Whenmotheraskedhertodinnershesaid：“Thankyoukindly。I
　　shouldbegladtogo，butmypeopleexpectmeathomeandtheywouldbeuneasy。Perhapsyouwouldallowmetorideoversomeweekdayandbecomeacquainted？“
　　Mothersaidshewouldbehappytohaveher，andShelleysaidsotoo，butSallywasnonetoocordial。Shehaddarkcurlsandpinkcheeksherself，andeveryonehadsaidshewastheprettiestgirlinthecountybeforeShelleybegantoblossomoutandshowwhatshewasgoingtobe。Sallynevermindedthat，butwhenthePrincesscameshewasalittletaller，andherhairwasatriflelonger，andheavier，andblacker，andhereyeswerealittlelargeranddarker，andwhereSallyhadpinkskinandredlips，thePrincesswasdarkasolive，andherlipsandcheekswerelikeredvelvet。Anyway，thePrincesshadsaidshewouldcomeover；
　　motherandShelleyhadbeendecenttoher，andSallyhadn’tbeenexactlyinsulting。ItwouldbealittlemorethanyoucouldexpectforhertobewildaboutthePrincess。Ibelieveshewaspleasedoverhavingbeeninvitedtodinner，andasshewasastrangershecouldn’tknowthatmotherhadwhatwecalledthe“invitationhabit。“
　　IhaveseenheraskfromfifteentotwentyinonetripdowntheaisleonSundaymorning。Shewantedthemtocometoo；themorewhocame，thebettershelikedit。IfthehitchingrackandbarnyardwerefullonSundayshejustbeamed。Ifthesermonpleasedher，sheinvitedmore。Thatmorningshewasfeelingsogoodsheaskedseventeen；andassheonlyhaddressedsixchickens——thirdtable，backsandham，formeasusual；butwhentheprospectswereasnow，IalwaysmanagedtocoaxafewgizzardsfromCandace；shedidn’tdaregivemelivers——theywerecounted。Almosteveryoneinthechurchwasthehappiestthatmorningtheyhadbeeninyears。Whenthepreachercame，hebreatheditfromtheair，anditworkedonhimsohepreachedthebestsermonheeverhad，andneverknewthatLeonmadehimdoit。
　　Maybeafterallit’sagoodthingtotellpeopleabouttheirmeannessandgivethemastirringuponceinawhile。
　　CHAPTERIII
　　Mr。Pryor’sDoor“GriefwillbejoyifonitsedgeFallsoftthatholiestray，JoywillbegriefifnofaintpledgeBethereofheavenlyday。“
　　HaveSallyandPetersaidanythingaboutgettingmarriedyet？“
　　askedmybigsisterLucyofmother。Lucywashomeonavisit。
　　Shewasbathingherbabyandmotherwassewing。
　　“Notaword！“
　　“Aretheyengaged？“
　　“Sallyhasn’tmentionedit。“
　　“Well，can’tyoufindout？“
　　“HowcouldI？“askedmother。
　　“Why，watchthemalittleandseehowtheyactwhentheyaretogether。Ifhekissesherwhenheleaves，ofcoursetheyareengaged。“
　　“ItwouldbebesttowaituntilSallytellsme，“laughedmother。
　　Iheardthisfromthebacksteps。NeithermothernorLucyknewI
　　wasthere。Iwentintoseeiftheywouldletmetakethebaby。
　　Ofcoursetheywouldn’t！Mothertookitherself。Shewasrocking，andsoftlysingingmyDutchsongthatIlovedbest；I
　　can’tspellit，butitsoundslikethis：
　　“Trus，trus，trill；
　　Derpowerridderfill，Fillsphringaveck，Plodschlicterpowerinderdreck。“
　　OnceIaskedmothertosingitinEnglish，andshecouldn’tbecauseitdidn’trhymethatwayandthewordswouldn’tfitthenotes；itwasjust，“Trot，trot，trot，aboyrodeacolt。Thecoltsprangaside；downwenttheboyinthedirt。“
　　“Aw，don’tsingmysongtothatlittlered，pug-nosedbald-head！“
　　Isaid。
　　Really，itwasaverynicebaby；IonlysaidthatbecauseI
