to
Shirley's turn and it was going to be such a nice turn. Patience felt
that for once Patience Shaw had certainly acted most unwisely.

"Patty, how could you!" Hilary put the tray on the table and sitting
down on the bed, took the tumbled head on her knee. "We've been so
worried! You see, Bedelia isn't like Fanny!"

"That's why I wanted to get a chance to drive her by myself for once!
She went beautifully! out on the Lake road I just let her loose!" For
the moment, pride in her recent performance routed all contrition from
Patience's voice--"I tell you, folks I passed just stared!"

"Patience, how--"

"I wasn't scared the least bit; and, of course, Bedelia knew it. Uncle
Jerry says they always know when you're scared, and if Mr. Allen is the
most up in history of any man in Vermont, Uncle Jerry is the most in
horses."

Hilary felt that the conversation was hardly proceeding upon the lines
her mother would have approved of, especially under present
circumstances. "That has nothing to do with it, you know, Patience,"
she said, striving to be properly severe.

"I think it has--everything. I think it's nice not being scared of
things. You're sort of timid 'bout things, aren't you, Hilary?"

Hilary made a movement to rise.

"Oh, please," Patience begged. "It's going to be such a dreadful long
afternoon--all alone."

"But I can't stay, mother would not want--"

"Just for a minute. I--I want to tell you something. I--coming back,
I met Jane, and I gave her a lift home--and she did love it so--she
says she's never ridden before behind a horse that really went as if it
enjoyed it as much as she did. That was some good out of being bad,
wasn't it? And--I told you--ever'n' ever so long ago, that I was
mighty sure Jane'd just be tickled to death to belong to our club. I
think you might ask her--I don't see why she shouldn't like Seeing
Winton, same's we do--she doesn't ever have fun--and she'll be dead
pretty soon. She's getting along, Jane is--it'd make me mad's anything
to have to die 'fore I'd had any fun to speak of. Jane's really very
good company--when you draw her out--she just needs drawing out--Jane
does. Seems to me, she remembers every funeral and wedding and
everything--that's ever taken place in Winton." Patience stopped,
sheer out of breath, but there was an oddly serious look on her little
eager face.

Hilary stroked back the tangled red curls. "Maybe you're right, Patty;
maybe we h