3 &
 
 THE GREENWOODS
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 BY 
 
 LUCILE GRINNAN LYON 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 THE NEAL PUBLISHING COMPANY 
 1915
 
 Copyright, 1915, by 
 THE NEAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
 
 TO BILLY 
 
 2136714
 
 "THE GREENWOODS 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 " AND Bob a man and a bachelor ! " 
 
 A pretty young married cousin sniffed contemptu- 
 ously, and the other heirs gazed at Robert in disgusted 
 amazement. 
 
 Yet they had been resigned to his inheriting the 
 major portion of Mark Perkins's vast estate, until they 
 heard the condition. It was the condition that caused 
 the heart-burning. For a more suitable person might 
 have been found to carry out that condition and receive 
 the benefits. 
 
 " A million dollars ! " gasped an aunt. " And just 
 for being guardian to a little child and living under 
 the same roof with it! What could Mark have been 
 thinking of? " 
 
 " What sort of child can it be ? " asked another 
 aunt, " A million dollars for living under the same 
 roof with it ! I'm glad it won't be my roof ! " 
 
 Verily, it was enough to damage the reputation of 
 any child. 
 
 " It can't be the child," ventured an uncle. " She 
 is not more than eight years old, is an orphan, and her 
 father was one of the finest young fellows I ever met. 
 He died saving Mark's life, so it is not strange that 
 Mark should want to educate the daughter. His idea 
 
 9
 
 10 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 must have been to get Sylvia away from Miss Faunce; 
 and he knew it would take a hard-headed man like Bob 
 to do it." 
 
 While this explanation seemed reasonable enough 
 (Miss Faunce being the young woman who had jilted 
 the elderly millionaire shortly before his death) , it 
 failed to clear entirely the orphan's reputation, or to 
 help Bob in his search for a roof. 
 
 Robert Kingston had known of the codicil providing 
 for the orphan, but as he was to inherit the bulk of 
 his uncle's property, it had seemed only natural that he 
 should be entrusted with his uncle's ward. How was 
 he to see that domiciling the child would prove vexa- 
 tious to a millionaire; how was he to suspect that 
 everybody in the Perkins connection, that is, every- 
 body that was of the proper sex for rearing a little 
 girl, would feel insulted? 
 
 Hitherto young Dr. Kingston had led a care-free 
 existence, dividing his time between the family home in 
 Wayville, where, in a dilettante way, he engaged in 
 bacteriological research, and Boston, only a short 
 distance off, where he had his apartment and where he 
 sought relaxation from the strain of his profession. 
 Being satisfied with this mode of living, he saw no rea- 
 son for changing it ; but his family, when the affair was 
 discussed at home, felt differently. 
 
 " Don't bring that girl around me, Bob," growled 
 Walter, his school-boy brother, " Marie is girl enough 
 for one family ! " 
 
 Marie, the spoilt darling of the household, grew 
 tearful at the prospect of having to share her kingdom ; 
 but Chester, the college youth, was interested. 
 
 " Get a cast-iron governess and keep house," he ad-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 11 
 
 vised; then realizing that in this form the suggestion 
 was not alluring, he hastened to improve it. " Or a 
 young and pretty governess, and a cast-iron chaperon." 
 
 The insistence upon the necessity of cast iron prej- 
 udiced Bob against the housekeeping project. He 
 turned hopefully to his mother for assistance. She 
 regretfully shook her head. To be quite frank, her 
 feelings were sadly confused. She was gratified that her 
 son had been preferred above any nephew or niece, but 
 she could not understand why, if dear Mark had 
 wanted her to bear the onus of this child, he had not 
 mentioned the fact in his will, and left her the extra 
 million. Then, too, there was Marie. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston had brought up five children in the 
 fear of God and according to the dictates of her New 
 England conscience, but when the sternness of youth 
 had mellowed into middle age, Marie had come, Marie, 
 the youngest child and only beauty! The searching 
 inner light of duty had faded to the softer glow of 
 mother love, in whose mild gleamings Marie seemed per- 
 fect. 
 
 " I am sorry, son," she said at length, " but Marie 
 doesn't like children, and I won't have her pleasure in 
 her home marred by the claims of another child." 
 
 Still her affection for all her children was uncomfort- 
 ably intense, so it pained her to turn her first born 
 from her door. Robert marked her anxiety. 
 
 " Have no apprehensions, mother," he said reassur- 
 ingly. " I will control my ward." 
 
 " Yes," she put in hurriedly, " I know your old- 
 fashioned ideas on the subject, but I am too old to start 
 over again. Ask your married sisters to help you. 
 My advice to you is to marry. You and Ardelia have
 
 12 '< THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 been more or less in love for a lifetime, and if it were 
 not for that widow " 
 
 The second suggestion remained unfinished, for Bob 
 hastily sought his sisters, to whom he explained in turn 
 that all he wanted was a voting residence. They, how- 
 ever, felt that as he was getting the million just for liv- 
 ing under the roof with this Forrest child, it would be 
 quixotic in them to do it for less. 
 
 While affairs were in this unsettled state, he received 
 a letter from Miss Faunce. She not only offered to 
 keep the child, but even begged for the privilege. He 
 was surprised, for disinterestedness was not supposed 
 by the Perkins connection to be one of the young 
 woman's characteristics. 
 
 Of course he refused her request, but she promptly 
 wrote again, this time asking that Sylvia be allowed to 
 remain until the end of school. As this was just six 
 weeks off, and he was still minus a roof, he willingly 
 consented. 
 
 Then his mother and the rest, when the family 
 again met in conference, wanted to know what he 
 meant by it. He was forced to defend Miss Faunce in 
 order to excuse himself. 
 
 " She doesn't seem such a bad lot," he began. 
 
 " She broke your uncle's heart ! Haven't you any 
 gratitude? " 
 
 "He left the child with her, though. And if she 
 loves it " 
 
 " She is a heartless, mercenary wretch, Robert," ex- 
 plained his mother. " And merely used this child to 
 further her own ambitions." 
 
 He grasped at the change of subject. "How?
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 13 
 
 And how did she get possession of my uncle's ward in 
 the first place? Is she related to Sylvia? " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston fell into the trap. 
 
 " No, the child has no relatives, and was not in 
 Mark's care when Miss Faunce took charge of her. 
 Captain Forrest had not made Mark the guardian, but 
 had left Sylvia to her stepmother. Mark, of course, 
 helped them all he could, but the money he practically 
 gave them was in Mrs. Forrest's name. Mark thought 
 she was the child's own mother. But when she died a few 
 month's after her husband, without a will, the money, 
 instead of going to her stepchild, went to Mrs. Forrest's 
 parents. 
 
 " The transaction was legal, but Mark was left in 
 ignorance of it, even of Mrs. Forrest's death. These 
 people sent Sylvia to a convent, allowing her just 
 enough money for her education, and washed their hands 
 of the encumbrance." 
 
 "And how did Uncle Mark hear of it?" asked 
 Robert. 
 
 " Through Miss Faunce. She was also a pupil at the 
 convent, where she met the child, took a fancy to it, 
 or pretended to, and, very impertinently, wrote to 
 Mark, explaining that Sylvia had been left in almost 
 destitute circumstances and asking him to assist her 
 financially in educating the little thing properly. Mark 
 gladly assented, gave Sylvia a most generous allowance, 
 and at her request left her with Miss Faunce." 
 
 " The rest you know, Robert," added an aunt, for 
 nearly the whole family was present at this conclave. 
 " He fell in love with Miss Faunce, was deceived by her, 
 and died of a broken heart."
 
 14 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 This had not been Robert's diagnosis of his uncle's 
 case, but he prudently remained silent. 
 
 " So it is your duty," remarked his other aunt, " to 
 take the child away from her at once." 
 
 " I will, just as soon as I find a roof." 
 
 The aunt who had last spoken said, gazing sternly at 
 him: 
 
 " You are not going about this in the right spirit, 
 Robert. You are taking your uncle's money and not 
 carrying out the condition in his will. You could get a 
 roof, if you wanted to. I doubt if you ever get the 
 child at all." 
 
 " Why not? " He spoke coldly. 
 
 " Frances Faunce will wheedle you into letting her 
 keep it." 
 
 " But why, my dear aunt, should a heartless, merce- 
 nary wretch, like Miss Faunce, want it? " 
 
 " For bait, Robert. She probably wants your mil- 
 lion, and I see you are ripe for the plucking." 
 
 The metaphor was mixed, but no one noticed it. The 
 remark had filled Mrs. Kingston with trepidation, and 
 Robert with scorn. However, in his own interest, he 
 was forced again to Miss Faunce's defense. 
 
 " Then why didn't she marry Uncle Mark when she 
 had the chance and get the million and everything else 
 besides ? " 
 
 " Because she is too fickle to know what she really 
 wants. You know perfectly well," a sister was speak- 
 ing, " that she jilted poor dear Uncle Mark for a 
 younger man." 
 
 " Then if she is engaged to another, I ought to be 
 reasonably safe. Cheer up, ladies," he laughed. 
 
 " But she isn't. She has since thrown over the
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 15 
 
 younger man," retorted the sister, " She wasn't true 
 even to him." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston was now thoroughly alarmed. In the 
 face of the danger that threatened Robert, even Marie 
 took second place. 
 
 " Let me go and get the child for you, son," she 
 pleaded. 
 
 For a moment Bob was surprised; then he under- 
 stood. 
 
 " I can get Sylvia, mother. The only trouble is I 
 haven't yet found that roof." 
 
 " Do you mean to imply that my home is not a fit 
 place for her? " 
 
 This sudden manoeuvre of his mother's made the son 
 rather dizzy, but he did not lose his presence of mind. 
 He nabbed the roof at once. 
 
 " No, indeed ! " he cried, " I could ask no better place. 
 So sweet of you, mother, but I don't want you to be 
 burdened with this little Forrest, or " 
 
 " I don't intend to be. I merely offer you a home for 
 her. She mustn't quarrel with Marie, but Marie is 
 amiability itself, and unless your ward makes trouble, 
 there will be none." 
 
 " I will see that my ward does her duty in all things," 
 asserted the young man, with as much firmness as rash- 
 ness. 
 
 " Then bring her by all means. Marie is often lone- 
 some, and a child that can be controlled may prove 
 serviceable." 
 
 Every one present resented the last word as applied 
 to the child of the man who had saved Mark Perkins's 
 life. Robert frowned, and for once his bitterest aunt 
 offered him her services.
 
 16 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " If you prefer housekeeping, Robert, I will help 
 you," she assured him, " I will run over every day to 
 see that Sylvia is properly looked after, and will keep 
 an eye upon your servants." 
 
 All the ladies assumed an accommodating air, all 
 would run over every day, and Robert, forthwith, ac- 
 cepted his mother's offer : " Thank you, mother," he 
 said, " and I can get a governess, who will save you every 
 annoyance." 
 
 " But Marie doesn't like governesses. Why won't 
 Mrs. Burns do? " Mrs. Burns was the housekeeper. 
 
 " She will, if you prefer her ; and she can doubtless 
 suggest a nurse." 
 
 " But I have too many servants now. Susie, the sec- 
 ond maid, can help. And do get the child here at once." 
 
 " As soon as her school is out," he promised. 
 
 And he spoke so cordially that his evasion passed 
 unnoticed.
 
 CHAPTER II 
 
 WHEN the six weeks had passed, Robert went to 
 Baltimore to get his ward. He went in fear and trem- 
 bling, though, for taking a child from even an unworthy 
 woman that loves it is not an ordeal to be relished by 
 any man. 
 
 A red-headed, freckled-faced child, curly-haired and 
 dimpled, daintily arrayed in white, with a big bow on 
 her head, and with an immaculately clad, but weather- 
 beaten doll under her arm, was waiting for him on the 
 steps as he approached the house. She called out 
 jovially as she rose to meet him: 
 
 " Howdy ! Are you my new guardian ? " 
 
 Surprised at a hearty welcome where he had been 
 dreading tears or sulkiness, he gave her outstretched 
 hand a grateful squeeze. " Yes, I am Dr. Kingston. 
 And this is Sylvia?" 
 
 " Yessir, I'm The Greenwoods, and glad to meet 
 you." 
 
 He smiled at her name and her affectations. 
 
 "The Greenwoods?" 
 
 " Yessir ; The Greenwoods. Greenwoods Forest ; 
 spelt with one r, like the dictionary." 
 
 She examined him critically, and deciding that he 
 would prove amenable over the r's, which Mr. Mark 
 Perkins had not, she led him in. Mr. Perkins had 
 wanted her to spell her surname with two just because 
 her father had. But as for The Greenwoods, she had 
 stuck to the dictionary. 
 
 17
 
 18 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Walk right on in and make yourself at home while 
 I hang up your hat. It's a warm day, isn't it? Looks 
 like summer's come to stay, but p'raps we'll have rain 
 to-morrow. Walk right on in." 
 
 Not unnaturally, he had waited for a pause in the 
 conversation before leaving her, but at this second 
 bidding, he obeyed. 
 
 Miss Faunce was not in the drawing-room, but after 
 a brief interval The Greenwoods entered. He supposed 
 she had been notifying Miss Faunce of his arrival. The 
 child seated herself airily on a neighboring settee, and 
 introduced her doll. 
 
 " Meet Belinda, Dr. Kingston, Belinda, my oldest 
 daughter. Shake hands with the gentleman, Belinda, 
 he's your mamma's newest guardian, and he does look 
 young." 
 
 Instead of responding to Belinda's overtures, the 
 " newest guardian " assumed an austere mien, as he 
 asked : 
 
 " Are the ladies of the house at home ? " 
 
 The Greenwoods was insulted at the slight, and her 
 tone matched his in cold composure. " Sister Faunce 
 is in, thanks, but has a severe headache," The Green- 
 woods had a parrot's gift for words. The longer a 
 word was the better she liked it, " so begs to be excused 
 from chaperoning any more of Frances' flirtations." 
 
 Robert Kingston was startled out of his austerity by 
 this statement, so The Greenwoods promptly unbent, 
 too, and grew more chummy. 
 
 "Sister Faunce (and she's not a really sister, just 
 our sister-in-law), has been making it hot for Francie, 
 like all the kin do, just because she wouldn't marry Mr. 
 Perkins for his money. They'd announced it too. But
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 19 
 
 they announced it too soon. How could France know 
 how she'd feel about him before he'd kissed her with that 
 awful mouth of his ? " 
 
 At the light thus unexpectedly thrown upon the jilt- 
 ing of a multimillionaire, Robert forgot himself 
 and almost chuckled. Mark Perkins's mouth had been 
 an unfortunate feature. It had been compared to a 
 cat-fish's. But quickly remembering his obligations to 
 his uncle, the young man tried again to look severe. 
 
 Realizing her blunder almost as quickly, The 
 Greenwoods floundered unhappily, and, in an effort to 
 cover her confusion, talked more rapidly than ever. 
 
 " I beg pardon, Dr. Kingston. I forgot he was your 
 uncle or I'd never a-mentioned that mouth. I hope 
 you don't feel hurt. I was so fond of Mr. Perkins, for 
 he was my papa's friend. Still he should a-been. Didn't 
 papa save his life? Besides his mouth was good as any 
 for eating or talking but not for kissing. So " 
 
 " Your apology is accepted, Sylvia." The young 
 doctor spoke frigidly. 
 
 " The same to you, I'm sure. You see 'twas that 
 mouth what made Francie notice Ned Cameron's. 
 Ned's is just lovely. He was the best dancer at An- 
 napolis before he failed in his exams., and Mr. Perkins 
 couldn't even pick up a handkerchief without puffing. 
 Sakes ! I've talked too much again ! But I'll say this 
 for your uncle, Dr. Kingston, he always got the hand- 
 kerchief. So what you looking so mad about? " 
 
 " Pardon me, but " 
 
 " With pleasure. Still you can't blame France for 
 loving Ned best. And how was she to know that love 
 wouldn't last for always? They'd fooled her about it. 
 So she says, be careful how you get engaged. If
 
 20 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 it's for money or if it's for love, it all turns out 
 wrong." 
 
 " Is Miss Faunce at home? " came the question in 
 a voice chilling enough, he hoped, to end these unsought 
 confidences. 
 
 " Yes, she's in, and will be down as soon as she gets 
 through primping. Did I mention that it is a warm 
 day? I forget it half the time. It looks so indifferent 
 not to mention the weather when there's company ! Say, 
 you look awful young for a guardian ! " 
 
 He felt young. She had overwhelmed him. 
 
 " This is my first attempt," he murmured uneasily. 
 
 She sank back in despair. 
 
 " I might a-known it ! I'm always the first ! 
 Mamma's first and Papa's first, and Mother Brooks' 
 first, and Mother Gray's first, and Steppie's first, and 
 Francie's first, and now your first ! " 
 
 As she glibly but sadly enumerated his predecessors, 
 naming only the inexperienced ones, yet counting 
 a guardian for nearly every year of her short life, 
 he began to understand why he was to be so richly re- 
 warded for taking charge. This child wore out about 
 a guardian a year ! 
 
 " I call that hard luck, Dr. Kingston." She was 
 speaking of her own trouble, not of his. " If I've got 
 to have a Forester, I wish I could get one with a little 
 experience. By the time I learn one of 'em a little 
 sense, another comes along and then I've got to start 
 all over again ! " 
 
 There was a painful lack of sympathy in his bearing. 
 The good impression she had made by her friendly 
 greeting had been talked away, and he thought she 
 needed repressing.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 21 
 
 " I hate to leave Francie now," continued the child 
 wistfully. " Lately she's hardly been cross-eyed at 
 all." 
 
 "Cross-eyed?" he exclaimed. He had heard that 
 Miss Faunce was beautiful. 
 
 " I'll own up, Dr. Kingston, she is a tiny bit. But 
 cross-eyed or not, she's the mother God raised up for 
 me, and I don't want to trade her off for you ! " 
 
 Affected The Greenwoods might be as a rule, but she 
 had outbursts, at least, of great naturalness. 
 
 " I am sorry," began her listener, " but " 
 
 " Me too. France is God's own miracle what I worked 
 myself, and I want to keep her." 
 
 " It is impossible, though; so say no more " 
 
 " That's what they said when I adopted her ; girls, 
 nuns and Faunces, all said it. France just giggled. 
 They said she was too young, and hadn't come to the 
 convent to be my mother ; she'd come to finish her edu- 
 cation; and I would be a care and expense and the 
 Faunces was too poor. But did I pay 'em any mind? 
 No ! For when God is on a little girl's side, nothing is 
 impossible ! " 
 
 " As I have said before, or tried to say " 
 
 " And that was when I was much littler than now. 
 Was you ever at a convent ? " 
 
 " No, my dear, but as I was saying " 
 
 " Be thankful then, for it is awful ! I most died ! " 
 
 At last he was moved. 
 
 " Were you so lonely, dear ? " 
 
 " Not lonely so much as little. It is hard to be the 
 littlest girl with just big girls around. And no one 
 helped me, but France." 
 
 " I know you had a sad time, dear ; and while I can't
 
 22 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 grant your request, I promise that you shall never be 
 unkindly treated again." 
 
 " I wasn't unkindly treated. I could a-stood that ! " 
 
 " Tell me the trouble then." He held out his hand 
 invitingly. 
 
 " Why, the girls kissed me most to death ! " 
 
 "Oh!" 
 
 His hand fell limply to his side. He examined her 
 critically to find the charm. She seemed to him just a 
 plain-featured child, who talked too much ; yet every 
 curl upon her head and frill upon her dress bespoke the 
 love that some one bore her ; and she had an air of hav- 
 ing always been admired. 
 
 " They kissed me till my lips wore out. They gave 
 me candy till it made me sick, and presents till I had no 
 place to put 'em. They told me stories till I knew 'em 
 all by heart ; and called me sweet, till I made faces to 
 stop 'em. And then they said, ' How cunning ! ' : 
 
 She had evidently received adulation enough to last 
 her a lifetime. 
 
 " So I prayed for a mother to stop that lovingness, 
 and get me pretty clothes. The sisters was sweet ladies, 
 but give me style! I 'scribed to God the kind of 
 mother I wanted, pretty and young, with brown eyes, 
 and a laugh in 'em. So God sent me France, and she 
 was it exactly ! But she most dropped dead when I told 
 her about it ! " 
 
 " I dare say." 
 
 " She thought it was a joke; and the nuns said she 
 was no miracle at all, just a coincidence what hap- 
 pened along after I'd prayed my prayer; and the 
 Faunces said 'twas ridiculous, with her just seven- 
 teen! But I just insisted, and here I am!"
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 23 
 
 Robert was touched by her fight for a mother, but 
 she talked steadily on and her next words spoilt another 
 good impression. 
 
 " Now, take my word for it, Dr. Kingston, God 
 knows best; and since He's decreed for her to be my 
 mother, He may not like his plan changed." 
 
 Robert, unaccustomed to being threatened, grew 
 firm again. 
 
 " Taking France all in all, she's a lovely mother ; 
 though at first was green as you. We know each others' 
 faults, you see, and have amalgamated each other up. 
 So won't you please leave me here a little longer? " 
 
 He was affected more deeply than he had thought it 
 possible to be, considering that The Greenwoods had 
 wanted a mother only to be saved from love, not from 
 loneliness ; but, since he felt competent to save the child 
 from the devotion of her friends and to buy her " pretty 
 clothes," he refused her petition. 
 
 " I am sorry, dear, but I promised my uncle " 
 
 " He was my guardian the same as you, and he let 
 me stay." 
 
 This reminded him of the fatal list, which, by the 
 addition of his uncle, now numbered eight. 
 
 " It is impossible, Sylvia ; so say no more about it ! " 
 He spoke with an air of finality, an air that impressed 
 even her; but she bore her defeat bravely. 
 
 "All right then. Foresters don't last long, any- 
 how." 
 
 Remembering the value Mark Perkins had set upon 
 one, the latest addition to that list grew apprehensive. 
 
 "Who's going to help you raise me, Dr. Kingston? 
 I can button my frocks, but they don't always come 
 out even, and tie a bow; and my hair is so curly it
 
 24 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 doesn't need much combing, if France wasn't so par- 
 ticular. Can you darn my socks and wash my back? " 
 
 The details made him gasp. 
 
 " We are to live with my parents, and their house- 
 keeper, Mrs. Burns, will help with such things." 
 
 " Is she old or young? " 
 
 " Rather elderly, but " 
 
 " Turn her off then. I like 'em experienced, but 
 young." 
 
 " You will like Mrs. Burns. She is " 
 
 " Most old ones are cranky. But maybe she's a 
 grandmother. Is she ? " 
 
 " No, but still " 
 
 " Then turn her off. I lived with an old woman after 
 Steppie died, the old woman what lived in St. Louis. 
 And it's like Steppie said, ' You can't teach old women 
 modern methods.' That old soul actually tried the 
 Solomon racket on me ! Now Solomon was right, 'cause 
 he's in the Bible, but he meant folks' own children, not 
 orphans. Orphans have rights." 
 
 It was too early in the acquaintance to refute her 
 theory, and besides, Robert was getting weak. " The 
 old woman what lived in St. Louis " made nine ! 
 
 " So I ran away to a lovely farm in the river bot- 
 tom, and lived with Mother Freidlander." 
 
 And Robert counted ten. 
 
 " But the old woman what lived in St. Louis got me, 
 and she sent me to the convent." 
 
 The woman referred to was evidently the stepmother's 
 mother that had got rid of the child and kept the money. 
 Robert was beginning to feel that there was some ex- 
 cuse for her behavior. 
 
 " Good luck to her ashes, though ! for at the convent
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 25 
 
 I met France! And when the Faunces wouldn't have 
 me, said they couldn't afford another daughter, she 
 wrote to Mr. Perkins. I told her about him by accident, 
 about the bad striker trying to kill Mr. Perkins, and 
 papa saving him, but getting shot instead. And Mr. 
 Perkins had himself made my guardian, and arranged 
 about the expense, and let France keep me, like I wanted 
 it. Say, do you believe in corporous punishment? " 
 
 Warned by past experience with her various mothers, 
 The Greenwoods wanted to know before it was too late. 
 But, far from commending her foresight, Robert was 
 shocked at her sauciness. 
 
 " Does Miss Faunce know I am here ? " he asked 
 evasively. 
 
 Something in his eye, something like a red light 
 marking a danger spot in the road, made her drop 
 with an unpleasant thud into little girldom : " I er 
 reckon so. Sambo must have told her. He minds the 
 door." 
 
 " He wasn't there when I came." 
 
 " The lazy nigger ! We'll have to fire him yet ! " 
 
 Concluding that Dr. Kingston's disapproval was for 
 the servant, she recovered her jauntiness and smiled her 
 regret at the misunderstanding. 
 
 " Maybe you forgot to ring? " 
 
 " It was you that invited me in. Didn't you tell 
 Miss Faunce I had come ? " 
 
 " Why, no ! I've been entertaining you ! I always 
 entertain her beaux ! " 
 
 " Then tell her at once." 
 
 Now, since Miss Faunce's debut a few months before, 
 The Greenwoods herself had become rather an impor- 
 tant personage in society, and the discriminating among
 
 26 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 the older girl's admirers always sent the younger one 
 flowers or sweets ; consequently The Greenwoods was ac- 
 customed to being treated deferentially by the opposite 
 sex, and at Robert's command she stared loftily at the 
 representative before her. 
 
 " Sir? " she exclaimed, with the hauteur of a 
 tragedy-queen. 
 
 " Go immediately, Miss." 
 
 " Yessir." 
 
 For The Greenwoods had seen the red light again, 
 and, with another amazed thud into little girldom, she 
 walked slowly and meekly from the room. 
 
 The struggle for conquest had begun.
 
 CHAPTER III 
 
 " A LOBSTER is down-stairs, France, and wants to see 
 you!" 
 
 The Greenwoods entered a room where.a bewilderingly 
 pretty girl, with more than her share of personal 
 charm, was anxiously studying the mirror. 
 
 " Don't speak so horridly, Woody love. Those 
 Kingstons will say I haven't taught you proper man- 
 ners. Is he pleasant? " 
 
 " He wouldn't know a manner if he met it in the road ! 
 He actually snubbed Belinda! He's no young gentle- 
 man ; he's a guardian ! " 
 
 " Oh my ! Gentlemen are so disappointing ! Isn't 
 he nice looking? " 
 
 " The cross-eyedest thing on earth ! And you'd bet- 
 ter hurry, Francie; he's been hanging around down 
 there an hour ! " 
 
 With a startled exclamation, a hasty glance at the 
 mirror, and an unheeded caress of The Greenwoods' 
 head in passing, Miss Faunce hurried to meet her guest. 
 
 Her steps lagged, and when she reached the hall- 
 tree, where hung the visitor's hat, she paused and 
 caught her breath. The hat was encircled with a band 
 of crepe. Poor Mr. Perkins ! He was dead. He had 
 never seemed like one to die of love, and pneumonia 
 usually goes hard with fleshy people, but who could 
 tell? 
 
 She had never grieved for her elderly admirer before 
 nor blamed herself for his death, because almost as soon 
 
 27
 
 28 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 as she had heard of it she had learned that he had 
 planned to separate her from the adored Greenwoods. 
 Since he had reached from his grave to strike her, she 
 felt exonerated for having jilted him. But then, this 
 was the first visible evidence she had had of his death. 
 
 Poor Mr. Perkins ! She had treated him badly. Per- 
 haps he had thought that since she had proved untrue 
 to him, she might tire of Woody too. He hadn't under- 
 stood. She had tried to catch him. She hadn't thought 
 it wrong. If it is a woman's duty to marry, it is surely 
 right in her to try to do her duty. As she viewed that 
 band of crepe her conviction changed. It was not a wo- 
 man's duty to marry, and the only things that could 
 possibly justify marriage were love and respect. 
 
 And on reaching that point in her thoughts she ar- 
 rived at the door of the drawing-room. 
 
 Robert had been forewarned, but, feeling .immune 
 against a cross-eyed coquette, had thrown his armor 
 away. Yet, when he heard her coming, he squared his 
 shoulders for the interview and straightened his tie for 
 the woman. 
 
 She entered, a queenly young figure, radiant with 
 youth, and possessed of a beauty so vivid that it seemed 
 alive. And her eyes were straight ! So were his ! Oddly 
 enough, on simultaneously making the discovery, both 
 Miss Faunce and Dr. Kingston were disconcerted. The 
 Greenwoods had referred, evidently, to their mental 
 vision. 
 
 With a peculiar admixture of emotions, Frances rec- 
 ognized in Robert Kingston a younger and more 
 slender edition of her former lover. It was as if Mark 
 Perkins had returned, with the same appearance of 
 strength and power, but with a human mouth! And
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 29 
 
 the selfsame blush that had worked havoc with the 
 uncle arose beneath the nephew's gaze. 
 
 Her head was poised at an angle that her enemies 
 called " high and mighty," but her eyes were the soft 
 shade of brown that bespeaks a gentle disposition. Her 
 head commanded, but her eyes appealed; and between 
 them they usually got her all she wanted. 
 
 Dr. Kingston, however, refused her request. Yet 
 there was so much sympathy in his glance, so much ad- 
 miration in his eye, that she respected the strength that 
 resisted her. " A good strong man ! " she thought. 
 
 " But can't you leave Woody with me until you are 
 permanently located? " 
 
 " I promised my uncle, Miss Faunce." 
 
 " But must The Greenwoods be sacrificed to your 
 promise? Has she no claim? If you were settled in 
 your own home, Dr. Kingston, I wouldn't urge you to 
 leave her; but already she has lost the dependence 
 natural to childhood and is as self-reliant as a woman. 
 But what can you expect from one with so large an ex- 
 perience of life? She has known nothing but change." 
 
 " Why? Tell me about it." 
 
 " She lost her mother in infancy, you know, Dr. King- 
 ston ; and her father was an army officer. It seems that 
 he was always being moved about; naturally, he took 
 his daughter with him, and there was always some lady 
 at the post anxious to take charge of the attractive 
 young officer's charming little girl. Now some of these 
 " mothers," as Woody calls them,- spoilt her by in- 
 dulgence, some by severity, while some were over-at- 
 tentive, and some neglectful. From comparing one 
 mother with another, the child learned to think for her- 
 self, and soon thought she knew more than any of them."
 
 30 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 " I noticed it," said Robert. 
 
 " She has a remarkably sweet temper though, Dr. 
 Kingston, but, as I was explaining, has no home at- 
 tachments. In fact, I am the only person in the world 
 she loves. She thinks God gave us to each other, and 
 if you part us, I fear the effect upon her." 
 
 " Of course I don't want to do anything to injure 
 the child, but from my conversation with her I imagine 
 that too much attention has been paid to her opinions 
 already." 
 
 " As is only natural with a child of her remarkable 
 precocity," snapped Frances. 
 
 " Er exactly. But my uncle knew all the circum- 
 stances, and made the arrangement he thought best. I 
 promised to carry it out." 
 
 " But he had Woody's interests at heart. He didn't 
 want her moved from pillar to post any oftener than 
 necessary. A little girl should be protected from the 
 world, not forced to make her way in it." 
 
 " But I am not throwing her on the world. I am 
 taking her to my mother's." 
 
 " No doubt an excellent place. But it will be only 
 one more stop for Woody. By the time she adjusts 
 herself to your mother's household you will marry " 
 
 He gave her a penetrating glance, which she met 
 without coquetry. Her thoughts were all of The Green- 
 woods. 
 
 " Then she will have to adjust herself to your wife 
 and her ways. Is it treating her fairly ? " 
 
 " Considering all this, Miss Faunce, why didn't my 
 uncle leave her with you? " He spoke impatiently, but 
 in self-defense. 
 
 As Frances saw it, Mark Perkins had either thought
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 31 
 
 her unworthy to bring up the child, or had wanted to 
 punish her, through Robert Kingston, for her treat- 
 ment of him. 
 
 " I don't care to discuss Mr. Perkins's motives with 
 you, Dr. Kingston. And as you are resolved to take 
 The Greenwoods, there is no more to be said. May I 
 write to her occasionally? " Her eyes flashed, and she 
 spoke haughtily. 
 
 Her love for the child had appealed to him, and now 
 the hot young scorn in her voice made him flush. He 
 humbly begged her to write. He went even further, 
 he asked permission to advise with her occasionally 
 about The Greenwoods. 
 
 His mother would disapprove, but Frances' love for 
 the child had convinced Robert that the young girl was 
 not unworthy, and he wanted to remove from her mind 
 the impression that his uncle had been prompted by 
 malice. Frances relented. She consented to advise him 
 and began at once. 
 
 " I don't believe you will have any trouble, if you ap- 
 proach Woody in the right spirit, Dr. Kingston; for 
 she is so sweet and reasonable that she will meet you 
 half-way. Don't pay too much attention to her absurd 
 ideas, for she will soon outgrow them, and it won't 
 do any good anyway. Then a hint works better with 
 her than a command ; for she is willing to do right. You 
 will only have to teach her what is right." 
 
 To Robert this sounded as if life would be one long 
 argument, but he discreetly kept his opinion to him- 
 self. 
 
 And how about my mother's housekeeper, Miss 
 Faunce? Sylvia has ordered me to turn her off. If
 
 32 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 you knew my mother, you might appreciate the diffi- 
 culty." 
 
 Frances laughed delightedly, as if it were a joke. 
 
 " Don't worry about the housekeeper," she said, 
 " Woody can get on with anyone." 
 
 " With children even? " He was thinking of Marie. 
 
 " With them especially. They adore her. She is so 
 perfect." 
 
 " You relieve me. And now, there is something else. 
 What am I to do with her when I leave home? My 
 mother refuses to take any of the responsibility, and 
 won't have a governess on the place, while I hardly like 
 to leave the child in charge of the servants." 
 
 The future did not look rosy for Woody, but Frances 
 had great confidence in the child's power of winning 
 love. And as she had failed to change Dr. Kingston's 
 purpose, she gladly accepted the compromise, which 
 was what she had been hoping for all the time. 
 
 " If it will be in keeping with your promise, Dr. 
 Kingston, bring her to me. I will be so glad to have 
 her; and the thought that we are not to be separated 
 entirely will reconcile her as well as me. It will seem 
 less as if you were taking her away from me than as 
 if we were fellow-Foresters." 
 
 She blushed again, for she had not intended to men- 
 tion those Foresters. It was mention of them that had 
 caused Mr. Perkins's first gleam of sentimentality. 
 Robert was looking interested too. 
 
 " Tell me about the Foresters. Sylvia alluded to 
 them, but I am not certain that I understand. What 
 are they ? " 
 
 " Why a Forester is one who keeps The Greenwoods. 
 It is an awful pun, but has evolved itself, it being the
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 38 
 
 only name that includes all her keepers. Parents, 
 own, step, and foster, step-grandparents, adopteds, 
 guardians " 
 
 He stopped her in dismay. " What on earth becomes 
 of them?" 
 
 " Most of them were in the army, so they moved as 
 fast as she did. Some, I am afraid, grew tired, there 
 is no accounting for tastes, you know, and others 
 died." 
 
 " Foresting must be a job," groaned Robert. 
 " Stand by me, Miss Faunce. And may I impose upon 
 your good nature at once? I am to be in Washington 
 a few days, and if " 
 
 " Oh, lovely ! And you will leave the darling with 
 me? How kind! And as Washington is no near, can't 
 you run over occasionally, to get acquainted with 
 Woody. I will feel so much better about it, if you 
 understand her." 
 
 His mother would have said the girl was laying a 
 snare for him, and even he wondered a little. But she 
 seemed to be thinking only of the child, and suppose 
 she were playing an unusually subtle game, why, it 
 was a game for two. He accepted her invitation. 
 
 " He is so companionable," she thought, " neither old- 
 fogyish, like Mr. Perkins, nor kiddish, like Ned. A 
 good strong level-headed man, reasonably young, and 
 with a human mouth ! " 
 
 And for some reason Miss Faunce blushed again.
 
 CHAPTER IV 
 
 MEANWHILE The Greenwoods was cogitating the sit- 
 uation upon her own account. Evidently she was to be 
 torn from the loving arms of her " own adopted," 
 which was sad indeed; but she was not a child for idle 
 repining. 
 
 " If he does take me away from Francie, I shall be 
 an orphan again, and have all an orphan's rights," she 
 thought. 
 
 Back in the convent days, before Frances had come, 
 The Greenwoods had been a member of an organization 
 known as A. Society of F. I. Orphans. No one had 
 suspected that there was a secret connected with it, and 
 it had evoked the sympathy of all. 
 
 When that band of bright young orphans had filed 
 by, with their Bibles and their hat-pins, both girls 
 and teachers had wept. Relations and guardians, in 
 a panic of remorse for possible negligence, had sent 
 checks or boxes, and the F. I. Orphans had been uni- 
 versally feted. 
 
 After most of the mischief of the school had been 
 traced to A. Society's door, sympathy had waned. An 
 investigation was made, after which the organization 
 met an unhappy end. 
 
 The Amalgamated Society of Free and Independent 
 Orphans had been organized to establish their indepen- 
 dence, with the avowed intention of putting down all 
 guardians and teachers, and, incidentally, it seemed, 
 of working them to a finish. 
 
 34
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 35 
 
 Of an impressible age, The Greenwoods had taken 
 seriously the doctrine, impressed on her by the big 
 girls, that an orphan was a most exalted being, with 
 a superior claim on heaven, and privileged (subject to 
 the Bible's limitations), to do as she pleased on earth; 
 and she believed what she had been told. 
 
 In theory this was fine enough, but in practice she 
 preferred a mother. So when Frances came in answer 
 to prayer the child joyfully sent in her resignation " as 
 an orphan," and consequently knew little of the ex- 
 tirpation of the heresy. The nuns, fondly hoping that 
 the tenets had gone over the child's head, said nothing 
 to combat them. So, while she had renounced her 
 rights, she still believed in them. 
 
 Now, since these rights were about to be thrust upon 
 her again, she was preparing to uphold them. 
 
 " How did that Declaration start ? " she wondered, 
 " I ought to know, for I've recited it often, with my 
 hat-pin raised, to show I'd fight for my faith, like a 
 Crusader. The words in it was perfectly long and 
 lovely." 
 
 Words were her fad. She was making a collection 
 of them, and daily added to her store any verbal speci- 
 men by which thought might be expressed. Sometimes 
 she used her long words correctly, often she got them 
 wrong ; but her verbal memory was good. Soon she re- 
 peated, with tolerable accuracy, the Declaration of 
 Independence of the Amalgamated Society of Free and 
 Independent Orphans. 
 
 " All Orphans are by Divine Providence free and in- 
 dependent, subject to no authority save God's alone. 
 Teachers and guardians are our natural enemies ; and it 
 is our duty and intention to strike off the shackles of
 
 36 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 these tyrants and usurpers ! They are to be recognized 
 and obeyed only when fancy, or -convenience, bids. 
 Blood relations may be treated with respect, but Guar- 
 dians Must Be Put Down ! " 
 
 " I bet," chuckled the youthful disciple jubilantly, 
 " that will surprise Dr. Kingston when I recite it to 
 him. I'm glad I'll be there to see the old usurper's face. 
 Serve him right. Old cross-eyed dog ! " 
 
 She grew more thoughtful. 
 
 " What I'm wondering, though, is how a little girl no 
 bigger'n me is to put down a great strong man like him. 
 And how she's a-going to keep him down when once she 
 gets him there. And if she can't keep him down what 
 is a dictatorious animal likely to do about it when he 
 gets up again? And down where is she a-going to put 
 him?"
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 AFTER his second visit to Miss Faunce, Robert ceased 
 to rack his brains as to why The Greenwoods had been 
 left to his bachelor ministrations. He believed (for rea- 
 son is subordinate to will) that Mark Perkins, admiring 
 Frances to the last, had devised this ruse for binding 
 her destiny with that of his favorite nephew. 
 
