hadalwaysknownitwasnoniceway。Imusthavegonetosleepafterawhile，butwhenIwokeupIwasstillthinkingaboutit，andtosaveme，Icouldn’tquit。Allday，whereverIwent，thatquestionoffather’skeptgoingoverinmyhead。IthoughtaboutituntilIwasalmostcrazy，andIjustcouldn’tseewhereanythingaboutshamecamein。
　　Shewasonlymistaken。SheTHOUGHThelovedher，andhedidn’t。
　　Shenevercouldhavebeensobloomy，sofilledwithsong，laughter，andlovelylikeshewas，ifshehadn’ttrulybelievedwithallherheartthathelovedher。Ofcourseitwouldalmostfinishhertogivehimup，whenshefeltlikethat；andmaybeshedidwrongtoletherselfcaresomuch，beforeshewassureabouthim；butthatwouldonlybefoolish，therewouldn’tbeevenashadowofshameaboutit。Besides，Laddiehaddoneexactlythesamething。HelovedthePrincessuntilitnearlykilledhimwhenhethoughthehadtogiveherup，andhelovedherashardaseverhecould，whenhehadn’tanideawhethershewouldlovehimback，evenatinyspeck；andthepersonwhowasn’tfoolish，andneverwouldbe，wasLaddie。
　　ThemoreIthought，theworseIgotworkedup，andIcouldn’tseehowShelleywastoblameforanythingatall。Lovejustcametoher，likeitcametoLaddie。ShewouldhardlyhavekneltdownandbeseechedtheLordtomakeherfallinlovewithamanshescarcelyknew，andwhenshecouldn’tbesurewhathewasgoingtodoaboutit——nottheLord，theman，Imean。Youcouldseeforyourselfshewouldn’tdothat。Ifinishedmywork，andthenI
　　triedtodothingsforher，andshewouldn’tletme。MothertoldmetoaskhertomakeGraceGreenwoodthedressshehadpromisedwhenIwassosick；soItooktheScotchplaidtoherandremindedher，andshepushedmeawayandsaid：“Sometime！“
　　IevengotGrace，andshowedShelleythespillsonherdress，andhowbadlysheneededanewone，butsheneverlooked，shesaid：
　　“Ohbother！Myheadaches。Doletmebe！“
　　Motherwaslistening。Icouldseeherstandingoutsidethedoor。
　　Shemotionedtometocomeaway，soIwenttoherandshewaswhiteasShelley。Shewassicktoo，shecouldn’tsayawordforaminute，butafterawhileshekissedme，Icouldfeelthequiversinherlips，andshesaidstifflike：“Nevermind，she’llbebettersoon，thenshewill！Runplaynow！“
　　SometimesIwanderedaroundlookingatthingsandlivingdully。
　　Ididn’ttrytostudyoutanything，butImusthavewatchedcloserthanIknew，foreverysinglethingIsawthen，overthatwholefarm，Icanshutmyeyesandseeto-day；everything，fromtheoldhawktiltinghistailtosteerhiminsoaring，toasnakecatchingfieldmiceinthegrass，lichensonthefence，flowers，butterflies，everysinglething。MostlyIsattowatchsomethingthatpromisedtobecomeinteresting，andbeforeIknewit，Iwasbackontheshamequestion。That’sthemostdreadfulwordinthedictionary。There’ssomethingaboutitthatmakesyourfaceburn，onlytohaveitinyourmind。
　　Laddiesaidheneverhadmetanymanwhoknewtheoriginofmorewordsthanfather。Hecouldeventelleveryclipwhatnationalityamanwasfromhisname。HundredsoftimeIhaveheardhimsaytostrangerpeople，“Fromyournameyou’dbeofScotchextraction，“orIrish，orwhateveritwas，andeverytimethepersonhewastalkingwithwouldsay，“Yes。“Somedayawayoutinthefield，alone，IthoughtIwouldaskhimwhatpeoplefirstusedtheword“shame，“andjustexactlywhatitdidmean，andwhatthethingswerethatyoucoulddothatwouldmakethepeoplewholovedyouuntiltheywoulddieforyou，ashamedofyou。
