ThatwassoexcitingIthoughtI’djusttryit，soIstoodonthetoprail，spreadmyarms，wavedthem，andstarted。IwasbumpedinfiftyplaceswhenIrolledintothecowslipbedatthefootofthesteephill，forstonesstuckoutalloverthesideofit，andIfeltprettymeanasIclimbedbacktothepulpit。
　　TheonlyconsolationIhadwaswhatDr。Fennerhadsaid。Thatwouldbethegreatestpossiblehelpinmanagingfatherormother。
　　IwasundecidedaboutwhetherIwouldgotoschool，ornot。Mustbeperfectlydreadfultodresslikeforchurch，andsitstillinastuffylittleroom，anddoyour“abs，“and“bes，“and“bis，“
　　and“bos，“alldaylong。Icouldspellquitewellwithoutlookingataschoolhouse，andreadtoo。IwaswonderingifI
　　everwouldgoatall，whenIthoughtofsomethingelse。Dr。
　　Fennerhadsaidtogivemeplentyofgoodbooks。Iwaswildforsomethatwerealreadypromisedme。Well，whatwouldtheyamounttoifIcouldn’tunderstandthemwhenIgotthem？THATseemedtomakeitsureIwouldbecompelledtogotoschooluntilIlearnedenoughtounderstandwhatthebookscontainedaboutbirds，flowers，andmoths，anyway；andperhapstherewouldbesomehavingFairiesinthem。Ofcoursethosewouldbeinteresting。
　　Ineverhateddoinganythingsobadly，inallmylife，butI
　　couldsee，withnoonetotellme，thatIhadputitoffaslongasIdared。IwouldjusthavetostartschoolwhenLeonandMaywentinSeptember。TillyBaher，wholivedacrosstheswampnearSarahHood，hadgonetwowintersalready，andshewasonlyayearolder，andnothalfmysize。Istoodonthepulpitandlookedalongtimeineverydirection，intotheskythelongestofall。
　　Itwassettled。Imustgo；Imightaswellstartandhaveitover。Icouldn’tlookanywhere，rightthereathome，andnotseemorethingsIdidn’tknowaboutthanIdid。Whenmothershowedmeinthecity，Iwouldn’tbesnappeduplikehotcakes；I’dbeablockheadnoonewouldhave。ItmademesovexedtothinkIhadtogo，IsetHezekiahonmyshoulder，tookBobbyundermyarm，andwenttothehouse。Ontheway，ImadeupmymindthatI
　　wouldaskagain，verypolitely，toholdthelittlebaby，andiftherestofthemwentandpiggeditupstraightalong，I’dpinchit，ifIgotachance。
　　CHAPTERIV
　　TheLastDayinEden“’Tisthesunsetoflifegivesmemysticallore，Andcomingeventscasttheirshadowsbefore。“
　　Ofcoursethebabywasasleepandcouldn’tbetouched；buttherewassomeexcitement，anyway。Fatherhadcomefromtownwithaletterfromthenewschoolteacher，thatsaidshewouldexpecthimtomeetheratthestationnextSaturday。Motherthoughtshemightaswellgettheroomreadyandletherstayatourhouse，becauseweweremostconvenient，anditwouldbethebestplaceforher。Shesaidthateverytime，andtheteacheralwaysstayedwithus。Reallyitwasbecausefatherandmotherwantedtheteacherwheretheycouldknowasmuchaspossibleaboutwhatwasgoingon。Sallydidn’tlikehavingheratall；shesaidwiththeweddingcoming，theteacherwouldbeanuisance。Shelleyhadfinishedourschool，andtheGrovevillehighschool，andinsteadofattendingcollegeshewasgoingtoChicagotostudymusic。
　　Shewassoanxiousoverherdressesandgettingstarted，shedidn’tseemtothinkmuchaboutwhatwasgoingtohappentousathome；soshedidn’tcareifMissAmeliastayedatourhouse。Maysaiditwouldbebesttohavetheteacherwithus，becauseshecouldhelpuswithourlessonsathome，andwecouldgetaheadoftheothers。Mayalreadyhaddecidedthatshewouldbeattheheadofherclasswhenshefinishedschool，andeverytimeyouwantedherandcouldn’tfindher，ifyouwouldlookacrossthefootofmother’sbed，Maywouldbetherewithaspellingbook。
　　Onceshehadspelleddownourschool，whenLaddiewasnotthere。
　　FatherhadmetPeterDoverintown，andhehadsaidthathewascomingtoseeSally，becausehehadsomethingofespecialimportancetotellher。
　　“Didhesaywhatitwas？“askedSally。
　　“OnlywhatIhavetoldyou，“repliedfather。
　　Sallywantedtotakethebroomandsweeptheparlour。
　　“It’scleanasaribbon，“saidmother。
　　“Ifyougointhere，you’llwakethebaby，“saidLucy。
　　“WillitkillitifIdo？“askedSally。
　　“No，butitwillmakeitcrossasfire，soitwillcryallthetimePeterishere，“saidLucy。
　　“I’llbesurprisedifitdoesn’tscreameveryminuteanyway，“