 He also thought that this explained why The 
 Greenwoods had been left penniless ; since, as she had 
 informed him, " The Faunces was too poor to afford 
 another daughter," they would make no effort to keep 
 the child after her allowance ceased. 
 
 Yet sometimes reason is the slave of fear; and 
 Frances still regarded Bob as the rod of Mark Perkins's 
 wrath. She liked him when she was with him, but when 
 she was not, suspicions sprang up like weeds. 
 
 " He doesn't love me, or he would leave, out of re- 
 gard for his uncle's memory and his people's dislike for 
 me. He knows a marriage is impossible, yet he lingers. 
 Is he trying to flirt with me? " 
 
 So, full of indignation, and interest, she watched 
 to see if he were trying to flirt; while he, scornful, 
 and anxious, waited to find out if she were trying to 
 catch him. 
 
 Unaffected by this little tangle, The Greenwoods re- 
 mained serene and happy; for while her father had ne- 
 glected to instruct her in the traditional spelling of her 
 name, he had taught her his doctrine of happiness. 
 
 37
 
 38 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 Captain Forest had believed that happiness was the 
 highest lesson earth had to teach; that earth was the 
 school, in fact, and heaven the place for the graduates, 
 while hardships and privations were but the tests to 
 show how far one had advanced. For her religious 
 duties, he had given her a rule, the golden one ; a song, 
 the Jubilate, and a prayer, " O Lord, teach me how to 
 be happy." 
 
 The orthodox will believe that happiness came to the 
 little orphan left stranded alone as an answer to prayer ; 
 but there is nearly always a physical reason underlying 
 even a spiritual fact. It was thus with Woody's happi- 
 ness. 
 
 Floating about in this world are myriads of tiny in- 
 visible creatures, so small that a whole colony can 
 live comfortably upon the petal of a rose. Some are 
 kindly disposed toward man, and come to him with 
 healing on their wings, while others work for his un- 
 doing. Always these little presences have been known, 
 and loved, or dreaded. The ancients called them 
 fairies, the moderns call them germs. 
 
 Many of them are still wild and free, but others 
 have been caught and domesticated. The wise men of 
 to-day are studying their habits, and know certain 
 formulas by which the good may be attracted and the 
 bad repelled. And they have discovered that certain 
 conditions of mind and body attract certain kinds of 
 germs. 
 
 So The Greenwoods, with her doctrine and song of 
 happiness and her daily prayer, unconsciously formed 
 in her system that condition most congenial to the 
 merry little microbes of fun. They swarmed about her 
 like bees, and she became so incurably impregnated
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 39 
 
 that just to be near her gave an ordinary person the 
 giggles. 
 
 They led her into many a scrape, but to make up for 
 it, told her stories when she was alone, put songs on 
 her lips, funny words on her tongue, curious ideas into 
 her head. They guarded her from wicked germs; and 
 when they could not keep sorrow from her, they 
 wrapped it up in illusion. 
 
 She scattered a contagion of mirth wherever she 
 went. All who loved fun and jollity also loved The 
 Greenwoods, which explains the infatuation of the 
 convent girls, but those of a serious turn of mind 
 disapproved of her entirely. 
 
 Frances was nearly heart-broken over losing her. 
 
 " How can I ever get along without you, precious ? " 
 she asked disconsolately. " I had hoped you were set- 
 tled for life, and here you are moving again; and it is 
 all my fault!" 
 
 " Don't you bother about me moving, Francie love ; 
 I'm used to moving. But if you get lonesome, Fll show 
 you how to cure it." Woody fumbled with her friend's 
 wrist, while Frances kissed Woody's topmost curl. 
 
 " There it is ! Put your finger right there, Francie, 
 and you'll feel something beating. It's your pulse. 
 And every time it beats something good is happening. 
 Somebody's going to heaven, or a darling little baby is 
 born, all sorts of lovely things. Now you know that 
 with all those good things a-happening, something good, 
 something good, something good will happen to bring 
 you and me together again. So when you're lonesome, 
 my beautiful adopted, just count your pulse and think 
 it." 
 
 All too soon the time came when Robert had to leave.
 
 40 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 Yet, while he kept his promise to his uncle and took 
 The Greenwoods, he did not humiliate Frances in the 
 eyes of a watchful world. And she was grateful. 
 
 It was a desolate feeling, though, to see them drive 
 away, The Greenwoods chatting with the new guardian 
 as if only out for a ride. Frances wandered listlessly 
 about the house that seemed so empty until, finding an 
 abandoned doll, she sat on the floor beside it and wept. 
 
 Then remembering Woody's formula against the 
 blues, and since she was so miserable that it mat- 
 tered not how ridiculously she behaved, she located 
 her pulse and counted. 
 
 " Something good, something good, something good's 
 a-happening," she reiterated, until a drowsy feeling 
 stole over her. " Something good, something good, 
 something good's a-happening, to bring you and me to- 
 gether again." 
 
 And behold, Robert Kingston's eyes seemed to be 
 looking into hers with sympathy.
 
 CHAPTER VI 
 
 THEY were seated in their stateroom : Robert, ready 
 to begin his paper, and The Greenwoods, a conversa- 
 tion. His prejudice against her had received fresh im- 
 petus from the manner of her parting with Miss Faunce. 
 It had seemed to indicate a callous nature ; and he liked 
 a child to have some feeling. 
 
 " Sylvia ! " 
 
 " Oh, don't call me Sylvia ! Sylvia Forest is so re- 
 dundant! Sylvia, living in the woods; Forest, the 
 woods. Now, if there's to be so much woods about it, 
 call me Greenwoods." 
 
 " Sylvia Forest sounds as well as Greenwoods Forest ; 
 and I should think you would prefer the name your 
 father gave you. He " 
 
 " Well, I don't mind ; And papa wasn't finicky, no- 
 how. And, say; you sent me a picture postal from 
 Washington, for which I thank you most sincerely, 
 but you spelt my last name with two r's. It is proper 
 spelt with one. Now do be a sensible guardian and spell 
 it correct, and let me spell it correct. Of course it 
 is a surname, but I am particular. I spell even sur- 
 names correct when I know how." 
 
 " That is most praiseworthy, my dear. I will re- 
 member about the r's. And now, Sylvia " 
 
 " Thank you, Dr. Kingston. And call me * Green- 
 woods.' " 
 
 " If you really wish it. But this is a good oppor- 
 tunity to get rid of a nickname that otherwise may 
 
 41
 
 42 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 stick to you for life. Sylvia Forest is a pretty name, 
 so think it over while I read my paper." 
 
 " 'Tisn't half so pretty as yours. Yours is lovely ! 
 If you have no objection, sir, and won't think it pre- 
 cocious in a youth of my age, I ask the privilege of 
 calling you by it, if you please." 
 
 He smiled. " By all means. Call me Bob." 
 
 "Bob! What should I call you Bob for? Your 
 name's Octavius Cassar ! " 
 
 "What do you mean, child? Octavius Caesar? My 
 name is Robert ! " 
 
 " That's not what Edith Wofford said ! She said it 
 was Octavius." 
 
 " I never heard of Edith Wofford ! Who is she? " 
 
 " She is Frances' enemy, and France cut her out 
 with Mr. Cameron." 
 
 Robert was troubled. Why should Miss Faunce's 
 enemy call him Octavius? What possible connection 
 existed between him and the old Roman? 
 
 " I don't know what she means." 
 
 " She probably fibbed. Did you fix Cloepatra, Dr. 
 Kingston? " 
 
 He stared. To be correct, he glared. 
 
 "Who is Cleopatra?" 
 
 " You may search me. I never saw him in my life ! 
 But Edith said something about Cleopatra being mean 
 to old Caesar, and that you came to Baltimore to get 
 even with Cleopatra, and make a triumph of him. 
 What's wrong? Did you bite your tongue? " 
 
 "No!" 
 
 " What's up then ? I haven't done anything yet." 
 
 " Be quiet, Sylvia. I want to think." 
 
 " You bet I will, Octavius. You look mad as a wet
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 43 
 
 cat! But I don't blame you, I bit mine once. You 
 can forgive the hurt, if it wasn't for the shock. Stick 
 it out; it looks funny, but will cool it off." 
 
 " Don't call me Octavius ! The most ungallant clam 
 in history! I hate the name! Besides, it doesn't fit." 
 
 " You called me Sylvia a minute since. It's a clam, 
 too." 
 
 " I beg your pardon." 
 
 " The pleasure's mine, I'm sure. France doesn't 
 like that name, Octavius, either. When I told her 
 of it she most cried ! Oh, Dr. Kingston ! Did you bite 
 your tongue again? "
 
 CHAPTER VII 
 
 THE GREENWOODS leaned out of the automobile and 
 regarded her new home with lively interest. After her 
 experience with poverty, genteel and otherwise, it 
 looked like a summer hotel in the midst of a park. Yet 
 the point that caught her eye was a group of four oak 
 trees growing in the ideal position to form a playhouse 
 for a little girl. 
 
 She appropriated it upon the spot ; then she thought 
 of Marie, and sighed. Her guardian had told her 
 about Marie, and the description had not been cheer- 
 ful. That was Marie's house, of course, but perhaps 
 she would let The Greenwoods play in it. So The 
 Greenwoods smiled again. 
 
 As she and her guardian entered the hall she looked 
 around for Marie so as to arrange it, but Marie, in 
 dudgeon at the invasion of her territory, had departed 
 for a week's visit to a married sister. The housekeeper 
 met them, for Mrs. Kingston was taking her usual drive. 
 
 Through spacious halls, with polished floors and 
 frescoed ceilings; past chandeliers that sparkled like 
 jewels; seeing through half-opened doors wide expanses 
 of mirrors, handsome paintings, and charming statu- 
 ary, The Greenwoods followed Mrs. Burns to the little 
 cuddy she was to occupy at the back of the house, 
 near the housekeeper and the other servants, who were 
 all at home. The Greenwoods met them at once, and 
 was charmed. They began from the first to influence 
 her diction. 
 
 44
 
 45 
 
 " Land's sake, Dr. Kingston, this is a pretty house ! " 
 she exclaimed after she had dressed for the evening and 
 was going with him to meet his mother. 
 
 He frowned; and realizing that the expression was 
 not in keeping with the surrounding elegance, she re- 
 solved to be more dignified. Seven stately steps she 
 measured; then, remembering that she had some splen- 
 dour of her own, forgot and asked : " Don't I look 
 nice? " 
 
 He thought she did, but it did not accord with his 
 ideas of discipline to tell her so. Hence he made no 
 comment on her finery, but taking silence to mean con- 
 sent, she strutted in natural pride. 
 
 " Isn't the bow pretty? " 
 
 " Nothing to be conceited about." 
 
 " I fully agree with you, Dr. Kingston. I prefer a 
 red one myself, because my hair is red, and I like things 
 to match. But France says I should wear a green bow, 
 because I am The Greenwoods. So I wear it to match 
 my name." 
 
 " It is very becoming indeed. You should always 
 wear green." 
 
 " Thanks, but I look nice in nearly everything. Isn't 
 the dress sweet? " 
 
 " Why, I see nothing especial about it." This, too, 
 in the interests of discipline. 
 
 " Huh ! It's hand-made and hand-embroidered just 
 the same, and trimmed with real Valenciennes ! France 
 made it every stitch herself, busy as she is a-going to 
 parties and being made love to ! And you don't think 
 it's nothing special? Well, just look at the under side 
 of that embroidery and see."
 
 46 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 He bent over the outheld frock in awe. " Exquisite, 
 my dear. What lovely work ! " 
 
 " So glad you like it, Dr. Kingston." She was all 
 coquetry and airs again. " What did Marie leave for 
 when I was coming? I wanted to see her about some- 
 thing important." 
 
 " She will be back soon. How do you like Mrs. 
 Burns?" 
 
 ** She's a perfect duck ! Susie's a darling too, and 
 the cook's an angel ! " 
 
 " Greenwoods ! " he paused, regarding her gravely. 
 " You must always ask permission of Mrs. Burns or 
 myself for anything you want to do. Never of my 
 mother. She is old and nervous " 
 
 "Poor thing! Why don't you treat her for it? 
 Won't she take your dope? " 
 
 " What she needs is quiet and rest, so don't worry 
 her. But if you want anything, no matter what, 
 come to me and I will give it to you. And when you are 
 in trouble, come to me and I will help you, if I can. 
 And you must be a good girl, and everyone will love 
 you." 
 
 " They will love me anyway, Dr. Kingston. And 
 if you want to help me, just keep me from being kissed. 
 Kisses," she looked up with an air of erudition, 
 " have germs in 'em, and germs are little dead bugs what 
 are unhealthy and contagious. So please tell your folks 
 to quit." 
 
 " I don't believe they will annoy you in that way.'* 
 
 " Thanks again then." 
 
 Having previously decided upon the manner of her 
 entrance into the family circle, The Greenwoods now 
 dropped behind her guardian, and, catching her skirts
 
 "THE GREENWOODS'* 47 
 
 with the tips of her fingers, held them outspread, as 
 she tripped daintily down the steps and out into the 
 grounds, where the family was gathered enjoying an 
 unusually balmy day. She created a sensation. 
 
 She was formally presented. Mrs. Kingston, a 
 thin, distinguished-looking woman in black, with iron- 
 gray hair, a slender nose, and the Perkins mouth, gave 
 The Greenwoods a tepid smile, a limp handshake, and 
 hoped she had had a pleasant trip. 
 
 The Greenswoods, who was fully alive to the mo- 
 mentousness of meeting the mistress of this stately 
 mansion and who was ceremonious herself, in spots, 
 mirrored back the formality in her most grandiose 
 style, as she replied : 
 
 " Thanks, we had quite a pleasant trip, Mrs. King- 
 ston. The weather was warm, and it looks like summer 
 has come to stay. But I am fond of traveling under 
 any circumstances, and am most pleased to make your 
 acquaintance." 
 
 At this Mrs. Kingston was disconcerted. Whatever 
 kind of germs lived in her cells, they were certainly not 
 fun germs, but germs of a sober, solemn nature. They 
 disapproved of the frivolous little microbes attendant 
 upon The Greenwoods as strongly as did the lady herself 
 of that gay young interloper. 
 
 The Greenwoods was always at her best, or worst, 
 at meeting strangers; probably because of the activity 
 engendered among her especial kind of germs at meet- 
 ing those of another species. There was always a 
 battle for the mastery. This battle had now begun. 
 
 Scenting mischief in the air, the college youth beside 
 Mrs. Kingston straightened up, alert with interest.
 
 48 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 Colonel Kingston held out his hand and cordially hoped 
 The Greenwoods would be happy in her new home. 
 
 " Thank you, Colonel Kingston. I am always happy, 
 so I shall continue to be so here ; but I appreciate your 
 kindness. Wayville is a pretty little town ; smaller than 
 Baltimore, of course; but I'm fond of the country. I 
 hope you will be happy too." 
 
 She had taken her cue from Mrs. Kingston, and was 
 living up to the mahogany wainscoting and the cut- 
 glass chandeliers. Mrs. Kingston, who had never be- 
 fore been mimicked to her face, sat straight and stiff; 
 Colonel Kingston took off his glasses, polished them, 
 and putting them on again, inspected this remarkable 
 baby-looking creature in amazement, but Chester felt 
 as if he had met a friend in a foreign land. 
 
 He had been standing awaiting his turn to meet his 
 brother's prodigious little ward, feeling that he, at 
 least, was equal to the occasion. Bowing with a flour- 
 ish that would have outdistanced the greatest gallant 
 of the old school, he expressed his undying delight at 
 making Miss Forest's acquaintance. 
 
 She gave him a regular dancing-school courtesy, and 
 murmured, " Thanks." 
 
 Ignorant of her wide experience in meeting strangers, 
 all were dumbfounded save Mr. Chester. He, thor- 
 oughly charmed, seated her by his side, possessed him- 
 self of her fan, and opened a flirtation that lasted in- 
 definitely. 
 
 She had given herself up to this new game, for 
 that is all this change in her environment was to 
 Woody, and was pleased with everything. Here were 
 a distinguished lady, with manners in keeping with her 
 house; a kind-hearted old gentleman, not quite so cere-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 49 
 
 monious as he might have been, considering his interest 
 in this palatial mansion, but who evidently meant well; 
 a guardian who needed to be put down, it is true, but 
 who was forgiven his gruffness because of his home sur- 
 roundings, and a young gentleman, who was no guardian 
 at all, but a young gentleman in truth and in deed. 
 
 Absorbed in her pastime, and pruning herself with 
 airs and graces, she and her fun germs had taken pos- 
 session of the premises and were gradually bringing 
 the smiles even to the unwilling lips of Mrs. Kingston 
 when, looking up, she saw the only creature that she 
 dreaded in all the universe, a boy. 
 
 " This is my young brother Walter, Greenwoods," 
 said Robert; but she sat speechless with dismay. 
 
 So the boy crossed the turf and made the first ad- 
 vance, thereby giving the spectators a double sur- 
 prise. For the unexpected subsidence of The Green- 
 woods' airs impressed them in only a less degree than 
 did Walter's emergence from his bashfulness. Because 
 of the general despicableness of his little sister, his 
 scorn for girls was equal to The Greenwoods' con- 
 tempt of boys. 
 
 With sublime rudeness he ignored them all, or, to 
 his mother's shame, was loud and bearish in his dis- 
 approval. Yet he was prepared to like The Green- 
 woods. He thought he knew what her status v. ould be 
 in the household; was aware that no one had wanted 
 her to come, and that even Bob considered her a nui- 
 sance to be rigidly suppressed. He knew that Marie 
 intended to make the intruder's life miserable, and that 
 his mother was blind to all rights but Marie's. 
 
 Having read stories of neglected, uncared-for or- 
 phans, his chivalry was aroused at the prospect in store
 
 50 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 for this one, and he had resolved to help her all he 
 could. 
 
 From a safe distance he had watched her appear- 
 ance, and instead of the tears and shyness he had ex- 
 pected, she had " put on the best little free-show " he 
 had ever seen. She might be a match for Marie after 
 all ! Her diffidence at his approach had not displeased 
 him either. To think of her having held her own with 
 his mother and having trembled before him, just 
 Walter. Oh, a delightful little girl ! The first he had 
 ever wanted to know, because she was the first that had 
 ever tried to avoid him. 
 
 The Greenwoods, however, was not enjoying the en- 
 counter. It was the lonesome time of day, and now she 
 remembered that she was far from Frances, and con- 
 fronted with a boy ! Why hadn't Dr. Kingston warned 
 her about that boy, instead of wasting so much time 
 over Marie? 
 
 When they went in to dinner the boy sat opposite 
 her. So she said nothing, and when The Greenwoods 
 was silent she was sr.d. Mr. Chester offered her a penny 
 for her thoughts. 
 
 " I was just a-wishing," she spoke distinctly, " that 
 France was here." 
 
 "Who, Miss Forest?" 
 
 And everybody listened for the reply. 
 
 " France, Frances Faunce." 
 
 Colonel Kingston frowned at this obnoxious re- 
 minder, and Mrs. Kingston sat erect. Robert's loiter- 
 ing had only sunk Miss Faunce lower in the general 
 esteem; the disapproval now shown was for his benefit. 
 
 " I should like France to visit us," said Woody, " I 
 'spect she'd "
 
 "THE GRP:ENWOODS" 51 
 
 " Suppose we postpone the subject until later, my 
 dear." 
 
 " By all means, Mrs. Kingston. But why? " And 
 The Greenwoods turned her face toward her hostess in 
 calm surprise. There was a self-possession in her man- 
 ner that made Mrs. Kingston restive. Instead of the 
 helplessness of childhood, it seemed as if some power 
 disguised as a child were taking her to task. 
 
 " Children," said Colonel Kingston, " should not ask 
 questions." 
 
 The Greenwoods turned that same direct gaze on 
 him. He, too, recognized it as a force, but not as an 
 unfriendly one. 
 
 " But France was my late adopted mother. She is 
 the loveliest lady in the world ! Why is it wrong for 
 me to wish for her? " 
 
 " It is not, my child. I beg your pardon." 
 
 " I grant you grace," said Woody. 
 
 Later Mrs. Kingston met that look again. Dinner 
 was over, and the boy had disappeared. 
 
 " Now, I'm a-going to see that house," said The 
 Greenwoods as she skipped away. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston followed in alarm. Could this dread- 
 ful, impertinent child mean Marie's house? 
 
 " You must not go near Marie's house, my dear," 
 she remonstrated, " Marie doesn't like to have her 
 things meddled with.' 
 
 "Then I won't meddle with them. I thought The 
 Four Oaks was her house as soon as I saw it, and 'n- 
 tended asking her about it, but she isn't here. Where 
 will my playhouse be, Mrs. Kingston ? " 
 
 It was then that Mrs. Kingston received that full- 
 orbed inquiry again that reminded her so unpleasantly
 
 52 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 of " the powers and principalities " of Scripture. She 
 was not deceived by the child's frivolity, but saw that 
 The Greenwoods was one to reckon with. 
 
 " Oh, the four oak trees ! You may play there. 
 Marie doesn't care for it at all. We have something 
 better for Marie. Her playhouse is at the other side 
 of the yard, up in the big elm tree. You may look at 
 it, if you wish ; but don't go near it." 
 
 " Thank you quite much, Mrs. Kingston. It is 
 lovely, I'm sure ; but I won't have time even to look at 
 it to-night. I want to see the Four Oaks first, and de- 
 cide how much furniture to unpack. I am anxious to 
 get settled, and moving is such a j ob ! " 
 
 " Very well, Sylvia. But don't litter up the yard 
 with your things. When you are moving your toys 
 in and out always use the side door, or take them 
 around the back." 
 
 And The Greenwoods, with that unchildlike, experi- 
 enced stare, seemed to measure her hostess again.
 
 CHAPTER VIII 
 
 " How would you like to go riding with me this 
 morning, Greenwoods ? " asked Robert kindly. 
 
 It was the next morning at the breakfast table, and 
 the child had been silent and preoccupied. 
 
 " I'm sorry, Dr. Kingston, but I'm afraid I won't 
 have time. I have to see about my unpacking; and I'm 
 in a hurry to get settled down to housekeeping. I 
 haven't had a good spell of it since we made our debut. 
 Then this is such a lovely place ! There's so much fun 
 to be had here, I hardly know where to begin." 
 
 Colonel Kingston and his wife smiled their appre- 
 ciation at this tribute to their home, which their chil- 
 dren, somehow, had never seemed to care for. 
 
 " Then I want to poke about all over this pretty 
 place. There are things all over it to play with." 
 Mrs. Kingston looked alarmed. " And I want to go 
 fishing in that fountain." This time Robert looked 
 fearful, and she saw it. " Now, Dr. Kingston, you 
 needn't be getting excited. I do hope you won't be a 
 nervous guardian! I had one once." 
 
 At the mention of her numerous guardians he al- 
 ways grew pensive, so now he neglected to reply. She 
 gazed at him severely. " You needn't be afraid of me 
 a-drownding. Why, I used to go down to the Missis- 
 sippi River every morning, to wash my feet." Mrs. 
 Kingston gave a horrified start, and Walter a delighted 
 one. " And I've caught fish most as big as you ! So 
 
 53
 
 54 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 what's the use in getting scared over a fountain and a 
 sardine?" Colonel Kingston chuckled; he too was 
 fond of fishing. 
 
 " And I want to skate on that nice smooth floor out 
 in the hall." Robert glanced at his mother reassur- 
 ingly, and just in time. " France told me the skating 
 was good up here, but I s'posed I should have to wait 
 till winter for it." 
 
 The existence opening up before the Kingstons 
 seemed rather strenuous ; but with each item mentioned 
 for killing time Walter's approval deepened, while his 
 grin grew wider. This was no Marie! This was the 
 one girl in all the world ! Still, poor kid ! she had 
 a lot to learn about the Kingstons. 
 
 " Decidedly, Greenwoods, you must go with me," said 
 Robert. " Perhaps I can help you to decide what not 
 to do." 
 
 " Certainly, if you insist, Dr. Kingston. But I 
 make it a rule never to put off till to-morrow what I 
 can do to-day; so don't keep me long. I used to go 
 riding every day in St. Louis, in a milk wagon." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston's indignation waxed. Had she known 
 of these low tastes and associates, the child should never 
 have been allowed to come, not even for Robert's 
 sake, especially since he had been three days in fetch- 
 ing her! Marie was to be considered. 
 
 " That's how I got acquainted with the Friedland- 
 ers. Father Friedlander used to let me ring the bell 
 and hold the horses, while he measured out the milk and 
 garden truck." She turned to the aristocratic Mrs. 
 Kingston, with a friendly smile. " I wish you'd 'a 
 known Mother Friedlander, Mrs. Kingston; you'd 'a 
 been such good friends. She was so sweet and lovely,
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 55 
 
 and could milk four cows before breakfast! Oh, you'd 
 'a loved her ! " 
 
 That finished the breakfast. 
 
 Robert had been waiting five minutes for The Green- 
 woods, which, as everyone who has ever been ac- 
 quainted with a man knows, is a preposterously long 
 time. A man's time is precious, and a waiting man is 
 dangerous. He wanted to leave the child, but as the 
 main object of the ride was to have a talk with her, he 
 decided to wait. Then he honked. The time had come 
 to lay down the law, and he was waiting. He sent 
 his chauffeur for her, then he sent the butler, then 
 continued to wait. 
 
 His youngest brother came out, offered to accom- 
 pany him, and on being refused, encouraged him as 
 best he could. His mother came out too, and frowned. 
 She hoped (audibly) that he was not going to spoil 
 the child, and now was the time for an understanding. 
 Then his father came out, stared at him waiting, and 
 asked : 
 
 "What's wrong, Bob? Machine out of fix again? 
 I told you not to get that make." 
 
 " The machine is all right, thank you, Father." 
 
 " Then why are you waiting? " 
 
 " What's the use of hurrying? " 
 
 Colonel Kingston stepped into his car, motioned to 
 his chauffeur to start, and gave this parting warning: 
 " Oh, none ; but don't wait too long. Never put off till 
 to-morrow what you can do to-day ! " 
 
 Robert smiled and waited. His patience was re- 
 warded though, for presently The Greenwoods came. 
 He had known she would all the time, if he only
 
 56 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 waited long enough. She was dressed as she had been 
 at breakfast, except that she had on a hat. Belinda, 
 elaborately attired, was in her arms. Robert's reason 
 pointed to that attire as the cause of the delay. He 
 had been waiting for the doll. 
 
 Reforming The Greenwoods was so stupendous an 
 undertaking that it seemed best to ignore the delay and 
 to begin at the doll. 
 
 " Sylvia, you cannot take your doll." 
 
 " Belinda would en j oy it, Dr. Kingston. She's fond 
 of motoring, and hasn't had many rides since France 
 busted up with Mr. Perkins and sent our runabout 
 back." 
 
 Robert flushed. " Put your doll down, Greenwoods, 
 and get into the car." 
 
 " Poor Belinda ! It seems a pity after I took so long 
 to dress her. I won't ask you to hold her, like I did 
 on the train, or even to give the suffering child a cap- 
 sule!" 
 
 " You jcan't take her, so leave her and get into the 
 car." 
 
 " Not even under the seat ! " 
 
 " No, neither now nor any other time. So " 
 
 " Of course not any other time. I don't want to 
 take her any other time, just this time. You'll be 
 good, won't you, Belinda? " 
 
 " Don't make me speak again ! " 
 
 A savage look was in his eye. She saw it, and for 
 the first time also saw the boy. For some reason she 
 lost her nerve ; the boy took the unction to himself. 
 
 " All right. If you don't want her, she won't go ! 
 So wait a minute ! " 
 
 And she was off again. Before he could object she
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 57 
 
 had reached The Four Oaks, where, after consoling 
 Belinda, and promising to bring her back some candy, 
 and kissing her good-by, and placing her carefully in an 
 up-stairs room, known to the unimaginative as the forks 
 of a tree, she locked up the house, and returning in 
 love and charity with all the world, jumped into the 
 car. 
 
 " Now we're ready. Let her go ! Please let me honk ! 
 France did all the time. This is a nice car, Dr. King- 
 ston. What's the make? Lovely weather too, but 
 rather warm for June. Have you your pills and doses 
 with you? " 
 
 " Greenwoods " 
 
 " Yessir. An auto must be lovely for practising 
 medicine. Do you honk for your patients or go in to 
 them? Say, I never take medicine myself. Does 
 Marie take hers like a little man, or does she act like 
 she's got some sense? " 
 
 " Be quiet one minute, please." 
 
 " Certainly. But what for? Isn't this a joy ride? " 
 
 " No ; I brought you to give you a few instructions 
 in regard " 
 
 " I already know 'em by heart. I'm not to worry 
 your mother, or to bother Marie's things." She looked 
 up suspiciously. " What's the matter with Marie's 
 things anyhow? Are they diamonds or smallpox? " 
 
 " Oh, she's just particular about them, so don't 
 touch them. But if she has anything you want, tell 
 me, and I will get you something like it." 
 
 " France says it's not polite to ask for things ; and 
 I always try to be polite." 
 
 " It is perfectly proper for you to ask me." 
 
 " Thanks. But I think I shall ask her about it."
 
 58 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " And in the meantime just let me know if you want 
 anything." 
 
 " I don't think I shall. I've got so much already. 
 People give me so much." She glanced up inquiringly. 
 " What makes 'em, you reckon, instead of to some little 
 girl what really needs it? " 
 
 He remembered that she was entirely dependent 
 upon him and felt an unexpected gush of tenderness. 
 Still, in offering to supply her wants, he believed he 
 had fulfilled his duty. He was generous, but neither 
 observant, approachable, nor very thoughtful; and 
 manlike, he thought she would ask. 
 
 "And, Woody " 
 
 "Yessir?" 
 
 " If anyone is unkind to you or tries to impose upon 
 you," he was thinking of his mother, but could not 
 tell her so, " you must tell me." 
 
 " Nobody will. Folks are always lovely to me. If 
 you will just 'tend to the kissing, Dr. Kingston, I'll 
 'tend to the rest." 
 
 " We Yankees don't kiss much, Woody, so " 
 
 " That's nice. Yankees have lots more sense than 
 they get credit for. I've been surprised." 
 
 He laughed, and found he was beginning to like The 
 Greenwoods after all. Still the law was to be laid down. 
 
 " And, Woody, I want you to do something for me." 
 
 " I shall be pleased." 
 
 " Then you must never leave the premises without 
 my consent or Mrs. Burns's; nor handle any of my 
 mother's things ' 
 
 " Is she particular too ? " 
 
 " Yes, very, and nervous ; so you must be careful." 
 
 " I will. Poor thing ! I believe I've noticed it."
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 59 
 
 " So don't touch anything that isn't yours, nor talk 
 too much in the presence of your elders " 
 
 " No, sir. It will get you into trouble every time." 
 
 " Nor play in the fountain, nor skate on the floor ; 
 and never tease Marie nor quarrel with her." 
 
 " Is that all? " She had been listening attentively, 
 and the list, had seemed so long and inhospitable, 
 even to him, that he wondered if she could be sar- 
 castic. ' 
 
 " For the present, yes." 
 
 " Well, that's good. I was afraid you was a-going 
 to tell me not to slide down the bannisters. And they 
 are grand for sliding ! " 
 
 " Good heavens, child ! You musn't." 
 
 " Well, I won't, then," calmly, " I'm awful scared 
 you are a-going to be a nervous one. Why, I've not 
 slide down bannisters before ! " 
 
 " Indeed? You are very obliging.'' 
 
 " You're quite welcome. I don't mind a bit. There's 
 lots of other things to do ; so why should I mind about 
 those?" 
 
 " Oh, Lord ! " groaned Robert. And it sounded like 
 a prayer.
 
 THEY stopped before a substantial building of brick 
 and stone. It was the hospital that Mark Perkins had 
 given his nephew, an institution that was a school of 
 research as well as a house of healing, 
 
 Robert got out and was met by a young man of 
 serious aspect. 
 
 A low-toned conversation ensued, a few broken 
 phrases of which reached Woody's ear. The young 
 man, seeing the horrified expression upon her animated 
 little face, became even more lugubrious, in outward 
 seeming, and approached the car. 
 
 " Is this your little Wilderness, Kingston, of whom 
 we've heard so much? " he asked. 
 
 "No," laughed Robert. That laugh chilled The 
 Greenwoods to the bone. " It is The Greenwoods, and 
 the half has not been told. Let her entertain you while 
 I am gone. You will find it worth your while. Be a 
 good girl, Woody." 
 
 "Yes, sir; I will," said Woody. She spoke in tones 
 of the deepest veneration and respect, and Robert en- 
 tered the building. 
 
 The Greenwoods gazed into the eyes of the serious 
 young man, and he gazed sadly into hers as she put the 
 question : 
 
 " What is he a-going to do ? " 
 
 " Didn't you hear ? Kingston has a vile temper ! 
 Poor Johnson ! " The speaker was one of those ill- 
 
 60
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 61 
 
 advised persons that delight in teasing children, wot- 
 ting not of the harm they work. 
 
 " I thought he said he was a-going to cut Mr. 
 Johnson's arm off ! " 
 
 " Kingston is a dangerous man ! " 
 
 " But he was laughing when he went in." 
 
 " Oh, Bob doesn't mind. It's not his arm." 
 
 " What's he a-going to cut it off for? Is it broke? " 
 
 " No, it's like this, you see. Johnson said, * You are 
 a liar,' and " 
 
 " He didn't no such thing ! He never even saw me I " 
 
 " He didn't say it to you." 
 
 " Who did he say it to then? " 
 
 " Who is going to cut off his arm ? " 
 
 " Dr. Kingston ! I don't believe it ! " 
 
 " You heard what he said." 
 
 " That's not why, though. He wouldn't cut it off 
 for that; he'd knock him down." 
 
 " But he had no right to knock him down. That is 
 against the law. But he has a license to cut off arms. 
 So you had best be careful." 
 
 "What is a license?" 
 
 " Permission from the government. Kingston has 
 permission from the government to cut off arms and 
 fingers and ears and toes whenever he thinks best. I'm 
 glad he's not my guardian ! " 
 
 " I don't believe it. I don't believe one word of it ! 
 So there!" 
 
 " Ask him yourself, then." 
 
 " I shall. But I just knov it isn't true." 
 
 " Come on, then, and let's see the guinea-pigs. Don't 
 worry about your toes. If you are a good girl, per- 
 haps he won't cut them off."
 
 62 "THE GREENWOODS :J 
 
 " He won't anyway." 
 
 Nevertheless it was a grave and thoughtful child 
 that Dr. Kingston found waiting for him when he re- 
 turned. She had never known anyone who cut off toes 
 as a punishment, except (and that was the ear) the 
 negro cook at the Faunces'. He had cut off his wife's 
 ear, and Sambo had said she deserved it ; but they were 
 niggers. Yes, but the doctor was a Yankee ; and hadn't 
 some one told her that Yankees considered themselves 
 no better than niggers? Why, just look at the awful 
 things Yankees had done ! They had killed Goldilocks' 
 grandfather and three of his 4 brothers ; and burnt up 
 Sister Faunce's mother's house and made kindling of 
 Daddy Faunce's piano ! 
 
 Still, so ran the child's thoughts, that was during 
 the war, when there was fighting. Yes; but it was 
 soldiers that fought in the wars, and her papa was a 
 soldier, and he never did things like that; nor Bush, 
 nor Sargeant Cuddy, nor the nice fat general that had 
 given her the ring. It was not because they was soldiers 
 but because they was Yankees, thought The Green- 
 woods. Soldiers were lovely, and when they went to 
 war they fought politely, with blank cartridges, and 
 never hurt a soul or scared 'em ! 
 
 Just look at Yankees' manners too ! A-making The 
 Greenwoods, who was a visitor, give up to Marie, who 
 was at home! No wonder they cut off people's toes; 
 they were likely to do anything! .What had Francie 
 meant by letting her come to such a barbarous coun- 
 try? Massachusettes ! The very name was ominous; 
 mash and chew and et! France had not been able to 
 help herself, though! But she must have known about 
 this country and that was why she had felt so bad about
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 63 
 
 The Greenwoods' coming. Still, concluded The Green- 
 woods very sensibly, I don't believe he will do it, for 
 folks are always nice; and I haven't made him mad, 
 yet ; so I shall ask him and see. 
 
 " Dr. Kingston," inquired a deferential little voice, 
 " have you a license to cut off arms and suchlike? " 
 
 " Yes ; do you want me to perform an operation for 
 you? " he smiled. 
 
 " Oh, gracious, no ! " His reply was all that she 
 had feared, but his smile was reassuring. She was, 
 however, still of two minds on the subject. " Did you 
 ever cut off an arm? " 
 
 " Yes," he replied shortly, for the discussion was not 
 suitable for a child, and he disliked her morbidness in 
 holding to it. 
 
 " Did you ever cut off a little girl's arm, Dr. King- 
 ston?" 
 
 " No, I never have." 
 
 " Would you do it now? A little, bitty girl's? " 
 
 " Of course, if it were necessary." With masculine 
 lack of intuition, he had no idea of her suspicions and 
 failed to see the big-eyed terror of her face. 
 
 "Mine!" 
 
 '* Don't be silly, Greenwoods ! I hope there will 
 never be occasion; but if I thought it best for you, I 
 shouldn't hesitate." 
 
 Then followed a dead silence of two minutes' dura- 
 tion, which at last was ended by the question in a voice, 
 weak and trembling : " Was Mr. Johnson's arm broke, 
 Dr. Kingston?" 
 
 " No. And now you have talked enough, Green- 
 woods ; so be quiet ! " 
 
 She was quiet, and discouraged, for every road led
 
 64 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 to an amputation; he constantly confessed his guilt. 
 But hope spurred her on to seek extenuating circum- 
 stances. Her eye lighted upon a questionable-looking 
 package, a medicine case in reality containing some 
 drugs he required for his- private use, but remember- 
 ing the cook's fate, The Greenwoods grew suspicious. 
 It might be razors ! 
 
 " Dr. Kingston, did you use a razor this morning? " 
 A razor had been used for chastisement by the cook's 
 husband, but surgeons, she knew, had other instruments. 
 
 With a stroke of his smooth-shaven cheek, he replied 
 that he had. Her last hope was gone. Surely he would 
 not have cut off the man's arm with a razor, if he had 
 had the man's interest at heart. No, the act had been 
 done in vengeance. 
 
 She decided to make assurance doubly sure ; then for 
 action. 
 
 " Dr. Kingston, I mean no harm, and beg your par- 
 don for interrupting your discourse, but will you please 
 tell me what a brute is." 
 
 ** Certainly, Greenwoods. A brute is a dangerous 
 animal." 
 
 " O Lordy ! " thought the Greenwoods. 
 
 France had called the cook's husband a brute and 
 had also said : " If Dr. Kingston takes you away from 
 me, darling, he will be a brute." And he had come 
 and taken The Greenwoods away. France must have 
 known of his toe-cutting proclivity. 
 
 Presently they halted before a store and Dr. King- 
 ston went in. A boy was passing and the Greenwoods 
 saw her chance. 
 
 "Little boy," she called in tones low, but vibrant, 
 " do you want to make a dollar? "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 65 
 
 The little boy did. 
 
 " Then take this satchel, and run as fast as you 
 can ! " And she gave him the medicine case. 
 
 He took the money and started with the case, but, 
 being an honest chap, came back again, stopping The 
 Greenwoods just as she had headed in the opposite di- 
 rection. No wonder she hated boys! She gazed at 
 him in scorn and despair. 
 
 " Where shall I take it? " he asked. 
 
