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into the light。 A tall stranger； a lady
in prune…coloured silk； sat in the high…
backed chair。
〃This is my eldest girl； Aunt Cor…
delia；〃 said my mother。 I went for…
ward timidly； wondering if I were
really going to be greeted by this per…
son who must have heard such terrible
reports of me。 I found myself caught
by the hands and drawn into the em…
brace of this new； grand acquaintance。
〃Well； I've been wanting to see
you；〃 said the rich； kind voice。 〃They
say you look as I did at your age。 They
say you are like me！〃
Like her who was good！ But no
one referred to this difference or said
anything about my sins。 When we were
sorry； was evil； then； forgotten and sin
forgiven？ A weight as of iron dropped
from my spirit。 I sank with a sigh on
the hassock at my aunt's feet。 I was
once more a member of society。
VI
TRAVEL
IT was time to say good…bye。
I had been down to my little
brother's grave and watered the sorrel
that grew on it I thought it was sor…
row； and so tended it； and I had walked
around the house and said good…bye to
every window； and to the robin's nest；
and to my playhouse in the shed。 I
had put a clean ribbon on the cat's neck；
and kissed my doll； and given presents
to my little sisters。 Now； shivering be…
neath my new grey jacket in the chill
of the May morning air； I stood ready
to part with my mother。 She was a
little flurried with having just ironed
my pinafores and collars； and with hav…
ing put the last hook on my new Stuart
plaid frock； and she looked me over
with rather an anxious eye。 As for me；
I thought my clothes charming； and I
loved the scarlet quill in my grey hat；
and the set of my new shoes。 I hoped；
above all； that no one would notice that
I was trembling and lay it down to fear。
Of course； I had been away before。
It was not the first time I had left
everything to take care of itself。 But
this time I was going alone； and that
gave rather a different aspect to things。
To go into the country for a few days；
or even to Detroit； in the company of
a watchful parent； might be called a
〃visit〃； but to go alone； partly by
train and partly by stage； and to arrive
by one's self； amounted to 〃travel。〃 I
had an aunt who had travelled； and I
felt this morning that love of travel
ran in the family。 Probably even
Aunt Cordelia had been a trifle nervous；
at first； when she started out for Ha…
waii； say； or for Egypt。
Mother and I were both fearful that
the driver of the station 'bus hadn't
really understood that he was to call。
First she would ask father； and then I
would ask him； if he was quite sure the
man understood； and father said that
if the man could understand English
at all and he supposed he could he
had understood that。 Father was right
about it； too； for just when we that is；
mother and I were almost giving up；
the 'bus horses swung in the big gate
and came pounding up the drive be…
tween the Lombardy poplars； which
were out in their yellow…green spring
dress。 They were a bay team with a
yellow harness which clinked splendidly
with bone rings； and the 'bus was as
yellow as a pumpkin； and shaped not
unlike one； so that I gave it my instant
approval。 It was precisely the sort of
vehicle in which I would have chosen
to go away。 So absorbed was I in it
that； though I must have kissed mother；
I have really no recollection of it； and
it was only when we were swinging out
of the gate； and I looked back and saw
her standing in the door watching us；
that a terrible pang came over me； so
that for one crazy moment I thought
I was going to jump out and run back
to her。
But I held on to father's hand and
turned my face away from home with
all the courage I could summon； and we
went on through the town and out
across a lonely stretch of country to the
railroad。 For we were an obstinate lit…
tle town； and would not build up to the
railroad because the railroad had re…
fused to run up to us。 It was a new
station with a fine echo in it； and the
man who called out the trains had a
beautiful voice for echoes。 It was cre…
ated to inspire them and to encourage
them； and I stood fascinated by the
thunderous noises he was making till
father seized me by the hand and thrust
me into the care of the train conductor。
They said something to each other in
the sharp； explosive way men have； and
the conductor took me to a seat and
told me I was his girl for the time be…
ing； and to stay right there till he came
for me at my station。
What amazed me was that the car
should be full of people。 I could not