　　ThinkingaboutthatandplanningoutwhatitwasthatIwantedtoknow，gavemeanotheridea。Whynotaskher？Shewastheonlyonewhoknewwhatshehaddoneawaythereinthecity，aloneamongstrangers；Iwasn’tsurewhetherallthemusicagirlcouldlearnwasworthlettinghertakethechancesshewouldhavetoinabigcity。FromthewayLaddieandfatherhatedthem，theywereapoorplaceformen，andtheymusthavebeenmuchworseforgirls。Shelleyknew，whynotaskHER？MaybeIcouldcoaxhertotellme，anditwouldmakemylifemucheasiertoknow；andonlythinkwhatwasgoingoninfather’sandmother’sheadsandhearts，whenIfeltthatway，anddidn’tevenknowwhattherewastobeashamedabout。Shewouldn’tanymorethanslapme；andsickasshewas，Imadeupmymindnottogetangryather，orevertotell，ifshedid。I’dratherhaveherhitmewhenshewassosickthantohaveSallybeatmeuntilshecouldn’tstrikeanotherlick，justbecauseshewasangry。ButIforgaveherthat，andIwasnevergoingtothinkofitagain——onlyIdid。
　　MotherkeptsendingLeontothepost-office，andshemethimatthegatehalfthetimeherselfandfairlysnatchedthelettersfromhishands。Hum！Shecouldn’tpullthewoolovermyeyes。
　　Iknewshehopedsomehow，someway，therewouldbeabigfatonewithPaget，LegalAdviser，orwhateveraChicagolawyerputsonhisenvelopes。Jerry’sjustsay：“AttorneyatLaw。“
　　NoletterevercamethathadPagetinthecorner，oranythinghappenedthatdidShelleyanygood。Farotherwise！JustbeforesupperLeoncamefromGrovevilleoneevening，andallofuscouldseeataglancethathehadbeencryinglikeababy。Hehadwipedup，andwastryingtoholdin，buthewaskilled，next。I
　　nearlysaid，“Well，forheaven’ssake，another！“whenIsawhim。
　　Heslammeddownabig，longenvelope，havingprintingonit，beforefather，andglaredatitasifhewantedtotearittosmithereens，andhesaid：“Ifyouwanttoknowwhyitlookslikethat，Iburieditunderastoneonce；butIhadtogoback，andthenIthrewitasfarasIcouldsendit，intoDitton’sgully，butafterawhileIhunteditupagain！“
　　Thenhekeeledoveronthecouchmotherkeepsforherinthedining-room，andsobbeduntilhelookedlikehe’dcomeapart。
　　Ofcourseallofusknewexactlywhatthatletterwasfromthewayheacted。Motherhadtoldhim，timeandagain，nottosethisheartso；fatherhad，tooandLaddie，andeveryoneofus，butthatlittlehalf-Arab，half-Kentuckymarewastheworsttemptationamanwholovedhorsescouldpossiblyhave；andwhilefatherandmotherstoppedatgoodworkhorses，andmatchedroadstersforthecarriage，theymanagedtoprizeandtendthemsothateveryoneofushadbeenbornhorse-crazy，andwehadbeenallowedtoride，carefor，andtaughttolovehorsesallourlives。Treatahorseugly，andwe’dhavegoneonthethrashingfloorourselves。
　　Fatherlaidtheletterfacedown，hishandonit，andshookhishead。“Thisistoobad！“hesaid。“It’saburningshame，butthemoney，theexactamount，wastakenfromafarmerinMedinaCounty，Ohio，byatravellerheshelteredafewdays，becausehecomplainedofabadfoot。Thedescriptionofthemanwhorobbedusisperfect。Themoneywasfromthesaleofsomeprizecattle。
　　Itwillhavetobereturned。“
　　“Justletmeseetheletteraminute，“saidLaddie。
　　Hereaditoverthoughtfully。Hewaslongenoughaboutittohavegoneoveritthreetimes；thenhelookedatLeon，andhisforeheadcreasedinadeepfrown。Thetearssliddownmother’scheeks，butshedidn’tknowit，orelseshe’dhavewipedthemaway。Shewasnevermussyabouttheleastlittlething。
