the golden road-第22节

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ld；　but　after　that　I'm　to　stay　home　and　go　to　school　right　along　and　learn　to　be　whatever　I'd　like　to　be。　　I　tell　you　it　made　me　feel　queer。　　Everything　seemed　to　be　upset。　　But　he　gave　ma　forty　dollarsevery　cent　he　hadso　I　guess　he　really　is　converted。〃

〃I　hope　it　will　last；　I'm　sure；〃　said　Felicity。　　She　did　not　say　it　nastily；　however。　　We　were　all　glad　for　Peter's　sake；　though　a　little　dizzy　over　the　unexpectedness　of　it　all。

〃This　is　what　I'D　like　to　know；〃　said　Peter。　　〃How　did　Peg　Bowen　know　my　father　was　coming　home？　　Don't　you　tell　me　she　isn't　a　witch　after　that。〃

〃And　she　knew　about　your　Aunt　Olivia's　wedding；　too；〃　added　Sara　Ray。

〃Oh；　well；　she　likely　heard　that　from　some　one。　　Grown　up　folks　talk　things　over　long　before　they　tell　them　to　children；〃　said　Cecily。

〃Well；　she　couldn't　have　heard　father　was　coming　home　from　any　one；〃　answered　Peter。　　〃He　was　converted　up　in　Maine；　where　nobody　knew　him；　and　he　never　told　a　soul　he　was　coming　till　he　got　here。　　No；　you　can　believe　what　you　like；　but　I'm　satisfied　at　last　that　Peg　is　a　witch　and　that　skull　of　hers　does　tell　her　things。　　She　told　me　father　was　coming　home　and　he　come！〃

〃How　happy　you　must　be；〃　sighed　Sara　Ray　romantically。　　〃It's　just　like　that　story　in　the　Family　Guide；　where　the　missing　earl　comes　home　to　his　family　just　as　the　Countess　and　Lady　Violetta　are　going　to　be　turned　out　by　the　cruel　heir。〃

Felicity　sniffed。

〃There's　some　difference；　I　guess。　　The　earl　had　been　imprisoned　for　years　in　a　loathsome　dungeon。〃

Perhaps　Peter's　father　had　too；　if　we　but　realized　itimprisoned　in　the　dungeon　of　his　own　evil　appetites　and　habits；　than　which　none　could　be　more　loathsome。　　But　a　Power；　mightier　than　the　forces　of　evil；　had　struck　off　his　fetters　and　led　him　back　to　his　long…forfeited　liberty　and　light。　　And　no　countess　or　lady　of　high　degree　could　have　welcomed　a　long…lost　earl　home　more　joyfully　than　the　tired　little　washerwoman　had　welcomed　the　erring　husband　of　her　youth。

But　in　Peter's　ointment　of　joy　there　was　a　fly　or　two。　　So　very；　very　few　things　are　flawless　in　this　world；　even　on　the　golden　road。

〃Of　course　I'm　awful　glad　that　father　has　come　back　and　that　ma　won't　have　to　wash　any　more；〃　he　said　with　a　sigh；　〃but　there　are　two　things　that　kind　of　worry　me。　　My　Aunt　Jane　always　said　that　it　didn't　do　any　good　to　worry；　and　I　s'pose　it　don't；　but　it's　kind　of　a　relief。〃

〃What's　worrying　you？〃　asked　Felix。

〃Well；　for　one　thing　I'll　feel　awful　bad　to　go　away　from　you　all。　　I'll　miss　you　just　dreadful；　and　I　won't　even　be　able　to　go　to　the　same　school。　　I'll　have　to　go　to　Markdale　school。〃

〃But　you　must　come　and　see　us　often；〃　said　Felicity　graciously。　　〃Markdale　isn't　so　far　away；　and　you　could　spend　every　other　Saturday　afternoon　with　us　anyway。〃

Peter's　black　eyes　filled　with　adoring　gratitude。

〃That's　so　kind　of　you；　Felicity。　　I'll　come　as　often　as　I　can；　of　course；　but　it　won't　be　the　same　as　being　around　with　you　all　the　time。　　The　other　thing　is　even　worse。　　You　see；　it　was　a　Methodist　revival　father　got　converted　in；　and　so　of　course　he　joined　the　Methodist　church。　　He　wasn't　anything　before。　　He　used　to　say　he　was　a　Nothingarian　and　lived　up　to　itkind　of　bragging　like。　　But　he's　a　strong　Methodist　now；　and　is　going　to　go　to　Markdale　Methodist　church　and　pay　to　the　salary。　　Now　what'll　he　say　when　I　tell　him　I'm　a　Presbyterian？〃