 " To to the depot, of course, you goose ! And 
 be quick, little boy, be quick ! " 
 
 He was just as quick as he could be too. Not wait- 
 ing to watch him, The Greenwoods hastily turned a 
 corner, ran a block, and called a cab. Climbing up on 
 the box with the driver she ordered him to take her to 
 Mr. Chester Kingston's, quick, for it was a matter of 
 life and death! Then she took counsel of the cabman. 
 
 At the Kingston's an assembly of relations, all 
 women, had gathered to see the child for living in 
 the house with whom Robert was to get twenty million. 
 When he telephoned that she had disappeared, a hub- 
 bub ensued, and surmising that she had been kidnapped, 
 all rushed to the lawn to find a trace of her. They 
 reached it just as she arrived on the box. 
 
 She was still apprehensive, and intended to stay 
 where she was until she had an understanding. Ris- 
 ing, she addressed the assembled family. 
 
 " I just want to know about my toes. A knock- 
 kneed man said Dr. Kingston can cut 'em off whenever 
 he pleases, because he is my guardian. This gentle- 
 man," she motioned to the cabman, " says he can't ; 
 but the doctor says he will. Now I just want to know 
 if you folks are a-going to let him ! "
 
 66 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 "Robert would never do such a thing!" gasped 
 Mrs. Kingston. 
 
 " He said he would ! But I won't stand for it ! 
 any old red-headed, bow-legged, cross-eyed dog wants 
 to try a little corporous punishment, the low-down 
 measly tack can do it ! I don't approve, but if that's 
 all the sense he's got, I'll try to put up with it. But 
 he'd better not cut my toes off! My papa was a sol- 
 dier, and I'll tell the army on him ! " 
 
 Those who had come to see her out of curiosity 
 were perfectly satisfied. A few of the more reasonable 
 even ceased to begrudge poor Bob his fortune. Every- 
 one laughed, and tried to explain, all at the same time. 
 At length, after Mr. Chester and Walter had both 
 offered to fight Bob to a finish for the preservation of 
 even her little toe, and Mrs. Kingston and Mother 
 Burns had stood surety for its safety, she consented 
 to be let down. 
 
 Yet, even while they were petting her into calmness, 
 she precipitated another bomb. Remembering the 
 driver, she called out to him to charge her ride to the 
 credit of Frances Faunce! 
 
 Later Mrs. Kingston expostulated with Robert over 
 the incident and asked him to forbid the child's mention- 
 ing the hated name again. 
 
 After her blunder about Frances, though she failed 
 to understand the full heinousness of it, The Green- 
 woods joined Mr. Chester, who was in the hammock. 
 She had recovered from her shock, but still wanted to 
 be with people that, she knew, were friendly. Then, 
 too, she was in need of help. 
 
 Mr. Chester was charming indeed. He praised her 
 courage and presence of mind, and offered to explain
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 67 
 
 to Bob just why she had left so suddenly. He remarked 
 that she was a delightful little girl, and that he loved 
 her. 
 
 " Thanks, Mr. Chester," she murmured, " I recipro- 
 cate your feeling, and appreciate your kind opinion; 
 but I just can't marry you." 
 
 " Oh, Miss Forest," he gasped, " this is too sud- 
 den ! Could you not have waited to refuse me until I 
 had asked you? " 
 
 " There's no use a-waiting. I like you lots ; but time 
 won't help us any. I'm engaged to three gentlemen 
 already ; and by the time I marry each of them and they 
 have died, you will be too old." 
 
 " But, my dear Miss Forest, I haven't mentioned 
 matrimony." 
 
 " Of course not. What's the use? I'm too young 
 anyway." 
 
 " Then I won't insist." 
 
 " That's right, Mr. Chester. I was afraid you would 
 grieve about it. And that would be too bad. For no 
 matter how lovely your manners are, your grandma is 
 dead. So a marriage is impossible between us." 
 
 Then, like a gentleman, Chester yielded to the inevi- 
 table. He buried his face in his handkerchief and fell 
 back in the hammock, trembling with emotion. She 
 regarded him uneasily and slipped down to the ground. 
 Everything was going wrong this morning, and now 
 she had made Mr. Chester cry. 
 
 " I'm sorry," she said, " as sorry as I can be ! But 
 what's the sense in marrying a gentleman without a 
 grandmother, when the grandmother is the principal 
 thing you are marrying the gentleman for? " 
 
 He still trembled, and she thought she heard him sob.
 
 68 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 He was all doubled up, and the hammock fairly shook. 
 "Don't cry, Mr. Chester," she implored, "I'll ask 
 France to marry you. She's prettier even than I am, 
 and not half so particular ! " 
 
 Even this failed, apparently, to comfort him. 
 This was the first time she had ever refused him, and 
 it was a melancholy business ; she got inured to it after 
 a while though, and didn't mind so much. 
 
 Plucking a half-opened rose, she laid it on his breast 
 to show her sympathy, then sadly walked away. Time 
 might help him. She had walked only a few yards 
 when she saw a house in an adjoining lot which had been 
 pointed out to her as her guardian's private labora- 
 tory. It reminded her of the razors and of her need for 
 help. She gazed wistfully back. Mr. Chester was sit- 
 ting up, and wiping his eyes, cheerfully almost ! He 
 had her rose in his lapel too, so she felt encouraged 
 and returned. 
 
 " What would you do about it, if you were me, Mr. 
 Chester, and " 
 
 " Stop bothering about grandmothers and marry 
 anyway, you darling ! " 
 
 At the reopening of this sorrowful topic, she started 
 in dismay. 
 
 " I don't mean that. We've settled that. What I'm 
 worried about is the doctor's razors ! Won't you help 
 me? I would marry you if I could." 
 
 He was puzzled, but she gave him a full and free ac- 
 count, to which he listened in delight. 
 
 " So Bob cut off the man's arm with a razor, did he? 
 A wonderful surgeon, Bob ! " 
 
 " And he was carrying the hateful things around 
 with him, and me there, scared to death ! Still, since
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 69 
 
 there's no danger, of toes, exactly, there's no use 
 in running any other risk. He's still a guardian, you 
 know. So, Mr. Chester, if you'll be so ingratiating as 
 to get 'em back again, I'll be everlastingly grateful and 
 obliged!" 
 
 Chuckling, he left in pursuit of the " razors," and 
 she went in and wrote France all about it.
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 IF Mark Perkins had hoped to make a match between 
 Miss Faunce and Robert Kingston, as the young doctor 
 fondly believed, he could not have selected a more 
 energetic assistant than The Greenwoods. She had 
 taken charge from the first, and continued to mix things 
 up. 
 
 Both of the Foresters knew that there were serious 
 obstacles to even a friendship between them, and under 
 ordinary circumstances nothing would have developed 
 from their meeting. Robert's interest, however, was 
 kept alive by those near-tears the beautiful creature had 
 shed over his name being Octavius. He wrote her a long 
 letter the very night he got home. 
 
 Frances received the letter ; read it once, twice, three 
 times ; sighed, then tore it up and threw the pieces into 
 the waste-basket. Knowing his people were violently 
 prejudiced against her, she had no intention of placing 
 herself in a position to be snubbed. She intended to 
 answer Robert's letter, after she had waited long 
 enough for him to understand that it was for Woody's 
 sake alone. 
 
 She reckoned without Cupid's young assistant. By 
 the next mail The Greenwoods' letter came. This was 
 the first Frances had ever had from her, and, being new 
 to the style, she failed to comprehend it fully. 
 
 DEAR FRANCE: 
 
 I was awful scared this morning. I thought Dr. Kingston 
 was going to cut off my toes. But it turned out that the man 
 had blood poison so it was all right. I don't think I shall have 
 
 70
 
 THE GREENWOODS " 71 
 
 to stay here long Francie for he is awful nervous and will go to 
 Heaven soon and I shall go back to you. This is a pretty house 
 but a boy is in it and they won't let you skate on the floor. 
 
 Slightly bewildered, Frances neglected the post- 
 scripts for the time being. 
 
 " ' But it turned out that the man had blood poi- 
 son ' What man ? " Frances grew apprehensive. 
 " Surely she can't mean Robert Kingston, or it would 
 not be all right." She shuddered and repeated the 
 words : " ' I don't think I shall stay here long, Francie, 
 for he is awful nervous and will go to Heaven soon and 
 I shall go back to you.' ' 
 
 That " he " could mean but one. Oh, poor Dr. 
 Kingston! How sad! How shocking! It was no jest 
 about The Greenwoods' guardians. They were, indeed, 
 unlucky! Only a few days before they had been jest- 
 ing about them, and now Robert was stricken. Poor 
 Robert ! 
 
 Frances thought of Robert, who was so so every- 
 thing a man should be and with tears in her eyes 
 turned to the postscripts : 
 
 P. S. 1. He will be better off. 
 
 " O Woody ! How can you speak so coldly when 
 he is suffering? " 
 
 P. S. 2. Ain't you glrvd I did not lose my toes ? 
 
 Frances answered Robert's letter immediately. She 
 offered to keep The Greenwoods for him till he recov- 
 ered, and was most sympathetic. There was a re- 
 ception that afternoon, and a dance that night; but 
 she sent regrets to both. How could she make merry 
 when her fellow-Forester had blood poison? 
 
 Robert's mystified reply changed her grief to indig-
 
 72 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 nation. So he had not been ill at all, and she had made 
 a fool of herself by grieving for him. His second letter 
 was ignored. 
 
 However, he wrote again. He wanted to know, since 
 Miss Faunce had promised to advise him, if The Green- 
 woods were in the habit of telling fibs, like that blood- 
 poison story, and what he must do about it. 
 
 There was nothing for Frances to do but write and 
 remove the imputation from Woody's character; and 
 by the time the mystery of Robert's illness had been 
 cleared up the fellow-Foresters had formed the habit of 
 writing to each other. 
 
 This was just as well, for, under The Greenwoods' 
 manipulations, forgetting was impossible. She talked 
 of one and wrote of the other; and while her descrip- 
 tions were not always rose-colored, they were usually 
 thought-compelling. 
 
 Yet nothing was further from her mind than making 
 a match between the Foresters. She merely told the 
 facts. 
 
 MY PRECIOUS FRANCIE : 
 
 I took lunch to-day with Miss Ardelia Wile's mamma. She 
 is a beautiful young lady and speaks lovely words. The doctor 
 was there too. He is there a great deal. They are to be mar- 
 ried. I told you something good would happen. Now see. 
 Marie is still away. Such manners ! I hear she is different 
 from me and don't want her things touched. The Boy is not 
 so bad but I am still being careful. 
 
 Lovingly, 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 Miss Faunce's next epistle to Dr. Kingston was most 
 distant, but The Greenwoods wrote again. 
 
 DARLING FRANCIE : 
 
 The young ladies here gush worse than at th convent, and 
 kiss just awful. The doctor is no good at stopping them, so I 
 wish him and Miss Ardelia would marry quick. Or the Widow.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 73 
 
 Her girl is my age and sweet. Susie say she is after his money 
 and is ahead for look out for Widows. But Mrs. Malley says 
 the Missus always gets her way so the bets are on Miss Ardelia. 
 Me and Susie are good friends and I go visiting with her. Me 
 and Mrs. Malley are good friends too and she is learning me 
 how to cook. Me and Mrs. Burns are good friends too and she 
 lets me keep the house. 
 
 Fondly yours, 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 P. S. She is the cutest little fat thing you ever saw." 
 
 There is safety in numbers, but Frances was wor- 
 ried. It was so difficult to tell who the cute " little fat 
 thing " was. So she mailed the letter to Robert and 
 sweetly asked to be set right about it. She also in- 
 quired, just to satisfy her curiosity, whether the 
 widow who was after him was Mrs. Malley, Mrs. Burns, 
 or Susie. Frances drew his attention to Susie's hon- 
 esty, in admitting she was after his money, and recom- 
 mended her to his favor. 
 
 And Robert reflected unpleasantly that The Green- 
 woods was fully as conversant with his love-affairs as 
 she had formerly been with those of Frances; and was 
 even giving the impression that his mother's maid was 
 trying to catch him, and that he was making love to 
 the cook.
 
 CHAPTER XI 
 
 " ' O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands : 
 
 Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before 
 His presence with a song.' " 
 
 THE GREENWOODS was singing. Marie had come 
 home, too. The dreadful Marie, against whom The 
 Greenwoods had been warned, until her name seemed 
 odious. " Don't touch that, it's Marie's," had become 
 a familiar injunction, as familiar as that other say- 
 ing : " You are so different from Marie ! " While only 
 the night before, Dr. Kingston had instructed The 
 Greenwoods never to quarrel with Marie. 
 
 " Who will keep her from quarreling with me, Dr. 
 Kingston?" 
 
 " You will. It takes two to make a quarrel." 
 
 The F. I. Orphan straightened up. 
 
 " I am an orphan, Dr. Kingston. And " 
 
 She got no further, for ignorant that this was the 
 preamble of her Amalgamated faith, Robert placed her 
 tenderly upon his knee. 
 
 " I won't allow Marie to impose upon you, dear ; 
 for you are my little girl, and " 
 
 " No, sir, I'm not. I'm papa's little girl, and 
 God's." 
 
 She was supercilious about her heavenly connections, 
 and had no notion of being degraded from her high es- 
 tate. So, rather stunned at this rejection of his over- 
 ture, Robert repeated his command and dismissed her. 
 
 74
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 75 
 
 " ' Be ye sure that the Lord he is God ; 
 
 It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves^ 
 We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. ' 
 
 Now Marie had come and The Greenwoods was sing- 
 ing. It was the song her father had taught her, and 
 had followed her through all her homes like a trail of 
 glory. 
 
 " ' O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, 
 And into his courts with praise ; 
 Be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name."* 
 
 Marie was beautiful. Her hair was soft and dark 
 and becomingly bobbed; her traveling dress was ex- 
 quisite; her smile, timid and beseeching. She had 
 thrown her arms around her mamma's neck and had 
 kissed her twice. So glad was this dainty fairy prin- 
 cess to get home that, except for a shy little nod, she 
 had not noticed The Greenwoods, but had gone up-stairs 
 with her maid to remove the stains of travel. The 
 Greenwoods was waiting for her in the swing. 
 
 " ' For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting : 
 And his truth endureth 
 From generation to generation. ' ' 
 
 " No wonder they say she is different from me," 
 thought The Greenwoods. " They must have meant my 
 red hair and freckles. [Well, I must be sweet to make 
 up for my freckles, for she will have to look at 'em. 
 That is why Dr. Kingston is so crazy for me to act 
 pretty. It's these freckles and * Pretty is as pretty 
 does.' " 
 
 As she reached this conclusion Marie returned, look- 
 ing more beautiful than ever. She was greeted with a 
 smile, but stared in silence. At length she spoke.
 
 76 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " That's my swing, Sylvia." 
 
 Once a boy had given The Greenwoods a rose to 
 smell, and in its fragrance she had found a pin. Now 
 she remembered it. Marie's face was like a flower, but 
 there was a pin in her soul. Yet, because of the beauty, 
 The Greenwoods forgave the prick. 
 
 She abdicated with royal courtesy. 
 
 " Get in then, and let me swing you. Did you have a 
 pleasant trip? " 
 
 Marie had been slightly taken aback by The Green- 
 woods' civility, but being accustomed to submissiveness, 
 and having been led to expect it from the orphan, she 
 was more pleased than abashed. She did love unselfish- 
 ness in others. Few children were unselfish, which was 
 why she disliked them. They wanted Marie to give up 
 half the time. Sylvia seemed to be above the average, 
 because of her friendlessness and poverty perhaps, 
 but it was just as well to let her know who owned 
 Marie's papa's house, and Marie's papa's yard, and 
 everything about Marie's papa's place. It might save 
 trouble in the future. At best, it would be bad enough 
 having another girl around, but Marie's mamma and 
 brother had promised to help; so maybe between them 
 all they might keep this orphan, without money or 
 loved ones, from being a nuisance. Yet, while both had 
 promised to help, her brother Bob had said: 
 
 " I hope you will be kind to her, Marie, and treat 
 her as if she were your own little sister." 
 
 " I'll try to, Robbie," she had answered, " but I have 
 two sisters already, and brothers and parents and un- 
 cles and aunts and nephews and nieces and cousins ; so 
 I don't really need any more relations." 
 
 He had laughed but, remembering, answered gravely :
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 77 
 
 " But she does. She is a poor little orphan, with no 
 home, no money, no one to love her." 
 
 And Mrs. Kingston's refrain had been: 
 
 " Don't worry, darling ; if she annoys you, we 
 will send her away; but remember that she has no one 
 to love her or help her but us. So we must be kind to 
 her." 
 
 The Greenwoods kept on swinging Marie, and the 
 time seemed long. 
 
 " Swing me higher," Marie had said. " Can't you run 
 under." 
 
 And Woody had " run under " till her arms grew 
 weary, but Marie was so pretty that The Greenwoods 
 hated to stop. Mrs. Kingston saw her industry from 
 an upper window and directed the married daughter's 
 attention to it. 
 
 " What a little witch Marie is, Ellen ! It is wonder- 
 ful how she turns every one around her finger. I had 
 expected trouble over that swing, for Sylvia had be- 
 come so attached to it. They may be congenial, after 
 all. Robert is an excellent disciplinarian ! " 
 
 And Mrs. Kingston honestly believed that the or- 
 phan's behavior, surprisingly good so far, was due 
 to Robert's discipline, and her obligingness, to Marie's 
 diplomacy. 
 
 The Greenwoods was still swinging Marie. Marie 
 was getting a free swing, but was changing from a fairy 
 princess to an ordinary selfish girl. The magic spell 
 had vanished, and The Greenwoods had decided that it 
 was no slander to be called " different from Marie." 
 When, hot and tired, she at length seated herself on 
 the bench around the tree trunk, the metamorphosis 
 was complete.
 
 78 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " She's not a princess and she's not a girl," The 
 Greenwoods thought disgustedly. " She is just a pig! " 
 
 And Marie knew not that she had fallen. 
 
 " What made you stop ? " she asked. Marie intended 
 to help brother Bob control the orphan, so frowned 
 in displeasure. 
 
 " I am tired." 
 
 " Well," graciously, " you may rest a bit before 
 swinging me again." 
 
 This remark was so extremely piggish that The 
 Greenwoods snickered. Usually Marie was as sensitive 
 as a flower, but knowing that she held the upper hand, 
 she grinned. The fact that had impressed itself upon 
 Marie was the orphan's helplessness. The Greenwoods 
 noted that grin with interest ; never before had she seen 
 so pretty a face so displeasing. 
 
 " You've got to swing me when I wish," reminded 
 Marie, " And you've got to obey my Brother Bob ! I 
 don't have to obey anyone." 
 
 " Me neither. I'm an orphan." 
 
 " That's nothing to brag about! It just means that 
 you haven't any one to love you, and no money, and 
 no home." 
 
 " I'm afraid you don't read your Bible, Marie. God 
 loves me, and my home is a beautiful little villa beside 
 the Crystal Sea in Heaven. I try not to brag, but I am 
 proud of being an orphan, for it shows that God knew 
 I had sense enough to raise myself. So I am free and 
 independent, subject to no authority save His alone." 
 
 Marie's eyes opened wide. This was not exactly the 
 sort of orphan her mother had prepared her for. Mrs. 
 Kingston had fooled Marie; but then Mrs. Kingston
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 79 
 
 herself had not suspected that the orphan was amalga- 
 mated. 
 
 " My brother said you had to obey him ! " 
 
 " What nerve ! Why, I'm a-going to put him down." 
 
 " You're no such thing ! And you do obey him, too. 
 Mamma told Sister Ellen so. You started out with 
 all sorts of mischief; and he gave you one talking to, 
 and not another word have you said about catching the 
 goldfish, or skating on the floor, or playing with the 
 bric-a-brac ! " 
 
 " That's not obedience, silly ; that's politeness. I am 
 a polite person. My mamma's an angel, and so is my 
 papa. I'm angel on both sides, and all my kin-folks are 
 angels; so I've got to live up to the family reputation. 
 Now do you s'pose that a girl with all that angel blood 
 would go a-visiting and scratch up the floor, or catch 
 her hostess's fish ? " 
 
 Marie was completely squelched. There was nothing 
 in her pedigree to boast of except a Pilgrim Father, a 
 Governor, a Chief-Justice, and a few millionaires. 
 
 " That's a nice way for you to talk to me, Sylvia 
 Forest," she sobbed, " When you haven't a red cent, 
 'cept what my brother gives you, and we are letting you 
 live in our house ! " 
 
 " You are not letting me. You are trying to make 
 me. I'm not anxious to stay. And you are wrong about 
 the money, too. I've got a quarter and a dime and 
 three nickels, and your brother didn't give 'em to me, 
 either. But since you don't think I'm good as you, 
 you little toad, you can just get somebody else to swing 
 you. I don't intend to associate with a rude, ungainless 
 girl like you ! The Lord is particular about us orphans
 
 80 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 and He mightn't like it, nor none of my angel kin- 
 folks ! " she turned away. 
 
 " I'll tell my Brother Robert what you said ! " called 
 Marie. 
 
 " Tell him to kiss my foot ! " said The Greenwoods. 
 
 And the small kinswoman of half the angels looked 
 back in noble scorn.
 
 CHAPTER XII 
 
 MAKIE told Robert that evening, whereupon he went 
 into the library, and sent for The Greenwoods, not 
 so much to kiss her foot, as to have an understanding as 
 to their future relations. 
 
 " I hear, Sylvia, that you refuse to play with Marie," 
 he began; for the item that had gone hardest with 
 Marie was the orphan's refusal " to associate." 
 
 " You didn't tell me to play with her, Dr. Kingston, 
 but just not to touch her things, hurt her feelings, or 
 quarrel with her. Now, if me and her don't get along, 
 what can I do when we have differences, if I've got to 
 play with her and won't tattle? and I won't." 
 
 " I am sorry you don't like my little sister, Green- 
 woods, but of course I sha'n't insist on your playing 
 with her, if you don't wish to." 
 
 He looked coldly on this debonair little personage, 
 who, with an unlimited capacity for making friends, had 
 chosen to snub his sister, according to his sister's 
 story. The Greenwoods wished she could tell him just 
 how it had been; but how could she, an outsider, who 
 had been drilled from infancy in the art of living in 
 other people's houses, criticize one member of the 
 family to another? 
 
 " But, remember, there is to be no quarreling. Now 
 what is this nonsense you said about not obeying me? " 
 
 In imagination she had seen herself overcoming him 
 with the logic of the Declaration, but that was before 
 the razor episode had shattered her calm. He might be 
 
 81
 
 82 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 a usurper, but he was an established one, and one so 
 big that she was willing to postpone her revelation in- 
 definitely. However absurd her doctrine, though, she 
 believed it; and an honest faith gives strength. 
 
 " Isn't it true, Dr. Kingston? " 
 
 " Certainly not ! " 
 
 " But all orphans are free and independent, ain't 
 they? and subject to no authority save God's alone. 
 Teachers " 
 
 " Great Scott ! " The expression on his face ful- 
 filled her strongest expectations. 
 
 " Sir? "meekly. 
 
 " Excuse me for interrupting. Go on." 
 
 " Oh, certainly. Isn't it warm to-night ? It looks 
 like summer " 
 
 " What were you saying about teachers, Green- 
 woods? " 
 
 " Why, nothing 'specially." 
 
 " Still I want to hear it." 
 
 " What for, I wonder, Dr. Kingston ? " she gazed 
 dreamily into space. 
 
 " Begin that rigmarole where you left off. At once ! " 
 
 "Where did I leave off, Dr. Kingston? " 
 
 " At the word, ' Teachers.' " 
 
 " Yessir ; but I didn't make this thing up, Dr. King- 
 ston, and I'm only saying it to please you." 
 
 " Well, say it then ! " 
 
 " I hope you won't be vexed about it. I notice you 
 have feelings." 
 
 " I will be extremely vexed if you don't begin." 
 
 " Of course I'll begin, if you want me to, Dr. King- 
 ston. Looks like you'd know it, though. It's in the 
 Bible. Don't you read your Bible? "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 83 
 
 For reasons of his own he preferred not to answer. 
 
 " Will you say it, Greenwoods, or must I compel 
 you?" 
 
 She looked at him in pained reproach. 
 
 "Dr. Kingston, haven't I said I would say it? 
 Haven't I promised you solemn I would? Do you be- 
 lieve I would tell you a falsehood? " 
 
 He pulled out his watch. 
 
 " I give you three minutes, Greenwoods, to recite it. 
 If you are not done by that time, I know a young lady 
 who will be severely punished. Commence." 
 
 "Where at?" 
 
 " At the beginning. One minute has passed." 
 
 He stared at his watch, with due severity, while she 
 looked at him in amazement. 
 
 " And all this ado over nothing ! I knew all the time 
 you was a nervous one! It's not a thing, Dr. King- 
 ston, 'cept about teachers and guardians being our 
 natural enemies ; ' and it is our duty and intention to 
 strike off the shackles of all tyrants and usurpers! 
 They are to be recognized and obeyed only when fancy 
 or convenience wills. Blood relations may be treated 
 with respect, but guardians Must Be Put Down ! ' It's 
 not my fault, though, Dr. Kingston, so what are you 
 so mad about ? " 
 
 " That isn't in the Bible, Greenwoods." 
 
 " Maybe not, but the girls at the convent said it was ; 
 and anyway it's Bible teaching. I learnt it at the 
 Amalgamated Society of Free and Independent Or- 
 phans. And we was a religious organization." 
 
 " It is the greatest nonsense I ever heard, and you 
 must forget it. Children must obey their guardians." 
 
 " Does the Bible say so, Dr. Kingston ? You see, I'm
 
 84 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 perfectly willing to oblige you, but I've took a vow to 
 that rigmarole, and I have to keep it. Vows is vows." 
 
 " You are too young to understand the sacredness of 
 a vow, Woody, or to realize the trouble you may cause 
 by disobedience." 
 
 " I hope I won't cause no trouble at all, Dr. King- 
 ston. I'd hate to have to be rude about it. But being 
 young is no excuse, for a girl, young or old, can al- 
 ways do the best she can, and angels can do no more. 
 But if the Bible says it is right for an orphan to be 
 obedient to her guardian, I will obey you to the bitter 
 end. For the first duty of an orphan is to follow the 
 teachings of the Bible." 
 
 " The Bible says, Honor thy father ' }: 
 
 " I do, sir." 
 
 " And I stand in his place, so " 
 
 " No, Dr. Kingston, he stands in his own place ; and 
 that's in Heaven, before the great white throne of God." 
 
 " Yes, Greenwoods, he is in Heaven. They need him 
 there and he is happy, but you are still in this rough 
 old world, and need some older person to care for you." 
 
 " I don't think they really need Papa in heaven, Dr. 
 Kingston. You see he told me all about heaven when 
 he was half turned into an angel, just before he got 
 loose from his skin. Besides, Mamma's been an angel 
 nearly ever since I was born, and often and often, when 
 my meat body is sound asleep, she comes to my inside 
 body and tells me all about it. So I'm pretty well up on 
 Heaven myself. Now they was perfectly happy in 
 Heaven before Papa got there, so they didn't need him. 
 And if I had needed anybody to care for me, God would 
 have left him here to do it. For God knows best. Just 
 look at the Foresters, Dr. Kingston. They was all
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 85 
 
 lovely people, but they tried to take care of a little girl 
 what God knew was able to take care of herself, and see 
 what happened to 'em. When you took me away from 
 Francie I knew God wanted me to establish my inde- 
 pendence, for he raised her up especially for me. She's 
 God's miracle, and if I can't be her child I won't minji 
 nobody but God. But I'll try to be polite." 
 
 Robert changed his tack. 
 
 " Your father was a soldier, Greenwoods, and knew 
 the beauty of obedience. Wouldn't he have wanted you 
 to obey me? " 
 
 " No, sir. He always told me to do my duty ; and 
 my duty is to put you down." And again she won- 
 dered, " Down where ? " 
 
 Robert hesitated. How could he shatter her illu- 
 sions? How awaken her to the hardness of the world? 
 How tell her of the grim facts that made orphanhood 
 so pitiful? He tried again. 
 
 " Your papa would not have wanted his little girl 
 to be unhappy, Greenwoods ; and if you try to put down 
 a big man like me, I fear you will suffer in the at- 
 tempt." 
 
 " God will help me, Dr. Kingston." 
 
 He was growing impatient. " But who is to see that 
 you are fed and clothed? Who will keep you from be- 
 ing imposed upon? Who will teach you the way of the 
 world?" 
 
 " God." 
 
 " But He needs a human agent. He will teach you 
 and care for you through me." 
 
 She shook her head, smiling propitiatingly. 
 
 "And if you accept a guardian's care, Greenwoods, 
 you must obey him."
 
 86 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " I'm awfully sorry, Dr. Kingston ; but I don't think 
 I need a guardian. If I really needed one I would obey 
 him, for then I wouldn't be an Independent Orphan, but 
 just the plain pitiful kind. But God is good enough 
 for me without no agent." 
 
 " You don't understand what an orphan is up against 
 in this world, my child. Being an orphan is no picnic. 
 A little girl, like you, with no home, no friends, no 
 money, no " 
 
 " You mistake me for the pitiful kind, Dr. King- 
 ston." The Greenwoods spoke with dignity, " The 
 United States Government gives me a pension every 
 month; and I've always had lovely homes and more 
 friends than I know what to do with ! " Then she flared 
 up. " Yankees do kiss, too ! You was wrong about 
 that ! Even the boys are trying it ! " 
 
 "What!" 
 
 " Yessir, and the young ladies and their mammas 
 come out to The Four Oaks and gush, till I don't have 
 time to bathe my children ! And it's all your fault, too. 
 Just because you are rich, and they want to marry you, 
 they slobber over me! Now you're the biggest, so 
 you tend to that kissing yourself ! " 
 
 With face encrimsoned, and not knowing how to an- 
 swer this attack, he carried the war into the enemies' 
 camp. 
 
 " Greenwoods, we are discussing your duty to me. 
 Now the law has put you into my keeping, and I de- 
 mand your obedience. If you ever wilfully disobey me, 
 I will punish you. Do you understand? " 
 
 Even France, who had all a mother's rights, had 
 stopped the kissing before presuming to command ; so 
 The Greenwoods felt that Dr. Kingston was a failure
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 87 
 
 indeed. As she saw it, he took his authority too seri- 
 ously and his responsibility too lightly. She had had 
 enough of him, she wanted France. 
 
 " Yessir." 
 
 " Then go to bed ; and never let me hear a word of 
 this again ! " 
 
 As his disgusted little ward turned away Robert 
 Kingston put on his hat, and left the house. At mid- 
 night he returned. 
 
 Except when a vivid streak of lightning rent the 
 sky, inky blackness reigned. Thunder seemed to crash 
 from house to house, and to shake the ground beneath 
 its tread. As he got out his latch-key, the continuous 
 flashings revealed to his startled gaze, out at The Four 
 Oaks, a little childish, white-clad figure. Rushing 
 breathlessly to the spot, he found the wandering sprite 
 to be no other than his ward, in scanty raiment clad, 
 gathering up her toys and packing them into a little 
 wagon. 
 
 " Sylvia Forest ! What are you doing here at this 
 time of night? " 
 
 " Is that you, Dr. Kingston ? " asked a mild, but dis- 
 appointed, little voice. " I had hoped it was Mr. 
 Chester! Please help me with these things. I clear 
 forgot 'em this afternoon, and if we don't hurry, they 
 will get wet. You haul the wagon and put these in your 
 pocket while I carry Belinda. Lend me your hat for 
 the dishes and little babies, and put the piano under 
 your arm; and hurry, please, sir, for it looks like 
 rain." 
 
 " I think it does." He chuckled. " What will you do 
 next, you monkey? Run! You will take your death 
 of cold!"
 
 88 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 He rushed her and the dolls to the house, up to her 
 little room, and ordered her again to bed. Then he 
 looked at her in amusement. 
 
 "And the next time I send you to bed please stay 
 there till morning. Weren't you afraid, Woody, a lit- 
 tle thing like you." 
 
 " What of, Dr. Kingston? " 
 
 He laughed. One of the ladies at the bridge game 
 had had hysterics. 
 
 " Of the thunder and the lightning and the dark." 
 
 " No, sir. You see, that thunder was meant for me. 
 If God hadn't a-sent it to wake me, my babies would 
 'a drownded." 
 
 " It was a lot of thunder to save a few dolls, Woody." 
 
 " It takes a lot to wake me up. I sleep awful sound." 
 
 Laughing, he started for the door, but she called him 
 back. " Dr. Kingston " 
 
 " Yes ? " encouragingly. Perhaps she intended to 
 yield her submission. 
 
 " Won't you please take Belinda's dress out of your 
 pocket and hang it in the wardrobe. And the twins 
 are in your hat." 
 
 He was disappointed, but did as requested. Her eyes 
 followed him uneasily though, and she seemed to have 
 something on her mind. He lingered, hoping that she 
 would renounce her heresy. 
 
 " Thank you, Dr. Kingston, for helping me, 
 and " 
 
 "Yes, dear?" 
 
 " And Belinda has been suffering with a little diph- 
 theria lately. Would you recommend a little ipecac ? " 
 
 It was not what he had expected, and he never had 
 cared for playing dolls. Besides, he had refused from
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 89 
 
 the first to prescribe for Woody's. But what was he 
 to do? Could he, a mere mortal, let Belinda die of 
 neglect after the Almighty had sent his thunders to 
 preserve her? 
 
 He drew up a chair to the bedside in his most pro- 
 fessional manner and felt Belinda's pulse. He reas- 
 sured the young mother, and advised a cold-compress. 
 With careful dieting, Belinda might recover. 
 
 "Robert Kingston! What are you doing? Is The 
 Greenwoods sick? " 
 
 The door was flung open and Mother Burns entered 
 in alarm. 
 
 " By no means. I have been sent for for Belinda." 
 He looked up gravely. " She seems a trifle feverish, 
 and " 
 
 " Have you gone stark raving crazy, Bob ? " asked 
 the good woman. And she gazed from The Green- 
 woods to the doll, and from the doll to the physician, 
 in bewilderment. 
 
 Mother Burns had known Robert all his life and had 
 called him Robert for years before it had been necessary 
 for her to seek employment of his mother; so in mo- 
 ments of great earnestness, the old name still slipped 
 out. 
 
 " I was just telling Mrs. Jonesville that the little girl 
 will pull through. Belinda has a good constitution, 
 and " 
 
 " Robert Kingston, I'm ashamed of you ! What do 
 you mean? Sending the child to bed before dark as a 
 punishment, and then waking her up at midnight to 
 play dolls with her! I never heard anything to equal 
 it in my life. Everybody is acting foolishly since she 
 came, and so much squabbling and joking and nonsense
 
 90 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 I never heard. Get out of this room, and let that baby 
 sleep!" 
 
 Robert fairly ran; but as he went down the hall 
 they heard him laughing.
 
 CHAPTER XIII 
 
 MRS. JONESVILLE was busy, and Sylvia was singing. 
 Except when Mrs. Jonesville, or one of the little Jones- 
 villes, was talking, the two never interfered with each 
 other at all. Mrs. Jonesville tidied up her seven-room 
 cottage, which was enclosed by the four walls of Sylvia's 
 chamber; bathed all that was bathable of her family, 
 dressed them, and arranged them in sociable groups, 
 talking, advising, correcting animatedly, the while. 
 .Whenever a lull occurred, Sylvia sang: 
 
 '" O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands, 
 
 Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before 
 His presence with a song.V 
 
 " My ! " exclaimed Mrs. Jonesville in despair, " It 
 looks like I never can keep you chillun clean. I never 
 saw such young'uns for playing in the dirt ! " 
 
 Marie, still grieving over her snub of the day before, 
 was waiting to reap the advantages of brother Robert's 
 lecture. He was away from home, which was doubtless 
 why The Greenwoods was not " associating." 
 
 Marie had told her mamma of the insult, and her 
 mamma had almost wept in sympathy. Their hearts 
 were wroth with Woody. As they sat in the living 
 room, Marie hemstitching by her mother's side, The 
 Greenwoods' making a " joyful noise unto the Lord " 
 in the back of the house deepened their dissatisfaction. 
 
 Hitherto the song had raised the spirits of the en- 
 tire household, and even Mrs. Kingston had hoped that 
 her discontented little daughter would catch a gleam 
 
 91
 
 92 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 from the orphan's lamp of gladness. Instead of en- 
 lightening Marie's darkness though, the orphan had 
 coolly refused to " associate." So now the song seemed 
 heartless, the happiness, intrusive. 
 
 The jubilant young voice reaching a yet higher, 
 gladder pitch, the lady was on the point of sending a 
 servant to request less noise, when the music ceased. 
 
 Mrs. Jonesville having dressed her last child, Sylvia 
 tied a towel around her own head, pinned another to 
 the front of her dress, to simulate an apron, seized 
 her broom, and started to help sweep the house. Mrs. 
 Jonesville, who was leaving at the same time, delivered 
 a few parting injunctions. 
 
 " Be good children while I am gone, and I'll bring 
 you back some candy. Belinda, don't play the cry- 
 baby this morning, and if I catch you tattling again, I 
 know a young lady what will be severely punished! 
 Lettie, don't let the baby fall out the window, or the 
 twins into the fire. If the triplets wake up, the bottle 
 is in the ice-box. And Prince Charlie, keep your 
 crown on straight, or I will spank you good ! " 
 
 She closed the door, and by the magic of a youthful 
 imagination was changed, in the twinkling of an eye, 
 into Polly Ann, the under-housemaid. With a frown, 
 she hunted up her superior; and no sooner found her, 
 than she began to grumble. " I declare to goodness, the 
 way they clutter up this house is a sin ! " 
 
 With a swoop of her broom, she attacked the dust- 
 heap, and unfortunately swept it in the wrong direc- 
 tion. 
 
 " Rich folks ain't got no consideration for us poor 
 folks, Susie. I work till my bones ache " 
 
 Grasping the broom, the maid brought her industri-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 93 
 
 ous young assistant to an abrupt pause. Like all the 
 servants, she adored The Greenwoods, but Polly Ann's 
 method of sweeping made too much dusting necessary. 
 
 " Don't you want me to help you, Susie ? " entreated 
 Sylvia, and the imploring tone melted the maid's wrath. 
 
 " Yes, honey ; but I'm in a hurry, I haven't swept 
 the porch. Look here, Polly Ann, if you don't get that 
 porch clean before the missus sees it, there'll be 
 trouble ! " 
 
 " Lordy ! I thought you was mad," began Sylvia in 
 relief. " I declare to goodness, I thought I was fired ! " 
 finished Polly Ann. 
 
 Marie, wearying of her hemstitching, had gone to 
 gather roses. In spotless white, with a big sun-hat and 
 a picturesque basket, she passed the other child, with a 
 supercilious stare. The other child failed to see her. 
 
 During the ablutions of her offspring Mrs. Jones- 
 ville had splashed the water in prodigal quantities over 
 Sylvia's garments and, the starch departing, they hung 
 in limp folds about her form. Knowing that a damp 
 cloth is best for dusting, Polly Ann had so utilized the 
 skirt of Sylvia's frock, while her hands were grimy, and 
 a streak of dirt adorned her cheek. 
 
 Returning with her roses, Marie crossed the porch. 
 She didn't care whether Sylvia " associated " or not ; 
 but that was Marie's papa's porch, so Marie had a right 
 to walk on it. 
 
 " Don't be a-bothering me, child ! I'm busy as I can 
 be and ain't got no time to fool with chillun; so run 
 along ! " Sylvia was still sweeping. 
 
 Under the circumstances, if she had only remem- 
 bered them, the remark was tactless. Marie's wound 
 was reopened and she replied with spirit:
 
 94 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " I don't care whether you have time to play with 
 me or not, Sylvia Forest ! This is my papa's house, and 
 I shall go anywhere I please in it, any time I please, 
 and stay as long as I please. And if you are rude to me 
 again, I'll get my brother to send you to bed again! 
 So there!" 
 