　　“Father！“shesaid。“Father——！“
　　Thatwasasfarasshecouldgo。
　　“Themanmusthavehismoney，“saidfather，“butwe’lllookintothis——“
　　Hepushedbacktheplatesandtablecloth，andclearedhisendofthetable。Motherneverbudgedtostacktheplates，orstraightentheclothsoitwouldn’tbewrinkled。Thenfatherbroughthisbigaccountbookfromtheblackwalnutchestinourroom，somelittlebooks，andpapers，sharpenedapencilandbegangoingupanddownthecolumnsandpickingoutfigureshereandtherethathesetonapieceofpaper。Ineverhadseenhimlookeitheroldortiredbefore；buthedidthen。Mothernoticedittoo，forherlipstightened，sheliftedherhead，wipedhereyes，andpretendedthatshefeltbetter。Laddiesaidsomethingaboutdoingthefeeding，andslippedout。JustthenShelleycameintotheroom，stopped，andlookedquestioninglyatus。Hereyesopenedwide，andshestaredhardatLeon。
　　“Whywhatailshim？“sheaskedmother。
　　“YourememberwhatIwroteyouaboutamanwhorobbedus，andthemoneyLeonwastohave，providednoownerwasfoundinareasonabletime；andthehorsetheboyhadplannedtobuy，andhowhehadbeengoingtoPryors’——Oh，Ithinkhe’sslippedoverthereonceaday，andoftenthreetimes，allthisspring！Mr。
　　Pryorencouragedhim，lethimtakehisolderhorsestopractiseon，evenwentoutandtaughthimcross-countryridinghimself——“
　　“Iremember！“saidShelley。
　　Leonsobbedoutloud。Shelleycrossedtheroomswiftly，droppedbesidehimandwhisperedsomethinginhisear。Quickasashothisarmreachedoutandwentaroundher。Shehidherheaddeepinthepillowbesidehim，andtheywenttopiecestogether。
　　Cleartopieces！Prettysoonfatherhadtotakeoffhisglassesandwipethemsohecouldseethefigures。Mothertookonelonglookathim，ashortoneatLeonandShelley，thenshearose，hervoiceasevenandsmooth，andshesaid：“Whileyoufigure，father，I’llseeaboutsupper。Ihavetriedtoplananextragoodonethisevening。“
　　Shelefttheroom。NOW，IguessyouknowaboutallIcantellyouofmother！Ican’tseethatthere’sathingleft。Thatwasthekindofsoldiershewas。TalkaboutCrusaders，andagoodfight！Allthebloodofbattleinourfamilywasn’tonfather’sside，notbyanymeans！TheDutchcouldfighttoo！
　　Father’spencilscrapedalittle，abeethathadslippedinbuzzedovertheapplebutter，whiletheclocktickedasifitusedahammer。Itwassoloudonewantedtopitchitfromthewindow。MayandIsatstillasmicewhenthecatisnear。
　　Candacecouldn’tkeepawayfromthekitchendoortosaveher，andwheremotherwentIhadn’tanidea，butshewasn’tgettinganextragoodsupper。ShelleyandLeonwerequieternow。Maynudgedme，andIsawthathisarmaroundherwasgrippinghertight，whileherhandonhisheadwaspattinghimandfingeringhishair。
　　Ca-lumph！Ca-lumph！camethefunniestsoundrightonthestonewalkleadingtotheeastdoor，thenashrillwhickerthatmadefatherdrophispencil。Leonwasonhisfeet，Shelleybesidehim，whileatthedoorstoodLaddiegrinningasifhisfacewouldsplit，andwithherforefeetonthestepandhernoseintheroom，stoodtheprettiest，theveryprettiesthorseIeversaw。
　　ShewasstickinghernosetowardLeon，whinnyingsoftly，assheliftedonefoot，andifLaddiehadn’tbackedher，shewouldhavewalkedrightintothedining-room。
　　“Comeon，Weiscope，she’syours！“saidLaddie。“Takehertothebarn，andputherinoneofthecowstalls，untilwefixaplaceforher。“
