They all listened without a sound until I got where Leon helped the goose eat,and from that on Mr.Pryor laughed until you could easily see that he had very little feeling for suffering humanity.It was funny enough when we fed her,but now that she was bursted wide open there was nothing amusing about it;and to roar when a visitor plainly told you she was in awful trouble,didn't seem very good manners to me.The Princess and her mother never even smiled;and before I had told nearly all of it,Thomas was called to hitch the Princess'driving cart,and she took me to their barnyard to choose the goose that looked most like mother's,and all of them seemed like hers,so we took the first one Thomas could catch,put it into a bag in the back of the cart,and then we got in and started for our barn.As we reached the road,I said to her:"You'd better go past Dovers',for if we come down our Little Hill they will see us sure;it's baking day.""All right!"said the Princess,so we went the long way round the section,but goodness me!when she drove no way was far.
When we were opposite our barn she stopped,hitched her horse to the fence,and we climbed over,and slipping behind the barn,carried the goose around to the pen and put it in with ours.She said she wanted the broken one,because her father would enjoy seeing it.I didn't see how he could!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 fervent!""You take everything so serious.Can't you see the fun of this?""No,"said Laddie."But if you can,I am glad,and I'm thankful for anything that gives me a glimpse of you.""Bye,Little Sister,"said the Princess,and when she loosened the lines the mud flew a rod high.