　　wantedtoholdit，andmotherwouldn’tgiveitup。ItriedtocoaxMaytothedamsnakehunting，butshecouldn’tgo，soIhadtoamusemyself。Ihadadoll，butIneverplayedwithitexceptwhenIwasdresseduponSunday。Anyway，what’stheuseofadollwhenthere’salivebabyinthehouse？Ididn’tcaremuchformyplayhousesinceIhadseenonesomuchfinerthatLaddiehadmadeforthePrincess。OfcourseIknewmosswouldn’ttakerootinourorchardasitdidinthewoods，neitherwouldwillowcuttingsortheredflowers。Finally，Idecidedtogohunting。
　　Iwentintothegardenandgatheredeveryripetouch-me-notpodI
　　couldfind，andalltheportulaca。ThenIstrippedthetigerliliesofeachlittleblackballatthebasesoftheleaves，andtookallthefouro’clockseedtherewas。ThenIgotmybiggestalderpopgunandstarteduptheroadtowardSarahHood’s。
　　Iwasgoingalongsingingalittleverse；itwasn’tDutcheither；
　　theoldbabycouldhavethatifitwantedit。SoonasIgotfromsightofthehouseImadeapowderhornofacurledleaf，loadedmygunwithportulacapowder，rammedinatigerlilybullet，laidtheweaponacrossmyshoulder，andsteppedhighandlightlyasLaddiedoeswhenhe’sintheBigWoodshuntingforsquirrel。Itmusthavebeenmyownsinging——Iamrathergoodathearingthings，butInevernoticedasoundthattime，untilavoicelikearustysawsaid：“Goodmorning，Nimrod！“
　　Isprangfromthesoftdustandlandedamongthedogfennelofafencecorner，inaflyingleap。ThenIlooked。ItwasthePrincess’father，tall，andgray，andgrim，ridingabigblackhorsethatseemedasifithadbeencurriedwiththefinecombandbrushedwiththegreaserag。
　　“Goodmorning！“IsaidwhenIcouldspeak。
　　“AmIcorrectinthesurmisethatyouareonthechasewithapopgun？“heaskedpolitely。
　　“Yessir，“Ianswered，gettingmybreaththebestIcould。
　　ItcameeasierafterInoticedhedidn’tseemtobeangryaboutanything。
　　“Whereisyourhuntingground，andwhatgameareyouafter？“heaskedgravely。
　　“YoucanseethegreatAfricanjungleoverthere。Iamgoingtohuntforlionsandtigers。“
　　Youalwaysmustanswerpolitelyanyonewhospeakstoyou；andyougetsoundlythrashed，atleastatourhouse，ifyoudon’tbepolitestofalltoanolderpersonespeciallywithwhitehair。
　　Fatherisextremelyparticularaboutwhitehair。Itisa“crownofglory，“whenitisfoundinthewayoftheLord。MahlonPryorhadenoughcrownofgloryforthreemen，butmaybehiswasn’texactlyglory，becausehewasn’tinthewayoftheLord。Hewasinawayofhisown。Hemusthavehadmuchconfidenceinhimself。AtourhousewewouldrathertrustintheLord。Ionlytoldhimaboutthelionsandtigersbecauseheaskedme，andthatwasthewayIplayed。Butyoushouldhaveheardhimlaugh。Youwouldn’thavesupposedtoseehimthathecould。
　　“Umph！“hesaidatlast。“Iamalittlecuriousaboutyourammunition。Justhowtoyoubringdownyourprey？“
　　“Iuseportulacapowderandtigerlilybulletsonthetigers，andfouro’clocksonthelions，“Isaid。
　　Youcouldhaveheardhimamile，driedupashewas。
　　“Iusedtoweararedcoatandridetothehoundsfoxhunting，“
　　hesaid。“It’sgreatsport。Won’tyoutakemewithyoutothejungle？“
　　Ididn’twanthimintheleast，butifanyoneolderasksrightouttogowithyou，whatcanyoudo？Iamgoingtotellseveralthingsyouwon’tbelieve，andthisisoneofthem：Hegotoffhishorse，tiedittothefence，andclimbedoverafterme。HewentonaskingquestionsandofcourseIhadtotellhim。Mostofwhathewantedtoknow，hispeopleshouldhavetaughthimbeforehewastenyearsold，butfathersaystheydothingsdifferentlyinEngland。