 This caused Polly Ann to flee and brought Sylvia 
 to the surface with a shock of surprise. 
 
 " Why, Marie, I was just playing housemaid! " 
 
 Marie sniffed disdainfully, but was interested; and 
 having expressed her opinion, was mollified by this ex- 
 planation. 
 
 " My name is Polly Ann, and I'm hired to your ma 
 for a dollar a week. My husband is sick, and my five 
 little children too. But for me they'd starve to death. 
 Poor folks have a hard time, Miss Marie ! " 
 
 Gloomily she began to sweep, while Marie laughed. 
 The latter wanted to join in the game, but it being dif- 
 ficult for Marie to forget Marie, her powers of pre- 
 tending were limited. Polly Ann contemplated the work 
 before her in dismay : " I'll have to scrub this porch ! 
 It's the dirtiest I ever saw ! " 
 
 " It's no such thing ! I'll tell mamma you said her 
 porch was dirty ! " 
 
 Polly Ann, who was always leaving Sylvia to bear the 
 brunt, dodged around the corner. The inhabitants of 
 The Greenwoods were a cowardly lot. Sylvia raced 
 after Marie and caught her arm. 
 
 "Why, I was just pretending it was dirty. 
 You " 
 
 " You shouldn't have said it, anyhow ! " 
 
 " But can't you see yourself it's clean? " Her com-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 95 
 
 prehensive gaze alighted upon something that caused 
 her to squeal with delight. 
 
 " It's dirt ! Look in the corner ! I bet Susie left it 
 for me a-purpose ! " And dashing at the substance, she 
 scattered it to the four winds of heaven. 
 
 Returning to the living-room, Marie gravely stated 
 that she believed that other girl was crazy. Then, it 
 being impossible to settle down to her usual ladylike 
 avocations while so many funny, interesting, foolish 
 things were taking place, she continued to watch from 
 the window. 
 
 " She is a pretty girl," thought The Greenwoods of 
 Marie, " but no good to play with. So what's she a-liv- 
 ing for? Now, I'm a-going to move out to The Four 
 Oaks." 
 
 While so employed, the luncheon hour overtook her. 
 
 " Mother Burns," a curly head was poked through 
 the kitchen doorway " I haven't time to eat with the 
 quality to-day, or even to dress up. Mr. Chester's not 
 here, anyway, and the rest are just sticks. So you and 
 Mrs. Malley (Mrs. Malley was the cook) be two good 
 old angels and send my lunch to The Four Oaks, and 
 I'll lunch out there with the children." 
 
 Confident of her request being granted, she trudged 
 along. 
 
 When Mrs. Kingston asked in displeasure why Sylvia 
 was not at the table, Marie replied : 
 
 " Because I'm here, of course. Brother Robert ought 
 to make her associate ! " 
 
 " Why do you care, Marie, whether a little nobody 
 like Sylvia plays with you or not ? " asked Mrs. King- 
 ston impatiently. For Marie's evident hankering after 
 the orphan's society had got on her nerves.
 
 96 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " I don't care. And if she wanted to play with me I 
 wouldn't let her, because she was rude yesterday. But 
 she hasn't any right to want not to play with me. This 
 is my home, not hers." 
 
 An hour later she had again taken up her stand by 
 the window and was watching The Greenwoods. 
 
 " Stop watching her, Marie, and practice your 
 music." Mrs. Kingston spoke almost angrily. 
 
 " How can I stop watching her, mamma, when she 
 acts so silly? Honestly, I believe that girl is crazy! " 
 
 " Why don't you run out and play with her? " asked 
 Sister Ellen. 
 
 " Because I don't wish to ; but I believe I will go tell 
 her how silly she looks, jumping up and down like that 
 and turning round." 
 
 And with this charitable intention, Marie departed. 
 
 " Come on," called The Greenwoods cordially, catch- 
 ing sight of her, " Let's dance it against each other." 
 
 "What is it? They didn't teach it at dancing- 
 school." 
 
 " Oh, they teach this at convents. Did you ever go 
 to one? " 
 
 " No, I never did." Marie felt her inferiority keenly, 
 " I've never been anywhere except to Europe and New 
 York and Niagara Falls." 
 
 " Don't worry over that," said The Greenwoods 
 kindly, who had never been out of her own country, 
 " I'll teach you the dance. A friend of mine invented it. 
 It's the Monkey Dance, and the song is * The Animal 
 Fair.' Do you know the song? " 
 
 Marie shamefacedly shook her head. 
 
 ' Then I will sing the word part, and you just sing 
 ' the monk ' part; just, the monk, the monk ' all the
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 97 
 
 way through. Now I'll show you the dance : You give 
 a long jump forward, like this; a short jump back- 
 ward, like this, then hop and kick, like this. See? After 
 you get the hang of it, you do anything you please, 
 stand on your head or chin a tree. But try to act like 
 a monkey, and the one what cuts up the funniest shines, 
 and doesn't lose step or breath, is the best dancer." 
 
 The dance began. The Greenwoods, as usual, was 
 heedless of all but the business in hand, and Marie, who 
 could dance and sing, if she could not pretend, 
 yielded to the spell, and for once was freed from her 
 normal self-consciousness. There was not much origi- 
 nality in her movements, but full of emulation, she tried 
 to do all that The Greenwoods did and to do it better. 
 Singing at the top of their voices, they circled The 
 Four Oaks and, jumping, kicking, prancing, advanced 
 upon the lawn. 
 
 " ' I went to the Animal Fair,' " sang The Green- 
 woods for the second time. Moved by one of her fun 
 germs, she caught the back of her skirt, drew it up be- 
 tween her legs, and stuffed her petticoat into it. The 
 effect was the same as if she had had on a pair of ex- 
 tremely short trousers. Marie followed suit. Unim- 
 peded by their fluttering skirts, the two children 
 jumped further, kicked higher, and their monkey isms 
 became more pronounced. Their singing and dancing, 
 as each tried to outdo the other, brought the 
 passers-by to a standstill. Wayville prided itself on 
 its New England dignity, and this dance was new to it. 
 
 Hearing unusual sounds issuing from the impressive 
 home of the aristocratic Kingstons, the neighbors came 
 out on their porches. From their present position the 
 children were plainly visible.
 
 98 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Mamma, look at Marie ! " said the little girls to 
 whom Marie had long been upheld as a pattern of pro- 
 priety. The mammas looked in alarm. If The Green- 
 woods had accomplished a dance like that with Marie, 
 what could she not accomplish with their own less sedate 
 little dears ? Yet, so long as this dangerous young per- 
 son was under Mrs. Kingston's protection, the mothers 
 were helpless. 
 
 Suddenly Sylvia stumbled, and Marie, thinking she 
 was trying to turn a somersault, beat her to it. The 
 Greenwoods was feeling more hopeful about Marie. 
 Marie could play after all. Marie had been basely 
 slandered. 
 
 The servants, hearing that Marie was skylarking, 
 looked on in awe while the model child kicked and jumped 
 upon the lawn and turned up her toes to the heavens. 
 Sister Ellen came out too, and called her mother: 
 " Look, Mamma ; The Greenwoods seems to be asso- 
 ciating ! " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston, who was responsible for the ragging 
 dances not having been taught nor tolerated in Way- 
 ville, came out to smile her approval of the children 
 just as Marie, incited to renewed efforts by the ap- 
 plause of the postman, a deliveryman, a messenger-boy, 
 several little girls, and two ladies on their way to a 
 card party, turned another somersault. The sight al- 
 most curdled the blood in Mrs. Kingston's chaste and 
 elegant veins. 
 
 " That can't be Marie, Ellen ! " 
 
 "Yes, mamma. Isn't she graceful? The other little 
 girl is the child Robert controls so beautifully? I shall 
 congratulate him on her dancing ! " 
 
 But Mrs. Kingston had hastened to the lawn.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 99 
 
 " Girls ! " she exclaimed. The monosyllable froze the 
 music and paralyzed the dancing. 
 
 " What does this mean ? I am ashamed of you both ! 
 Oh, Marie ! Sylvia Forest, what do you mean by teach- 
 ing my child so disgusting a trick? You ill-bred crea- 
 ture ! Unless you behave like a little lady you shall not 
 live in my house. I will not have Marie contaminated. 
 I will report this to your guardian and have you 
 punished! Now to the house, both of you! Come to 
 Mamma, Marie. I know my little daughter didn't mean 
 to be immodest, but was tempted by Sylvia." 
 
 Marie was in tears and The Greenwoods, utterly as- 
 tonished, walked on in advance, blank and dazed. 
 When they reached the house, Marie broke from her 
 mother's restraining hand and ran to the orphan's side. 
 
 " Sylvia, that was the most fun I ever had in all 
 my life," she sobbed, " and it was m-mean in M- 
 Mamma to stop us ! " 
 
 " I wish I was in heaven," sobbed The Greenwoods 
 in return, " I never d-do anything right in this 
 st-stingy house ! " 
 
 The tearful duet was interrupted by Mrs. Kingston. 
 , " Come at once, Marie. Mamma didn't mean to scold 
 her little daughter. She knows you were not to blame. 
 Come and get ready to drive. Sylvia, leave my presence 
 at once, and don't let me see your face again until to- 
 morrow ! "
 
 CHAPTER XIV 
 
 HUMILIATED and hurt, angry too, withal, The 
 Greenwoods flew to her room, and, locking the door, sat 
 on the floor and cried. She wanted to die ! Then they 
 would be sorry ! Then France would find out how they 
 had treated her, and scratch their ugly eyes out, 
 and God would teach 'em how to be mean to orphans. 
 
 " They will be sorry when they come a-knocking at 
 that door," thought Woody, " I won't let 'em in. Mrs. 
 Kingston sha'n't see my face to-morrow, or any other 
 time. I will stay here till I starve to death, and go to 
 Heaven to live with my own papa! I'll never eat any 
 more of their old grub again, or sleep in any of their 
 buggy beds, or speak to a solitary member of their 
 stuck-up, hateful family ! " 
 
 Anger was overcoming misery. 
 
 She didn't want to live in their old house, anyhow. 
 Even Walter didn't like it. Nobody did! It was a 
 pigeon-toed place, with red hair! But if they hadn't 
 wanted her, why had they taken her away from France? 
 She hadn't wanted to come and she wouldn't stay, 
 either. She would run away, and never, never, never 
 come back in all eternity nor afterward! She would 
 get all the orphans, and they would run away together. 
 They would be a band, like gypsies, and she would 
 be their queen ! 
 
 All over the world they would wander, going wher- 
 ever they pleased, and doing whatever they pleased; 
 
 100
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 101 
 
 and when they met people that were kind the orphans 
 would call down blessings on them, and stay a while, 
 and help with the chores. But when they met people 
 that were mean, they would give them the orphans' 
 curse, and bad luck would dog those mean folks all 
 their days. And Mrs. Kingston should be the first! 
 The boys would throw rocks at her, not to hurt her, 
 but just to make her dodge, then she would be sorry; 
 and the queen would say : 
 
 " Don't hurt the old straight-mouthed, cross-eyed 
 idiot, boys, because she is old and nervous, and just 
 naturally hateful, so she can't help herself ; for she was 
 born that way, and couldn't learn any manners. But 
 don't associate with her, children, for the Lord is par- 
 ticular about us orphans, and ' evil communications 
 corrupt good manners,' so ' let a sleeping dog lie.' ' 
 
 That wound up the queen's remarks about Mrs. 
 Kingston. Having evened up the score, The Green- 
 woods felt better. 
 
 And after that the orphans would wander on again 
 o'er hill and dale, until they came to a beauteous forest. 
 There they would pitch their tents, over on the 
 ground. At least, the boys would ; the girls would have 
 cunning little houses up in trees, like Marie's. 
 
 And the angels would come down and tabernacle with 
 them, and tell them stories. And the boys would have 
 marbles and tops and kites and guns and nigger- 
 shooters. And the girls, dolls and doll-duds and pretty 
 clothes and ponies like Marie's. 
 
 And the forest would be a lovely gorgeous place, 
 with fruit trees and nut trees and candy trees and 
 pickle trees and Christmas trees ! There would be 
 fountains of soda-water, with sardines and salmon
 
 102 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 swimming about. And every orphan would be pretty 
 and polite. 
 
 " Gracious," yawned The Greenwoods, " I believe 
 I've been asleep ! And I never was so hungry ! I could 
 eat a wolf! I shall ask my dearest friend to give me a 
 piece of cake." 
 
 So, unlocking the door, she left the room and sought 
 the cook. As she was eating the cake, a generous 
 slice, she asked for advice. " The missus says she 
 doesn't want to see my face again until to-morrow." 
 
 " Faith, and she'll miss the swatest sight in siven 
 counties ! " 
 
 " But what must I do about it, darlint ? " 
 
 " Spend the night with the Widow Wingo's daugh- 
 ter, begorrah! That'll fix the missus. And the widow 
 will rejoice to have you. Just go a-kiting, an* lave the 
 rest to me."
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 " SHE seems to have tried herself," remarked Robert, 
 who had listened to his mother's tale in deep displea- 
 sure, " Would you advise the corporal persuasion, 
 mother? " 
 
 " I never advise corporal punishment. It does no 
 good except temporarily, and brutalizes a child. Why 
 not try the efficacy of reasoning? " 
 
 " I have, and she nearly talked me to death. Sup- 
 pose you try it. You reason so clearly. Explain to 
 her that the front lawn is not the place for Monkey 
 Dances, and that she shouldn't ask the cook's permis- 
 sion when she wants to go visiting, or advise with the 
 servants about her friendships, and that she must eat 
 with the family, and not make faces at Marie nor teach 
 Marie to make them at you, and " 
 
 " Do you wish me to assume control of your ward, 
 Robert? Do you acknowledge, after all your advice 
 to your sisters and to me, that you are incapable of 
 cntrolling one small girl? " 
 
 " Certainly not. It is just that I am not in the 
 humor." 
 
 " I haven't advised you to flog your ward." 
 
 " No, but that is the only thing that will do any 
 good. I suppose I might as well. The Greenwoods 
 should be punished for her naughtiness whether SHE 
 likes it or not." 
 
 "Did you expect Sylvia to enjoy it?" Mrs. King- 
 ston, who was ignorant that the last pronoun had been 
 
 103
 
 104 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 spelt with capital letters and stood for the most beau- 
 tiful woman Robert had ever seen, was, not unnatu- 
 rally, amazed. 
 
 " Not exactly, mother. I was just wondering if she 
 considers me a proper person to inflict the penalty. 
 If I have been correctly informed, she has agreed to 
 take ' corporous punishment,' but stipulated that it 
 should be administered by an ' old, low-down, cross- 
 eyed dog.' Do I fill the bill? " 
 
 His mother regarded him with disapproval. He had 
 been strangely reticent concerning Miss Faunce, had 
 stayed too long in her vicinity, had refused to stop 
 the correspondence existing between her and The Green- 
 woods, and now was visibly afraid to punish the orphan. 
 Why? With a sinking heart, Mrs. Kingston guessed. 
 
 " Just let the child alone then," she said coldly. " As 
 I have told you, a child left to its own devices often 
 turns out as well as one more strictly reared. I 
 shouldn't have spoken of Sylvia's conduct, except that 
 you have said so much about the injury done children 
 by indulging them that I thought you meant it." 
 
 " I do. But wouldn't the chastisement be better 
 from Mrs. Burns?" 
 
 Mrs. Kingston laughed scornfully; and in truth the 
 thought of Mother Burns doing ought but worshiping 
 and lauding her " angel child " was a bit incongruous. 
 At this critical moment Marie's voice drifted through 
 the open window in petulant complaint. 
 
 " Please stop, Sylvia ! " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston glanced at her son, but was wisely 
 silent. Not so Marie, who was growing tearful. 
 
 " Please don't make faces, Sylvia. I'm not making 
 any. Mamma forbade it."
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 105 
 
 The listeners' hearts grew hard. They little knew 
 that " faces " was the latest fad in juvenile circles, 
 introduced by The Greenwoods, or that Marie's tears 
 were caused by her mother's prohibition. 
 
 " Then you mustn't make 'em," said The Green- 
 woods, as if tempting fate. " Children what have 
 mammas must obey them. It's just orphans what can 
 do as they please. Now I'm a-going to make another. 
 Look!" 
 
 At this treasonable remark, Mrs. Kingston gasped, 
 and Robert walked out on the porch, with lowering 
 brow. 
 
 " Come with me at once to the laboratory, Green- 
 woods," he said sternly. 
 
 " Oh, goody ! " exclaimed The Greenwoods, to his 
 consternation, and she skipped joyfully over and took 
 his hand. She had heard wonders of his laboratory, 
 and this was her first invitation to visit it. 
 
 " Let me go too, Brother Robert. I haven't seen the 
 lab. for ages ! " begged Marie, and Mrs. Kingston was 
 confused. Hadn't The Greenwoods just been making 
 faces at Marie? 
 
 " Not to-day, Marie. Robert doesn't wish to enter- 
 tain little girls to-day." She spoke impressively to 
 make Robert's task easier for him, hoping to arouse The 
 Greenwoods' apprehensions ; but that sunlit soul was 
 conscious of no wrong-doing, so feared no evil. 
 
 " Please let her go, Mrs. Kingston. Marie won't 
 worry him. Will you, Marie ? " 
 
 But Marie had taken the hint, and was regarding the 
 condemned with wondering eyes. Robert started for 
 the seat of punishment, and his ward tripped blithely 
 along beside him.
 
 106 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 "Are you feeling bad, Dr. Kingston? You look 
 unhappy." 
 
 " I am, Sylvia. I have an unpleasant duty to per- 
 form." 
 
 " Are you a-going to amperate something? " 
 
 " No, I explained to you once that I would never am- 
 putate your toes as a punishment, but " 
 
 " Oh, of course you are not a-going to amputate me ! 
 I thought it was one of those poor patients at the hos- 
 pital." 
 
 " No, my business to-day " 
 
 " Well, I'm glad you're not. Likely, though, you're 
 a-going to give 'em medicine, and that's most as bad. 
 Why don't you get into a nicer business ? " 
 
 " I want to have a serious talk with you, Sylvia, 
 about " 
 
 " Gracious ! " She came to a terrified standstill, 
 '* Have you heard bad news from Francie ? " 
 
 " No ! Is she ill ? " He, too, grew apprehensive. 
 
 " She must be, if it's as bad as that ! I don't want 
 her to die, Dr. Kingston. I don't care if it is more fun 
 to be an angel. There's angels enough in my family 
 now. I'm selfish about France, and I want her to stay 
 a girl ! " 
 
 " I hadn't heard she was ill," uneasily. 
 
 " Me neither," sorrowfully. 
 
 " Didn't you say something about her dying? " in- 
 dignantly. 
 
 " No I didn't," angrily. " You said it yourself ! " 
 
 " Why, I didn't mention it." 
 
 " Well, land's sake ! What is your serious talk about 
 then ? Have you been a-scaring me to death with your 
 foolishness? "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 107 
 
 This was so near what he wanted to say to her, that 
 he unlocked the door in silence; and, her worry van- 
 ished, she bounded in and looked around with animation. 
 
 " Oh, look at the snake! Isn't it big! Walter told 
 me about that snake. What did it look like wrig- 
 gling? " 
 
 Closing the door, her guardian sat down and sternly 
 faced her. 
 
 " Did you catch it with your own bare hands ? " 
 
 " Sylvia, I didn't bring you here to talk about snakes. 
 j 
 
 " Where's the bear rug you killed, then ? " 
 " Sit down, till I finish speaking." He peremptorily 
 pointed to a chair. 
 
 Though shocked at Robert's inhospitable manner, 
 The Greenwoods pleasantly accepted the seat, and in 
 an effort to put him at his ease, said : " Don't you think 
 it looks like rain, Dr. Kingston? Why, you look an- 
 noyed." 
 
 " I am displeased with your behavior." 
 "Huh! What's wrong with it? Have I skated on 
 the floor? " 
 
 " No, but " 
 
 " Have I slid down the bannisters ? " 
 
 " I believe not, but " 
 
 " Have I caught your mamma's goldfish, or meddled 
 with Marie's things, or left the place without permis- 
 sion ? " 
 
 " I have heard no complaints, but still " 
 
 " Then, -great Jehosaphat ! what's the matter ? " 
 He was daunted, and she looked at him in disgust. 
 " I knew how it would be all the time. It's what I get 
 for minding you so good! And me an orphan! Next
 
 108 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 time I follow the teachings of the Bible, and do my 
 duty! A person can be too good in this world, and 
 I am it!" 
 
 " Why were you making faces at Marie ? " 
 
 " To entertain her because she's feeling puny. I'm 
 always kind to the sick." 
 
 " You didn't entertain her. You made her cry ! " 
 
 "That's wasn't my fault; she's just hard to enter- 
 tain. You said yourself she was a cry-baby and a fuss- 
 cat and a tattle-tale; and she your own little sister, 
 and me no kin! Walter's just as bad. The way the 
 gentlemen of this family talk about Marie is shameful. 
 I'm glad I have no brothers." 
 
 " I certainly did not use those words, Sylvia ; and I 
 am sorry I gave you that impression. I was only try- 
 ing " 
 
 " You shouldn't have said anything. It's not polite 
 to talk to outsiders about your kin. What's the out- 
 siders to do about it? " 
 
 " But you are not an outsider. You are one of the 
 family " 
 
 " I belong to my papa's family, Dr. Kingston. And 
 my kin are angels, clear on back to Adam. I'm the 
 last human left." 
 
 It was impossible to feel pity for a child who took 
 this view of her orphanhood. He had to meet her on 
 her own ground. 
 
 " Do you think an angel " he began. 
 
 " No, sir ; I don't. They never talk mean about folks. 
 Besides, Marie is a very nice girl. She is awf'ly sensi- 
 tive, but if they'd send her to boarding-school she'd 
 get over it." 
 
 This reminded the unfortunate young man that the
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 109 
 
 daughter of the house was not the one to be disposed of, 
 nor was he the one to be lectured. He tried once more 
 to fasten the guilt where it belonged. " What did you 
 mean by your behavior yesterday, Sylvia? " 
 
 She gazed dreamily into space. 
 
 "Yesterday? I disremember." 
 
 " You gave a very disgraceful performance on the 
 front lawn, and should be punished for it." 
 
 For the first time her face clouded over, and he con- 
 gratulated himself on having at length made an im- 
 pression. Yet it was not the threat of punishment that 
 had sobered The Greenwoods, but the remembrance of 
 Mrs. Kingston's unkind words. She had forgotten 
 them and had given her hostess credit for doing the 
 same. But Mrs. Kingston had meant them, meant 
 them all ! 
 
 " Dr. Kingston," The Greenwoods turned a grave 
 little face to his, " I want to go back to Francie, please. 
 I have been at your mamma's house long enough." 
 
 She was slightly tremulous, and suddenly realizing 
 how sweet and cheerful she had been during the sepa- 
 ration, he forgot his lecture and asked gently : 
 
 " Has any one mistreated you, Woody? " 
 
 He had never suspected that she needed sympathy 
 because she had not complained, and had always seemed 
 happy. Yet sympathy is sweet even in happiness. 
 
 " No, sir, but I have been visiting here long enough." 
 
 " But you have come to live with us, my dear. This 
 is your home." 
 
 " My home is in heaven, thank you, where my papa 
 lives. I'm just visiting around in this world, and I'd 
 rather visit Francie. God knows best." 
 
 Her religion always put him at a disadvantage.
 
 110 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " We were speaking of " 
 
 " Of the Monkey Dance. Your mamma didn't like 
 it." 
 
 "Would Miss Faunce have liked it, Woody? " 
 
 " Of course. She's got some sense. She danced it 
 herself!" 
 
 "What!" 
 
 The word was thundered at her so suddenly, that 
 she gave a frightened jump toward the door. Mrs. 
 Kingston had painted the Monkey Dance in dark colors, 
 and Robert, remembering Miss Faunce's queenliness, 
 was offended at this supposed aspersion. She might 
 be fickle, she might have coquetted with his poor old 
 uncle, but that she lacked dignity he did not believe. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; she danced it every chance she got, when 
 the teachers weren't looking. Did you think she was 
 a goody-goody? " 
 
 So it was at school she had danced it. He relented, 
 but only slightly. If the dance were true to his mother's 
 description, she should not have danced it any where. 
 
 " I want to see that dance, Greenwoods ! " 
 
 " I'm sorry, but your mamma objects." 
 
 "When I tell you to do a thing you do it. Now, 
 dance ! " 
 
 She had never before been invited to dance in just 
 this bearish manner; but when a guardian speaks in 
 such a tone, it is time for a little ward to be up and do- 
 ing. The Greenwoods assumed the first position. 
 
 "Begin!" 
 
 She had never felt less like dancing in her life. She 
 tried, but her feet failed to leave the floor. Having made 
 an honest effort, she looked supplicatingly toward him.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 111 
 
 " If you'd just smile a bit, Dr. Kingston, it would be 
 easier." 
 
 He tried to smile, but being in an ill humor, snarled 
 instead. 
 
 " Oh, not that way ! You look scarier than ever." 
 
 Since he wanted the dance (Well, not wholly in the 
 interests of discipline), he tried again with more suc- 
 cess. 
 
 " That's better. Thanks ! If if you'd sing a lit- 
 tle, I'd enjoy it more. It makes me nervous to dance 
 without the music." 
 
 " Do you intend to obey me or not? " He got out 
 his watch. 
 
 " Of course I'm a-going to obey you ! Don't you see 
 me trying? How does the cross-eyed thing start any- 
 how? 'I went I went' That's not it. That's 
 ( Nearer My God To Thee.' I can't dance the Monkey 
 to that! Why don't you put up that watch and help 
 me? That watch always did give me the stage fright! " 
 
 He put it up. She made a few more futile efforts, 
 and seeing that she was really trying, he sang, just to 
 get her started ! " * I went to the Animal Fair ' " 
 
 " * All the birds and the beasts were there,' " re- 
 sponded The Greenwoods gratefully, and giving a long 
 jump, a high jump, and two slides, she possum-a-laed 
 and began. Seeing her improvement, he continued his 
 assistance, and the dance went steadily on. 
 
 " * The monk the monk the monk,' " he was sing- 
 ing when he was rudely interrupted by his little sister. 
 " That's my song, Brother Robert, and you shouldn't 
 sing it, if I can't ! It's not fair." 
 
 Marie had stolen to the window to see for herself 
 what a whipping looked like; Mrs. Kingston had fol-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 lowed to keep her from interfering; Walter, Chester, 
 and Ellen had come to save The Greenwoods. Since she 
 was not in danger, they applauded instead and gave 
 three cheers for the good disciplinarian. 
 
 Robert stared at them rather sheepishly, but dared 
 not explain why he had made The Greenwoods dance, 
 or why he had been singing. Nevertheless, Mrs. King- 
 ston's worst fears were confirmed. 
 
 When a temporary lull had fallen on the quizzing and 
 he was left alone, his thoughts reverted to Miss Faunce. 
 He was willing to marry a girl of whom his mother 
 disapproved, but not one of whom he disapproved him- 
 self ; and dignity was a quality he wanted his wife to 
 have. Miss Faunce seemed to be lacking in too many of 
 the virtues; so he would forget her. 
 
 Yet he was not forced to suffer alone, for thus wrote 
 The Greenwoods to her " own adopted : " 
 
 " He was angry as blazes, France, till I told him you danced 
 it too. Then he jumped most out of his skin and yelled like 
 wild, but did not eat me up. Mrs. Ellen, and Mr. Chester and 
 the Boy laughed and clapped but Mrs. Kingston said it was dis- 
 graceful and disgusting."
 
 CHAPTER XVI 
 
 IN pursuance of his resolution to forget, Robert, in 
 spite of the family mourning, divided his time impar- 
 tially between Mrs. Wingo, Miss Wile, and The 
 Greenwoods. The first two were of great assistance. 
 Both were charming women, and, after all, he had 
 known Miss Faunce but slightly. It was only Octavius 
 and The Greenwoods that saved her from oblivion. 
 Still, he reflected, Octavius' only fault had been indif- 
 ference to the wiles of a notorious flirt, which example 
 might be worthily followed. 
 
 Yet, while there was nothing wrong with Octavius, 
 the same could not be said of The Greenwoods. She 
 called Marie names. Marie objecting, he rashly sent 
 for The Greenwoods to admonish her. 
 
 " You are right, Dr. Kingston," she sweetly agreed, 
 as she took the lecture into her own hands and brought 
 it to a close ; " calling names is neither pretty nor 
 polite. And you are like to say something you are 
 sorry for, and where'll you be then? Besides, the habit 
 will grow upon you, so you should break yourself of it 
 while you are young. Did I ever tell you about Francie 
 apologizing to me before the school ? " 
 
 " You interrupted me, Greenwoods, in the midst of 
 my " 
 
 " Excuse me. It was the last day France ever went 
 to school. The low-down, burning coward ! " 
 
 " Are you speaking of Miss Faunce? " In his amaze- 
 ment of her detraction of her idol, Robert forgot to 
 stop her. 
 
 113
 
 114 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Yessir. She's got her faults, Dr. Kingston, though 
 I wouldn't admit it to anyone else here but you. The 
 rest don't seem to like her." 
 
 He was silent. It might help him to hear of Miss 
 Faunce's faults. 
 
 " It was last year, when we were at a finishing school 
 in Baltimore." 
 
 " I thought you were at a convent then." 
 
 " That was session before last. This was last Sep- 
 tember. You know we went back to school after Mr. 
 Perkins got struck, to keep him from proposing. 
 France was afraid to refuse him, for fear he'd take 
 me and she was skittish about his mouth even then." 
 
 At this reminder Dr. Kingston frowned, and The 
 Greenwoods hurried on : 
 
 " And she'd a-been going to school yet, if it hadn't 
 been for me. She's an ungrateful wretch ! It was study- 
 hour, and it wasn't my month to study, so " 
 
 "Not your month to study? " 
 
 " No, sir ; it was Goldilocks'. It was my month to 
 have fun, so " 
 
 " I don't quite grasp your meaning. You only 
 studied every other month?" 
 
 "Yessir. You see France and Edith was enemies, 
 and always had been. And Edith was going to school 
 too, because she was engaged to Mr. Cameron (that 
 was before France cut her out) , and her papa wouldn't 
 let her marry Mr. Cameron, for he couldn't make a 
 living. So she went to school in Baltimore, to be near 
 him." 
 
 " What has all this to do with your studying only 
 every other month? " 
 
 "Why, Goldilocks was Edith's sister, and me and
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 115 
 
 her wac the only little girls in school. And Edith said 
 she'd give Goldy a licking, if she didn't get a higher 
 average than me; and Goldy was so scared that I just 
 let her beat. Now wasn't that right ? " 
 
 " Haven't you any ambition, child ? " 
 
 " That's just what France said. She was shocked 
 most to death when she found out I had let Goldilocks 
 beat me after Edith had set her on to do it. I ex- 
 plained to her about that licking I'd saved Goldilocks 
 from getting, but it didn't do any good. She said, if 
 I didn't get higher than Goldilocks the next month and 
 quit my foolishness, she'd spank me ! " 
 
 He smiled approvingly. 
 
 " She was quite right." 
 
 " But what was me and Goldilocks to do about it ? " 
 
 " You should both have studied." 
 
 " It wouldn't have done any good. One of us would 
 a-caught it anyway. So what was the use in that one 
 a-studying? Why shouldn't that one save her studying 
 till it would do more good ? " 
 
 Before this way of putting it he was at a momentary 
 loss. " Fortunately you didn't know which one it would 
 be." 
 
 " Oh, we drew straws for it, the first time, and 
 then we took it time about." 
 
 At this solution he barely escaped laughing. 
 
 " You did wrong " 
 
 " It turned out for the best, though, Dr. Kingston. 
 It always does. You see September and October I let 
 her beat. In November we drew straws, and she got 
 the bad one. The next month was December and that's 
 what I'm telling about. It was study-hour, like I told 
 you, and as I was too honorable to study, I wasn't
 
 116 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 a-doing it. And you know about Satan finding mischief 
 for idle hands to do. Well, that was me. Suddenly 
 somebody threw a note over my head. If there's any- 
 thing I hate, it's to see a girl throw a note in school." 
 
 " I'm glad you have the right view on one subject, at 
 least." 
 
 " Yessir, they ought to pass 'em. So when the teacher 
 got that note I wasn't sorry a bit, for I thought the 
 girl ought to a-had more sense. It was a sarcastic 
 teacher, and when she opened that note she gave a 
 sarcastic laugh, and then she tapped the bell and read 
 that note out loud. What you reckon it was about? " 
 
 " I can't imagine." 
 
 " Me ! And there I was a-sitting as innocent as a 
 little lamb : * Greenwoods Forest, if you don't stop 
 drawing pictures and writing notes, I will spank you 
 good ! ' And France had writ it ! I was so mortified I 
 wanted to kill her." 
 
 " All the girls was a-laughing theirselves to death, 
 and I thought the idiots was a-laughing at me about the 
 spanking. And it angered me. But when I turned 
 around to tell 'em what I thought of 'em, I saw they 
 were laughing at France ! " 
 
 He smiled in spite of himself at Miss Faunce's break- 
 ing the rules of school in her effort to maintain dis- 
 cipline. How young she was ! 
 
 " Now I'm not the child to adopt a mother, and then 
 forsake her when she's in trouble. France had done 
 wrong, and I told her so when I got her to myself, but 
 not when they were laughing. Then I walked back and 
 put my arms around her neck, and made faces at the 
 whole hateful crowd ! "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 117 
 
 He smiled again and forgave The Greenwoods her 
 faces at Marie. 
 
 " It stopped the crowd from laughing too, but it 
 vexed the teacher. She yanked me by the arm and made 
 me stand on the platform. Then she thanked France 
 for helping her keep order (old sarcastic cat!), and 
 said, ' Why beholdest thou the mote that is in my 
 brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in 
 thy own eye? ' Then the hateful thing went after those 
 pictures France said I'd been drawing (I got after 
 France for that tattling, good!) and one of those 
 pictures was of the teacher. It was an impolite picture 
 about a wart that was on her nose; and that picture 
 hurt her feelings ; and then I knew that an angel would 
 never have drawn it, and so I cried. 
 
 " Now Francie didn't know about the picture, but 
 thought I was crying because I had to stand up in 
 school (as if I'd be so silly), so she stood right up then 
 and there and apologized to me for writing that note, 
 and afterwards apologized, sarcastic, though, to the 
 teacher. Then up she came and stood on the platform 
 by me. Of course she didn't stand long; for every- 
 body knew she had a millionaire up her sleeve But 
 wasn't it sweet in a big grown girl like her? " 
 
 " Well, yes," he spoke regrefully ; for what Frances 
 had lost in dignity she had gained in sweet human na- 
 ture. After all, it is as natural for a girl to be a girl 
 as for a boy to be a boy; and they are so much more 
 innocent with their fun. So Robert sighed regretfully, 
 for he realized that the image he had sought to destroy 
 was placed more securely than ever in his heart. 
 
 " But where did her cowardice and ingratitude come
 
 118 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 in, Greenwoods ? It seems to me that she was both sweet 
 and brave." 
 
 "Well, you see, Dr. Kingston, I couldn't afford to 
 have my mother talked to like France had been by 
 that sarcastic teacher. It was beneath her dignity. So 
 I told her how ashamed of it I was, and advised that we 
 quit school at once, turn Sister Faunce out, and keep 
 house ourselves, and make our debut. For girls like us 
 had too much sense for school! And that's where her 
 ingratitude came in. The cross-eyed wretch stopped 
 school herself, and made me keep on going ! " 
 
 He chuckled, and The Greenwoods regarded him un- 
 favorably. 
 
 " And what do you s'pose her excuse was for it ? " 
 
 " I could think of several, Greenwoods." 
 
 " Well, she couldn't. The only one she could find 
 was because I'm little! Did you ever hear of any- 
 thing so cowardly? Actually taking advantage of my 
 size to make me go to school ! Still, there was one good 
 result of it all, as I told you a while ago." 
 
 "And what was that?" 
 
 " Why, you see, she stopped school before the reports 
 were made out, and was so busy with our debut that she 
 hadn't time to see whether Goldilocks' average was 
 higher than mine or not. It was my bad month, you 
 know. And after the beaux and parties started she 
 was busier still. So I saw I was safe, and told Goldi- 
 locks that she could have all the averages and wel- 
 come. And after that I didn't have to study at all ! "
 
 CHAPTER XVII 
 
 THE fun germs had made the Kingston residence 
 their headquarters, and. so much visiting, buzzing, and 
 excitement had never been known in that orderly man- 
 sion before. The Kingstons were unable to adjust them- 
 selves to the changed conditions, so everything, ex- 
 cept the family of dolls at The Four Oaks, was in 
 a state of unrest, and everybody unsettled, except The 
 Greenwoods. 
 
 She was not dependent upon time, place, nor condi- 
 tions for her happiness. So when Mrs. Kingston's cold- 
 ness drove her from the house she retreated to the 
 swing, and was happy there; for within her was the 
 Kingdom of Heaven. But Marie thought it was be- 
 cause she had the swing. So Marie took the swing, 
 and, lo, it was no longer the seat of happiness, but 
 only a rope that dangled from a tree. 
 
 How was Marie to know of the Kingdom? She 
 thought happiness was to be found in material things; 
 therefore her desire for it manifested itself in envy. 
 
 But The Greenwoods' happiness was formed out of 
 the relics stored in her subconscious treasure-house. 
 From these the spirit built " a nest of happy thoughts," 
 which Sylvia could enter almost at will, finding relief 
 from her worries, rest for her weariness, comfort for 
 her sorrows. It was located on the borderland of the 
 human and divine, " where neither moth nor rust doth 
 corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor 
 steal ; " and where angels could come and minister unto 
 
 119
 
 120 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 her. She called it her Kingdom, and there anger was 
 changed to pity, tears, to smiles. 
 
 So when Marie seized the swing, The Greenwoods, 
 playing at The Four Oaks was just as happy without 
 it; whereupon Marie concluded that it was not the 
 swing that had made The Greenwoods happy, but The 
 Four Oaks. To the discontented child happiness seemed 
 to be beckoning from Woody's playhouse. 
 
 The Greenwoods had been ordered never to touch 
 Marie's things ; accordingly, her suspicions having been 
 aroused, she decided that Marie's things had smallpox, 
 and established a rigid quarantine. Every child in the 
 neighborhood followed The Greenwoods' lead, so when 
 Marie played in company she had to borrow toys. 
 Her own were perfectly safe, but she was unhappy be- 
 cause they were avoided. 
 
 " What will they think of me ? " was the basis of her 
 thoughts. Happiness was trivial unless others were 
 there to see it, and grief was welcomed for the sake 
 of sympathy. They ruled her life, those others, 
 and gave so little in return. She would have sacrificed 
 everything for the world's admiration; and the world 
 was thinking of itself! 
 
 Yet Marie was consistent ; for the one whose opinion 
 she esteemed most highly was the one who was most 
 indifferent. And this one was The Greenwoods. 
 
 The Greenwoods was gentle, but animated; was 
 courteous, but could uphold her rights, and yielding, 
 somehow won; was merry, though Marie had seen the 
 elders regard her with tearful eyes; was loved by the 
 world, but indifferent to it, yet, while heedless of its 
 regard, was considerate of its feelings ; was careless of 
 possessions, but they were showered on her; had no
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 121 
 
 home, yet all homes were opened to her, and had no 
 friends, except the multitude. When Marie sought 
 her, The Greenwoods was glad; when Marie neglected 
 her, she was still glad. The game went on just the 
 same, and others might join in or keep away. 
 
