We were ready to slip out, when our geese began to run
at the new one, hiss and scream, and make such a racket that Laddie and
Leon both caught us. They looked at the goose, at me, the Princess,
and each other, and neither said a word. She looked back a little bit,
and then she laughed as hard as she could. Leon grew red, and he
grinned ashamed-like, so she laughed worse than ever. Laddie spoke to
me: "You went to Mr. Pryor's and asked for that goose?"

"She did not!" said the Princess before I could answer. "She never
asked for anything. She was making a friendly morning call and in the
course of her visit she told about the pathetic end of the goose that
was expected to lay the golden egg--I mean stuff the Bishop's
pillow--and as we have a large flock of blue geese, father gave her
one, and he had the best time he's had in years doing it. I wouldn't
have had him miss the fun he got from it for any money. He laughed
like home again. Now I must slip away before any one sees me, and
spoils our secret. Leon, lad, you can go to the house and tell your
little mother that the feeding stopped every pain her goose had, and
hereafter it looks to you as if she'd be all right."

"Miss Pryor," said Leon, "did you care about what I said at you in
church that day?"

"'Thou art all fair, my love. There is no spot in thee.' Well, it was
a little pointed, but since you ask a plain question, I have survived
it."

"I'm awfully sorry," said Leon. "Of course I never would, if I'd known
you could be this nice."

The Princess looked at Laddie and almost gasped, and then both of them
laughed. Leon saw that he had told her he was sorry he said she was
"fair, and no spot in her."

"Oh I don't mean that!" he said. "What I do mean is that I thank you
awful much for the goose, and helping me out like such a brick of a
good fellow, and what I wish is, that I was as old as Laddie, and he'd
hump himself if he got to be your beau."

The Princess almost ran. Laddie and I followed to the road, where he
unhitched the horse and helped her in. Then he stood stroking its
neck, as he held the bridle.

"I don't know what to say!" said Laddie.

"In such case, I would counsel silence," advised the Princess.

"I hope you understand how I thank you."

"I fail to see what for. Father gave the goose to Little Sister. Her
thanks and Leon's are more than enough for him. We had great sport."

"I insist on adding mine. Deep and fer