　　“Theredoesn’tseemtobemanytreesinthejungle。“
　　“Well，there’sone，andit’saboutthemostimportantonourland，“Itoldhim。“Fatherwouldn’tcutitdownforafarm。Youseethatlittledarkbagnearlyasbigasyourfist，swingingoutthereonthatlimb？Well，everyspringoneofthesebirds，yellowasorangepeel，withvelvetblackwings，weavesanestlikethat，andoveronthatbigbranch，highup，onejustasbrightredastheotherisyellow，andthesameblackwings，buildsacradleforhisbabies。Fathersaysaredbirdandayellowonekeepinghouseinthesametreeisthebiggestthingthateverhappenedinourfamily。Theycomeeveryyearandthatistheirtree。Ibelievefatherwouldshootanyonewhodrovethemaway。“
　　“Yourfatherisagunneralso？“heasked，andIthoughthewaslaughingtohimself。
　　“He’senoughofagunnertobringmotherinawagonfromPennsylvaniaallthewayhere，andhekeptwolves，bears，Indians，andGypsiesfromher，andshotthingsforfood。Yessir，myfathercanshootifhewantsto，betterthananyofourfamilyexceptLaddie。“
　　“AnddoesLaddieshootwell？“
　　“Laddiedoeseverythingwell，“Iansweredproudly。“Hewon’ttrytodoanythingatall，untilhepractisessohecandoitwell。“
　　“ScoreoneforLaddie，“hesaidinaqueervoice。
　　“Areyouinahurryaboutthelionsandtigers？“
　　“Notatall，“heanswered。
　　“Well，hereIalwaysstopandletGovernorOglesbygoswimming，“
　　Isaid。
　　Mr。MahlonPryorsatonthebankofourLittleCreek，tookoffhishatandshookbackhishairasifthewindfeltgoodonhisforehead。IfishedDickOglesbyfromtheammunitioninmyapronpocket，andheldhimtowardthecrossoldman，andhewasn’tcrossatall。It’sfunnyhowyoucometogetsuchwrongideasaboutpeople。
　　“MybigmarriedsisterwholivesinWestchestersenthimtomelastChristmas，“Iexplained。“Ihaveanotherdoll，greatbig，withaScotchplaiddressmadefrompiecesofmine，butIonlyplaywithheronSundaywhenIdarenotdomuchelse。IlikeDickthebestbecausehefitsmyapronpocket。FatherwantedmetochangehisnameandcallhimOliverP。Morton，afterafriendofhis，butItoldhimthisdollhadtobecalledbythenamehecamewith，andifhewantedmetohaveonenamedforhisfriend，togetit，andI’dplaywithit。“
　　“Whatdidhedo？“
　　“Hedidn’twantonenamedMortonthatmuch。“
　　Mr。PryortookDickOglesbyinhisfingersandlookedathiscurlyblackhairandblueeyes，hischubbyoutstretchedarms，likeababywhenitwantsyoutotakeit，andhisplumplittlefeetandthewhiteshirtwithredstripesallapieceofhimashewasmade，andsaid：“Thehonourablegovernorofoursisterstateseemsalittleweighty；Iamatalosstounderstandhowheswims。“
　　“It’sanewway，“Isaid。“Hejuststandsstillandthewaterswimsaroundhim。It’sveryeasyforhim。“
　　ThenIcarriedDicktothewater，wadedinandstoodhimagainstastone。Somethingfunnyhappenedinstantly。Italwaysdid。I
　　founditoutonedaywhenIgotsomeapplebutteronthegovernorgivinghimabiteofmybread，andputhiminthewashbowltosoak。Hewastwoandahalfinchestall；buttheminuteyoustoodhiminwaterhewentdowntoabouthalfthatheightandspreadouttotwicehissizearound。YoushouldhaveheardMr。
　　Pryor。
　　“Ifyouwilllieonthebankandwatchyou’llhavemoretolaughatthanthat，“Ipromised。
　　Helaydownandneverpaidtheleastattentiontohisclothes。