 At present the game was in progress at The Four 
 Oaks, and Marie was discontentedly watching it from 
 the captured swing. How much fun was to be had at 
 The Four Oaks! Even grown-ups went there to see 
 The Greenwoods, and boys, forgetting their masculine 
 pride, played there too. No one ever noticed Marie's 
 house. No wonder ! God had made that playhouse for 
 Woody, and Marie had heard her say that before ever 
 she was born or had heard of Wayville He had pre- 
 pared it. Yes, but He had prepared it in Marie's 
 papa's yard ! 
 
 How much sweeter it was than the silly thing Marie's 
 mamma had given her! How could Marie be expected 
 to like it ? True it was a perfect little house, but it was 
 built up in a tree, where houses don't belong. Birds live 
 in trees, and Marie was not a bird. She wanted her 
 house under the trees, under The Four Oaks ! 
 
 Of course Woody had to move her things in and out 
 every day to protect them, but moving was half the 
 fun. Every boy in the neighborhood hung about dying 
 for a chance to help her, and the servants were crazy 
 about it. They thought it such fun to help her move 
 to The Four Oaks ! 
 
 Marie wished that she had so pretty a place to play, 
 then people would want to play with her. She could 
 have had that very spot too, if it hadn't been for 
 Woody. Why couldn't she have it anyway? It be- 
 longed to Marie's papa.
 
 122 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 They had promised Marie not to let The Greenwoods 
 worry her, and here they had allowed this trespasser 
 the sweetest spot in the yard, in the town, in the world, 
 and it belonged to Marie's papa! 
 
 How hurt and grieved he would be when he found how 
 badly they had treated his little girl! He would show 
 Sylvia how to be mean to her! Marie would tell him 
 too. No, she would tell The Greenwoods. 
 
 " I want to play here," she announced a moment 
 later. 
 
 " Come ahead then, and we will keep house together. 
 You can play papa, and I will play mamma " 
 
 " I don't want to play papa ! " 
 
 " Then you play mamma." 
 
 " I don't wish to play mamma either." 
 
 " All right ; you can board with me, and be what you 
 please. Here is my best spare room, mizziz, at just one 
 hundred a week. Have you any chil " 
 
 " I don't want to play boarder. I want to play here 
 by myself ! " 
 
 "All right. Let's trade." 
 
 " You haven't anything to trade. This belongs to 
 my papa, and he doesn't like your playing here. He 
 said last night he hoped you wouldn't hurt the trees." 
 
 " Well, I won't play here then," responded the free 
 and independent orphan in a huff. " Take it, you 
 greedy pig ! " 
 
 "I'm not a pig!" 
 
 " Hog, then ! " And forthwith The Greenwoods be- 
 gan her packing, which by this time had been system- 
 atized. Marie began to cry. The Four Oaks was hers, 
 but happiness had flown again. 
 
 " Cry-baby ! "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 123 
 
 " I'll tell my brother on you ! " Marie's sobs grew 
 louder. 
 
 " Tattle-tale ! " And pointing the finger of derision, 
 The Greenwoods sang, " Tattle, tattle, tattle-tale, 
 shame on you ! " 
 
 " O-h, you won't play nice with me ! " 
 
 " You are not a nice person. If you would look to 
 your manners and be polite, I shouldn't mind associat- 
 ing ; but as it is, the Lord's against it. You see you are 
 nothing but a hog what looks like a girl, and when you 
 die the cover will drop off. Now take your papa's old 
 leaky house, and I hope you'll be drownded in it, to 
 teach you manners." 
 
 " I'm going to tell this very minute." And with 
 mournful indignation, Marie started to the " lab." 
 while The Greenwoods went on singing. 
 
 When Marie returned, The Greenwoods was still 
 singing. She sang while Marie delivered her brother's 
 message, and continued to sing, as she started for the 
 judgment seat; and always the same insulting song. 
 
 " You will sing on the other side of your mouth, 
 missy, when brother Rob gets through with you. You 
 are to get a whipping ! " 
 
 The Greenwoods stopped singing then, and paid a 
 tribute of respect to Dr. Kingston. Marie was horri- 
 fied. 
 
 " I shall tell him what you said ! " 
 
 "You needn't bother about it, tattle-pig! I'll tell 
 him myself ! " 
 
 Picking up the tongue of her wagon, the evicted one 
 strolled with lofty mien towards " the lab." Her 
 guardian, grown impatient, was waiting for her in the 
 doorway. He could discern the insolent air of victory
 
 124 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 that floated about the orphan, and the dejection and 
 defeat that clung in damp folds to the heiress ; and as 
 he was not a mind reader, his sympathy went where it 
 seemed to be needed. 
 
 " Come in, Greenwoods," he said. " So you've been 
 calling Marie names again ? " 
 
 " I did worse than that. I called you names ! " 
 
 His guard was down, and she had knocked him off 
 his feet. His lecture had to be reconstructed. 
 
 " What have I done to you? " 
 
 " Nothing." 
 
 " Then why did you call me names ? " 
 
 " Why, I didn't mean any harm by it. I'm going to 
 be an old maid myself ! " 
 
 Just what connection there was between her marital 
 intentions and the names she had called him he failed 
 to see. Nevertheless, he flinched. 
 
 "And I just adore Yankees! I felt hard towards 
 Yankees once, but I know 'em now and admire 'em. 
 Especially little Yankee boys. Yankee boys have a 
 look in their eyes like they don't mean no harm." 
 
 This peroration left him dumb. 
 
 " And school-teachers have mighty fine educations, 
 and are cultured, and elegant, and refined ! " 
 
 " So that's what I am, is it, Woody? " 
 
 " No, Dr. Kingston, you're not. You are a perfect 
 gentleman, and quite agreeable when not irated. Marie 
 is so stuck up over you that I just said that to vex 
 her." 
 
 " Am I to consider this a retraction ? " 
 
 " Just anything you please, Dr. Kingston. I didn't 
 mean a word." 
 
 He smiled and took her on his knee. She patted him
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 125 
 
 apologetically on the hand and he kissed her in sign of 
 forgiveness. It was not what he had intended to do 
 when he sent for her, but one had to do the best one 
 could with Woody. Still, there had to be a settlement. 
 She and Marie were keeping the whole establishment 
 in a stew with their bickerings, or rather, Marie was ; 
 The Greenwoods was calm enough over it. He wanted 
 the facts of the case. If Marie were to blame, he 
 would take The Greenwoods away ; if The Greenwoods, 
 she must turn over a new leaf. 
 
 " Why did you call Marie names, my dear? " 
 
 " I just felt like it, Dr. Kingston." 
 
 "How did it begin?" 
 
 " I told her she was a pig, and she said she wasn't ; 
 and I said she was a hog, and she said she would tell, so 
 I said ' Tattle-tale.' " 
 
 " Was that a polite thing to do? " 
 
 " No, sir ; but she interfered with my game." 
 
 " Was she trying to impose on you ? " 
 
 " Oh, no ! I had something that belonged to her, and 
 she took it." 
 
 " You seem to be in the wrong." He was troubled, 
 " Didn't she call you names ? " 
 
 " No, indeed ; she never calls names. She's a lovely 
 girl about that." 
 
 He placed The Greenwoods on the floor, and ex- 
 amined her gravely. She puzzled him. There were 
 times when he preferred Marie, with all her crying and 
 tattling, to the cheerful little enigma before him, with 
 her charm, her sweetness, her never-ending mischief, 
 and her saucy wheedling grace. 
 
 " Tell me all about it, Woody? How did it start? " 
 
 " I don't remember, Dr. Kingston. I've always called
 
 126 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 people names. It's not Francie's fault. She tried her 
 best to break me, but I'd required the habit before I 
 adopted her So what could she do? " 
 
 He looked at her sorrowfully yet tenderly. So sweet 
 a little girl and so preposterously naughty ! 
 
 " I won't blame anyone but you then, Woody. I'm 
 sorry to do that, but since you have no excuse," he 
 crossed the room and stood by a straight-back chair 
 in the corner, " sit here awhile, perhaps it will in- 
 duce you to keep- the peace." 
 
 She sat down and he turned the chair to the wall, 
 
 " Sit there now, until I tell you to move. Don't 
 look around, nor say a word." 
 
 For once she obeyed him. He went to the window, 
 and picking up a book from a nearby table, lounged in 
 his easy chair. 
 
 Her spirits drooped, not over the punishment, but 
 over the loved and lost Four Oaks. While they were 
 talking she had forgotten it, but now, remembering, 
 she wondered where she was to play. The Kingston 
 house was commodious, but too fine for frolicking; the 
 Kingston grounds were spacious, with many a nook 
 and bower to charm the eye, but with not one spot to 
 play in. Mrs. Kingston had driven The Greenwoods 
 from the house, and in the yard she was not safe from 
 Marie's despoiling hand. Austerity and envy ruled, 
 and the fun germs had been driven out. 
 
 She had not told Robert of her loss, because she had 
 not blamed Marie. Marie had made her angry, and 
 had been called names in consequence, but Marie was 
 right. The Four Oaks did belong to her papa, so why 
 shouldn't she have it, since she was selfish enough to 
 want it? Even if The Greenwoods had told, while her
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 127 
 
 guardian might have remitted the punishment, he could 
 not have restored the playhouse, for his papa was 
 afraid she might injure the trees. 
 
 Tears blurred her eyes at the thought, and she had 
 much ado to keep from crying; which would have been 
 unkind. For when an orphan weeps, the angels are 
 troubled; which shows what important personages or- 
 phans are. Woody, however, loved the angels too well 
 to grieve them. So she stared hard at the wall, and shut 
 her mouth tight to keep in the sobs. 
 
 The room was papered, and in front of her there 
 was a crack in the paper. She fixed her eyes upon it, 
 not even blinking for fear a tear might fall ; and as she 
 sat there, sad and motionless, wondering where she 
 would play in the future, the crack spread out and 
 formed a crevice through which she seemed to see a tree. 
 As she watched it the tree grew and grew, the wall 
 vanished from before her, and she was standing under 
 the shade of the tree in the Children's Kingdom, in 
 that kingdom of which she was queen ! 
 
 Hundreds of children were there, and they ran to 
 meet her, with shouts of welcome. 
 
 " Our little Queen has come ! " they called to one 
 another joyously. " Oh, we are so glad! " 
 
 " Come and swing ! " they said. " The giant is here 
 waiting, and it is your time next ! " 
 
 Then they led her to a tree, so tall that she could 
 hardly see the lower branches. From it a rope was 
 hanging, a rope that seemed to be fastened to the sky ; 
 while, standing beneath it, was the biggest, kindest, 
 j oiliest giant that ever lived or died. Yet for all his 
 hugeness, he was just a boy; for the rule is that who- 
 ever enters the Kingdom must first turn into a child.
 
 128 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 Down The Greenwoods sat, and the fun began. 
 Backward and forward, higher and ever higher, she 
 swung. It was almost like flying. When she neared 
 the earth, she could hear the children laughing; when 
 she soared to heaven, she could see the angels smiling 
 in the clouds. 
 
 Having placed the sinner on the stool of repentance, 
 Robert was almost shocked at her implicit obedience. 
 It was a nuisance to discipline so engaging a little sin- 
 ner, so brave a little monkey, who neither cried, told 
 fibs, nor made excuses. It had been so much pleasanter 
 to chaff and bandy compliments. Well, he would only 
 keep her there ten minutes, just long enough to let her 
 know that he was in earnest about Marie. 
 
 Leaning back in his chair, he opened his book to 
 pass the time, which seemed as long to him as he thought 
 it did to her. The afternoon was warm, he had been up 
 late the last few nights, and drowsiness was in the air. 
 It entered and possessed him. 
 
 The clock ticked off the moments, and the afternoon 
 wore on. The Greenwoods finished her visit to the 
 Kingdom, and came to herself with a start. Raising 
 her head, she looked around and smiled roguishly at the 
 sight that met her eyes. 
 
 " He's asleep," she chuckled ; " and has left me a-sit- 
 ting here! Well, if that's not a joke on him! " 
 
 With suppressed laughter, she resumed her position ; 
 but it was growing irksome. Still she had a lot to think 
 about, for a new game had begun. She had brought it 
 back with her from the Kingdom. Her dolls, all but 
 Belinda, were going to boarding-school, which a little 
 friend of hers was to keep at a penny a week for each
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 129 
 
 doll. The Greenwoods was to be the board of trustees, 
 supply the furniture, and furnish most of the pupils, but 
 if others wanted to send their children, they could. And 
 the board would visit the school every day, and help 
 the teacher. 
 
 She was eager to tell Pearl about it and to begin. 
 Was the doctor going to sleep forever ? She had a great 
 mind to wake him, for enough of a thing was enough; 
 but some folks are such bears when you wake them, 
 dangerous animals especially ! He had been nice about 
 those names though. At this reflection, she settled down 
 again and began to count her pulse. With so many 
 good things a-happening, surely something good would 
 happen to wake the doctor up ! Soon a smile wreathed 
 her face, and taking her hand from her wrist, she slowly 
 went on counting. 
 
 At last he opened his eyes and, noting her dress, was 
 lazily curious as to how it got there, until, seeing her 
 in it, he glanced guiltily at the clock and found that his 
 ten minutes had grown into an hour! What had ailed 
 his independent orphan that she had not disturbed him? 
 Why this unwonted docility ? Tiptoeing to the back of 
 her chair, he peeped over, and found her laughing. 
 
 "You snore just dreffle, Dr. Kingston!" she 
 gurgled joyfully. 
 
 " You little wretch ! " he gasped, m perfectly genuine 
 confusion. " Have you been listening all this time? " 
 Unceremoniously he tumbled her to the floor. She sat 
 there and crowed triumphantly: 
 
 " I've been a-counting 'em ! Ffteen, and one you 
 swallowed. The joke's on you, Dr. Kingston!" 
 
 And it really was. " But you mustn't tell, and I will 
 treat."
 
 130 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Never a soul, but France." 
 
 " Not even France ! Promise, Woody ! I'll give you 
 anything you want." 
 
 " Then I cross my heart. May I have a boarding 
 school at Pearl's ? " 
 
 " Certainly, and I will finance the institution. Bring 
 me your list." 
 
 " Oh, goody ! And many thanks ! May I take the 
 children to Pearl's now and leave 'em? I want to start 
 'em soon as possible, they're so backward. And may 
 I visit the school every day? I'm the board." 
 
 He gave the required consent, and was repaid with a 
 look of blissful gratitude. She rushed to the door, but 
 paused. 
 
 " I'll say one word for you, Dr. Kingston ! Guardian 
 or no guardian, dangerous animal or little lamb, you 
 are a gentleman ! " 
 
 He made a bow that would have done credit to 
 Chester and which pleased Woody immensely. 
 
 " And I'll say one for you, Greenwoods : amalgamated 
 or unmalgamated, friend or enemy, you are a thor- 
 oughbred ! " 
 
 She curtsied back, and as, a moment later, she 
 jumped down the steps, she seemed to emit rays of satis- 
 faction with life, the world, the universe. Reaching 
 the ground, she burst into song: 
 
 " ' O be ye joyful in the Lord, all ye lands : 
 Serve the Lord with gladness, and come before 
 His presence with a song.' " 
 
 Marie, angry with The Greenwoods and displeased 
 with herself, victorious, yet not satisfied, contem- 
 plated the ruins of her conquered castle in despair. It
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 131 
 
 leaked! All that anguish for a leaky house! What 
 had it not cost her in longing, tears, opprobrium? 
 Through the roofless ceiling, she saw a cloud upon the 
 zenith, and recalled the direful saying: 
 
 " I hope you'll be drownded in it ! " 
 
 She wanted to give it back, but had too much self- 
 respect. Some insults cannot be overlooked by decent 
 people. 
 
 So she went (oh! bitter thought!) to the pest-house 
 to get her tainted furniture and plague-stricken chil- 
 dren, which had been banished from society by that 
 tyrant, The Greenwoods. 
 
 " You don't catch me running any risk with your 
 house, Marie," she had said, " till you clean it, and air 
 it, and scrub it, and sun it, and burn smelly things in 
 it, and hang up a flag! You're a shifty housekeeper, 
 you are ; and an unnatural mother ! If I were in your 
 place, I'd bury those poor little children what starved 
 to death while you was a-visiting your sister." 
 
 One armful of furniture and dolls convinced Marie 
 that moving was no fun. The Greenwoods was a hypo- 
 crite! So Marie's nurse had to finish the job, and much 
 she grumbled. Marie arranged the furniture just as 
 Woody had kept hers, and waited in gloomy triumph 
 for her to come and see. 
 
 Waiting for The Greenwoods was always a trying 
 ordeal, and Marie's one consolation was that the whip- 
 ping brother Rob had spoken of was surely lasting a 
 long time. Yet, he could not be whipping her all this 
 time, or he would have beat her to death ! Then Marie 
 would have had her pains for nothing. What a bad 
 girl Woody must be, to get such an awful whipping! 
 
 Mrs. Kingston invited Marie to ride, but the invita-
 
 132 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 tion was declined. Half the fun, or rather all the fun, 
 would be in watching The Greenwoods emerge from her 
 punishment, weeping and penitent, to find Marie in 
 possession of the loved playhouse. Marie grew hot and 
 hungry, and would have given The Four Oaks, and the 
 pest-house thrown in, for a glass of water, but none of 
 the servants was within call, and Woody might come 
 at any minute. 
 
 Thus, all the time that The Greenwoods was appar- 
 ently kept in the corner, but was really in the King- 
 dom, Marie, who was seemingly free, was imprisoned 
 at The Four Oaks. 
 
 Finally the door of the " lab " opened and The 
 Greenwoods came out. She had gone in clothed in 
 majesty, she came out singing. Waving her hand to 
 her guardian, who was watching her smilingly from the 
 door, she made a short cut to the gate, The Four 
 Oaks and the trouble thereat forgotten. 
 
 So, with a song on her lips and good will in her 
 heart, she moved her dolls and doll furniture, her 
 Lares and Penates, from the Kingston domain. As 
 the cheery little figure passed through the gate Marie's 
 spirits sank. She felt as if she had driven the joy of 
 life from her home. 
 
 " Hadn't I better move your things in, Miss Marie? " 
 asked the nurse. " It may rain to-night." 
 
 " No, Anna ; leave them right here. The Greenwoods 
 will be back soon, and I want her to see them." 
 
 Accordingly the nurse left them there, and, sure 
 enough, that night it rained.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII 
 
 AT breakfast the next morning the family was 
 treated to the spectacle of a silent Greenwoods. Mrs. 
 Kingston had seen the flooded playhouse and, ignorant 
 of the change of ownership, thought this accounted for 
 the unwonted taciturnity. Had she only known that 
 the ruined toys were Marie's, she would have replaced 
 them without their little owner's knowledge. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston's devotion to her youngest child 
 would have been beautiful, had it not been so narrow. 
 She thought nothing too good for Marie and, as a con- 
 sequence, Marie thought nothing quite good enough 
 for herself. The mother stripped the rose of its thorn, 
 and the daughter looked for thorns instead of roses. 
 
 Marie's character was as positive as The Green- 
 woods', but was biased toward gloom. She too was in- 
 fested with microbes, but hers were of discontent. Ad- 
 versity may have been necessary for her development; 
 for certain it is that she resented her parents' efforts to 
 swathe her in luxury and pleasure; and though they 
 ransacked the world to please her, she remained un- 
 happy. 
 
 Tired of hearing the orphan's cheerful disposition 
 lauded to the skies while her own cherished daughter sat 
 by in conspicuous discontent, Mrs. Kingston now, with 
 a touch of malice, directed attention to The Green- 
 woods' sober mien. 
 
 " Did your dolls get wet last night, Sylvia ? " she 
 asked. 
 
 " No, Mrs. Kingston." Out of delicacy for Marie's 
 183
 
 134 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 feelings, The Greenwoods avoided her questioner's eye. 
 She too had seen those dolls. But Marie, witless of 
 their fate, ate steadily on. 
 
 "Isn't your playhouse under the oak trees?" 
 
 " No, Mrs. Kingston. I moved yesterday." 
 
 Marie remembered now, not that her toys had been 
 left out in the rain but that she had appropriated The 
 Four Oaks. Mistaking Woody's sympathy for regret 
 at losing the playhouse, she rejoiced. 
 
 " Why did you move ? " inquired Mrs. Kingston sus- 
 piciously. 
 
 In The Greenwoods' estimation, tattling was the un- 
 pardonable sin ; so she looked at Marie helplessly. 
 
 " It it leaked, ma'am." 
 
 With a blood-curdling shriek, Marie upset her cup, 
 threw back her chair, and rushed wildly from the room. 
 She had remembered! The Greenwoods followed, with 
 more decorum. The others turned questioning eyes in 
 the direction of Robert, who, being guardian of The 
 Greenwoods, would naturally know the cause of this 
 disturbance. There had been no disturbances before 
 The Greenwoods came. 
 
 " What is the matter now, Bob ? " asked Colonel 
 Kingston. 
 
 " Sylvia, as usual," replied Mrs. Kingston for her 
 son. 
 
 " Marie is the one that seemed to be agitated," said 
 Chester. 
 
 " Nothing ever agitates Sylvia. It is the rest of us 
 that are ailing. Don't look so offended, Robert ! I am 
 only amazed at your ward's activity? How long do you 
 expect her to continue in this way? We have not had 
 a moment's peace since she came ! "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 135 
 
 " Be explicit, Mother. What is my ward doing 
 now?" 
 
 " Marie left her dolls out last night, and it rained 
 on them," explained Walter bluntly, " and Mamma told 
 about it, and she howled ! I don't see how The Green- 
 woods is to blame ! " 
 
 " What were Marie's toys doing outdoors ? " de- 
 manded the mother. 
 
 " Did you expect my ward to bring them in for her ? " 
 
 " Certainly not, son. I only thought that they 
 might have exchanged playhouses, and that, as usual, 
 The Greenwoods had come out winner." 
 
 " Even so," Robert was thinking of The Green- 
 woods' midnight rescue of her family, " she isn't to 
 blame for their getting wet. Marie should have brought 
 them in." 
 
 " I don't know that they have exchanged, Robert ; 
 but it is strange that, with all the odds against her, 
 everything that happens on this place redounds to 
 Sylvia's credit. Either all the forces of nature are 
 working for her, which isn't probable, or she is the 
 deepest little schemer I've ever known." 
 
 " Be careful, mother," laughed Chester, " You are 
 speaking of your future daughter-in-law." 
 
 " Stop making love to the child, Chess," said 
 Robert. " She has fool notions enough in her head now, 
 without your putting any more there. I mean what I 
 say. Stop calling her " Miss Forest " and treating 
 her as if she were grown ! " 
 
 " You needn't worry, Bob," exclaimed Walter scorn- 
 fully. " She hates grown people as much as I do ; and 
 Chess is old enough to be her daddy ! " 
 
 " While we are about it," called out the stern guar-
 
 136 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 dian to the retreating youth, who blushed behind his 
 ears, " you stop making love to her also. She's too 
 young!" 
 
 " Don't tease him, Bob," laughed Colonel Kingston. 
 " He's in earnest." 
 
 " So am I," returned Robert. 
 
 " And I," added Chester. " And now I want to see 
 the trade my future wife has made." 
 
 " I shall go with you to see what mischief my ward 
 is in." 
 
 " And I, to see what is the matter with Marie," said 
 Colonel Kingston. So since, to Mrs. Kingston's per- 
 turbation, they sought the scene of the disaster, she 
 perforce went too. 
 
 As they sadly viewed the remains, The Greenwoods' 
 arm encircled the waist of the grief-stricken mother. 
 
 " It will be just lovely ! " sighed Marie in rapture, 
 " Oh, mamma ! We are to have a funeral ! " 
 
 " And notices and flowers and a hearse ! You can be 
 all the mourners, Marie, and cry to your heart's con- 
 tent ; and I'll be the preacher. I'm fine on sermons, I 
 go to church and mass and prayer meeting so much! 
 What sort of a sermon do you want preached over the 
 departeds, Sister Kingston ? " 
 
 "What sort would you advise?" 
 
 " There are corpses enough for all sorts, but a 
 Methodist sermon and an Episcopal ceremony will be 
 the most scrumptious." 
 
 Seeing that the children were ignoring their elders, 
 Robert interrupted. 
 
 " Where are your dolls, Greenwoods ? " 
 
 "Over at Pearl's. I'll bring them home to the
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 137 
 
 funeral, but take them right back afterwards. We 
 must hurry too, or " 
 
 "Why are they at Pearl's?" asked Mrs. Kingston. 
 
 " They are boarding there. I'm a-going to keep 'em 
 there till I move back to Frances's. Where can we get 
 some crepe? " 
 
 " Why at Pearl's ? " Mrs. Kingston was horrified ; 
 both at the orphan's dolls' boarding out and at the 
 implication that they would be more welcome at Miss 
 Faunce's, when The Greenwoods returned. All were 
 startled. By moving her toys the child had given a 
 black eye to their hospitality; and besides, they were 
 sorry to lose the pleasure that The Greenwoods at The 
 Four Oaks, with her dolls and cheeriness, had furnished. 
 It had been the best advertisement for benevolence they 
 had ever had. 
 
 " They go to school there." 
 
 "Why did you leave The Four Oaks?" asked 
 Robert. 
 
 " It leaks, and Colonel Kingston is afraid I'll injure 
 his trees." 
 
 Colonel Kingston jumped. He had expressed a fear 
 to that effect, but would rather have lost the trees than 
 have stopped The Greenwoods from playing in his yard. 
 Who had reported his idle remark? 
 
 " You can have it back again, Greenwoods. I don't 
 want it any more. It does leak, sure enough ! " 
 
 This speech laid bare the whole situation. Mrs. 
 Kingston blushed as shamefacedly at this revelation of 
 her daughter's selfishness as if she had been the guilty 
 party. She knew what would be said when it was 
 generally learned that the orphan had moved her toys, 
 both knew and cared.
 
 138 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Marie, did you take The Four Oaks away from 
 Sylvia? I hope Mamma's little daughter hasn't been 
 selfish." 
 
 The little daughter looked confused, at least, but The 
 Greenwoods exonerated her. 
 
 " She didn't take it from me, Mrs Kingston. She 
 couldn't. It belongs to Marie's papa ! " 
 
 At this, the second broadside he had received, the 
 kind-hearted old gentleman started again. Not exactly 
 flattered at the light in which she had pictured him, he 
 scowled at Marie, and prepared to defend himself; but 
 his wife had the floor. " No, Sylvia, it was yours. I 
 gave it to you the night you came. You should have 
 kept it and have told me that Marie was trying to take 
 it from you." 
 
 " You told me she didn't want it, Mrs. Kingston ; but 
 she did. If I'd a-known that I wouldn't have asked for 
 it." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston, who had almost been losing sleep 
 for fear that the orphan might impose upon Marie, 
 gasped, and reconstructed her opinion, while Colonel 
 Kingston took up the argument. 
 
 " As you have said, Greenwoods, The Four Oaks be- 
 longs to me, and since Marie has a playhouse of her 
 own, she must play there. I give The Four Oaks to 
 you." 
 
 " Thanks, Colonel Kingston, but I can't accept it. 
 If Marie can't play where she pleases in her own papa's 
 house and yard, she's in a bad fix. It is the duty of 
 parents to help their own children." 
 
 This silenced him and Marie broke in : " But I don't 
 want it any more, so you may have it."
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 139 
 
 " I don't want it either. I'm playing Boarding 
 School." 
 
 " Why can't you play Boarding School here? " The 
 Colonel had returned to the charge. 
 
 " Because the school's at Pearl's." 
 
 " But can't you play that it is here? " 
 
 " No, sir, it's at Pearl's." 
 
 " You can't have your dolls scattered all over the 
 neighborhood," protested Mrs. Kingston, who had re- 
 covered from her shock. 
 
 " They're not scattered. They're all at Pearl's." 
 
 Husband and wife looked to Robert for assistance ; 
 but his word was pledged. He understood now why 
 The Greenwoods had called names the day before, but 
 not why she had failed to give her reason for them. 
 Marie had told on her, why had she not retaliated? 
 That was the human standard. What standard did 
 Woody have? Evidently not a lower one, but if a 
 higher, why did she cause so much unrest? 
 
 That the hubbub might be caused by the attitude as- 
 sumed toward her never entered his head; nor did he 
 suspect the fun germs. 
 
 As Robert refused to help, Colonel Kingston, nettled 
 at the poor showing he had made, reopened the attack. 
 
 " My dear little girl, if anything has occurred to 
 hurt your feelings or to displease you, you must tell 
 us about it and we will try to do better. If you don't 
 want The Four Oaks after Marie's selfishness, we will 
 build you another playhouse. If you want a school- 
 house, we will make you one on the premises ; but don't 
 get angry and leave us." 
 
 " I'm not angry, and I'm not a tattler. Every- 
 thing has gone just exactly to suit me, and my feelings
 
 140 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 aren't hurt! So what's the bother? " It was just like 
 the Kingstons, she thought, to be reopening old quar- 
 rels, and trying to break up a new game at the ex- 
 pense of an old dead one. 
 
 " Then why are your dolls at Pearl's ? " 
 
 " They need an education. I won't have 'em grow up 
 ignoramuses ! " 
 
 " By no means ! Teach them all you please, but teach 
 them at home." 
 
 " I'm not a schoolteacher. I haven't even a diploma 
 to teach with." 
 
 The old gentleman was discouraged, and Chester, 
 who sympathized with both parties, came to his 
 father's assistance, and said, with his most ingratiat- 
 ing air: 
 
 "Isn't this vacation, Miss Forest?" 
 
 " Not in play-like. In play-like this is the first of 
 September." 
 
 Walter visibly exulted, and Chester tried again. 
 " Won't they ever come home ? " he asked. 
 
 " Yes, when I go back to France's." Dismay in 
 the camp. 
 
 " Please bring 'em back, Woody. I'll give you The 
 Four Oaks, and let you keep it this time. I'm sorry 
 I ever took it." 
 
 " There ain't no Four Oaks. It's all washed away ! " 
 
 " Then you can have my playhouse." 
 
 " My dolls might take the smallpox." 
 
 " Make her stop it, brother Robert ! " wept Marie 
 in indignation, " make her stop playing my things 
 have the smallpox ! " 
 
 " 'Course they haven't," was the soothing reply, 
 " they're drownded. And if we are ever a-going to
 
 *THE GREENWOODS" 141 
 
 bury 'em we'd better be about it. We've frittered away 
 enough time here to 'a buried a regiment ! " 
 
 Colonel Kingston was frowning at Marie, while 
 Chester was trying to soothe her lacerated feelings, and 
 Walter was smiling his congratulations at the tri- 
 umphant young culprit who had floored the family. 
 Mrs. Kingston turned to Robert for relief. 
 
 " You must insist on her bringing her toys back. 
 This won't do! Marie was selfish,"' Marie's wails 
 grew louder, " but we knew nothing of it ; and she has 
 atoned by offering her playhouse." 
 
 " Still, that is no reason why I should make Woody 
 play in it," ventured Robert. 
 
 " Besides, it's your treat. Don't you remember 
 about that " began Woody. 
 
 " Remember your part, Woody ! " he continued. 
 
 " Oh, I wasn't a-going to tell on you." 
 
 As they had been wondering at his silence, they 
 looked interested : " You see, mother, I am powerless 
 to interfere," he laughed, " But if you have any special 
 inducements to offer her, or," there was a twinkle in 
 his eye, " since you believe so thoroughly in moral 
 suasion, you might try the efficacy of a little reason- 
 ing." 
 
 Everyone laughed, except The Greenwoods, who 
 smiled her approval at Mrs. Kingston. 
 
 " Your mamma is right, Dr. Kingston. Moral sua- 
 sion is the only stylish way to bring up a little girl ! " 
 
 " I don't want any advice from you on that subject, 
 young lady; so subside. And don't put any reliance 
 in moral suasion ! Why doesn't Marie stop crying ! " 
 
 " Because it wouldn't be decent ! Whoever heard of
 
 142 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 anybody cheering up before the funeral? You cry on, 
 Marie ! Cry like your heart is broke ! " 
 
 " Don't cry, Marie," pleaded Mrs. Kingston ; 
 " Mamma will buy you some more toys ! " 
 
 " I don't want any more toys ! " wailed Marie, " I 
 want a funeral ! Why don't you leave and let us play ? 
 You are spoiling the funeral ! Oh, my heart is broke ! 
 My heart is broke ! " 
 
 That was just the beginning of the trouble. While 
 The Greenwoods continued to sleep in the Kingston 
 house, and " to eat," as she elegantly expressed it, 
 " the Kingston grub," she had, to all intents and pur- 
 poses, shaken the Kingston dust from her feet; and it 
 was a testimony against them. Mrs. Kingston's appre- 
 hensions proved correct : the neighbors talked. 
 
 About this time the mother ceased to praise Marie 
 so sedulously in public, and began to defend that model 
 child from calumny. 
 
 As for The Greenwoods, in her opinion the Kingstons 
 were the most excitable people she had ever known, 
 while at Pearl's they appreciated fun germs ; yet, after 
 prolonged negotiations, conducted mainly by the mas- 
 ter of the establishment, she consented to return. She 
 rented The Four Oaks! On no other condition would 
 she accept it. 
 
 They haggled shamefully over the terms. The Col- 
 onel insisted on a nickel a year, while she held out for 
 a quarter a month ; but at length they compromised on 
 a penny a week. She paid promptly every Saturday 
 night, and he gave her a receipt. 
 
 They became the best chums in the world over the 
 game, she being a model tenant and he the most liberal
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 143 
 
 of landlords. Those pennies reaped her a harvest of 
 toys, a harvest that was truly amazing. He enjoyed 
 his game with Woody, but never mentioned it in public. 
 He was sensitive about her paying even a nominal price 
 for playing in his yard, and knew that the ill-natured 
 would misunderstand. 
 
 But this was before he discovered that Frances 
 Faunce was supplying the pennies. 
 
 It had been taken for granted, even by Robert him- 
 self, that he was the source of the revenue. Hadn't he 
 told The Greenwoods to ask if she wanted anything? 
 The painful truth was made known on the evening of 
 the third pay day, an hour before the rent was due, at 
 the dinner table, when two aunts were present, both 
 Perkinses ! 
 
 The tenant asked for a few days' grace in which to 
 meet her obligation, because Frances had been slow 
 about sending the money. It was a simple request, but 
 from the tumult it excited, she might just as well have 
 refused to pay at all. A shocked silence followed. Mrs. 
 Kingston turned pale, and explanations were in general 
 demand. 
 
 The Greenwoods' explanation was simple and to the 
 point. She had needed the money to pay rent for her 
 dolls, and had asked France for it because she wasn't 
 any beggar, and didn't ask anybody, but her own 
 adopted, for anything. She had never even asked her, 
 till she came to live with the Kingstons ; for her adopted 
 had always found out what she needed, and got it for 
 her without the asking. 
 
 All other expositions were confused. Robert's made 
 his own carelessness more conspicuous, and The Green- 
 woods' refinement more evident. Colonel Kingston's
 
 144 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 feeble defense only sunk him deeper in the mire, while 
 The Greenwoods' sterling independence glowed resplen- 
 dently, and every excuse that Mrs. Kingston could 
 make was at the expense of Robert or the idolized Marie, 
 and redounded to the credit of The Greenwoods ! 
 
 The aunts were plain-spoken women, who had not yet 
 forgiven Robert his legacy; and they failed utterly to 
 understand why he could not spare the orphan a penny 
 a week to pay rent for her dolls, since his parents 
 were not willing for them to stay on the place rent free. 
 
 If Brother Mark had left the money to their boys, 
 they would have spared the child a penny, even a 
 nickel, occasionally! Still, if Robert couldn't see his 
 way to let the orphan have one cent a week out of that 
 million, the aunts would give it to her themselves, rather 
 than have her apply for charity to the Faunce woman ! 
 
 That was all the Perkins aunts had to say about it 
 just then; but they told the rest of the kin, who came 
 to find out if The Greenwoods really paid rent for her 
 dolls, and if it were true about Bob's penuriousness. 
 
 It resulted in a definite and suitable allowance for 
 The Greenwoods, and won for her Marie's superstitious 
 regard; but brought only humiliation and defamation 
 to all others concerned in the transaction. 
 
 Yet, to Colonel Kingston's everlasting credit, or 
 perhaps to The Greenwoods' obstinacy, the game went 
 on.
 
 CHAPTER XIX 
 
 THE GREENWOODS had been forbidden to quarrel 
 with Marie, to hurt her feelings, or to touch her things ; 
 yet, because of the exigence of the case, was forced to 
 play with her. Now, since Marie objected to a ma- 
 jority of the games and her mother to most of the 
 others, only an inconsiderable modicum was left. 
 
 Here was a complicated problem to solve, but with 
 the fun germs' help Woody found the solution. She 
 turned Marie into a game by means of which both chil- 
 dren gave expression to their inner natures. The game 
 was Pig. 
 
 Marie was ignorant of her part in this game, but 
 played it extremely well. Whenever Marie's behavior 
 suggested the sport The Greenwoods called out, " Pig ! " 
 Marie did the rest, which was a sort of jumping- jack 
 performance, and very enjoyable, to The Greenwoods. 
 
 Not understanding, however, that it was just a 
 game, Marie reported it to her big brother, who ob- 
 jected, even after The Greenwoods explained, inviting 
 him out to have a round. So Pig had to be abandoned 
 as a regular pastime. 
 
 Hence the game was changed to hide-and-seek. 
 Marie played this as well as she had Pig. " Swing 
 me ! " she would command. The Greenwoods willingly 
 obeyed till the time came for reciprocity. Then she 
 stopped. 
 
 " Go on," Marie would plead, " I'll swing you later, 
 if I'm not too tired. 
 
 Would The Greenwoods complain, sulk, or call 
 145
 
 146 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 names? By no means. She simply changed the game; 
 not mentioning it, though, which is where the fun came 
 in. 
 
 Higher and higher she would swing Marie, until, 
 without detriment to Marie's neck, immediate escape 
 was impossible; when The Greenwoods hid. Sometimes 
 she slipped off, leaving Marie to hunt for her at leisure ; 
 on other occasions she left, with a wave of her hand and 
 a saucy valedictory. 
 
 Or they might be at The Four Oaks playing dolls. 
 " Sew this button on my doll's dress, please, Woody." 
 The button was sewed. 
 
 " Thank you, Woody. Now get me some water." 
 
 To refuse meant a quarrel, to obey was tiresome; 
 so, silently and sweetly, The Greenwoods changed 
 the game. She brought the water, though, in about 
 three hours, explaining that she had gone to Pearl's 
 for it. 
 
 When not too hurried in her escape she asked per- 
 mission of the housekeeper, but when this was not ex- 
 pedient, she telephoned for permission to go, after 
 reaching her destination. It was just a form, and 
 gradually they improved it. 
 
 This game Marie was powerless to change. Neither 
 mother nor brother could help her. Mrs. Kingston 
 had tied her own hands by refusing to assume any re- 
 sponsibility, and besides, she was slowly beginning to 
 realize that her own child was not blameless, and Marie 
 had gone to her brother for help once too often. 
 
 Robert sympathized with his sister because she really 
 loved The Greenwoods and wore her heart upon her 
 sleeve for all the world to see; while The Greenwoods 
 only tolerated Marie. Robert too had tried to win his
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 147 
 
 ward's friendship, but his overtures also had been re- 
 j ected. 
 
 On one occasion The Greenwoods had vanished, 
 leaving no trace that Marie could find ; so, honestly be- 
 lieving that she had run away, Marie informed big 
 brother of his ward's misconduct. Being in the humor 
 for dealing out justice, he went on the war-path, and 
 found the supposed miscreant in the kitchen, peace- 
 fully stemming berries. She smilingly offered him one, 
 which he humbly ate, without sugar, as a penance 
 for misjudging her. 
 