　　saidSally。
　　“Ihopeitwill，“saidLucy。“ThatwillmakePeterthinkawhilebeforehecomessooften。“
　　ThatmadeSallysoangryshecouldn’tspeak，soshewentoutandbegankillingchickens。Ihelpedhercatchthem。TheyweresousedtometheywouldcomerighttomyfeetwhenIshelledcorn。
　　“I’mgoingtokillthree，“saidSally。“I’mgoingtobesurewehaveenough，butdon’tyoutelluntiltheirheadsareoff。“
　　Whileshewasworkingonthemmothercameoutandaskedhowmanyshehad，soSallysaidthree。Mothercountedusandsaidthatwasn’tenough；therewouldhavetobefouratleast。
　　AftershewasgoneSallylookedatmeandsaid：“Well，forland’ssake！“
　　Itwassofunnyshehadtolaugh，andbythetimeIcaughtthefourthone，andbeganhelpingpickthem，shewasoverbeingprovokedandwehadlotsoffun。
　　TheminuteIsawPeterDoverhemademethinkofsomething。I
　　rodehishorsetothebarnwithLeonleadingit。TherewesawLaddie。
　　“Guesswhat！“Icried。
　　“Nevercould！“laughedLaddie，givingPeterDover’shorseaslapasitpassedhimonthewaytoastall。
　　“Fourchickens，ham，biscuit，andcake！“Iannounced。
　　“Isitabarbecue？“askedLaddie。
　　“No，theextraoneisforthebaby，“saidLeon。“Squallylittlerunt，Icallit。“
　　“It’sanicebaby！“saidLaddie。
　　“Whatdoyouknowaboutit？“demandedLeon。
　　“Well，consideringthatIstartedwithyou，andhavebroughtuptwootherssince，Iamschooledinallthereistoknow，“saidLaddie。
　　“Guesswhatelse！“Icried。
　　“More？“saidLaddie。“Outwithit！Don’tkillmewithsuspense。“
　　“FatherisgoingtotownSaturdaytomeetthenewteacherandshewillstayatourhouseasusual。“
　　Leonyelledandfellbackinamanger，whileLaddieheldharnessoiltohisnose。
　　“More！“criedLeon，grabbingthebottle。
　　“Areyousure？“askedLaddieofmeearnestly。
　　“It’sdecided。Mothersaidso，“Itoldhim。
　　“Nameofablackcat，why？“demandedLaddie。
　　“Mothersaidweweremostconvenientfortheteacher。“
　　“Aren’tthereenoughofus？“askedLeon，straighteningupsniffingharnessoilasifhislifedependedonit。
　　“Anyunprejudicedpersonwouldprobablysaysotolookin，“saidLaddie。
　　“I’llbetshe’llbesixtyandacat，“saidLeon。“Won’tIhavefunwithher？“
　　“Maybeso，maybenot！“saidLaddie。“Youcan’talwaystell，forsure。RememberyourAlamo！Youweregoingtohavefunwiththeteacherlastyear，butshehaditwithyou。“
　　Leonthrewtheoilbottleathim。Laddiecaughtitandsetitontheshelf。
　　“Idon’tunderstand，“saidLeon。
　　“Ido，“saidLaddiedryly。“THISisonereason。“HehitPeterDover’shorseanotherslap。
　　“Maybeyes，“saidLeon。
　　“Shelleytomusicschool，two。“
　　“Yes，“saidLeon。“PeterDoversarethegreatestexpense，andPeterwon’thappenbutonce。Shelleywillhaveatleasttwoyearsinschoolbeforeitisherturn，andyoucomenext，anyway。“
　　“Shutup！“criedLaddie。
　　“Thanky！Yourordersshallbeobeyedgladly。“
　　Helaiddownthepitchfork，wentoutside，closedthedoor，andlatchedit。Laddiecalledtohim，butherantothehouse。WhenLaddieandIfinishedourwork，andhis，andwantedtogo，wehadtoclimbthestairsandleavethroughthefrontdoorontheembankment。
　　“Themonkey！“saidLaddie，buthedidn’tgetmad；hejustlaughed。
　　TheminuteIsteppedintothehouseandsawtheparlourdoorclosed，Ithoughtofthat“something“again。Iwalkedpastit，butcouldn’thearanything。Ofcoursemotherwantedtoknow；andshewouldbeverythankfultomeifIcouldtellher。Iwentoutthefrontdoor，andthoughtdeeplyonthesituation。Thewindowswerewideopen，butIwasfarbelowthemandIcouldonlyhearasortofmurmur。Whycan’tpeoplespeakuploudandplain，anyway？Ofcoursetheywouldsitonthebighairclothsofa。
　　Didn’tLeoncallitthe“sparkingbench“？Thehemlocktreewouldbebest。Iclimbedquieterthanacat，fortheybreakbarkandmakeanawfulscratchingwiththeirclawssometimes；mybarefeetweresoundless。UpandupIwent，slowly，foritwasdreadfullyrough。Theywerenotonthesofa。Icouldseeplainlythroughtheneedles。ThenIsawthesprucewouldhavebeenbetter，fortheywerestandinginfrontoftheparlourdoorandPeterhadonehandontheknob。HisotherarmwasaroundmysisterSally。