　　PrettysoonalittlechubfishcameswimmingaroundtomakefriendswithGovernorOglesby，andthenashinerandsomemorechub。Theynibbledathishandsandtoes，andthenwentflashingaway，andfromunderthestonecamebackingabigcrayfishandseizedthegovernorbythelegandstarteddragginghim，soIhadtojumpinandstopit。Itookashotatthecrayfishwiththetigerammunitionandthenloadedforlions。
　　Wewentonuntilthemarshbecameathicketofcattails，bulrushes，willowbushes，andblueflags；thenIfoundapathwherethelionsleftthejungle，hidMr。Pryorandtoldhimhemustbeverystillortheywouldn’tcome。AtlastIheardone。
　　ItouchedMr。Pryor’ssleevetowarnhimtokeephiseyesonthetrail。Prettysoonthelioncameinsight。Reallyitwasonlyalittlegrayrabbithoppingalong，butwhenitwasoppositeus，I
　　pingeditintheside，itjumpedupandturnedasomersaultwithsurprise，andsquealedafunnylittlesqueal，——well，IwonderedifMr。Pryor’speopledidn’thearhim，andthinkhehadgonecrazyasPaddyRyan。Ineverdidhearanyonelaughso。I
　　thoughtifheenjoyeditlikethat，I’dlethimshootone。IdoMaysometimes；sowewenttoanotherplaceIknewwheretherewasatiger’sden，andIloadedwithtigerlilybullets，gavehimthegunandshowedhimwheretoaim。Afterwehadwaitedalongtimeoutcameamuskrat，andstartedfortheriver。IlookedtoseewhyMr。Pryordidn’tshoot，andtherehewasgazingatitasifasnakehadcharmedhim；hishandsshakingalittle，hischeeksalmostred，hiseyesverybright。
　　“Shoot！“Iwhispered。“Itwon’tstayallday！“
　　HeforgothowtopushtheramrodlikeIshowedhim，sohereachedoutandtriedtohititwiththegun。
　　“Don’tdothat！“Isaid。
　　“Butit’sgettingaway！It’sgettingaway！“hecried。
　　“Well，whatifitis？“Iasked，halfprovoked。“DoyousupposeI
　　reallywouldhurtapoorlittlemuskrat？Maybeithassixhungrybabiesinitshome。“
　　“OhTHATway，“hesaid，buthekeptlookingatit，sohemademethinkifIhadn’tbeenthere，hewouldhavethrownastoneorhititwithastick。Itisperfectlywonderfulabouthowsomemencan’tgetalongwithoutkillingthings，suchlittlebitsofhelplesscreaturestoo。Ithoughthe’dbetterbegotfromthejungle，soIinvitedhimtoseetheplaceatthefootofthehillbelowourorchardwheresomementhoughttheyhaddiscoveredgoldbeforethewar。TheyhadbeentoCaliforniain’49，andalthoughtheydidn’tcomehomewithmillions，oranythingelseexceptsickandtired，theythoughttheyhadlearnedenoughaboutgoldtoknowitwhentheysawit。
　　Itoldhimaboutitandhewasinterestedandanxioustoseetheplace。Iftherehadbeenashovel，Iamquitesurehewouldhavegonetodigging。Hekeptpokingaroundwithhisboottoe，andhesaidmaybetheyokelsdidn’tlookgood。
　　Hesaidourmeadowwasabeautifulplace，andwhenhepraisedthecreekItoldhimaboutthewildducks，andhelaughedagain。Hedidn’tseemtobethesamemanwhenwewentbacktotheroad。I
　　pulledsomesweetmarshgrassandgavehishorsebites，soMr。
　　PryoraskedifIlikedanimals。IsaidIlovedhorses，Laddie’sbestofall。HeaskedaboutitandItoldhim。
　　“Hasn’tyourfatherbutonethoroughbred？“
　　“Fatherhasn’tany，“Isaid。“FlosreallybelongstoLaddie，andwearemightygladhehasher。“
　　“Youshouldhaveonesoon，yourself，“hesaid。
　　“Well，iftherestofthemwillhurryupandmarryoff，sotheexpenseswon’tbesoheavy，maybeIcan。“
　　“Howmanyofyouarethere？“heasked。