k at her; I
looked out of the window.

She laughed a breathless little catchy sort of laugh and said: "That's
exactly what I do want."

"You didn't even want me, to begin with," I reminded her.

"There isn't a doubt but whoever told you that, could have been in
better business," said Sally, angry-like. "I was much younger then,
and there were many things I didn't understand, and it wasn't you I
didn't want; it was just no baby at all. I wouldn't have wanted a boy,
or any other girl a bit more. I foolishly thought we had children
enough in this house. I see now very plainly that we didn't, for this
family never could get along without you, and I'm sorry I ever thought
so, and I'd give anything if I hadn't struck you and----"

"Oh be still, and go on and get married!" I said. I could just feel a
regular beller coming in my throat. "I was only fooling to pay you up.
I meant all the time to kiss you good-bye when the others did. I'll
nearly die being lonesome when you're gone----"

Then I ran for downstairs, and when I reached the door, where the steps
went into the sitting-room, I stopped, scared at all the people. It
was like camp-meeting. You could see the yard full through the
windows. Just as I was thinking I'd go back to the boys' room, and
from there into the garret, and down the back stairway, Laddie went and
saw me. He came over, led me to the parlour door, put me inside, and
there mother took my hand and held me tight, and I couldn't see Leon
anywhere.

I was caught, but they didn't have him. Mother never hung on as she
did that day. I tried and tried to pull away, and she held tight. It
was only a minute until the door opened, people crowded back, and the
Presiding Elder, followed by Sally and Peter, came into the room, and
they began being married all over again.

If it hadn't grown so solemn my mother sprung a tear, I never would
have made it. She just had to let me go to sop her face, because tears
are salty, and they would turn her new brown silk front yellow. The
minute my hand was free, I slipped between the people and looked at the
parlour door. It was wedged full and more standing on chairs behind
them. No one could get out there.

I thought I would fail Leon sure, and then I remembered the parlour
bedroom. I got through that door easy as anything, and it was no trick
at all to slip behind the blind, raise the window, and drop into
mother's room from the sill. From there I re