〃You　haven't　told　him；　yet？〃　asked　the　Story　Girl。

〃No；　I　didn't　dare。　　I　was　scared　he'd　say　I'd　have　to　be　a　Methodist。〃

〃Well；　Methodists　are　pretty　near　as　good　as　Presbyterians；〃　said　Felicity；　with　the　air　of　one　making　a　great　concession。

〃I　guess　they're　every　bit　as　good；〃　retorted　Peter。　　〃But　that　ain't　the　point。　　I've　got　to　be　a　Presbyterian；　'cause　I　stick　to　a　thing　when　I　once　decide　it。　　But　I　expect　father　will　be　mad　when　he　finds　out。〃

〃If　he's　converted　he　oughtn't　to　get　mad；〃　said　Dan。

〃Well；　lots　o'　people　do。　　But　if　he　isn't　mad　he'll　be　sorry；　and　that'll　be　even　worse；　for　a　Presbyterian　I'm　bound　to　be。　　But　I　expect　it　will　make　things　unpleasant。〃

〃You　needn't　tell　him　anything　about　it；〃　advised　Felicity。　　〃Just　keep　quiet　and　go　to　the　Methodist　church　until　you　get　big；　and　then　you　can　go　where　you　please。〃

〃No；　that　wouldn't　be　honest；〃　said　Peter　sturdily。　　〃My　Aunt　Jane　always　said　it　was　best　to　be　open　and　above　board　in　everything；　and　especially　in　religion。　　So　I'll　tell　father　right　out；　but　I'll　wait　a　few　weeks　so　as　not　to　spoil　things　for　ma　too　soon　if　he　acts　up。〃

Peter　was　not　the　only　one　who　had　secret　cares。　　Sara　Ray　was　beginning　to　feel　worried　over　her　looks。　　I　heard　her　and　Cecily　talking　over　their　troubles　one　evening　while　I　was　weeding　the　onion　bed　and　they　were　behind　the　hedge　knitting　lace。　　I　did　not　mean　to　eavesdrop。　　I　supposed　they　knew　I　was　there　until　Cecily　overwhelmed　me　with　indignation　later　on。

〃I'm　so　afraid；　Cecily；　that　I'm　going　to　be　homely　all　my　life；〃　said　poor　Sara　with　a　tremble　in　her　voice。　　〃You　can　stand　being　ugly　when　you　are　young　if　you　have　any　hope　of　being　better　looking　when　you　grow　up。　　But　I'm　getting　worse。　　Aunt　Mary　says　I'm　going　to　be　the　very　image　of　Aunt　Matilda。　　And　Aunt　Matilda　is　as　homely　as　she　can　be。　　It　isn't〃and　poor　Sara　sighed〃a　very　cheerful　prospect。　　If　I　am　ugly　nobody　will　ever　want　to　marry　me；　and；〃　concluded　Sara　candidly；　〃I　don't　want　to　be　an　old　maid。〃

〃But　plenty　of　girls　get　married　who　aren't　a　bit　pretty；〃　comforted　Cecily。　　〃Besides；　you　are　real　nice　looking　at　times；　Sara。　　I　think　you　are　going　to　have　a　nice　figure。〃

〃But　just　look　at　my　hands；〃　moaned　Sara。　　〃They're　simply　covered　with　warts。〃

〃Oh；　the　warts　will　all　disappear　before　you　grow　up；〃　said　Cecily。

〃But　they　won't　disappear　before　the　school　concert。　　How　am　I　to　get　up　there　and　recite？　　You　know　there　is　one　line　in　my　recitation；　'She　waved　her　lily…white　hand；'　and　I　have　to　wave　mine　when　I　say　it。　　Fancy　waving　a　lily…white　hand　all　covered　with　warts。　　I've　tried　every　remedy　I　ever　heard　of；　but　nothing　does　any　good。　　Judy　Pineau　said　if　I　rubbed　them　with　toad…spit　it　would　take　them　away　for　sure。　　But　how　am　I　to　get　any　toad…　spit？〃

