It made me sick to think of the sage bag in the cracked churn, so I climbed my very own catalpa tree in the corner, watched up the road for Laddie, and thought things over.
If I ever get married I want a dress, and a wedding exactly like that, but I would like a man quite different from Peter; like Laddie would suit me better.

When he rode under the tree, I dropped from a limb into his arms, and went with him to the barn.

He asked me what was going on at the house, and I told him about Mrs.Freshett being a rebuke to us; and Laddie said she was, and he didn't believe one word against her.

When I told him mother was in bed crying like anything, he said: "I knew that had to come when she kept up so bravely at the station.

Thank the Lord, she showed her breeding by holding in until she got where she had a right to cry if she pleased." Then I whispered for fear Leon might be around: "Did he set the dogs on you ?" "He did not," said Laddie, laughing softly.
"Did he call you names again ?" "He did!" said Laddie, "but I started it.