 Then, as it was really justice he was after, he turned 
 about and convicted Marie of falsehood, even in her 
 mother's eyes. And he was unjust after all, for Marie 
 had not told an untruth but had merely been mistaken 
 in her facts. 
 
 Colonel Kingston had not readily forgiven Marie's 
 betrayal of his remark about the trees, and being 
 forced to think her favorite untruthful, as well as prone 
 to tale-bearing, Mrs. Kingston moral-suaded that 
 poor misjudged little girl for a solid hour. After that 
 Marie grew careful with her tattling. 
 
 One morning the two children were engaged in shoe- 
 polishing Marie's rain-washed furniture. All went well 
 until the last chair had been renovated, when Marie 
 was seized with an urgent desire to shine Belinda. 
 
 Belinda, being the apple of her mother's eye, was 
 rescued in indignation. 
 
 " Please, Woody ! " 
 
 " You are crazy, Marie ! Black your own doll." 
 
 " I can black Belinda, if I want to." 
 
 The Greenwoods calmly emptied the polish on the 
 ground and flung away the bottle.
 
 148 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 "There!" 
 
 " I shall tell my brother that you threw away a whole 
 bottle of my mamma's polish ! " 
 
 Marie darted toward the " lab." and The Green- 
 woods toward the gate. The former hesitated. 
 " Where are you going, Woody ? Are you running off ? 
 Stop, or I'll tell ! " 
 
 Woody retreated rapidly, until she reached the gate, 
 when she slowed down and walked unconcernedly out. 
 
 "Say * Bye-bye ' to the lady, Belinda," she jeered; 
 and Belinda obeyed, in a high and squeaky voice. 
 
 " If you run away, I will too." 
 
 " Better ask mamma, little daughter ! " 
 
 " I've as much right to go as you ! " 
 
 The Greenwoods being almost out of hearing, Marie 
 started in pursuit. Until a month before, Marie had 
 been unable to dress a doll without her mamma's ad- 
 vice. Company was expected for lunch too and the 
 nurse was waiting to attire her. Time had been when 
 Marie's greatest pleasure had been in listening to the 
 praises of Mrs. Kingston's guests. The Greenwoods 
 had demoralized Marie, but was making a normal child 
 of her. 
 
 Harriet, the charming widow's daughter, saw The 
 Greenwoods coming and ran to meet her. When Marie 
 reached them they were giggling delightedly over some 
 joke. 
 
 " Did you ask your mamma ? " inquired Woody. 
 
 " Did you ask my brother Robert ? " 
 
 " It wasn't necessary. Ain't I free and independent ? 
 But when you treat your mamma disrespectfully you 
 are sinning." She spoke scornfully.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 149 
 
 " You'll think you are a sinner too, when my brother 
 Bob gets through with you." 
 
 " The Lord'll look after me, I s'pose." 
 
 " You got sat in a chair, just the same, and stood in 
 a corner, and locked in a closet for calling me a pig ! " 
 
 " I never got prayed over though, like a convict, as 
 as you did the day I was stemming berries." 
 
 Marie burst into tears, and The Greenwoods relented : 
 " Let's have a show." 
 
 " Let's," agreed Harriet. 
 
 Shows, dolls, games, and the ordinary recreations of 
 youth impressed Marie as being stupid or insipid. She 
 was a reversion to her Puritan forbears, who, deprived 
 of all healthful diversion, were forced to depend for 
 entertainment on the great human drama summed up 
 in the question : " Did they take it hard ? " 
 
 " Let's have a funeral," she begged. 
 
 As a game to The Greenwoods was merely an outlet 
 for the joy that was within her, she assented. 
 
 " All righty. What'll we bury? " 
 
 " Belinda ! " said Marie. 
 
 " We won't," indignantly. " She's not dead, anyhow. 
 Haven't you something dead, Harriet? " 
 
 Harriet, unnecessarily shamefaced considering that 
 she had never pretended to run a morgue, admitted that 
 she had not. 
 
 " Oh, yes," suddenly remembering, " there's the 
 chicken they killed for dinner to-night." 
 
 " Won't your mamma care ? " asked The Green- 
 woods, who knew the value a clear conscience adds to 
 a game. 
 
 "Why should she? They won't need it till this 
 afternoon, and we will put it in a box to keep it clean."
 
 150 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 This seemed reasonable, so the fowl was quietly pro- 
 cured and solemnly interred; but when the time came 
 for returning it to the ice-box Marie objected. 
 
 Marie's imagination was developing under The 
 Greenwoods' stimulus, but it was still backward. She 
 had successfully changed the chicken into the widowed 
 Harriet's only son, but was unable to change it back 
 again; so it didn't seem decent in Harriet to want to 
 dig him up and eat him. Then Marie had dug the 
 grave, and she wanted it to stay dug. 
 
 " Why didn't Harriet dig the grave if she wanted it 
 undug, and let me be the mourner? " She asked the 
 question of The Greenwoods, who by divine right was 
 dictator of playland. 
 
 " Because that chicken died at Harriet's home, and 
 that makes her the mourner. I let you be pall-bearers 
 and grave digger and undertaker and friend to the 
 family, what more do you want? " 
 
 " I want him to stay buried ! " 
 
 " But Mrs. Wingo needs him for dinner, Marie." 
 
 " Let her eat steak." 
 
 " Mamma can have him if she wants him," flashed 
 Harriet. " Come on, Woody, let's dig him up." 
 
 So Marie, forgetful of the manner of her going 
 forth, went home for comfort. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston was in the drawing-room in the midst 
 of her family and guests. They were amazed at the 
 little beauty's appearance, for shoe-polishing furniture 
 and digging graves are not cleanly occupations. 
 
 "Where have you been, looking like that, Marie?" 
 demanded Mrs. Kingston. 
 
 " I had as much right," began Marie stoutly, " to 
 run off as The Greenwoods."
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 151 
 
 " Are you certain she ran off? " asked Robert, who 
 was growing sensitive about his ward's conduct. 
 
 " I'm positive," said Marie, " I saw her go and talked 
 to her about it. She said the Lord was looking after 
 her, and she's free and independent and it wasn't nec- 
 essary for her to ask. But I had as much right to go 
 as she did. It's not my fault I'm no orphan." 
 
 The laughter that the opening of this remark had 
 caused was hushed at its close. The Greenwoods' heresy 
 was already bearing fruit, and few of the parents in 
 the little town considered it amusing. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston excused herself, and led Marie from 
 the room. 
 
 " Why do you want to be an orphan, Marie ? " she 
 asked, " Have I ever denied you a pleasure? Have I 
 ever been unkind ? Don't you love your mamma ? " 
 
 " Of course I do, Mamma," and Marie threw her arms 
 around her mother's neck and burst into tears, " But 
 Woody puts on so many airs about being an orphan 
 that I'm tired of it. Besides, she made fun of me be- 
 cause you prayed over me, like a convict ! " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston had a temper, and at this mockery 
 of her prayer it was leveled at The Greenwoods, the 
 touchstone that had turned Marie's gold to brass, set 
 Marie a bad example, contaminated her with false doc- 
 trines, lured her into mischief, planted discord between 
 her and her mother, made her long for orphanhood, 
 teased her, mocked her, disliked her, and still held her 
 love! 
 
 " Go tell your nurse to bathe you, Marie," Mrs. 
 Kingston said sternly, and stifling her rage, returned 
 to her guests. 
 
 Yet, when The Greenwoods, having slipped in the
 
 152 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 back way and dressed, came in to lunch, punctual to 
 the dot, clean, sweet, courteous, and self-possessed, 
 and was smiled at and complimented by all, Mrs. King- 
 ston's wrath was unassuaged. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston was not an ill-natured woman, but 
 few mothers can endure having a little daughter always 
 put at a disadvantage. And while The Greenwoods, with 
 her joyous temperament, seemed younger than Marie, 
 her wide experience with life gave her the advantage in 
 every contest. While Marie had been snugly sheltered 
 under her mother's wing, The Greenwoods had learned 
 to take care of herself. 
 
 " Did you run away, Woody ? " asked Robert. He 
 was determined that the child, if innocent, should not 
 be blamed, nor, if guilty, escape punishment. He was 
 eager to do what was right by his ward, but a wiser 
 than he might have been puzzled by that smiling little 
 personality, who caused so much confusion, yet seemed 
 to be constantly and remarkably in the right. 
 
 It sometimes looked as if the child were the uncon- 
 scious agent of some higher power, a power that 
 worked through her to bring out the real nature of 
 others. 
 
 " Gracious, no ! " answered Woody, " Mother Burns 
 always lets me go, unless there's some good reason; so 
 I'd hate to hurt her feelings. I asked her for permis- 
 sion before breakfast." And so she had. " If Marie 
 gets uppish or piggish to-day, Mother Burns, she had 
 said, " I'll just slip over to Harriet's." That was their 
 system. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston naturally failed to understand it, as 
 Maire had, and her cup was full. The public thought 
 Marie told falsehoods, and on the orphan.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 153 
 
 " And did you say you are free and independent," 
 laughed Chester, " and that God is looking after you ? " 
 
 " Why, yes ; " she smiled, "of course I'm indepen- 
 dent. Do I look like the pitiful kind? And of course 
 God is looking after me. That's how I get along." 
 
 And Robert, gazing meditatively at her, began to 
 believe that it was.
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 
 LUNCHEON was over when Marie, having disdained the 
 cold dishes set before her, and full of indignation be- 
 cause of her many wrongs, stepped out upon the porch 
 where her brothers were smoking. Her only consola- 
 tion was the thought of the punishment in store for 
 Woody. What then was her surprise at seeing that in- 
 superable young creature in the swing, Walter beside 
 her, and both full of glee. 
 
 " Brother Robert, The Greenwoods ran away as 
 much as I did!" 
 
 " Little girls shouldn't tell tales," admonished Ches- 
 ter. 
 
 " Nor fibs," said Robert. 
 
 " I don't tell fibs ! " And, strange to say, knowingly 
 she did not. She told the truth, even when it was on 
 herself; when it was on others she scattered it broad- 
 cast. 
 
 Catching her arm, Robert drew her to him. The 
 sternness in his eye might have daunted her, had she been 
 less excited. 
 
 " Twice, Marie, I have caught you telling deliberate 
 untruths on The Greenwoods. Don't let it happen 
 again ! " 
 
 " I didn't tell an untruth ! She did run away ! " 
 
 " Mrs. Burns gave her permission to go." 
 
 " She didn't. Woody never even asked her. Turn 
 me loose, brother Robert, or I will scream ! " 
 
 154
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 155 
 
 Before he could heed her warning, she had kept her 
 word. She screamed, she yelled, she jumped up and 
 down, and shook her fists. The Greenwoods and 
 Walter ran up, and the former was delighted. 
 
 " I do believe they are playing Pig," she said. 
 " And Dr. Kingston, too, after all his preaching ! You 
 try it sometimes, Walter. She jumps like that every 
 time!" 
 
 Walter promised and looked interested. Chester re- 
 garded the fury with awe, and Robert stood con- 
 founded. The servants came to the windows, and the 
 guests drew near. Mrs. Kingston ran out, appalled. 
 
 " Marie, what is the matter ? What have you boys 
 been doing to her? Tell Mamma about it, darling! " 
 
 " She wants Bob," was Chester's explanation, in sten- 
 torian tones, for the din was great, " to whip Woody 
 for running away ! " 
 
 " She ought to be whipped ! " shrieked Marie. " She 
 ran away as much as I did. And I was punished! I 
 had to bathe ! " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston blushed, and glanced at her guests, 
 to find them laughing. Walter fell over on the grass 
 and roared ! It was long before Marie heard the last of 
 that bath. Mrs. Kingston called the nurse, and to- 
 gether they led the victim of this cruel and unusual 
 punishment into the house. 
 
 " I hope she will catch it," quoth Walter, " for telling 
 fibs on Woody." 
 
 " What did she say? " asked Woody, who had been 
 more interested in the tantrums than in Marie's re- 
 marks. 
 
 " She said you ran away." 
 
 " That wasn't a fib ! She thought I did."
 
 156 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Didn't you have permission to go ? " asked Robert, 
 who had been indignant over his sister's misrepresenta- 
 tions. 
 
 " Yes, sir ; but she didn't know it. I kept it a secret 
 from her for a joke. She thinks I ran away!" She 
 laughed merrily, while her guardian, who for the last 
 hour had been thinking of her as an imposed on angel, 
 began to marvel at the mischief one innocent child can 
 cause. 
 
 "I 'spect I'd better 'splain to Mrs. Kingston," an- 
 nounced this selfsame mischief maker, " before it's too 
 late." And she skipped around to the steps. 
 
 " Don't worry," called out Walter. " Nothing's go- 
 ing to happen to Marie. And if there is, don't stop it ! 
 Let her find out how it feels. She wants to know." 
 
 The Greenwoods hopped up the steps painstakingly 
 on one foot. " Don't interfere, Sylvia," commanded 
 Robert. 
 
 " No, Octavius," acquiesced The Greenwoods, thereby 
 throwing him into confusion ; " I'll just explain ! " And 
 humming a song, she tripped jauntily into the house. 
 Opening the door, without knocking, she thrust in an 
 impertinent little head. " 'Scuse me, Mrs. Kingston, 
 but I thought I'd explain about Marie. She didn't 
 mean to tell a fib." 
 
 " I told you so, Mamma ! " sobbed Marie, " she did 
 run away ! " 
 
 " Come in, Sylvia," said Mrs. Kingston gravely, " I 
 wish to speak with you." 
 
 Realizing that it is easier to get into a family squabble 
 than out again, a truth of which she had been often 
 reminded, The Greenwoods entered. " I didn't run 
 away, but Marie thought I did. I kept it a secret from
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 157 
 
 her for a joke, because she wanted to shoe-polish 
 Belinda." 
 
 " So you pretended to run away to tease Marie ! " 
 She turned to her daughter. " Let this teach you, 
 Marie, to place no further reliance on anything Sylvia 
 says or does. She keeps you in a fret from morning 
 till night, and while leading you into mischief, always 
 contrives to keep her own skirts clear. If you are wise, 
 you will avoid her in the future ! Now you may go. 
 Sylvia, remain ! I wish to speak to you about your un- 
 grateful conduct and the mistaken views you hold of 
 your importance in society ! " 
 
 Without one plea for the girl who had just come to 
 her assistance, glad, in fact, that The Greenwoods at 
 last was to get her dues, Marie left the room, feeling 
 herself exonerated. Descending the stairs, she met 
 Walter, and exclaimed in triumph : 
 
 " Now I guess you'll believe me ! I didn't tell a fib. 
 She made me think she did. She's a hypocrite ! " 
 
 He regarded his sister with disgust. " And that's 
 the way you talk of her, is it? And after she has 
 just got you out of trouble ! You are not decent, Marie 
 Kingston ! No wonder you hate to bathe ! " 
 
 Even in her own estimation Marie commenced to 
 shrink; and when she met Robert, who, in cold dis- 
 pleasure, ignored her in passing, she spoke more 
 timidly, though still trying to justify herself. 
 
 " Brother Robert, I didn't tell a fib." 
 
 " So The Greenwoods has told us. Would you have 
 done the same for her? " 
 
 " Yes." 
 
 " You never have. You tell often enough, but never
 
 158 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 to get her out of a scrape. After all your tattling, 
 don't you think it was sweet of her to help you ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir," she answered meekly. And as she passed 
 on, she felt for the first time a wreath upon her head, 
 a wreath of coals of fire. 
 
 When she met Chester she tried to pass unseen. He 
 smiled, and said, slipping his arm around her: 
 
 " So, little sister, you didn't tell a fib, after all? " 
 
 " I told you all the time I didn't," mournfully. 
 " You should have believed me. I never had told one 
 before ! Nobody loves me ! " 
 
 " We all love you, Marie That's why we hate to see 
 you act so badly. I beg your pardon for doubting you, 
 but you were trying so hard to drag The Greenwoods 
 into the scrape that we were disgusted. So many 
 tattlers do tell fibs that you should keep out of their 
 class. Except for Woody, we should always have 
 thought you a liar." 
 
 After that Marie slunk away, to weep in secret, 
 not in sorrow for what she had done, but that it should 
 be held in poor esteem. Everything worked to Woody's 
 credit, while Marie's every word and deed immeshed 
 her in a web of wrong. All because Woody was an 
 orphan and beloved of God ! Didn't God love anyone 
 but orphans ? " Oh, yes," she seemed to hear The 
 Greenwoods say, " but you've got to be polite ! " 
 
 Marie knew what that meant, for The Greenwoods 
 had drilled her in the faith. 
 
 She must stop tattling ; stop being selfish ; stop brag- 
 ging because she was rich; do for others sometimes, 
 instead of making them do for her all the time, and she 
 must play fair. Above all, she must be kind to those 
 less fortunately situated, which was the hardest of
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 159 
 
 all ; for so many were less fortunate than Marie that it 
 would result, in theory, at least, in her being under- 
 dog to every girl in town ! 
 
 Marie's elders had made her believe that she was 
 perfect, but The Greenwoods had frankly pointed out 
 her defects. Yet those who had formerly praised her 
 blamed her now, while she, who had shown Marie her 
 errors, now took her part. The girl whom God loved 
 was on Marie's side. 
 
 Ashamed of the past, but feeling magnanimous over 
 her present good intentions, Marie, to prove her grati- 
 tude, flew to Woody's rescue. She was too late. Mrs. 
 Kingston was bidding her guests good-bye. The Green- 
 woods, as usual, had disappeared. 
 
 The grace of The Greenwoods' intervention had been 
 lost on Mrs. Kingston as well as on Marie, while the 
 allusion to the joke had been ill timed. Too many 
 smiles are almost as annoying as too many sighs. To 
 one who believes this a vale of tears a Greenwoods seems 
 sadly out of place; at times, mocking-birds and roses 
 seem the same. All are not tuned to a single key, and 
 some prefer the blasts of winter to June's most perfect 
 day; from sunshine long for rain. 
 
 So Mrs. Kingston had thrown down the flood-gates 
 and had let the torrent rage. She said much that was 
 uncalled for, much that was unwomanly, much that was 
 cruel. When she had finished, it was not the free and 
 independent favorite of high Heaven that slipped so 
 silently and heart-brokenly away; it was just a poor 
 little orphan, the pitiful kind! 
 
 The tempest was over now, and Mrs. Kingston was 
 ashamed. Having abandoned herself to her rage, she 
 surrendered to her conscience, which, having taken a
 
 160 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 rest, began to work overtime. Marie entered like a gad- 
 fly, and asked : " Where is The Greenwoods, Mamma ? " 
 " I don't know," wearily. 
 
 " I hope you didn't scold her. She hadn't done 
 wrong, and it would have been unkind, after she had 
 come to get me out of a scrape." 
 
 " Didn't she persuade you to run away ? " 
 " She tried to keep me from it. She said time and 
 again I ought to ask. She says children must obey 
 their parents, for even if the parents don't care, God 
 does. She is a lovely girl! It is an education just 
 to hear her fuss." 
 
 " Then why do you complain so constantly? " 
 
 " You told me to stand up for my rights, and to let 
 
 you know when people don't do to suit me ! I thought 
 
 you liked me to tell you everything! Nobody ever told 
 
 me tattling was wrong but Woody. She's so improv- 
 
 ing!" 
 
 " Wasn't she teasing you ? " 
 
 " It was just the opposite^ I was trying to black 
 Belinda!" 
 
 All the unkind words Mrs. Kingston had spoken 
 came back and settled on her breast. Still, she thought, 
 Sylvia was young and shallow and would soon forget. 
 Yet Mrs. Kingston's conscience needed pacifying. 
 
 " Run and ask her to ride with us, Marie." 
 
 Marie sprang up eagerly. 
 
 " May she take Belinda, Mamma ? Belinda loves to 
 ride, but brother Robert never takes her. Folks are 
 mean to Woody and her things. I wouldn't stand it ! " 
 
 " Tell her I shall be pleased to have Belinda." 
 
 Having taken the first step in the direction of a rec- 
 oncilation, Mrs. Kingston felt relieved, and began to
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 161 
 
 meditate ways and means of taking the sting from her 
 words. She recalled, with pleasure, The Greenwoods' 
 freedom from resentment. She had inculcated in her 
 own offspring a sense of dignity and a knowledge of 
 their rights, and, while in Marie's case she had been a lit- 
 tle too successful, no one offended them with impunity. 
 Nevertheless, she was glad that The Greenwoods was 
 different. While less profound, perhaps, she was 
 easier to live with. 
 
 " I can't find her, Mamma," reported Marie. " She 
 is hiding somewhere, and won't come back till she is 
 ready. So there's no use worrying." 
 
 " Perhaps she is with Robert." 
 
 " What's he punishing her for now? " 
 
 " Can't she be with him without being punished ? To 
 hear you talk, Marie, a stranger would think we were 
 mistreating the child ! " 
 
 The Greenwoods, even in her naughtiest moment, had 
 never followed the path to the laboratory with more 
 trepidation than did Robert's mother to ask for 
 Robert's ward. If he knew how she had spoken to the 
 Greenwoods, he would take the child away in anger, 
 a consummation before which the mother trembled. 
 But he too was absent. Picturing the two together, 
 with the much wronged child pouring out the story of 
 her mistreatment, Mrs. Kingston went to ride. 
 
 Robert returned a few minutes after she did, alone. 
 An anxious group surrounded him with their queries; 
 for Mrs. Kingston's uneasiness had pervaded the house- 
 hold. As the lady's fears for herself subsided, her anx- 
 iety for The Greenwoods increased. 
 
 "Where is Sylvia, Robert? I thought she was with 
 you."
 
 162 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " I have no idea. Where is she, Mother Burns ? " 
 
 Mother Burns was worried. Never before had The 
 Greenwoods gone without informing her either before 
 or immediately after leaving, but how, after all that ado 
 in the morning about the supposed runaway, was a 
 doting old woman to declare her beloved guilty in the 
 afternoon? Still The Greenwoods might be lost and 
 should be found. Mrs. Burns hesitated. 
 
 " After all that disturbance this morning about her 
 leaving, do you mean to say she has gone now ! " Hav- 
 ing been put to much pains to establish his ward's in- 
 nocence, Robert was indignant at her prompt defection. 
 
 " Why, Dr. Kingston ! " Mother Burns had found 
 her voice, " To think of you accusing that angel child 
 of such a thing ! " 
 
 " Oh, you know where she is then." 
 
 " Somewhere on this place, of course. She would 
 never have left without telling me. I never before knew 
 so considerate a child ! " 
 
 " Then why so much excitement, if she is at home ? 
 Can't she breathe without creating a commotion? We 
 permit her to monopolize too much time and atten- 
 tion ! " 
 
 " But, Robert, we can't find her ! She has disap- 
 peared ! " said Mrs. Kingston. 
 
 " Then have the place thoroughly searched and send 
 a servant to Pearl's or Harriet's for her. I'm hungry. 
 Let's have dinner." 
 
 It was plainly to be seen that he was incensed. He 
 had been living in an uproar ever since his ward's ar- 
 rival and was tired of her vagaries. She was not at 
 Pearl's, though, nor at Harriet's, and could not, in spite
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 163 
 
 of Mother Burn's insistence, be found upon the place. 
 
 " She may be lost " 
 
 " Lost ! " Robert looked at his mother in amazement, 
 " how could a child of her intelligence get lost in Way- 
 ville? " 
 
 " Kidnapped, then," said Chester bluntly. 
 
 " Then God pity the misguided soul who stole her. 
 She'll talk him to death ! " 
 
 " You take it easily, Bob," remarked Colonel King- 
 ston sternly ; " and seem to be thinking more of your 
 authority than of The Greenwoods ; but the rest of Us 
 are worried." 
 
 " I'm worried too ! She's turning me gray-headed. 
 But the fact that she is late to dinner isn't making me 
 hysterical. And while I have forbidden her to leave 
 the place without permission, I'm not losing my ap- 
 petite over her disobedience." 
 
 *' If I were only certain of her safety, Robert " 
 
 " She is perfectly safe, mother, wherever she is. We 
 are the ones who are in danger. If we are not careful, 
 we shall starve. We had a row at breakfast, luncheon 
 was a disturbance instead of a meal, and now dinner 
 is a failure. The children should eat in the nursery." 
 Mrs. Kingston frowned, then smiled reassuringly at 
 Marie. " If some kind fairy would change The Green- 
 woods into a woman of twenty-one and set me free, I 
 would lose the intervening years out of my life without 
 a sigh!" 
 
 House and grounds were gone over time and again, 
 while inquiries were made at all the places she was 
 known to visit, but no trace of The Greenwoods was 
 found. Even Robert began to worry. The servants 
 were cross-examined, criers were sent through the
 
 164 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 village, detectives were hastily employed, but without 
 avail. Search-parties were organized, for the hunt for 
 a lost child appeals to the hardest heart, and the more 
 so when the child happened to be The Greenwoods, in 
 whom every one was interested. 
 
 After a month's residence in the New England village 
 she had formed a personal acquaintance with nearly 
 every one of its inhabitants. She had dispensed score- 
 cards at bridge functions, had gone to parties with 
 Marie, to the hospital with Dr. Kingston, motoring with 
 the Colonel, and to the country club with Chester. She 
 had attended prayer-meetings with Mrs. Burns, mass 
 with the cook, and motion-picture shows with Walter; 
 she had gone visiting with the maids and nearly every- 
 where that her own sweet fancy led her. 
 
 Cab drivers were her chums; messenger boys, her 
 admirers; wash-women, her advisers. She had in- 
 structed gardeners in the art of planting potatoes, and 
 lectured butchers about killing little calves. Every- 
 body in the whole community called her " Greenwoods." 
 She was as high as the proudest, as low as the most 
 humble, and at home with all. Her friends were legion ; 
 and they had come to find her, if they could. 
 
 The Kingstons, who were exclusive and moved in 
 circles most select ; whose manners were stiff and greet- 
 ings distant, who looked askance at those with no cre- 
 dentials to present, were astounded at the number bf 
 her friends and wondered how she had met them. 
 
 It was the strangest party that ever looked for a 
 lost child. All were anxious, but they laughed in- 
 cessantly, " Do you remember? " some one would ask, 
 and then would follow another joke or story of The 
 Greenwoods'.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 165 
 
 " They say she is tired of the Kingstons and has gone 
 back to live with that girl down South, the one that 
 jilted Mr. Perkins ! " 
 
 " I don't see why. She has had more fun than was 
 ever had in this town before. Do you remember 
 
 And on it went. It was impossible to speak of her 
 without a lightening of the heart. She had planted 
 smiles, and the harvest could not be tears. 
 
 Yet one there was who did not smile, but walked the 
 floor all night with the grim realization that she had 
 driven the orphan forth. But despite her dread and 
 haughtiness, Mrs. Kingston was afraid to admit her 
 guilt; afraid of the judgment of her son. 
 
 Robert, beneath his anxiety, was almost certain that 
 this was only one more prank, and was nearly savage. 
 He believed that she had calmly moved away, and some- 
 where was safe, and laughing at him. 
 
 Night went by without a clue, and morning dawned. 
 The search went on. The villagers had never been so 
 worried, nor laughed so much. A reward was offered 
 for the child, and with the lapse of every hour that 
 reward grew in size. Reporters rushed to the scene, and 
 special editions were got out ; for the kidnapping of the 
 ward of the young millionaire society physician, 
 whose fortune depended on her recovery, was an item 
 of no slight interest. By morning she was the most 
 celebrated child in America. And then they found her. 
 
 The Greenwoods had not been lost at all. She had 
 not been off the place. She had simply been taking 
 a nap in an empty feed-box in the barn, and she wanted 
 to know if dinner was ready, for she was " good and 
 hungry." What was the excitement about anyhow? 
 And if they had wanted to find her, why hadn't they
 
 166 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 looked for her in the feed-box, where she was? They 
 ought to have known she was somewhere around! 
 Wouldn't she have told Mother Burns if she had left? 
 The Kingstons were just too nervous ! 
 
 Mother Burns never tired of saying, " I told you so ! " 
 And, for that matter, neither did Robert. Hadn't he 
 said she was perfectly safe? In fact, everybody said 
 the same thing to everybody else ; for they had said no 
 harm could touch The Greenwoods, and that she would 
 be laughing at them by morning. 
 
 To her it had been a strange weird experience, this 
 afternoon's siesta, bringing her into touch once more 
 with friends she had forgotten, confirming her optimism 
 and conceit, and justifying her belief that she was a 
 protegee of the Highest. 
 
 Her faith had been shaken, so, believing that God 
 cared no more for her than He did for children with 
 fathers and mothers to cherish them, that heaven was a 
 long way off, that the angels had forgotten her, that 
 she was unloved, unwanted in the world, she had 
 slipped out to the barn to hide her grief and loneliness 
 from human eyes. There, in lieu of a better friend, she 
 had confided her misery to Dandy (Marie's pony, but 
 The Greenwoods' pet), and cried herself to sleep. 
 
 Then she awoke! And it seemed that half the world 
 had come to give the lie to Mrs. Kingston's cruel words, 
 to soothe The Greenwoods' feelings, and to welcome her 
 back from the realm of dreams with songs and shouts 
 of gladness. Mrs. Kingston herself was crying for joy 
 that the child she had scorned was safe; while the en- 
 tire population of the town, rich and poor, old and 
 young, came thronging up to say how glad they were 
 to see her, and to laugh over her, cry over her, and kiss
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 167 
 
 even her tiny feet, after her guardian had put her on 
 his shoulder in order to save her from the caresses of 
 the crowd. 
 
 Nor was that all. Frances and the Baltimore friends 
 had been crying all night because they didn't know 
 where The Greenwoods was taking her nap ; and all day 
 telegrams came pouring in from every part of the big 
 United States bearing messages of love from the girls of 
 the finishing school, from the convent worshipers, from 
 mothers whose names she had forgotten, from a famous 
 general whom she had studied about in her history and 
 who turned out to be her godfather, and they all 
 wanted her to visit them, or live with them forever. 
 
 So she grew mightily ashamed of the tears she had 
 shed about a few hard words, and smiled an abashed 
 apology at earth and Heaven for having allowed her- 
 self to worry about anything poor nervous old Mrs. 
 Kingston had said. 
 
 She waved a farewell at the crowd and sent them 
 laughing home. Then the Kingstons crowded about 
 her and talked it over. 
 
 " What were you doing in the barn, Greenwoods ? " 
 asked Robert, smiling at his recovered responsibility, 
 with joy at having her again, and gratitude that she had 
 not run away. 
 
 Blushing at the query, she hesitated. Not for mil- 
 lions would she have admitted playing the cry-baby 
 over such a trifle ; so she glanced furtively at Mrs. King- 
 ston, wondering if the lady would uphold her in a fib. 
 She little dreamed that that same haughty lady was 
 quaking in her shoes. 
 
 " I went to give Marie's pony a banana," she mur-
 
 168 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 mured in embarrassment. " He is such a darling pony, 
 and just loves 'em ! " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston smiled. After all, why should one ob- 
 ject to a child as charming as The Greenwoods? Why 
 not accept her for the pleasure that she gave? Mrs. 
 Kingston had long known of her desire for a pony, but 
 for petty spite had failed to make it known. Now she 
 resolved to give her one. But she had waited too long. 
 Everybody else in the family had made the same resolu- 
 tion. 
 
 " Greenwoods," demanded Robert, aghast at his 
 negligence ; " have you been wanting a pony all this 
 time, and haven't told me ? " 
 
 " You may have mine ! " said Walter promptly, while 
 at the same instant Chester asked what color she pre- 
 ferred. 
 
 "You're too late, Chess," exulted Walter; "I've 
 given her one already." 
 
 " She hasn't accepted it, though. Miss Forest, I 
 beg you " 
 
 " Don't quarrel, boys," said Colonel Kingston, " I 
 will furnish my tenant's stable. I have a penny to in- 
 vest." 
 
 " You may furnish the stable, Papa. I've given her 
 the pony." 
 
 " As the young lady's guardian, the privilege is 
 mine," said Robert. 
 
 " But you've slept on your rights, Bob. Now stand 
 aside ! " 
 
 With no intermission whatever, The Greenwoods had 
 started another commotion. The Kingstons were upset 
 again, and every one was in earnest. Marie settled it. 
 
 " Woody is my best friend ; she stood by me yester-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 169 
 
 day when the rest of you were down on me, and she got 
 scolded for it. So now I give her Dandy, to make up 
 and prove I love her ! " 
 
 " You blessed angel ! " shrieked The Greenwoods, 
 rushing for the door; and the other applicants knew 
 that her choice was made. " May the orphan's blessing 
 rest upon your head, Marie. * I wish you good luck in 
 the Name of the Lord. For thy brethren and com- 
 panion's sakes, I wish thee prosperity. Yea, because 
 of thy loving kindness, I will seek to do thee good.' 
 Now I am a-going to ride that pony, and don't nobody 
 hinder me ! " 
 
 She was hindered though, while Robert inquired: 
 
 " Why didn't you ask me for a pony, Greenwoods ? 
 Didn't you know I would give you one? " 
 
 " I was ashamed to, in this house." 
 
 Another commotion occurred, a secret one this 
 time. Marie trembled; Robert looked uneasy, for, 
 though unwittinglv, he had been close-fisted with his 
 ward; Colonel Kingston wondered if he had made any 
 more uncharitable remarks, while Mrs. Kingston, who 
 had begrudged the child almost the air she breathed, 
 shuddered and waited for the blow. 
 
 " Why," asked Robert, " what is wrong with this 
 house that you can't ask favors in it? " 
 
 " Why," she included Walter, Chester, and their 
 father in a grateful smile, " every day since I've been in 
 it I've got a present ! Now wouldn't I have been a pig 
 to ask for more ? " 
 
 Then she went for her ride; and all the men and 
 boys cheered her as she passed, and all the women and 
 girls threw kisses.
 
 CHAPTER XXI 
 
 AT last Mrs. Kingston was ready to extend the right 
 hand of good fellowship to her son's ward, but hoping 
 that a tacit understanding would develop, she neither 
 apologized for her remarks nor withdrew them ; and 
 The Greenwoods remained smilingly oblivious of her 
 overtures. 
 
 The difference in the two natures could not be har- 
 monized. The children of this world love darkness 
 rather than light, so Mrs. Kingston considered black 
 the most respectable clothing for the mind, while that 
 of The Greenwoods was rose-colored, which wears 
 better than black, washes better, and is more hygienic. 
 So the two remained as far apart as ever. 
 
 Yet Robert and Marie profited by Mrs. Kington's 
 change of heart. The Greenwoods' star was in the as- 
 cendant; and peace reigned, and joy, and jollity. 
 
 Still, even in this era of good-will the other members 
 of the household were benefited more than The Green- 
 woods. She was worried and at outs with the world. 
 
 Her grievance against society was strengthened by 
 the sequel to the chicken funeral, which Harriet de- 
 scribed on her first visit after the episode. The Green- 
 woods listened, with a cynical smile. 
 
 " You shouldn't have told your mamma about it, 
 Harriet," she advised. " They're always like that ! 
 Never speak to 'em when you can help it! It will get 
 you into trouble every time." 
 
 170
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 171 
 
 Both Harriet and Marie were silent. How could 
 they avoid speaking to their mothers? 
 
 " When I see the fool way they behave theirselves, 
 and hear their fool talk, and read their fool letters, 
 I'm glad all my folks are angels. I don't see why the 
 Lord doesn't get tired and stop making 'em, anyway ! " 
 
 " Mothers ? " gasped Harriet. 
 
 " All grown folks ! What are they good for ? " 
 
 " Why, what would we do without our mammas ? " 
 asked Harriet, tf You're just sore because you haven't 
 any, Greenwoods ! " 
 
 " I've got a mamma all right, Harriet, but she don't 
 walk around wrapped up in meat like yours! She 
 shook the meat and turned into an angel, just like I 
 shall. But I didn't mean parents so much as grown 
 folks in general. Parents are blessings to those what 
 have 'em and ought to be appreciated and obeyed. But 
 my blessing is independence. And since God thinks I 
 have sense enough to get along without a parent, I don't 
 see why grown folks are always butting in." 
 
 " Because you are just a little girl," said Harriet. 
 " Mamma said you should be spanked for talking so ! " 
 
 "And sense hasn't anything to do with it," added 
 Marie. " I've got as much sense as you, and I'm no 
 orphan ! " 
 
 With calm superiority The Greenwoods demolished 
 them both. " If the Lord thought I needed any teach- 
 ing, Harriet, He'd have left one of my own parents here 
 to do it. God knows best. When He wants a thing done 
 He gets it done, and He wants me to be free and inde- 
 pendent! And you can just tell your mamma, Harriet, 
 that spankings have gone out of style, and she shows 
 her ignorance by speaking of 'em ! "
 
 172 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 Having squelched Harriet, The Greenwoods turned 
 to Marie. " And some folks may think, Marie, that 
 they've as much sense as I have; but it's not becoming 
 in the youngest member of a great big family to say so ! 
 The Lord seemed to think that you needed somebody to 
 take care of you ! " 
 
 " It's not because Marie hasn't any sense, Green- 
 woods, that she's no orphan, but because her folks are 
 healthy!" 
 
 Harriet had " folks " of her own. 
 
 "Who keeps 'em healthy, Harriet? And how come 
 God to put Marie in a big, healthy family instead of an 
 orphan asylum? " 
 
 A crushed silence followed. The conversation had 
 been hard on both of the crest-fallen twain, but Harriet, 
 having a buoyant disposition, soon recovered. 
 
 " I've got more sense than Marie, anyhow," she 
 boasted. " I have a mamma and grandpa and a few 
 aunts, but my papa's quit. I haven't a whole drove, 
 like Marie ! " 
 
 This was too much for Marie, who started in tears 
 for the house. The Greenwoods, regretting her brutal 
 frankness, ran after her. " Come on back, Marie, and 
 we won't say another word about it. Of course you 
 have a lot of kin, but it might be worse. There are not 
 many girls like me ! " 
 
 " I'm so ashamed, though. I can't help but think 
 how I look at weddings and funerals and family din- 
 ners, marching in, the youngest of all that bunch, 
 holding mamma by the hand! Just think how people 
 must talk, especially with you here, no bigger than I, 
 and without a relative in the world ! " 
 
 " I've known worse, though. I knew a girl once
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 173 
 
 what had thirteen brothers and sisters! And another 
 with a mamma and a stepmamma, and a papa and, a 
 steppapa! Now how'd you like that? Besides, it's 
 convenient having your folks around handy. Being 
 an orphan is a responsibility." 
 
 " That's so. And I have as much sense as Harriet, 
 haven't I? " 
 
 " Yes, you have. So come on back, and I'll tell you 
 a story." 
 
 They returned; but Marie, feeling called upon to 
 proclaim her mental fitness, the story was delayed. 
 " She says I've as much sense as you, Harriet 
 Wingo!" 
 
 " You, with all that kin? " 
 
 " One strong, healthy mamma makes up for a lot," 
 explained The Greenwoods sententiously. " But you're 
 both bright girls, so what's the use in fussing? " 
 
 Harriet was not placated. " You talk one way one 
 time, and another, another, Greenwoods Forest! Now 
 I won't stand it. If you have more sense than I be- 
 cause you haven't any kin, you've got to own up that 
 I have more sense than Marie when I have the fewer. 
 Will you do it?" 
 
 " No," replied the Greenwoods firmly, and Harriet 
 marched for the gate. 
 
 The Greenwoods followed. 
 