　　Leoncrossedtheroom，buthenevertouchedthehorse。HethrewhisarmsaroundLaddie’sneck。
　　“Son！Son！Haven’tyouletyourfeelingsrunawaywithyou？
　　Whatdoesthismean？“askedfathersternly。
　　“There’snothingremarkableinabigsix-footerlikemebuyingahorse，“saidLaddie。“Iexpecttopurchaseanumbersoon，andwithoutacenttopay，inthebargain。Icontractedtogivefivehundreddollarsforthismare。Sheisworthmore；butthatshouldbesatisfactoryallaround。IamgoingtoearnitbyputtingfiveofMr。Pryor’sfancy，pedigreedhorsesinshapeformarket，takingthempersonally，andsellingthemtomenfittoownandhandlerealhorses。Igetonehundredeach，andmyexpensesforthejob。I’llhaveasmuchfundoingitasIeverhadatanything。Itsuitsmefarbetterthanplowing，even。“
　　Motherenteredtheroomatasweep，andpushedLeonaside。
　　“Ohyoumanofmyheart！“shecried。“Youmanaftermyownheart！“
　　Laddiebentandkissedher，holdinghertightashelookedoverherheadatfather。
　　“It’sallright，ofcourse？“hesaid。
　　“Ineverhaveknownofanythingquitesoaltogetherright，“saidfather。“Thankyou，lad，andGodblessyou！“
　　HetookLaddie’shand，andalmostliftedhimfromthefloor，thenhewipedhisglasses，gathereduphisbookswithabig，deepbreathofrelief，andwentintohisroom。Iftheothershadlookedtoseewhyhewasgonesolong，theywouldhaveseenhimonhiskneesbesidehisbedthankingGod，asusual。Leoncouldn’thavecomecloserthanwhenhesaid，“Thesameyesterday，to-day，andforever，“aboutfather。
　　Leonhadhisarmsaroundtheneckofhishorsenow，andhewaskissingher，pattingher，andexplainingtoShelleyjustwhynootherhorsewaslikeher。Hewaspouringoutajumbleallabouttheoasisofthedesert，thetentdwellers，quotinglinesfrom“TheArabtoHisHorse，“bluegrass，andgentlenesscombinedwithspirit，whileShelleyhaditsheadbetweenherhands，strokingitandsaying，“Yes，“toeverywordLeontoldher。Thenhesaid：
　　“Justhoponherbackfromthattopstepandridehertothebarn，ifyouwanttoseethemotionshehas。“
　　Shelleysaid：“Hasawomaneverbeenonherback？Won’tsheshyatmyskirts？“
　　“No，“explainedLeon。“I’vebeentrainingherwithahorseblanketpinnedaroundme，soSusiecouldrideher！She’llbeallright。“
　　SoShelleymounted，andthehorseturnedherhead，andtriedtorubagainsther，asshewalkedaway，tameasasheep。Iwonderedifshecouldbetoogentle。Ifshewent“likethewind，“asLeonsaid，itdidn’tshowthen。Iwasalmostcrazytogoalong，andmaybeLeonwouldletmeridealittlewhile；butIhadaquestionthatitwouldhelpmetoknowtheanswerandIwantedtoaskfatherbeforeIforgot；soIwaiteduntilhecameout。Whenhesatdown，smiledatmeandsaid，“Well，isthegirlhappyforbrother？“Iknewitwasagoodtime，andIcouldaskanythingI
　　chose，soIsatonhiskneeandsaid：“Father，whenyouprayforanythingthatit’sallperfectlyrightforyoutohave，doesGodcomedownfromheavenanddoitHimself，ordoesHesendamanlikeLaddietodoitforhim？“
　　Fatherhuggedmetight，smilingthehappiest。
　　“Why，youhavethewholethingrightthereinanutshell，LittleSister，“hesaid。“Youseeit’slikethis：theBooktellsusmostdistinctlythat`Godislove。’NowitwaslovethatsentLaddietobindhimselfforalong，tediousjob，togiveLeonhishorse，wasn’tit？“
　　“Ofcourse！“Isaid。“Hewouldn’thavebeenlikelytodoitifhehatedhim。Itwaslove，ofcourse！“
　　“ThenitwasGod，“saidfather，“because`Godislove。’Theyareoneandthesamething。“