　　BreathlesslyIleanedasfarasIcould，andwatched。
　　“Fathersaidhe’dgivemethemoneytobuyahalfinterest，andfurnishahousenicely，ifyousaid`yes，’Sally，“saidPeter。
　　Sallyleanedbackallpinksomeandblushful，andwhileshelaughedathimshe“CarelesslytossedoffacurlThatplayedonherdelicatebrow。“
　　exactlylikeMaryDowinMcGuffey’sThird。
　　“Well，whatdidISAY？“sheasked。
　　“Cometothinkofit，youdidn’tsayanything。“
　　Sally’sfacewasallafirewithdancinglights，andshelaughedthegayestlittlelaugh。
　　“Areyousoverysureofthat，Peter？“shesaid。
　　“I’mnotsureofanything，“saidPeter，“exceptthatIamsohappyIcouldfly。“
　　“Tryit，fool！“Isaidtomyself，deepinmythroat。
　　Sallylaughedagain，andPetertookhisotherhandfromthedoorandputthatarmaroundSallytoo，andhedrewhertohimandkissedher，thelongest，hardestkissIeversaw。Iletgoandrolled，tumbled，slid，andscratcheddownthehemlocktree，droppedfromthelastbranchtotheground，andscamperedaroundthehouse。Ireachedthedining-roomdoorwheneveryonewasgatheringforsupper。
　　“Mother！“Icried。“Mother！Yes！They’reengaged！He’skissingher，mother！Yes，Lucy，they’reengaged！“
　　Irushedintotellallofthemwhattheywouldbegladtoknow，andiftheredidn’tstandPeterandSally！Howtheyevergotthroughthatdoor，andacrossthesitting-roombeforeme，Idon’tunderstand。Sallymadeadiveatme，andIwassoastonishedI
　　forgottorun，soshecaughtme。Shestartedforthewoodhousewithme，andmotherfollowed。Sallyturnedatthedoorandshewasthewhitestofanythingyoueversaw。
　　“Thisismyaffair，“shesaid。“I’llattendtothisyounglady。“
　　“Verywell，“saidmother，andasIlivesheturnedandleftmetomysadfate，asitsaysinastorybookwehave。Iwishwhenpeoplearegoingtopunishme，they’dtakeaswitchandstrikerespectably，likemotherdoes。Thisthingofhavingsomeonegetalloverme，andnothavinganideawhereI’mgoingtobehit，istheworstpunishmentthatIeverhad。I’dbeendownthehillandupthehemlockthatday，anyway。I’dalwaysbeentoldSallydidn’twantme。ShePROVEDitrightthen。Finallyshequit，becauseshewastootiredtostrikeagain，soIcreptamongtheshavingsontheworkbenchandwenttosleep。ITHOUGHTtheywouldliketoknow，andthatIwasgoingtopleasethem。
　　Anyway，theyfoundout，forbythetimeSallygotbackPeterhadtoldthemaboutthestore，andthefurnishedhouse，andaskedfatherforSallyrightbeforeallofthem，whichfathersaidwasprettybrave；butPeterknewitwasallrightorhecouldn’thavecomelikehe’dbeendoing。
　　Afterthat，youcouldn’thearanythingatourhousebutwedding。
　　Sally’sshareoflinenandbeddingwasallfinishedlongago。
　　FathertookhertoFortWayneonthecarstobuyherwedding，travelling，andworkingdresses，andherhat，cloak，andlinen，likeyouhavewhenyoumarry。
　　ItwasstrangethatSallydidn’twantmothertogo，butshesaidthetripwouldtirehertoomuch。MothersaiditwasbecauseSallycouldcoaxmoredressesfromfather。Anyway，mothertoldhimtosetalimitandsticktoit。Shesaidsheknewhehadn’tdoneitasshegotthefirstglimpseofSally’sfacewhentheycameback，butthechildlookedsobeautifulandhappyshehadn’tthehearttospoilherpleasure。
　　Thenextdayasewingwomancame；andallofthemwereshutupinthesitting-room，whilethesewingmachinejustwhizzedontheworkingdresses。Sallysaidtheweddingdresshadtobemadebyhand。Shekepttheroomlocked，andeverynewthingthattheymadewaslaidawayonthebedintheparlourbedroom，andnoneofushadapeepuntileverythingwasfinished。Itwasawfullyexciting，butIwouldn’tpretendIcared，becauseIwashuffyather。ItoldherIwouldn’tkisshergoodbye，andI’dbeGLAD
　　whenshewasgone。
　　Sallysaidtheschool-ma’amsimplyhadtogotoWinters’，orsomeplaceelse，butmothersaidpossiblyastrangerwouldhavesomeideas，andknowsomenewstyles，soSallythenthoughtmaybetheyhadbettertryitafewdays，andshecouldhaveherplaceandbecompanywhensheandShelleyleft。Shelleywasrathersilentandblue，andbeforelongIfoundhercrying，becausemotherhadtoldhershecouldn’tstartforChicagountilafterthewedding，andthatwouldmakehermisssixweeksatthestart。