 " You see, Harriet," she explained, " Marie has more 
 kin than you, but they are nervous, every one, and she 
 may need 'em yet. It will hurt her feelings, though, to 
 tell her so. Her mamma is old and the nervousest of 
 all. She may die any time, but yours is good and 
 strong, and will last till you are grown and over. Of
 
 174 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 course you won't need any one else while you have her. 
 See? " 
 
 " You talk like my mamma was a horse, Green- 
 woods ! " 
 
 " I didn't mean no slander to her, Harriet. I like 
 your mamma, Better even than Miss Ardelia. I'm 
 on her side! Say, wouldn't it be fun if her and Dr. 
 Kingston would marry each other? You and me could 
 live in the same house, and Marie could visit us." 
 
 " How perfectly grand ! " 
 
 " Let's talk it over with Marie, then." 
 
 This brought peace ; but while the three were arrang- 
 ing an amicable settlement of the Doctor's future, a 
 servant was seen approaching from the " lab." 
 
 " I bet he wants me ! " Once more The Greenwoods 
 was at war with life. " And I haven't done a thing ! " 
 
 The servant gave the summons and withdrew. 
 
 " I knew it! What you been telling now, Marie? " 
 
 " On my honor, Woody, not a thing. It looks like 
 I'm blamed for everything that happens ! " 
 
 " It's that chicken ! " volunteered Harriet, " Mamma 
 said she would tell him about it, and I bet she did." 
 
 " It wasn't my fault about that chicken. Did I pro- 
 pose the funeral ? " 
 
 " If you'd let us bury Belinda, we'd never thought 
 of the chicken," reminded Marie ; " so it is your fault. 
 Besides, me and Harriet have been punished, and now 
 you can take yours. Reckon brother Rob will 
 whip 
 
 " No, he won't ! " sharply. " He's a gentleman, if he 
 is my guardian. They are raising enough sand about 
 that chicken for us to have buried it alive! I'm sorry 
 I ever heard tell of it ! "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 175 
 
 Grumbling, she approached the " lab." JVayville 
 was the meanest place for scoldings she had ever lived 
 in; the Kingstons, the hardest set to please she had 
 ever known, and grown folks in general, unmitigated 
 nuisances. Reluctantly knocking on the door, she 
 wished herself in Heaven. 
 
 " Come in," called Robert, in mild sarcasm, " I'm 
 glad you didn't rush yourself to death." 
 
 In his voice was an undercurrent of good humor, but 
 because of the chicken she failed to note it. He was 
 thinking not of the chicken but of Miss Faunce, from 
 whom he had not heard in weeks, except through 
 Woody. 
 
 " You haven't been to see me in a long time," he be- 
 gan hospitably. 
 
 " Wasn't it day before yesterday morning you 
 locked me in the closet and kep' me there thirty-seven 
 hours and a half, just for washing out a few clothes 
 when you was a-waiting for me, and Belinda without 
 a clean dress to her name? " 
 
 " I meant social visits, my dear. Suppose we let 
 bygones be bygones." 
 
 " Goodness knows, I'm willing ! But if that old 
 chicken's not a bygone, what is ? It's been dead and eat 
 up a week ! What are you a- fussing about it now for ? 
 Just because you are grown, I s'pose. Grown folks 
 are born fussing, and just can't help theirselves! " 
 
 " What on earth do you mean ? " he asked in amaze- 
 ment. 
 
 " Nothing ! I just buried it to please the others. 
 We never hurt the chicken. Mrs. Wingo makes me 
 tired ! If I'd a-known she was so everlastingly par- 
 ticular I'd never arranged for you to marry her ! "
 
 176 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 His face was the picture of dismay. 
 
 " Greenwoods, " 
 
 " Why, she's as old-maidish as Miss Ardelia Wile ! " 
 
 " I sent for you, Woody," he spoke with dignity, 
 " to give you a letter." 
 
 " Then why was you a-fussing about that chicken? " 
 
 " I haven't mentioned the chicken ! " 
 
 " The measly thing was dead ! What harm was 
 there in burying it? Didn't we wash the dirt off and 
 put it back? Mrs. Wingo ate it for her dinner, and 
 said it tasted good. I didn't steal the chicken ! " 
 
 " Neither did I." 
 
 "Who was accusing you of it, Dr. Kingston?" 
 
 " Who was accusing you of it, Greenwoods? " 
 
 " Everybody ! Even France " 
 
 " Oh ! " At last he was rewarded, " What did she 
 say about it ? " 
 
 Miss Faunce's long silence had got on his nerves. 
 He feared she was ill, or 
 
 " What has everybody said ? What have you been 
 saying? A-fussing till you are black in the face And 
 over nothing ! " 
 
 He looked at the child in despair. He had not in- 
 tended to scold her, but there seemed nothing else to 
 do. He sighed and began : " But I was shocked and 
 grieved, Greenwoods, when I heard of your conduct. 
 The idea of burying your hostess's dinner! You in- 
 fringed on the sacred 
 
 A bored look came over her face. 
 
 " Did you mention a letter, Dr. Kingston ? " 
 
 " We are discussing the chicken, miss. Do you " 
 
 "Who is it from?"
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 177 
 
 " Will you promise never again," he temptingly 
 held out the letter. 
 
 She eagerly seized it. 
 
 " Granny ! yes ! Why, it's from Francie ! " 
 
 He contrived to look surprised. 
 
 " Really ? Read it and tell me the news." 
 
 Woody had recently grown uncommunicative about 
 Miss Faunce, so to hear of her now, Robert was forced 
 to ask. And he wanted to hear. Why had Miss Faunce 
 stopped writing to him? Of course The Greenwoods 
 was unable to inform him, but she might throw some 
 light on the subject. Had Miss Faunce been offended 
 by some mixed-up information the child had given, had 
 he displeased her in some way, or had she, with her 
 usual fickleness, grown tired? Was there another 
 man? Robert felt that he could right the trouble if 
 he only knew what it was ; and he had been vainly try- 
 ing to think of a pretext for visiting the family foe. 
 
 The Greenwoods' spirits drooped as she read the let- 
 ter, and his fears increased. As each page was solemnly 
 perused, then turned, with a sigh, his diagnosis of 
 the case grew more alarming, his own outlook on life 
 more gloomy. At last The Greenwoods finished the 
 letter, slowly folded it up; and, with a shake of 
 her head, replaced it in the envelope. 
 
 " I am worried about France," she said. 
 
 She had touched the keynote of her own disgruntled 
 state. Frances' letters were depressing. Woody 
 feared that she would never again see the France she 
 had loved. 
 
 "What is wrong?" Robert's voice was full of anx- 
 iety. 
 
 " Looks like she gets worser and worser all the time."
 
 178 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " I hope she isn't ill." 
 
 " Wors'n that ! She could get over being ill." 
 
 " Is she engaged? " A man can be honorable with- 
 out being infallible. 
 
 " Oh, I wouldn't mind a little thing like that ; she can 
 get over being engaged, too ! " 
 
 All hope seemed lost. 
 
 " She must be married then." 
 
 " The man's not living she would marry. I've heard 
 her say so." 
 
 " Then what is the matter? " 
 
 " She's getting old." 
 
 " Is that all ? " He was almost angry in his relief. 
 
 " All? It's a-ruining her ! She used to be the nicest 
 girl I knew, merry and lively, and full of fun and un- 
 derstanding. Nothing on earth could shock her ! But 
 now she's getting growner and growner all the time." 
 
 " You don't seem fond of your elders, dear." 
 
 " They're just not any fun, Dr. Kingston. It's all 
 right for some kids to get grown, for they're no fun 
 anyhow, but there's enough of that kind already, 
 without Francie. She had some sense once." 
 
 " Some people like them grown though." 
 
 " Then I wish to gracious she would write to them 
 instead of me! Preaching from one end of her letters 
 to the other ! Old goody-goody ! " 
 
 " Preaching ! " So that was it. Even in her anger 
 at him, over some nonsense Woody had written, prob- 
 ably about Mrs. Wingo or Miss Wile, SHE was help- 
 ing him keep order. How gracious and how sweet ! 
 
 " Yes, preaching ! Not another word does she ever 
 write, 'cept a lot of foolishness about respecting your
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 179 
 
 elders, and being a credit to people, and mind your 
 spelling. She even said for me to obey my guardian ! " 
 
 " Yes ? " The world swam before him in a haze of 
 bliss. 
 
 " To think of her a-writing me such stuff ! She even 
 said you was a good man ! " 
 
 He gasped, but more was coming. For here was the 
 secret of Woody's bitterness toward adults ; of her dia- 
 tribes against the race. France was grown up and sid- 
 ing with the guardian ! That there might be another 
 reason for this than maturity The Greenwoods did not 
 suspect. She only knew that her chum, with whom 
 she might have had tiffs in private, but who had upheld 
 her in public against friends, foes, teachers, guardians 
 and the world, was changing to a monitor. 
 
 " Of course, if she liked you, Dr. Kingston, it would 
 be different." The laughter died from the lover's face. 
 " But when she hates you like poison, it's nothing but 
 grown folks' twaddle." 
 
 Robert looked pensive. It seemed foolish to attach 
 any importance to the Greenwoods' remarks, but 
 " children and fools tell the truth," and the fact re- 
 mained that Frances had not written. There must be 
 reason for her silence. 
 
 " You say she hates me? " 
 
 Like eavesdroppers, those who pump children seldom 
 hear good of themselves. 
 
 " I er reckon so. She said she did. And she 
 called you a dangerous animal, or a brute, whichever 
 it is folks call those they hate." 
 
 As Dr. Kingston remained gloomily silent, The 
 Greenwoods felt bound to talk. " Besides, she wrote me 
 to stop informing her of your numerous love affairs.
 
 180 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 She isn't interested, and you may marry Miss Wile or 
 Mrs. Wingo, either or both, for all she cares. A 
 man flirt is beneath her contempt ! " 
 
 The lover's world grew brighter. Again he began 
 hunting for an excuse for visiting Miss Faunce and set- 
 ting her right about his rumored love affairs ; The 
 Greenwoods, however, depressed by the surrounding 
 gloom, burst into tears. She had evidently hurt the 
 doctor's feelings. 
 
 " She hasn't seen you in a long time though, Dr. 
 Kingston; so maybe she's got over it." 
 
 " My dear child, what are you crying about? " 
 
 " I I don't know, sir. I'll write and ask her." 
 
 " Ask her what ? " in astonishment. 
 
 " If she's got over hating you." 
 
 He smothered a groan, but in spite of The Green- 
 woods, Frances was not lost yet. 
 
 " Don't be silly, Woody. Of course Miss Faunce 
 doesn't care to hear your exaggerated accounts of my 
 attentions to Miss Wile or Mrs. Wingo. You must stop 
 believing and repeating everything you hear. No won- 
 der she scolded you for retailing the servants' gossip. 
 Now listen attentively : Leave me and my affairs alone ! 
 Do you understand? " 
 
 " Yes, sir." 
 
 " And don't repeat this conversation to anyone ; not 
 even to her. You must stop being such a chatterbox." 
 
 " Y-yes, sir." 
 
 " And don't say, sir, say * Dr. Kingston.' And stop 
 crying, dear. And go ! " 
 
 The Greenwoods strolled back to The Four Oaks 
 wiping the tears from her eyes. 
 
 " I don't see why he cared about France," she pon-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 181 
 
 dered in perplexity, " You'd think he was in love, if it 
 wasn't impossible, with his family hating her so. 
 These Kingstons are just too sensitive for me. A girl 
 can't move without hurting their pesky feelings ! Feel- 
 ings make me tired. I'm glad I haven't any. I do talk 
 too much, though, and that's what happened then. It 
 will get you into trouble every time." 
 
 Harriet had gone, but Marie was waiting to find out 
 the method of justice dispensed. Seeing tears in The 
 Greenwoods eyes, she concluded that the chicken had 
 been amply avenged: " Did it hurt? " she asked. 
 
 " No it didn't. I never got one." 
 
 " You are crying, though. Brother Rob always did 
 believe in 'em. Say, what did he use ? " 
 
 " Nothing, you hateful girl ! " 
 
 " Gee, it must have hurt ! You are still mad. Was 
 it a switch or a strap? " 
 
 " Don't you believe your own brother has any man- 
 ners, Marie ? " 
 
 " They don't call it * bad manners,' but * a painful 
 duty.' Papa nearly gave me one once, about those 
 trees, you know, but," Marie spoke regretfully, 
 " Mamma stopped him." 
 
 " That's different. You and him are kin." 
 
 " So," disregardingly, " I shall never have another 
 chance to find out how it feels, unless you tell me. 
 You're as close-mouthed and sensitive as Walter. What 
 did he use, Woody ? " 
 
 The accusation of sensitiveness, which she had just 
 been deploring in others, appealed to The Greenwoods' 
 sense of humor. From the depths of gloom her spirit 
 bounded to the heights of levity, so quickly that Marie 
 obtained no hint of the transit. So, when The Green-
 
 182 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 woods covered her face with her hands, her tormentor 
 thought she was crying. 
 
 " Will you promise never to tell, Marie? " 
 
 " I cross my heart." Marie quivered with morbid in- 
 terest. 
 
 " Do you remember that snake skin he has, what 
 swallows cows ? " asked The Greenwoods. 
 
 Marie's eyes grew round with horror, and she gave a 
 suppressed shriek. 
 
 " That was it ! " said The Greenwoods. 
 
 A dead silence followed this staggering revelation; 
 The Greenwoods being engaged in a struggle with her 
 mirth, and Marie's imagination being overwhelmed by 
 the awfulness of the chastisement. 
 
 " Didn't it hurt just dreadful, Woody? " 
 
 " Marie," came the penetrating whisper, " it was 
 worse than a bath ! " 
 
 As the mendacious one sped lightly away her cach- 
 innations drifted back to the tree against which leaned 
 Marie, a pitiful little figure of desolation. Would 
 they never forget about that bath?
 
 CHAPTER XXII 
 
 " You seem to be troubled about something, Robert," 
 remarked Mrs. Kingston, in happy ignorance of the 
 danger his absent thoughts portended. " What weighty 
 matter have you on the brain? " 
 
 " Only a little business," he replied, with a nonchal- 
 ance that belied the panic within. He was mustering 
 courage to precipitate a bomb into the quiet circle, a 
 bomb that might disagreeably affect the peace and ap- 
 petite of the breakfasters. " But I fear I shall be 
 forced to go to Chicago for a couple of weeks." 
 
 "Oh, goody!" By this untimely outburst of joy, 
 The Greenwoods excited the curiosity, of the beholders. 
 Even though she were glad to get rid of Bob, why 
 should she be so outspoken about it? 
 
 " Why are you so glad to get rid of me ? " he asked, 
 deciding to let her break the blow. The more manly 
 course would have been for him to explain that he was 
 going a-wooing, but, being in doubt as to his success, 
 he spared his dignity. 
 
 " Because if you leave home I shall get to stay with 
 Francie." 
 
 As usual, she had produced a sensation. Not that 
 anyone thought she would be permitted to go, but her 
 hardihood in making the suggestion was incredible. 
 They waited for the heir of the wronged Mark Per- 
 kins to reprove her. 
 
 " Can you get ready by to-morrow? " he asked in 
 lamblike tones. 
 
 183
 
 184 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " I'll pack this minute ! " she shrieked, and flew head- 
 long from the room. 
 
 " No you won't ! " shouted Marie, following her 
 promptly. 
 
 These unceremonious exits gave Mrs. Kingston her 
 opportunity. Before remonstrating with Robert she 
 would let him know her opinion of Miss Faunce (of 
 which she feared, unnecessarily, that he might be in 
 doubt), and, by appealing to his good sense, give him a 
 chance to recede from the position he had taken. 
 
 " Robert," she inquired, " have you ever informed 
 your ward that it is the custom, among genteel people, 
 to ask to be excused before leaving the table in the midst 
 of a meal? " 
 
 " Marie's gone too ! " exclaimed Walter. 
 
 " That is exactly why I must beg of you, Robert, to 
 give the child a few hints on etiquette. Marie copies 
 her every act, her every error ; so " 
 
 " Then she'd better give it up," scowled The Green- 
 woods' sturdy champion, " for she's not in The Green- 
 woods' class ! " 
 
 At this point Walter was sent from the table, and 
 Mrs. Kingston resumed: 
 
 " I am not criticizing Sylvia, Robert, though Wal- 
 ter seemed to think so. She is naturally a sweet, gra- 
 cious child; bnt manners don't come from instinct but 
 from training. Hers have been sadly neglected. It is 
 time for the Faunce influence to be eradicated. The 
 child should never have been left under the care of a 
 woman who is so ignorant of the usages of polite so- 
 ciety." 
 
 At last Mark Perkins' heir arose to his defense. 
 
 " I am afraid, Mother, that dear Uncle Mark would
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 185 
 
 be very much pained to hear his favorite sister say 
 so." 
 
 Exalting Mark Perkins was with Mrs. Kingston a 
 passion; not because he had been successful but be- 
 cause he was her brother and had been reviled by an 
 envious world. Wondering how her words could have 
 reflected upon the one whom she most loved to honor, 
 she was stricken into silence. Her husband came to her 
 rescue. 
 
 " Your mother was not criticising Mark, she was 
 alluding to that Miss Faunce." 
 
 " If, as my mother affirms, Miss Faunce is ignorant 
 of the usages of polite society, my uncle should cer- 
 tainly not have placed his preserver's daughter in her 
 care. I refuse to believe that dear Uncle Mark was 
 guilty of such base ingratitude ! " The glow of right- 
 eous indignation flushed Robert's brow. 
 
 " In this case Mark was not accountable. He was 
 in love with the woman, and * there is no fool like an 
 old fool.' " 
 
 Robert was shocked. 
 
 " Oh, Father ! Uncle Mark a fool ! " 
 
 " Of course he was not ! " Colonel Kingston's face 
 grew red. In his defense of his uncle Robert was making 
 every one else uncomfortable. 
 
 " I am so glad you didn't mean it, Father. My poor 
 uncle has been so vilified that we, his nearest of kin, 
 should be circumspect in our references to him." 
 
 " Look here, young man, instead of accusing me of 
 speaking disrespectfully of the dead, you had better 
 look to your own conduct ! " The Colonel was indig- 
 nant. " Do you intend to let the child visit that 
 woman? "
 
 186 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Why, yes. What objection can there be? " 
 
 " It is an insult to Mark's memory, sir ! " 
 
 " Why, Father ! How can it be so regarded ? " 
 
 " You know how that wretch treated him, Robert," 
 said Mrs. Kingston ; " throwing him over for a mere 
 boy whom she didn't even love ! " 
 
 "I know that the yellow journals said something of 
 the kind, but I never accepted any of their reports 
 concerning my uncle. Did he tell you that Miss 
 Faunce had mistreated him? " 
 
 " A gentleman never goes into details about his love 
 affairs, Robert ; but if she did not, why did he give the 
 child to you? " 
 
 " Do you think he did it from petty spite, Mother ? " 
 
 " Certainly not ! Dear Mark never did anything 
 petty in his life! But, if he esteemed Miss Faunce, 
 why did he remove the child from her care? " 
 
 As has been said before, Robert thought he knew, but 
 the time was not yet ripe for making public what he 
 conceived to have been his uncle's design, so he merely 
 said : " He may have thought Miss Faunce too young. 
 But since he left The Greenwoods with her after the 
 engagement was broken, and since, had he not died, she 
 would doubtless be there yet, I see no reason for ob- 
 jecting to this visit." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston looked at him suspiciously. 
 
 " How will Sylvia get there? " 
 
 I shall take her." 
 
 " I thought as much." 
 
 " Naturally. Sylvia could hardly go alone. And 
 now I have some business to attend to, so must beg to 
 be excused." 
 
 When Colonel Kingston and his wife left the room
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 187 
 
 they looked helpless and subdued. She was the first to 
 speak. 
 
 " He is in love with her himself ! Oh, Colonel, to 
 think of him speaking in that way to us ! And to have 
 fallen in love with such a creature ! What shall we do ? 
 L We can't permit him to marry her." 
 
 " We can't prevent it. He is of age, and has more 
 money than we have. 
 
 " I will never recognize her." 
 
 " Then we shall lose Bob. But perhaps the girl will 
 jilt him. She seems to have formed the habit; and if 
 she will only teach that conceited young puppy a les- 
 son, I will forgive her ! " 
 
 " But that mercenary wretch will marry him, Col- 
 onel, and expect me to get her into good society. But 
 I will never do it. If Robert marries that graceless 
 flirt I will never speak to him again ! " 
 
 Dissension was in the air; and as Robert opened the 
 door of his laboratory, he heard voices in dispute. 
 
 " She's not vulgar ! " shrieked the Greenwoods, 
 " She is a nicer lady than your own mamma. And if 
 you don't take it back I'll slap you ! " 
 
 " She's common as pig tracks ! " exclaimed Marie. 
 And don't you dare touch me ! " 
 
 Robert entered the room and regarded the dispu- 
 tants, who had taken possession, with displeasure. 
 " What does this mean, children? " he asked in chilling 
 tones, which, however, failed to awe them. They were 
 as hard a couple to awe as he had ever known. 
 
 " Marie has locked my door and has the key, and she 
 won't let me pack ! " 
 
 M You sha'n't go to that woman's house," declared
 
 188 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 Marie, ** You must stay here and play with me ! She's 
 no lady, and you shouldn't associate with her ! " 
 
 " Hush, Marie ! " commanded Robert. " Give me 
 that key !" 
 
 He held out his hand, but Marie promptly put both 
 of hers behind her and looking up in cool defiance, re- 
 plied, " I won't." 
 
 The Greenwoods thrilled with admiration of Marie's 
 pluck, but Robert calmly reached over and took the 
 key. The little princess, whose will had never before 
 been violated, gave a gulp of surprise as she looked at 
 her empty hand. Then, realizing the indignity to which 
 she had been sub j ected, she shrieked with rage. Though 
 powerless herself, she had resources at her call. 
 
 " I'll tell Mamma, if you don't give it back ! " 
 
 Marie " 
 
 " I want that key, brother Robert, and you give it 
 to me ! ' 
 
 " Marie, I want you to apologize to Sylvia for the 
 remarks you have just made about her friend." 
 
 " I won't do it. I meant every word. She is a dis- 
 reputable creature, and she flirted with my Uncle 
 Mark!" 
 
 Here The Greenwoods tried to pour oil upon the 
 troubled waters. " But your Uncle Mark liked it, 
 Marie; and was sorry when she stopped. So what are 
 you cutting up about? " 
 
 " Be quiet, Greenwoods," said Robert ungratefully. 
 " Marie, are you sorry ? " 
 
 " No ! She's a mercenary coquette ! " 
 
 Whereupon Robert, who was now defending his ward, 
 and doing so as thoroughly as he had championed his 
 dead uncle, popped Marie into the closet, while The
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 189 
 
 Greenwoods, with wide eyes, watched his high-handed 
 proceeding. 
 
 " I wouldn't lock Marie up if I were you," she pro- 
 tested, " Your mamma won't like it ; and, anyhow, that 
 closet needs airing." 
 
 " Greenwoods " 
 
 " If you are a-putting her there on my account, you 
 can turn her loose. I can tend to my fussing myself, 
 if you'll let me." 
 
 " Greenwoods," he spoke in stentorian tones, for 
 Marie was not taking her incarceration quietly, " why 
 did you leave the breakfast table without asking to be 
 excused? " 
 
 " Did I do a thing like that ? I blush to hear it. I 
 must have forgot to ask." 
 
 " Then make your apologies to my mother at once ! " 
 
 " I'll go this instant. I apologize just beautiful." 
 
 " And in the future, please remember that Miss 
 Faunce is judged according to your behavior." 
 
 " Poor Francie ! Don't the geese know that she is 
 her and I am me? " 
 
 " And you are to say nothing as to Marie's where- 
 abouts." 
 
 A roguish smile dimpled Woody's face. 
 
 " Oh, I'm no tattle-tale ! But, say, hadn't you and 
 me better start right now? " 
 
 " Don't be impertinent, Sylvia. And, if anyone finds 
 out where she is, you take her place in the closet ! " 
 
 Giggling at the " usurper's " predicament, The 
 Greenwoods took her key and ran. 
 
 Robert now dropped the austere mien he had suc- 
 cessfully maintained before her and stared helplessly 
 at the closet door, which was being rattled and kicked
 
 190 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 with vehemence. He was thinking of his mother. She 
 could " give the bastinado with her tongue," and what 
 would she say when she learned that he had locked up 
 her child? It being a simpler matter to lock Marie up 
 than to let her out again, he resolved to temporize. 
 
 " Will you be good, Marie? " 
 
 "No, I won't! I'm going to tell." 
 
 " That's just what she'll do too," thought the big 
 brother in consternation ; " and then I shall catch it." 
 
 " If you'll promise to be good, I will let you out and 
 give you a box of candy." 
 
 " I don't want your old candy. And you've got to 
 let me out anyway. I'm not your ward, Robert King- 
 ston. And you know what Mamma will do ! " 
 
 He had a vague idea, at any rate. To turn Marie 
 loose in her present frame of mind was hazardous, while 
 to keep her till her humor changed might cause a search, 
 when he would be found with the goods upon him. 
 Well, since he was in for it anyway, why not go the 
 limit? For years he had been wanting to teach Marie 
 a lesson. 
 
 " Marie, are you sorry you spoke so rudely of 
 Woody's friend?" 
 
 " No ; she's a common old flirt that can't keep a 
 promise," said Marie; and thereby sealed her doom. 
 
 Later she carried The Greenwoods an apology, which 
 had been written at Robert's dictation. Marie's eyes 
 were red with weeping, but she wore a superior air. 
 
 " Don't rely too much on him being a gentleman, 
 Greenwoods," she said, " for I know better ! " 
 
 " And have you found out how it feels ? " asked 
 Woody. 
 
 " Yes, it hurts. In fact it is surprisingly painful."
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 191 
 
 " Are you a-going to tell your mamma on him, 
 Marie?" 
 
 " No," replied Marie firmly, " he said if I did he 
 would give me another, and he meant it. My brother 
 Rob is a different kind of man from Mamma. Besides, 
 I think every little girl ought to get one, Greenwoods, 
 just to see for herself how it feels. But take my word 
 for it, one is plenty ! "
 
 THERE were two trunks, and The Greenwoods began 
 with that one in which her winter clothing had been 
 so carefully stored away. Taking each garment out, 
 she unfolded and shook it vigorously and hung it in the 
 window to air. A few fell out, but as air was plentiful 
 outside they did just as well; besides, she needed the 
 space. 
 
 The pile in the window soon grew top-heavy, so she 
 filled up the chairs, and when the chairs gave out she 
 heaped things on the bed. The trays of the trunk had 
 been on the bed, but she propped them against the door. 
 
 After doing that, she took her pictures from the 
 wall, wiped them, and placed them on the floor, adjoin- 
 ing the trays, and next to the pictures she put her 
 toys. By this time the floor was nearly covered. 
 
 The room was small for packing, the trunks taking 
 up the central portion, the winter clothing occupying 
 one side, while pictures and toys filled up another, 
 but there were still two sides left for operating. Un- 
 fortunately, The Greenwoods had just begun. In less 
 time than it takes to tell it, both vacant sides were 
 covered with the ornaments from her dressing-table, 
 school-books, and knick-knacks in general. 
 
 Emptying her dresser drawers, she carefully unfolded 
 all her laundered underwear and spread out each piece 
 carefully, adding another story to the structure on 
 the bed. As this in time grew wobbly, she put the rest 
 
 192
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 193 
 
 under the bed. The room was really becoming crowded. 
 
 Taking down her laundry-bag, she tumbled her soiled 
 clothing upon the one free spot remaining, and pains- 
 takingly folding up the bag, she dropped it into her 
 trunk. Then she heaved a sigh of relief (for packing 
 is hard work), but the end was in sight. Her hats, 
 parasols, and summer frocks she hung upon the trunks. 
 
 Now she was ready to begin in earnest. In the char- 
 acter of Mrs. Jonesville, s"he recounted to a sympa- 
 thetic audience the trials of traveling alone, with seven 
 small children, all afflicted with the mumps. Thus re- 
 minded that the faces of her suffering offspring had 
 not yet been tied up, the devoted mother forgot her 
 weariness and ransacked the chairs, the window, and 
 the bed for handkerchiefs, finding them at last under 
 the bed. 
 
 Upon this scene of confusion the housekeeper stared 
 in bewilderment, after she had knocked over the trays 
 and with much exertion succeeded in opening the door. 
 As there was no spot in the room on which to stand, 
 she wisely remained without. She seemed to see a 
 great big rag-bag, while somewhere in its midst could 
 be heard The Greenwoods singing to a doll. 
 
 " What on earth are you doing ! " Exasperation sat 
 upon Mrs. Burns' fat, kindly countenance. 
 
 " Is that you, Mother Burns ? " called a genial young 
 voice from the far side of the lingerie. " I'm packing 
 up!" 
 
 " What for, I'd like to know? " 
 
 " Haven't you heard? Why, I'm a-going back to 
 Francie's." 
 
 " That's no reason for a mess like this. Who brought 
 those trunks from the attic ? "
 
 194 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Mr. Chester and Walter. What's good for the 
 mumps ? " 
 
 " Much right they had to do it ! Why have you un- 
 packed your winter things? " 
 
 " To pack 'em up again, of course. I'm going 
 away." 
 
 " Why didn't you wait for me to pack ? " 
 
 " And you busy as a wet hen ? I wouldn't be so sel- 
 fish? This packing had to be done, so I just pitched 
 in and did it! I can pack." 
 
 " It looks like it ! " scornfully. 
 
 " I've seen it done millions of times ! I've seen hun- 
 dreds of girls packing up at one time, a-shaking and 
 a-folding and a-laughing and a-crying. It's easy. 
 Just roll things tight, wad 'em down the corners, 
 and be careful about your hat. Pin it down, sew it 
 down, or pile things on top of it, but hold it steady ! 
 If you'd a-waited ten minutes, I'd a-had the whole thing 
 done." 
 
 " All your things are ruined, and your dresses 
 will have to be pressed again ! " 
 
 " Never mind about those dresses. France will fix 
 'em. I've got to hurry with this packing." 
 
 " I have a mind to show this room to your guard- 
 ian." 
 
 " He told me to pack hisself." 
 
 " Then I know I will show it to him. The idea of 
 sending a baby up here to pack a trunk ! Why are you 
 taking every rag you have on a week's visit ? " 
 
 " A religious person must be prepared for any- 
 thing. I know what I've been praying for and I know 
 what this visit means. And if anything should hap-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 195 
 
 pen to the Doctor, I shall stay with Francie, and I 
 shall need these clothes ! " 
 
 The packing continued strenuously all afternoon 
 and far into the night, beginning again next morning. 
 Robert very considerately postponed his departure 
 one day on account of it. Some guardians would have 
 gone off and left the child! 
 
 There was a dispute over every garment Mrs. 
 Burns wanted to leave out. One trunk was sufficient, 
 she insisted; and Dr. Kingston upheld her. So The 
 Greenwoods tried to smuggle everything she had into 
 that one trunk. 
 
 " Now, Greenwoods, you don't need that dress. 
 It's too hot for woolen dresses." 
 
 " There may be a norther." 
 
 " You are prepared for a norther." 
 
 " There may be another." 
 
 " Then wear the same clothes you did for the 
 first." 
 
 " France doesn't like dirty clothes." 
 
 " Anyway, you can't take that dress. You seem 
 to think you are going to the North Pole instead of 
 to a summer resort in Virginia ! " 
 
 " It's cool in the mountains. And suppose the 
 doctor falls off the top of that mountain and breaks 
 his neck. Why, I shall stay all winter, and I shall 
 need this dress." 
 
 " Let's wait till he breaks his neck and see. It 
 isn't sweet in you to be making such plans for him 
 either. I'm shocked at you." 
 
 " God knows best, Mother Burns. His ways are 
 past finding out. If you knew as much about 'em as 
 I do, you'd always try to be prepared. Anything may
 
 196 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 happen once we get to Francie, cyclones, earth- 
 quakes, volcanoes or yellow fever. Then I shall stay 
 with Francie, and I shall need that dress." 
 
 Mrs. Burns was firm; but for all that, the dress, 
 along with sundry other articles that Woody thought 
 would be needed when disaster overtook her luckless 
 guardian, got into the trunk. When the receptacle 
 was filled to nearly bursting, and most of the child's 
 summer outfit still remained unpacked, the discrepancy 
 between the number of things in the trunk and the 
 number she had put there made the housekeeper sus- 
 picious. An investigation was instituted, the fraud 
 discovered, when, with groans, tears, recriminations, 
 and protestations, the repacking was begun. 
 
 During the process the entire household became in- 
 terested, and competition for the keyhole was sharp. 
 
 " What a whirlwind of excitement that child 
 creates ! " Mrs. Kingston exclaimed impatiently. 
 " We have not had a peaceful moment since she came ! " 
 
 This being true, she should have welcomed the res- 
 pite offered by the child's absence, but as The Green- 
 woods was leading Robert to Miss Faunce, no comfort 
 was to be gained. Mrs. Kingston had grown weary 
 of trying to be friends with Woody, and while she 
 had not given up entirely, her good intentions had 
 relapsed. 
 
 " But we have had something better than peace- 
 ful moments," laughed Chester, who was in the living 
 room with her; "we have had The Greenwoods." 
 
 At this moment Marie rushed in, sobbing bitterly, 
 and threw herself despairingly into her mother's arms. 
 " She's going, Mamma ; she's going ! The only
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 197 
 
 friend I ever had ! Oh, what will become of me without 
 her? " 
 
 " Don't be silly, Marie. And the idea of jour saying 
 that Sylvia is the only friend you ever had! Besides, 
 she doesn't leave until to-morrow ! " 
 
 " But she has told me good-bye. She says good- 
 byes are too serious to leave until the last. She always 
 gets hers done beforehand and goes off pleasantly. 
 And she gave me a ring to remember her by, Mamma, 
 and hopes we shall meet again ! " 
 
 " You probably will, Marie. She is only to be gone 
 a week." 
 
 " That's what Brother Robert says, Mamma ; but 
 God knows best." 
 
 These pious sentiments on the young daughter's lips 
 had, at first, startled the mother into the fear of an 
 early death for her darling, but after tracing them to 
 their rightful source, The Greenwoods, Mrs. Kingston 
 became sardonic. The Greenwoods' religion excited 
 only Mrs. Kingston's impatience and contempt; for 
 The Greenwoods believed that happiness had been the 
 object of man's creation; and that health, wealth, cul- 
 ture, fame, and power were merely the means to that 
 end. Her religion consisted in drawing supplies of 
 bliss from its great invisible Source and in passing 
 them on to others. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston, on the other hand, held strong views 
 concerning original sin and expiation, and considered 
 happiness only an incident. Duty she regarded as a 
 foe to be grappled with and overcome. Looking him 
 sternly in the eye, with sour mien, she failed to under- 
 stand The Greenwoods, who, believing him to be the 
 guide to universal happiness, skipped along so mer-
 
 198 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 rily by his side that she was thought to be in bad com- 
 pany. 
 
 " I fail to see what God has to do with the case, 
 Marie." 
 
 " He works in divers ways, Mamma, and He is tak- 
 ing Woody back to Miss Faunce." 
 
 " It appears that Robert is taking her back," Mrs. 
 Kingston spoke bitterly. 
 
 " God is moving through him." Marie was well in- 
 structed in the doctrine. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston's feeling at that moment was that 
 God might be about, a better business ; but she could 
 not say this to her young daughter, nor could she ex- 
 plain that a different agency might be at work. So 
 she changed the subject from The Greenwoods' theol- 
 ogy, in which she and her family were only pawns in 
 the child's game of life, to The Greenwoods' haugh- 
 tiness. 
 
 " I should think that after her refusal to associate 
 with you, you would, if you have any pride, be glad 
 for her to leave ! " 
 
 " Oh, that was because of my manners ! She says 
 they have improved wonderfully since she came. Now 
 she doesn't mind associating at all." 
 
 Marie was decidedly uplifted by the compliment ; but 
 Mrs. Kingston, though her pride had been nerving it- 
 self to blows during the past two months,-^was pierced 
 to the quick. That the dependent, penniless child, who 
 had been relegated to the servant's care " didn't mind 
 associating " with the pampered daughter of the house 
 was a bitter pill; but that Marie, the little princess 
 whom all had delighted to honor, should be grateful
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 199 
 
 for the crumbs of recognition that fell from the beg- 
 gar's table was nauseating. 
 
 The situation was too much for Chester, who saun- 
 tered to The Greenwoods for light and cheer. " How 
 is the packing getting on? " he asked. For the dispute 
 was still raging. 
 
 Groans answered him. 
 
 " I never worked as hard in my life as I have over 
 this trunk ! " exclaimed Mother Burns despairingly. 
 
 " She won't let me take a thing ! " wailed Woody. 
 
 " You are the worst child I ever saw ! " 
 
 " You are mean as you can be ! What difference 
 does it make to you what I take? " 
 
 " Why do you want a cloak when it is ninety in the 
 shade? " 
 
 " I'm going on top of the Blue Ridge. Do you want 
 me to freeze? " 
 
 " No danger. Put that cloak back where you found 
 it!" 
 
 " Suppose we have a cyclone ! " 
 
 " Your spring wrap is sufficient." 
 
 " A spring wrap would look pretty in a cyclone, 
 now, wouldn't it? " 
 
 The Greenwoods, who seemed to be well informed 
 as to the costumes best adapted to the various cata- 
 clysms of nature, looked disdainful. Chester could re- 
 frain no longer. 
 
 " You had better put it in, Mother Burns. How 
 would you like it yourself, only a spring wrap, and 
 a cyclone coming? " 
 
 The Greenwoods smiled gratefully at her champion, 
 but the harassed housekeeper got up from her kneel- 
 ing posture to face this new tormenter; and, as the
 
 200 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 poor woman's back was turned, the cloak disappeared 
 down a corner of the trunk. 
 
 " You quit encouraging this child, Chester King- 
 ston ! I'm pestered enough already ! You are to blame 
 for the whole thing, anyhow, bringing a trunk down 
 here for a baby to play with! Now, you leave this 
 room. And, Woody, you go with him." 
 
 " I haven't time, Mother Burns. I've got to pack 
 this trunk." 
 
 " I'll pack this trunk. You get out." 
 
 " How can I ever find my things, if I don't see where 
 you put them? Besides, I want to help. You look 
 so tired ! " 
 
 But Mother Burns had endured enough. So, reso- 
 lutely ejecting her young assistant, she called a maid, 
 bolted the door and, starting at the bottom, repacked 
 the trunk, strapped and locked it, had it carried to the 
 station, and gave the key to Robert. 
 
 " Whatever you do," she cautioned him, " don't give 
 her that key till she is on the train and the train has 
 started, or she will be back here packing it all over 
 again ! " Mrs. Burns wiped the perspiration from her 
 brow. % 
 
 At one time the young man would have been scorn- 
 ful in the face of such a manifestation of weakness, but 
 now he was only sympathetic. He promised. 
 
 " Take care of her, Robert ; and take care of your- 
 self ! Don't break your neck on those mountains, and 
 look out for cyclones, and earthquakes. Have they 
 smallpox or yellow fever there? " 
 
 " I haven't heard of it." 
 
 " Well I have. I haven't heard anything else these 
 last two days. What you mean by taking the child to
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 201 
 
 such a sickly, stormy, dangerous region, I can't 
 imagine! Watch the clouds, be careful of the snakes 
 and if she gets sick bring her straight back to me! 
 And don't give her that key! "
 
 CHAPTER XXIV 
 
 HAS BEEN was not its name, but since its glory had 
 been shattered by the War that is what they called it. 
 For generations the same families had been coming to 
 drink of its waters, and among the regular frequent- 
 ers had been the Faunces and the Woffords. Frances 
 was there now with her brother and aunt; so was her 
 life-long enemy, Edith Wofford, and there too came 
 Robert and The Greenwoods. 
 
