; mother was
rocking on her toes like a wood robin on a twig at twilight, and at the
end of the chorus she cried "Glory!" right out loud, and turned and
started down the aisle, shaking hands with every one, singing as she
went. When she reached Betsy Alton she held her hand and led her down
the aisle straight toward Rachel Brown.

When Rachel saw them coming she hurried to meet them, and they shook
hands and were glad to make up as any two people you ever saw. It must
have been perfectly dreadful to see a woman every day for five years,
and not to give her a pie, when you felt sure yours were better than
she could make, or loan her a new pattern, or tell her first who had a
baby, or was married, or dead, or anything like that. It was no wonder
they felt glad. Mother came on, and as she passed me the verses were
all finished and every one began talking and moving. Johnny Dover
forgot his neck and shook hands too, and father pronounced the
benediction. He always had to when the minister wasn't there, because
he was ordained himself, and you didn't dare pronounce the benediction
unless you were.

Every one began talking again, and wondering if the minister wouldn't
come soon, and some one went out to see. There was mother standing
only a few feet from the Princess, and I thought of something. I had
seen it done often enough, but I never had tried it myself, yet I
wanted to so badly, there was no time to think how scared I would be.
I took mother's hand and led her a few steps farther and said:
"Mother, this is my friend, Pamela Pryor."

I believe I did it fairly well. Mother must have been surprised, but
she put out her hand.

"I didn't know Miss Pryor and you were acquainted."

"It's only been a little while," I told her. "I met her when I was on
some business with the Fairies. They know everything and they told me
her father was busy"--I thought she wouldn't want me to tell that he
was plain CROSS, where every one could hear, so I said "busy" for
politeness--"and her mother not very strong, and that she was a good
girl, and dreadfully lonesome. Can't you do something, mother?"

"Well, I should think so!" said mother, for her heart was soft as rose
leaves. Maybe you won't believe this, but it's quite true. My mother
took the Princess' arm and led her to Sally and Shelley, and introduced
her to all the girls. By the time the minister came and mother went
back to her seat, she had forgotten all about t