“Sheisn’t！She’sgoingtofindampleliquidtobatheherstreamingtresses。Keepquietandwatchme。“
　　Hepickedupthecrock，carriedittothecreekanddippeditfullofwater。
　　“That’stoomuch，“Iobjected。“She’llknowshenevergotacrockfullfromadryvine。“
　　“She’llthinkthevinebleditselfdryforhersake。“
　　“Sheisn’tthatsilly。“
　　“Wellthen，howsillyisshe？“askedLeon，spillingouthalf。
　　“Aboutso？“
　　“Notsobadasthat。Lessyet！“
　　“Anythingtopleasetheladies，“saidLeon，pouringoutmore。
　　Thenwesatandgiggledawhile。
　　“Whatareyougoingtodonow？“askedLeon。
　　“Playinthecreek，“Ianswered。
　　“Allright！I’llworknearyou。“
　　Herolledhistrousersabovehiskneesandtookthehoe，buthewasinthewatermostofthetime。Wehadtoclimbonthebankwhenwecametothedeepcurve，underthestumpoftheoldoakthatfathercutbecausePeteBillingswouldclimbitandyowllikeawildcatoncoldwinternights。PetewaswronginhisheadlikePaddyRyan，onlyworse。Aswepassedweheardthefaintestsounds，sowelayandlooked，andthereinthedarkplaceundertheroots，wherethewaterwasdeepest，huddledsomeofthecunningestlittledownywildducksyoueversaw。Welookedateachotherandneversaidaword。Leonchasedthemoutwiththehoeandtheyswamdownstreamfasterthanoldones。Istoodintheshallowwaterbehindthemandkeptthemfromgoingbacktothedeepplace，whileLeonworkedtocatchthem。Everytimehegotonehebroughtittome，andImadeabagofmyapronfronttoputthemin。Thesupperbellrangbeforewecaughtallofthem。Weweredrippingwetwithcreekwaterandperspiration，butwehadtheducks，everyoneofthem，andproudlystartedhome。I’llwagerLeonwassorryhedidn’twearapronssohecouldcarrythem。Hedidkeepthelastoneinhishands，andhelditslittlefluffybodyagainsthischeekseveryfewminutes。
　　“Couldn’tanythingbeprettierthanayoungduck。“
　　“Exceptalittleguinea，“Isaid。
　　“That’sso！“saidLeon。“Theyaremostasprettyasquail。I
　　guessallyoungthingsthathavedownareaboutascunningastheycanbe。Idon’tbelieveIknowwhichIlikebest，myself。“
　　“Babykilldeers。“
　　“Imeantame。Thingsweraise。“
　　“I’lltakeguineas。“
　　“I’llsaywhiteturkeys。Theyseemsoinnocent。Nothingofoursisprettyasthese。“
　　“Butthesearewild。“
　　“Sotheyare，“saidLeon。“Twelveofthem。Won’tmotherbepleased？“
　　Shewasnotintheleast。Shesaidwewereasighttobehold；
　　thatshewasashamedtobethemotheroftwochildrenwhodidn’tknowtameducksfromwildones。SherememberedinstantlythatAmandaDeamhadsetaspeckledDorkinghenonMallardduckeggs，whereshegottheeggs，andwhatshepaidforthem。ShesaidtheduckshadfoundthecreekthatflowedbesideDeams’
　　barnyardbeforeitenteredourland，andtheyhadswumawayfromthehen，andboththehenandAmandawouldbefrantic。Sheputtheducksintoabasketandsaidtotakethembacksoonaseverwegotoursuppers，andwemusthurrybecausewehadtobatheandlearnourtextsforSunday-schoolinthemorning。
　　Wewentthroughtheorchard，downthehillandacrossthemeadowuntilwecametothecreek。Bythattimeweweretiredofthebasket。Itwasonefatherhadwovenhimselfofshavedandsoakedhickorystrips，anditwasheavy。Thesightofwatersuggestedtheproperplaceforducks，anyway。Wetalkeditoveranddecidedthattheywouldbemuchmorecomfortableswimmingthaninthebasket，anditwasmorefuntowadethantowalk，sowewentabovethedeepplace，Istoodinthecreektokeepthemfromgoingdown，andLeonpouredthemonthewater。Pigscouldn’thaveactedmorecontrary。ThoseducksLIKEDus。Theywouldn’tgotoDeams’。Theyjustfoughttoswimbacktous。Anyway，wehadtheworsttimeyoueversaw。Leoncutlongswitchestoherdthemwith，andbothofuswadedandtriedtodrivethem，buttheywoulddartunderembankmentsandroots，anddiveandhide。