〃It　doesn't　sound　like　a　very　nice　remedy；　anyhow；〃　shuddered　Cecily。　　〃I'd　rather　have　the　warts。　　But　do　you　know；　I　believe　if　you　didn't　cry　so　much　over　every　little　thing；　you'd　be　ever　so　much　better　looking。　　Crying　spoils　your　eyes　and　makes　the　end　of　your　nose　red。〃

〃I　can't　help　crying；〃　protested　Sara。　　〃My　feelings　are　so　very　sensitive。　　I've　given　up　trying　to　keep　THAT　resolution。〃

〃Well；　men　don't　like　cry…babies；〃　said　Cecily　sagely。　　Cecily　had　a　good　deal　of　Mother　Eve's　wisdom　tucked　away　in　that　smooth；　brown　head　of　hers。

〃Cecily；　do　you　ever　intend　to　be　married？〃　asked　Sara　in　a　confidential　tone。

〃Goodness！〃　cried　Cecily；　quite　shocked。　　〃It　will　be　time　enough　when　I　grow　up　to　think　of　that；　Sara。〃

〃I　should　think　you'd　have　to　think　of　it　now；　with　Cyrus　Brisk　as　crazy　after　you　as　he　is。〃

〃I　wish　Cyrus　Brisk　was　at　the　bottom　of　the　Red　Sea；〃　exclaimed　Cecily；　goaded　into　a　spurt　of　temper　by　mention　of　the　detested　name。

〃What　has　Cyrus　been　doing　now？〃　asked　Felicity；　coming　around　the　corner　of　the　hedge。

〃Doing　NOW！　　It's　ALL　the　time。　　He　just　worries　me　to　death；〃　returned　Cecily　angrily。　　〃He　keeps　writing　me　letters　and　putting　them　in　my　desk　or　in　my　reader。　　I　never　answer　one　of　them；　but　he　keeps　on。　　And　in　the　last　one；　mind　you；　he　said　he'd　do　something　desperate　right　off　if　I　wouldn't　promise　to　marry　him　when　we　grew　up。〃

〃Just　think；　Cecily；　you've　had　a　proposal　already；〃　said　Sara　Ray　in　an　awe…struck　tone。

〃But　he　hasn't　done　anything　desperate　yet；　and　that　was　last　week；〃　commented　Felicity；　with　a　toss　of　her　head。

〃He　sent　me　a　lock　of　his　hair　and　wanted　one　of　mine　in　exchange；〃　continued　Cecily　indignantly。　　〃I　tell　you　I　sent　his　back　to　him　pretty　quick。〃

〃Did　you　never　answer　any　of　his　letters？〃　asked　Sara　Ray。

〃No；　indeed！　　I　guess　not！〃

〃Do　you　know；〃　said　Felicity；　〃I　believe　if　you　wrote　him　just　once　and　told　him　your　exact　opinion　of　him　in　good　plain　English　it　would　cure　him　of　his　nonsense。〃

〃I　couldn't　do　that。　　I　haven't　enough　spunk；〃　confessed　Cecily　with　a　blush。　　〃But　I'll　tell　you　what　I　did　do　once。　　He　wrote　me　a　long　letter　last　week。　　It　was　just　awfully　SOFT；　and　every　other　word　was　spelled　wrong。　　He　even　spelled　baking　soda；　'bacon　soda！'〃

〃What　on　earth　had　he　to　say　about　baking　soda　in　a　love…letter？〃　asked　Felicity。

〃Oh；　he　said　his　mother　sent　him　to　the　store　for　some　and　he　forgot　it　because　he　was　thinking　about　me。　　Well；　I　just　took　his　letter　and　wrote　in　all　the　words；　spelled　right；　above　the　wrong　ones；　in　red　ink；　just　as　Mr。　Perkins　makes　us　do　with　our　dictation　exercises；　and　sent　it　back　to　him。　　I　thought　maybe　he'd　feel　insulted　and　stop　writing　to　me。〃

〃And　did　he？〃

〃No；　he　didn't。　　It　is　my　opinion　you　can't　insult　Cyrus　Brisk。　　He　is　too　thick…skinned。　　He　wrote　another　letter；　and　thanked　me　for　correcting　his　mistakes；　and　said　it　made　him　feel　glad　because　it　showed　I　was　beginning　to　take　an　interest　in　him　when