imagine where they all could be going。
It was all very well for me； who be…
longed to a family of travellers as wit…
ness Aunt Cordelia to be going on a
journey； but for these others； these
many； many others； to be wandering
around； heaven knows where； struck me
as being not right。 It seemed to take
somewhat from the glory of my adven…
ture。
However； I noticed that most of them
looked poor。 Their clothes were old
and ugly； their faces not those of pleas…
ure…seekers。 It was very difficult to
imagine that they could afford a jour…
ney； which was； as I believed； a great
luxury。 At first； the people looked to
be all of a sort； but after a little I be…
gan to see the differences； and to no…
tice that this one looked happy； and
that one sad； and another as if he had
much to do and liked it； and several
others as if they had very little idea
where they were going or why。
But I liked better to look from the
windows and to see the world。 The
houses seemed quite familiar and as if
I had seen them often before。 I hardly
could believe that I hadn't walked up
those paths； opened those doors and
seated myself at the tables。 I felt that
if I went in those houses I would know
where everything was just where the
dishes were kept； and the Bible； and the
jam。 It struck me that houses were
very much alike in the world； and that
led to the thought that people； too； were
probably alike。 So I forgot what the
conductor had said to me about keeping
still； and I crossed over the aisle and
sat down beside a little girl who was
regrettably young； but who looked
pleasant。 Her mother and grand…
mother were sitting opposite； and they
smiled at me in a watery sort of way
as if they thought a smile was expected
of them。 I meant to talk to the little
girl； but I saw she was almost on the
verge of tears； and it didn't take me
long to discover what was the matter。
Her little pink hat was held on by an
elastic band； which； being put behind
her ears and under her chin； was cut…
ting her cruelly。 I knew by experience
that if the band were placed in front of
her ears the tension would be lessened；
so； with the most benevolent intentions
in the world； I inserted my fingers be…
tween the rubber and her chubby
cheeks； drew it out with nervous but
friendly fingers； somehow let go of it；
and snap across her two red cheeks and
her pretty pug nose went the lacerat…
ing elastic； leaving a welt behind it！
〃What do you mean； you bad girl？〃
cried the mother； taking me by the
shoulders with a sort of grip I had
never felt before。 〃I never saw such a
child never！〃
An old woman with a face like a hen
leaned over the back of the seat。
〃What's she done？ What's she
done？〃 she demanded。 The mother
told her； as the grandmother comforted
the hurt baby。
〃Go back to your seat and stay
there！〃 commanded the mother。 〃See
you don't come near here again！〃
My lips trembled with the anguish I
could hardly restrain。 Never had a
noble soul been more misunderstood。
Stupid beings！ How dare they！ Yet；
not to be liked by them not to be un…
derstood！ That was unendurable。
Would they listen to the gentle word
that turneth away wrath？ I was in…
clined to think not。 I was fairly pant…
ing under my load of dismay and de…
spondency； when a large man with an
extraordinarily clean appearance sat
down opposite me。 He was a study in
grey grey suit； tie； socks； gloves； hat；
top…coat yes； and eyes！ He leaned
forward ingratiatingly。
〃What do you think Aunt Ellen sent
me last week？〃 he inquired。
We seemed to be old acquaintances；
and in my second of perplexity I de…
cided that it was mere forgetfulness
that made me unable to recall just
whom he was talking about。 So I only
said politely： 〃I don't know； I'm sure；
sir。〃
〃Why； yes； you do！〃 he laughed。
〃Couldn't you guess？ What should
Aunt Ellen send but some of that white
maple sugar of hers； better than ever；
too。 I've a pound of it along with me；
and I'd be glad to pry off a few pieces
if you'd like to eat it。 You always
were so fond of Aunt Ellen's maple
sugar； you know。〃
The tone carried conviction。 Of
course I must have been fond of it；
indeed； upon reflection； I felt that I had
been。 By the time the man was back
with a parallelogram of the maple
sugar in his hand； I was convinced that
he had spoken the truth。
〃Aunt Ellen certainly is a dear；〃 he
went on。 〃I run down to see her every
time I get a chance。 Same old rain…
barrel！ Same old beehives！ Same old
well…sweep！ Wouldn't trade them for
any others in the world。 I like every…
thing about the place like the 'Old
Man' th