 All was well with The Greenwoods, but something 
 was wrong with the Foresters, an impalpable some- 
 thing that caused a stiffness even in their relations with 
 their charge. For one thing, Frances refused to ac- 
 knowledge the partnership. 
 
 " I would not presume," she said coldly, " to attend 
 to Dr. Kingston's duty for him, when he is present and 
 able to attend to it himself. So ask permission of your 
 guardian, Greenwoods." 
 
 Robert was not easily discouraged. He had come to 
 find out why she hated him " like poison," and intended 
 to do so. That she hated him seemed evident, and when 
 her dislike was more apparent than usual he went for 
 consolation to Edith. Not knowing of the existing 
 enmity, he liked to talk to her of Frances. 
 
 " Dr. Kingston, do you like France ? " asked The 
 Greenwoods abruptly one day when he was smoking 
 alone under the trees and she had joined him with a 
 businesslike mien. 
 
 His feeling towards Miss Faunce was not a subject 
 202
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 203 
 
 he cared to discuss ; but as his reply was certain to be 
 taken to headquarters, he knew it behooved him to be 
 civil. " Of course." 
 
 " Do you want to keep friends with her? " His in- 
 terrogator was riding a stick-horse and he felt like us- 
 ing her steed against her. " Yes." 
 
 " Then you let Edith alone ! " 
 
 He was puzzled and smiled at her forgivingly. 
 
 " We don't let young gentlemen who eat at our table 
 run after Edith." 
 
 "Why?" 
 
 " I told you about her and Frances's feud, Dr. King- 
 ston. Now don't pretend you have forgotten." En- 
 lightment overspread his visage. He had heard of Miss 
 Faunce's enemy, but had not known that it was Edith. 
 " Besides, there's Mr. Cameron." 
 
 He had heard of Mr. Cameron too. Mr. Cameron 
 had won fame as the man who had cut Mark Perkins 
 out. 
 
 "Is he here?" 
 
 " No, but Edith is ; Ned was her beau, and France cut 
 her out. So now they keep their friends apart. I 
 know you are not beaux with Francie, because you are 
 sweethearts already with Mrs. Wingo, and nobody can 
 be lovers with two girls at the same time, let alone 
 three." 
 
 "Three!" he gasped. 
 
 " Yessir ; for there is Miss Ardelia, too. But France 
 wants it to be distinctly understood, I heard her tell 
 her aunt so, that she's not in the running! So you 
 and her can't be lovers. But you can be friends. I 
 know she has been haughty to you, Dr. Kingston; but 
 you must make up with her just the same out of regard
 
 204 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 to me. I don't want any quarreling in my family. So 
 you let Edith alone. France hates her like poison ! " 
 
 He winced at the words. Evidently Miss Faunce had 
 taken a strong dislike to poison. According to The 
 Greenwoods, she hated him in the same degree. He be- 
 gan to sympathize with Edith. 
 
 " I don't see why you are so crazy about Edith, Dr. 
 Kingston. She is such a story-teller ! " 
 
 " Greenwoods ! Please speak more respectfully of 
 your elders." 
 
 " It is you she told it on. And it was you what said 
 it wasn't so." 
 
 " What do you mean? " 
 
 " Your name. She said it was Octavius ; you say 
 it's Bob. Which storied? " 
 
 So it was Edith who had started that. Now Rob- 
 ert recognized that impalpable something that, like a 
 ghost, stood between himself and his fellow-Forester. 
 It was a ghost, the ghost of Octavius Caesar! Miss 
 Faunce believed that he was indifferent to her, yet 
 pursued her with his attentions. She had been led by 
 Woody to believe that he was a flirt, while Edith had 
 hinted that he was trying to avenge his uncle's re- 
 jection at her hands. 
 
 Robert groaned. He could convince Miss Faunce 
 that he was not Octavius but Anthony; he could avoid 
 Edith. But what could he do with The Greenwoods? 
 
 " Look here, Woody, what business is all this of 
 yours? " he asked sharply. 
 
 " You are my guardian, Dr. Kingston, I want you 
 to act right." 
 
 " I want you, to act right too, young lady, and " 
 
 " I do. I always do the best I can."
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 205 
 
 " What is this nonsense you have been telling Miss 
 Faunce about Mrs. Wingo and myself? " 
 
 " Not a word, 'cepting you are a-going to marry 
 her!" 
 
 " The deuce ! Woody, I've a mind to beat you to 
 death!" 
 
 " But you haven't got no license for it." 
 
 " You talk entirely too much ! But since you have 
 started this report you can stop it : I am not going to 
 marry Mrs. Wingo ! " 
 
 " But I have already promised Harriet that you 
 would. Me and her have arranged everything. What 
 have you and the widow busted up about ? " 
 
 A longing to chastise the child assailed him but, 
 with difficulty, he mastered it. " Mrs. Wingo and I 
 have never been engaged. Now never let me hear of 
 you talking about my private affairs again ! " 
 
 " Can't I even write and tell Harriet you had rather 
 not marry her mamma? I think she ought to know. 
 They're depending on it." 
 
 At this he glared so ferociously that she prudently 
 withdrew, and resolved to write without waiting for his 
 consent. For Harriet would want to know, and The 
 Greenwoods did not believe in keeping people in sus- 
 pense. 
 
 The Greenwoods had given her guardian good ad- 
 vice about Edith, and he acted upon it. He avoided her 
 and allowed his love for Frances to show forth more 
 constantly, until the warmth of its rays melted Miss 
 Faunce's coldness. His numerous attentions dissipated 
 her doubt, and as her doubt vanished, she grew kind ; as 
 she grew kind, he grew hopeful.
 
 206 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 This happy state lasted for three days. The time 
 seemed propitious for a proposal, and he hinted that 
 he had a question of importance to ask. And Frances 
 smiled, and understood. 
 
 Octavius was almost vanquished.
 
 CHAPTER XXV 
 
 OVER in a corner of the hotel grounds was a huge 
 moss-covered boulder, precipitous, though, by the 
 help of a gnarled old apple tree, which shaded the sum- 
 mit from the glare of the sun, ascent was possible to 
 the nimble. 
 
 In joyous discomfort, two little girls were dangling 
 their feet over the steepest edge, The Greenwoods and 
 her recovered chum of the golden locks. They were 
 gazing with lively interest at the mountains which, 
 surrounding them, rose tier above tier, while green 
 faded into blue, and the blue of the mountains receded 
 into the blue of the sky. 
 
 Goldilocks' uplifted gaze was filled with horror and 
 apprehension ; The Greenwoods', with cheerful awe not 
 unmixed with curiosity and a proprietary interest. 
 She spoke with the modest pride of an animal trainer 
 exhibiting his jungle beasts: 
 
 " You wouldn't think, just to look at 'em, that they 
 was apt to go off most any minute, now, would you, 
 Goldilocks?" 
 
 With the unconsciously given aid of a retired naval 
 officer, she had selected a volcano as the most conve- 
 nient and suitable destiny for her guardian. But the 
 secret proving too active for her sole retention, she had 
 besought her friend's help in keeping it. Far, how- 
 ever, from appreciating the magnificent spectacle 
 Woody was about to present, Goldilocks was filled with 
 
 207
 
 208 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 commiseration for the sacrificial victim and with fears 
 for the summer colony. 
 
 " I knew something was a-going to happen to him, 
 but I couldn't imagine what it would be, till I saw those 
 mountains lying about so handy. I'd been anticipat- 
 ing a cyclone, but I knew then it would be a volcano. I 
 think it will be that peaked-looking one in the third 
 row. It looks about ready to go off." 
 
 " Do you s'pose it will hurt him, Woody ? " 
 
 " Not a speck. If it would, 1 shouldn't have it. I 
 don't want to hurt the Doctor. All I want is just to 
 shut him up safe somewhere, till I'm of age ; and this is 
 the best plan I could make. The Captain saw Vesuvius 
 erupt, and it's exactly what I've been after for the Doc- 
 tor. It will teach him a lesson, keep him perfectly safe, 
 and not hurt a hair of his head ! " 
 
 The Greenwoods' knowledge was vast, but hazy; 
 her discourse, necessarily, the same; and Goldilocks, 
 who remained in some doubt as to whether Vesuvius, 
 Pompeii, and Herculaneum were mountains, towns, or 
 people, sometimes was hard put to tell which did the 
 erupting and which were buried. 
 
 " The Captain says, first you hear a rumble like 
 thunder " 
 
 " Listen ! " gasped Goldilocks. The Greenwoods 
 turned her head critically, but gave a disappointed 
 shake. 
 
 " That's just the bowling alley. It fooled me at 
 first." She regarded " the peaked one " again. " After 
 it rumbles and busts open, gas, ashes, cinders, lava, fire, 
 molten rocks, and all kinds of hot things shoot out. " 
 
 " Why, it will kill us all ! " 
 
 " The Captain says not, and he was there. You see,
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 209 
 
 God has arranged it so lovely for 'era in his bounti- 
 ful providence and goodness! First, the gas comes, 
 for cooking and lights ; next, the nice soft ashes to 
 protect them from the lava and hot stuff, and then, the 
 molten rocks to keep the air out. It can't hurt, any- 
 how; for it's not a killing miracle, but just a burying 
 one. One happened thousands and thousands of years 
 ago ; and buried 'em millions and millions of feet be- 
 neath the level of the sea. And their friends died, and 
 all who'd ever known 'em, and their children, and their 
 children's children; and their name was forgotten on 
 the face of the earth. Millions of years passed. Then 
 one day a man was digging a well. And when he got 
 to the bottom of it, there sat Pompeii and Hercula- 
 neum ! " 
 
 "Weren't they dead?" 
 
 " Why child, they was eating their dinner ! Every- 
 thing was just like it had been millions of years be- 
 fore. It was like the sleeping beauty. Them what was 
 eating their dinner kept on eating; them what was at 
 the camphor theatre stayed there; a bird was there 
 with its wings outstretched, and a mother with a baby 
 in her arms." 
 
 " Hadn't it grown any? " 
 
 " How could it grow? It was air-tight." 
 
 "How did they breathe then?" 
 
 " They didn't breathe. That's what kept 'em young. 
 We have to breathe 'cause we are up in the air. And 
 if you are around where air is you've got to breathe 
 it, and breathe it all the time. If you stop a minute 
 it will kill you, and if you keep on it will wear out your 
 lungs. Air is awful dangerous ! But they hadn't any 
 there, so they was safe."
 
 210 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " It sounds unhealthy to me." 
 
 " If it was unhealthy they would 'a died." 
 
 " I bet Dr. Kingston won't like it ! " 
 
 " I don't care. It will do him good." 
 
 " It isn't polite ; and orphans ought to be polite. 
 You say politeness is doing as you would be done by. 
 How'd you like it? " 
 
 " Fine ! I'd live thousands of years and never get 
 grown and cranky. And I'd see a volcano inside, and 
 the middle of the earth. But it wouldn't do any good, 
 for I'd stay little, and when they dug me up he would 
 still be my guardian. So it must be him." 
 
 " It's a long time for him to stay there, till you're 
 twenty-one." 
 
 " It takes that long for me to get grown ; but he will 
 be as good as new when he gets out. Besides, it's my 
 duty. I've got to put him down. I've vowed it ; and this 
 is the best chance I'll ever have." She gazed dreamily to- 
 ward the " peaked mountain ". " I've wondered and 
 wondered what that meant : * All guardians must be 
 put down. But where I was to put the Doctor I 
 couldn't tell to save me. Now it's plain. Have you 
 ever noticed, Goldilocks, that if you think long enough 
 about a problem, you always get the answer? Well, 
 'twas so with this. The very minute I heard the Cap- 
 tain tell the fat lady in purple about Vesuvius, I under- 
 stood exactly how Dr. Kingston was to be put down, 
 where put, and how kept." 
 
 "How?" 
 
 " Volcanoes, prayer, and faith. It's strange, but 
 whenever it's a person's bounden duty to do a thing, 
 no matter how hard the duty or how small the person, 
 there's always a way to do it. Who would think
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 that I could put the Doctor down? Lots of girls would 
 'a give up. But I knew being little was no excuse; so 
 I counted my pulse, and prayed ; and now the Lord has 
 prepared a way for me to walk in. I love mira- 
 cles ! " 
 
 " I don't. I don't think they're nice." 
 
 " And them in the Bible ! Where's your religion, 
 child?" 
 
 " This sort isn't in the Bible." 
 
 " How about Lot's wife, what was turned to salt ? 
 Or Ananias, what dropped dead? Or Sodom and 
 Gomorrah? Compared to them this is hygienic." 
 
 " But when that thing gets loose it will be dangerous 
 for the rest of us ! " 
 
 " Miracles never hurt a soul but the one they're 
 after. There was Elisha's bear. Did it eat up every- 
 body it met just because they was convenient, or did 
 it go about eating folks in general? No, it ate the chil- 
 dren what called the prophet names, and let the rest 
 alone. And there was the whale : It went after Jonah, 
 and it got Jonah, and it swallowed Jonah, but it let the 
 rest of the folks alone. When a miracle starts after 
 a person it gets that person and quits? When the vol- 
 cano went after Pompeii, did it get Washington or New 
 York ? No, it got Pompeii ! " 
 
 " I pity his mother, with her boy buried alive." 
 
 " I don't. Pm arranging this just to keep from 
 living in her house. And if I can stand my papa be- 
 ing buried for good and all, she can put up with her 
 boy being buried for a few years." 
 
 " But your papa's soul is in heaven, and her boy's 
 will be under the ground. And how will that nice Mr. 
 Chester feel?"
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " You can't please everybody, and if this pleases the 
 Lord, I'm satisfied. Then, I shall live with Francie." 
 
 " You are a changed girl, Greenwoods ! You 
 wouldn't have been up to a trick like this two months 
 ago. When it's too late, you'll be sorry! His people 
 will die of grief, and when you dig him up and find him 
 raving crazy, or his eyes out, or him injured in some 
 awful way, you'll be ashamed to look his mother in the 
 face." 
 
 " I'm tired looking in her face anyway, so I won't 
 bother. And it won't hurt him. It's not that kind of 
 miracle. And if his people die of grief, they'll be 
 silly." 
 
 " Greenwoods, I had a brother to die when I was a 
 little girl. And Mamma is resigned to him being dead, 
 but sometimes she dreams that he is buried alive, and 
 it most runs her crazy. He isn't buried alive, so it is 
 just the thought of it that hurts; for that is the 
 worst thing that can happen. So they won't be silly 
 for grieving." 
 
 " I didn't know about all that, Goldilocks. I haven't 
 got any people 'cept France, and I just want to live 
 with her." There was a catch in her voice, a catch 
 that went to her little chum's heart. " I didn't know it 
 was so bad. If anybody told me my papa was buried 
 alive, I should be so glad I couldn't see. And I should 
 dig him up this minute, and be too happy to live. I 
 think it's better for 'em to be buried alive than dead; 
 for then you can dig 'em up again ! But, of course, if 
 they feel like that about it, I'll give it all up. I don't 
 want to hurt any one. I just want to live with 
 Francie." 
 
 She choked back a sob, and Goldilocks' eyes grew
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 213 
 
 moist. She put her arms around Woody and kissed 
 her, to the imminent danger of both their necks, for 
 the rock was high, crying out, " I knew all the time 
 you didn't mean it, darling. You just didn't under- 
 stand. Maybe there's a better way. Let's ask Miss 
 Frances. She likes him." 
 
 " No, she doesn't, for she'd 'a told me. They are just 
 friendly on my account. He neglected her, and she 
 treated him haughty, and I got after 'em about it. 
 It wasn't treating me right, for them to fuss." 
 
 " If she doesn't like him, maybe she will let you have 
 the volcano. But you'll feel better if you ask. So 
 come on, honey." 
 
 They scrambled cautiously down, and Woody went 
 in search of Frances, who was playing tennis. But 
 when she saw the Greenwoods' troubled little face, she 
 hastily dropped her racket, and led the despondent 
 child to a near-by, rustic bench. 
 
 " What's worrying my angel? " 
 
 " I'm bothered about the Doctor, France." 
 
 " What ails him, precious ? " 
 
 Miss Faunce was troubled now. 
 
 " I was just wondering if a volcano would hurt him 
 any?" 
 
 Frances laughed in relief and kissed her. 
 
 " It would if he got in its way." 
 
 " It didn't hurt Herculaneum or Pompeii." 
 
 " They were just towns, and he is a man." 
 
 " There was plenty men in Pompeii. They wasn't 
 hurt." 
 
 " Why, precious " 
 
 The Greenwoods wheedlingly interrupted: 
 
 "Listen, Francie, I won't have a volcano, if you
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 don't want it. But if we bury him down good and deep 
 beneath all that nice soft ashes and stuff, and keep 
 him there till I'm of age, I can live with you. I don't 
 want to go back to the Kingstons'. I like my own 
 raised-up adopted best and want to live in her house. 
 It won't be but thirteen years, darling. That seems a 
 long time, especially when you think of all the Sat- 
 urdays and vacations and Christmases. But he's 
 stopped school, so doesn't count the Saturdays any 
 more ; and there won't be any vacations ; and I've heard 
 grown folks say that Christmas never seems a month 
 a-coming. It won't hurt him. So let's have a good 
 one." 
 
 This plea, which should have melted a heart of stone, 
 made no impression upon Frances. She was shocked: 
 and, having had some experience with The Green- 
 woods' miracles, was also frightened. " Why, darling, 
 it will kill him ! " 
 
 " It didn't kill those people in Vesuvius. It kept 
 'em fine ! " 
 
 " It killed them, precious, it killed them all." 
 
 " Oh, Francie ! Even the little baby and the bird ? " 
 
 " Yes, sweet. But don't cry, darling. A volcano 
 hasn't got him yet." 
 
 "And never will," sobbed The Greenwoods heart- 
 brokenly ; " and I'll have to go back and live with those 
 hateful Kingstons." 
 
 " Please don't cry, precious ; but volcanoes are so 
 unkind. And perhaps there are gentler means of 
 bringing us, you and me, together again." 
 
 She thought of her approaching interview with 
 Robert and thrilled with happiness. Woody's faith 
 would be justified after all. She longed to confide in
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 215 
 
 her and to set her fears at rest; but for choking and 
 stammering had to give it up. 
 
 " God may find some other way of bringing us to- 
 gether. Precious, that will harm no one and make us 
 all happy. So you just keep on praying, sweet, and 
 don't bother about the particulars." 
 
 " All right," agreed The Greenwoods briskly ; " but 
 before we start another miracle we'd better get this one 
 unprayed. I've been working on it a week and it's 
 about ready to go off. Goldilocks is praying, and 
 s'pose you pray too, France; and while you two are 
 holding it steady, I'll tend to the Doctor. Maybe all 
 of us together can save him." 
 
 Frances smiled and promised. Of course there was 
 no danger, but it would be sweet to pray for Robert. 
 
 " Do you like him, Francie ? " 
 
 A shy sweet look was in Francie's eyes, love's ban- 
 ners on her cheeks. 
 
 " Yes," she said, " a little bit."
 
 THE GREENWOODS thoughtfully knocked at Robert's 
 door. All lesser virtues, she had decided, must give 
 way to the need of saving him. Entering, she re- 
 turned his nod of welcome and nervously seated herself. 
 How was a small girl to save her guardian from a 
 volcano, without telling him that she had prepared 
 it for his undoing? The situation required tact. 
 
 " When are you a-going to Chicago, Dr. King- 
 ston? " For his own good he just had to be moved 
 to a distance, but she stared at him in apprehension. 
 And well she might ; for while there was business to be 
 attended to in Chicago, he was not pleased at this re- 
 minder. 
 
 " Sometime soon." 
 
 "But how soon?" 
 
 She knew it was rude, but through the window she 
 saw the " peaked-looking one " ready and waiting, and 
 dared not hesitate. He put down his paper. 
 
 " Greenwoods, is that any of your business? " 
 
 " No sir. But er you ought to be getting away 
 from here ! " 
 
 "Why?" He smiled indulgently at her imperti- 
 nence, for underlying his disapproval was the memory 
 of Miss Faunce's graciousness. At that moment it 
 was not in him to be stern. 
 
 His smile made it harder still for Woody to tell him 
 the truth. 
 
 " I am uneasy, Dr. Kingston." 
 216
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 217 
 
 " What about, precious ? " The " precious " was 
 due to Miss Faunce. 
 
 " Why, er, you you said you were a-coming to 
 leave me here with France," gently evaded The Green- 
 woods, " and it looks like you are a-going to stay all 
 summer, and not leave me here with France at all. I 
 want you to go away, and leave me here with France." 
 
 This remark was so unlike courteous and self- 
 possessed Woody that he listened in surprise. He saw 
 that something was behind her embarrassment, and 
 misgivings seized him. Had Miss Faunce said some- 
 thing? 
 
 " Do you want me to leave, Greenwoods ? " 
 
 " Yes, sir, and so does France." 
 
 This sounded like a fib, but she was only trying to 
 convey to him, in a prudent manner, Frances's fears for 
 his safety. Frances wanted him saved and the surest 
 way of doing this, since her prayers had gone so far, 
 was to get him away till the mountain settled down. 
 
 "She does!" 
 
 " Yes, Dr. Kingston ; we've just been talking it over." 
 
 The Greenwoods meant about the volcano; he 
 thought she meant about his departure. It seemed 
 strange, her coming here to tell him that his ab- 
 sence was desired; it really looked as if she had been 
 sent. 
 
 He was aware of her proclivity for repeating all she 
 heard, and he knew Frances was too. They had often 
 laughed together over it and had shamelessly turned 
 the trait to profit. They frequently sent each other 
 messages through The Greenwoods, messages that 
 they hesitated to deliver in person. Was this another 
 of those occasions?
 
 218 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 He had given her a hint that he intended to propose. 
 Was she giving him a hint, through The Greenwoods, 
 that his proposal would be useless? Had she consid- 
 ered the matter and decided against him? Was she 
 trying to save him the humiliation of a rejection? 
 
 As it would not do to place too much reliance upon 
 The Greenwoods' statement, he decided to find Frances 
 and read his answer in her eyes. 
 
 So The Greenwoods was summarily dismissed. 
 
 Frances, dressed for the evening, walked with lag- 
 ging steps to the same rustic seat where she had talked 
 with Woody, and sat down to think. 
 
 She had conquered her jealousy of Edith, Mrs. 
 Wingo, and Miss Ardelia, temporarily, but distrusted 
 her own fickle self. She wanted time for examination 
 before he asked that question. She loved him, but she 
 had loved before. Would this love be more enduring 
 than the last? 
 
 " Love can't last always," she reflected, grown cyn- 
 ical about the tender passion, " and he must have some 
 fault that I shall see when I cease to love him; so I 
 must find if it is one I hate." 
 
 While she was vainly trying to find a flaw, he came, 
 with his question, she supposed, and she had his 
 answer ready. Feeling as if her thoughts of him were 
 visible in her eyes, she blushed and turned away. 
 
 It was a natural, girlish thing to do, but he, who 
 was hoping for the welcoming glance that would give 
 the lie to Woody's words, misconstrued it. 
 
 An awkward pause ensued, a pause in which her 
 doubts returned and his fear was crystallized. When 
 she looked up, trying to veil with a mask of indiffer-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 219 
 
 ence her timidity, her hopes, and fears, the ghost, 
 Octavius, had returned and stood between them. 
 
 Believing she had decided against him, Robert re- 
 solved sadly to go. 
 
 " As I suppose you know, Miss Faunce, I am leaving 
 to-night for Chicago." 
 
 With a slight shiver, as at the crash of falling 
 hopes, she drew her head up proudly. 
 
 "Yes?" 
 
 " I have intended going all along. I suppose you 
 understand? " 
 
 " I do," icily. It had been as she feared. He was 
 just playing a little game of hearts; and now, having 
 won, was leaving her. She stood there unflinching, but 
 Mark Perkins was avenged. 
 
 u I have come to ask," in spite of Octavius, she 
 took heart of grace. He did have something to ask, 
 " if you will kindly look after The Greenwoods while I 
 am gone." 
 
 " I shall be pleased to do so." Her head was high, 
 but she felt as if he had stabbed her in the back. 
 
 " Thank you. Here is my address, in case you tire 
 of her." 
 
 " Oh, I never tire of her ! " She spoke with an ac- 
 cent on the " her," and then she turned and left him. 
 
 All was over between the Foresters. Octavius had 
 conquered. 
 
 A week later The Greenwoods was talking to Frances 
 in the room that they shared. She was dressed for 
 dinner, and sweet and dainty she looked, from the top 
 of her curl-crowned head to the tip of the small, white 
 slipper she was kicking so viciously against her half- 
 packed trunk.
 
 220 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " He is the meanest man on earth, France, and I 
 won't go back to Wayville ! " 
 
 " You will spoil your slippers, if you don't stop 
 kicking that trunk," said Frances. She seemed almost 
 unsympathetic. She was taking great pains with her 
 own toilet, and at that moment was brushing her hair. 
 
 " Hateful wretch ! " growled Woody, " I don't blame 
 you for hating him like poison ! " 
 
 Robert had returned for his ward; but as the little 
 resort was so far from railroads, or civilization, he had 
 been forced to stay all night. Having so much time and 
 no one to spend it with, he took a book down to the 
 spring and there he sulked in loneliness. For he had 
 concluded that Miss Faunce did hate him, and that life 
 was not worth living. His melancholy revery was in- 
 terrupted : 
 
 "Ouch! Dr. Kingston! Murder! Ow! Ough! Help!" 
 
 He sprang up in alarm and saw one approaching 
 with leaps and bounds emitting shriek upon shriek, 
 one who (though he recognized her not in that role) 
 was a messenger of love. It was The Greenwoods. She 
 was coming to straighten a snarl she had tangled, and 
 advanced precipitately. 
 
 " Is anything the matter, Greenwoods ? " 
 
 He spoke sternly, for he, too, was in an unsympathetic 
 humor. 
 
 " Matter ! " she roared. " I guess there is ! I've 
 been spanked ! " 
 
 Could he have heard aright? Remembering Miss 
 Faunce's haughty refusal " to presume," he wondered 
 who could have chastised the child. He stared. 
 
 " Has everybody in this hotel the right to spank me 
 whenever they blame please? "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 221 
 
 " But who has presumed to attend to my duty when 
 I am present and able to attend to it myself? " 
 
 "Huh!" 
 
 " Who has taken it upon herself to spank my ward ? " 
 
 " France, of course, you idiot ! That's who ! Old 
 red-headed, freckled-faced, knock-kneed, hateful 
 thing!" 
 
 " I am amazed ! " 
 
 "Me too! Old mercenary jilt! Old common herd! 
 Old " 
 
 " Greenwoods ! Don't speak in- 
 
 " You bet I won't ! I'll never speak to her again ! 
 She paints too. At least she's a-going to, for she bor- 
 rowed it a minute ago ! She's " 
 
 " But what was the cause of the tragedy? " 
 
 " Nothing ! I was sitting there as good as an an- 
 gel!" 
 
 "Is it possible?" 
 
 " Of course it's possible ! And just because I told 
 her that I'd told you that she hated you like poison she 
 beat me to death with her brush ! " 
 
 If Woody had only noted the expression upon her 
 guardian's face at this announcement, she might have 
 gone elsewhere for sympathy or redress. 
 
 " And she called me names ! She said I was a miser- 
 able little fibster!" 
 
 " But I don't understand, dear child." He took her 
 upon his knee and asked : " What was it you said 
 to " 
 
 " I said she paints, and is an old cross-eyed " 
 
 He covered her mouth with his hand. 
 
 " What did you say, I mean, to anger her? " 
 
 " Ow, take your dirty hand away ! "
 
 222 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " What did you say, I mean, to anger her? " 
 
 " Ow, take your dirty hand away ! " 
 
 He obeyed, but remained in readiness to stem again 
 the flow of eloquence, should it become too rapid? 
 
 " And what did you say to offend her, dear? " 
 
 " Nothing! The old cat's just mean ! " 
 
 " But didn't you mention something about saying 
 she hated me like poison ? " He was not vindictive, but 
 Frances' reply to that suspicion was sweet to him. 
 
 " And that's every word I said ! The mean old 
 thing!" / 
 
 " And you say she was offended ? " He wanted to 
 hear the story told again. 
 
 " Offended ! She nearly popped, and over noth- 
 ing! She knows I don't approve of corporous punish- 
 ment, too. I've often told her so ! She knows it brutal- 
 izes a child and doesn't appeal to its higher nature, 
 and is a tacky, unstylish thing to do! She knows I've 
 conscientious scruples against it! But I could for- 
 give her, if I'd done one thing to deserve it! But 
 I hadn't ! " 
 
 In a noble attempt at saving a life, The Greenwoods 
 had almost severed two loving hearts. Now she re- 
 united them, but she did so unconsciously and with no 
 good intention. She was Cupid's agent, but was under 
 sealed orders. 
 
 " She's been put out about something," lamented 
 Woody, " ever since you went to Chicago ; so she took 
 it out on me ! Oh, I hate grown folks ! They haven't 
 one grain of sense! And I'll never speak to France 
 again ! " 
 
 She sobbed convulsively, a hapless victim in the 
 cause of love!
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 223 
 
 Robert looked at her grimly. He was sick at heart. 
 If Woody had been wrong about Frances* hating him 
 like poison, perhaps she had been mistaken about 
 Frances' wanting him to go to Chicago. Had he been 
 mistaken too? 
 
 He looked at the little meddler, who would neither 
 permit him to marry Frances nor forget her, and asked : 
 
 " Was it a big brush, Woody? " 
 
 " The worst I ever saw ! " sobbed The Greenwoods. 
 
 And Robert smiled.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII 
 
 THEY met that night, with confusion on Frances' 
 side and infinite tact on Robert's. There were no ex- 
 planations ; just a silent agreement to blame Woody 
 for everything, and to make allowances ; just a gentle 
 thaw, but two souls sang a duet of praise, and two 
 hearts had reached the higher understanding. 
 
 When Frances went to her room, she found The 
 Greenwoods " possuming " in bed, and knew herself un- 
 forgiven. After making her preparations for retiring, 
 she put out the light and, The Greenwoods' stubborn 
 silence continuing, made the first advance, not alto- 
 gether from disinterested motives. 
 
 "Are you asleep, Woody?" 
 
 " Yes ; and don't you wake me up ! " 
 
 " Don't be angry, precious. You shouldn't harbor 
 unkind feelings." 
 
 " Rats ! " 
 
 " And whether you purposely told a fib or not you 
 did talk too much. But I'm sorry I had to punish you 
 and hope it won't occur again. So let's be friends." 
 
 The Greenwoods sniffed scornfully, but her con- 
 science was touched. 
 
 " You must be careful about repeating all you hear, 
 or imagine, Woody. You must have hurt Dr. King- 
 ston's feelings when you told him I hated him. How 
 did he take it, darling? Was he angry, or only sad and 
 worried? " 
 
 That was the crux of Miss Faunce's amiability; she 
 224
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 225 
 
 wanted to know how her lover had borne the tidings 
 that she " hated like poison." Also she wanted to 
 know when he had heard it. Was it just prior to that 
 Chicago trip? 
 
 " You are right, France ; not in licking me, you cur, 
 for lickings are always wrong in principle and un- 
 ladylike. Besides, I'm your visitor now, not your child, 
 and should be treated politely." 
 
 " Yes, dear. Certainly. But we are speaking 
 of 
 
 " I know it, and that's what you are right about. 
 I do talk too much. Others have pointed it out, and 
 I've noticed it myself. It will get you into trouble 
 every time." 
 
 " And it was so unkind to say I hated him. Was he 
 much shocked? " 
 
 " Let's see ! That was the day he scolded me about 
 the chicken. You bet he was shocked! He made me 
 promise not to bury any more." 
 
 " I don't mean about the chicken, goosie? " 
 
 " You mean about me talking too much, then. You 
 are right, France. There is no sense in it. I believe 
 I'll give it up entirely. I promise you that some day 
 I will." 
 
 " Not entirely, Greenwoods. Your guardian wouldn't 
 wish you to quit entirely. Though he must have been 
 sadly grieved when you said I hated him. How did he 
 take it?" 
 
 " It's done, though, France. There's an order of nuns 
 what take the vow of perpetual silence. I think I 
 could do it." 
 
 " Perpetual silence isn't necessary. Just don't hurt 
 people's feelings, as you did his. Did he "
 
 226 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " I don't scarcely ever, and you know it ! " hotly. 
 
 "Don't what?" in amazement. 
 
 " Don't hurt people's feelings 'less they are all stuck 
 out." 
 
 " You hurt his ! At least, I suppose they were hurt ! 
 Weren't they?" 
 
 "Whose?" 
 
 "Whom have we been discussing all this time?" 
 
 " Me." 
 
 " Then we have discussed you quite long enough ! 
 Now answer my question." 
 
 "What question?" 
 
 Frances laid hands upon the child to shake her, but 
 thought better of it. She was almost exasperated. 
 
 " Why don't you listen to what is being said, Green- 
 woods? I want to know if Dr. Kingston seemed wor- 
 ried or displeased when you said I hated him." 
 
 " To hear you go on, France, one would think you 
 was in love." 
 
 " How absurd ! " 
 
 " I am glad it is absurd, for bad as you acted to-day, 
 I'd hate for you to marry into that family. They hate 
 you like poison because you jilted their Uncle Mark; 
 and say you are an unprincipled coquette, and can't 
 keep a promise." 
 
 Frances caught her breath, almost with a sob. 
 She had known of their prejudice, but not that it was 
 so intense. 
 
 " And Susie heard Mrs. Kingston say she would 
 never receive you as a daughter or speak to the doctor 
 if he marries you. So don't worry me any more with 
 how he looked or if he cared." 
 
 " Is is he very fond of his mother, Woody ? "
 
 THE GREENWOODS " 227 
 
 " Plum crazy about her. Their affection is awful. 
 He thinks everything she owns is sacred; her goldfish, 
 her bannisters, the very floor she walks on." 
 
 The last part of this sentence Frances missed. One 
 couldn't listen to all Woody said, but if she had heard 
 about the bannisters and goldfish, she might not have 
 taken the rest of the utterance so seriously. 
 
 Frances' mother was only a shadowy memory, but 
 it was like the fragrance of an unseen flower. In her 
 mind a mother's claim was paramount. 
 
 Frances' heart sank. Could she, with her fickle 
 changeable love, come between so devoted a mother and 
 son? Could she, so wilful and impulsive, compen- 
 sate him for the loss of his mother's affection? 
 
 She could while love lasted ; but the strongest arti- 
 cle in Frances' creed was that love is fleeting, so she 
 was always making plans for its departure. 
 
 The Greenwoods, tired out with the vagaries of 
 grown-ups, soon dropped off to sleep, but Frances 
 got up and asked counsel of the stars. 
 
 She knew she loved Robert, but how could she know 
 that her love would last? 
 
 The next day Robert came with his belated ques- 
 tion. But the psychological moment had passed, and 
 Frances refused him. 
 
 He was surprised, and puzzled as well. Evidently 
 she had sent that hint through Woody. 
 
 " I had hoped, I believe I had reason to hope, that 
 you loved me," he said. 
 
 " I do. But love never lasts long, and I can't form 
 a life-partnership with a man just because I love him. 
 I want to know that I will be happy with him without 
 love."
 
 228 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 This speech was not soothing to a lover's ear. " Why 
 do you think love doesn't last? " 
 
 " Because I have loved before." 
 
 " You are frank, at least," coldly. " But," more 
 hopefully, " you have never loved me before." 
 
 " No, and the trouble is I haven't loved you very long. 
 Only, since I met you in June." 
 
 He caught her hand in his and drew her to him. 
 
 " Don't be foolish, Frances. You know you will al- 
 ways love me. I will make you. And even if you don't 
 you will be as happy with me, without love, as with 
 anyone." 
 
 " Under ordinary circumstances I would, but not 
 with your mother against me." 
 
 " She doesn't know you, dear ; and her only cause for 
 not loving' you is that you " 
 
 " Jilted her brother," said Frances for him. 
 
 " So don't," added Robert, " make the matter worse 
 by rejecting her son." She would soon learn to love 
 you. Anyone would who knows you." 
 
 "They don't, though," said Frances. "A lot of 
 them dislike me." 
 
 " But only because you are so pretty, just jealous 
 women. It is the price you must pay for outshining 
 them." 
 
 Frances laughed. " It is more than that, though. 
 I can't love people who aren't nice to me. I don't take 
 kindly to cold shoulders. I wish I were meeker, but, as 
 I am not, I must take my disposition into account." 
 
 " They shan't cold-shoulder you, dear. We will 
 cold-shoulder them." 
 
 " We can't, and be happy. I have one unpleasant 
 sister-in-law, Dr. Kingston, and I know what it means.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 229 
 
 Knowing my own fickleness, I will never marry you and 
 separate you from your people. I will never marry you 
 without your mother's consent." 
 
 " Promise me then, that you will wait and marry me 
 with it." 
 
 Sadly she shook her head : " By that time, Robert," 
 she told him mournfully, " I shall no doubt have ceased 
 to love you. I have loved you two months already." 
 
 " Well, what of it ? " He spoke impatiently, 
 " Didn't you say you expect to be happy without love ? 
 If you don't think I am as good as other men, why do 
 you love me ? " 
 
 " I think you are better than others. I think you 
 are perfect. I have looked hard for even the tiniest 
 flaw and found none. But you can't be as perfect as 
 I think you, for you are human. Love is blind, and you 
 must have some fault that I can't see. So until your 
 mother consents, or the glamour is gone from my 
 eyes, I must be free." 
 
 He looked at her, with despairing love in his eyes, 
 and a little anger, too, at her unreasonableness. 
 
 " And in the meantime, Frances ? " 
 
 " In the meantime ? Why, nothing. We can be 
 friends, I hope ; and I will be only too glad to help you 
 with The Greenwoods. But if I change, if I marry 
 some other man (I'm likely to do it), you mustn't feel 
 hurt. And if you marry some other woman," she drew 
 a long, deep sigh, " I suppose I will grieve for you 
 till my dying* day ; but I won't blame you, Robert."
 
 CHAPTER XXIX 
 
 WITH a woe-begone face, The Greenwoods sat in the 
 Pullman stateroom, feeling as if earth and heaven had 
 toppled about her ears ; for she was going back to Way- 
 ville! She had prayed and had faith, had done her 
 part, but God had failed. The Bible was false, God 
 had vanished from the universe, and The Greenwoods 
 was an infidel. She was going back to Wayville. 
 
 From an exalted being, with illimitable resources 
 and sublime connections, she had become a friendless 
 poverty-stricken orphan, dependent upon the charity of 
 strangers, only a puny atom in a world of chance ! 
 
 The verities of her life, God and the angels, had 
 been eliminated, and the only reality left was earth, 
 with its ever-changing environment. All was lost. 
 Now that the glory had departed, she realized that 
 what she had thought to be beauty, power, friends, and 
 joy, all that had kept her glad when others were care- 
 worn, was the presence of God in the world. 
 
 A sad Greenwoods seemed so incredible, even in 
 leaving Miss Faunce, that Robert gazed at her in as- 
 tonishment, but asked with tenderness : " What's the 
 matter, little girl ? " , 
 
 " God is dead," said Woody, and the tears ran down 
 her cheeks. 
 
 He had never been so surprised before at anything 
 she had said. To him God was a possible explanation 
 of the origin of matter; a subject, perhaps, for a scien- 
 
 230
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 231 
 
 tific treatise or a theological argument, but of no per- 
 sonal significance. 
 
 " I don't understand, my dear. Surely you can't be 
 crying over God ! " 
 
 " What else is there, Dr. Kingston? " 
 
 " Why er I am here, precious, if you want any- 
 thing." 
 
 " And what are you? " 
 
 He was a conceited man (as men sometimes are), but 
 now he promptly shrank to his proper dimensions. 
 
 " And there's Miss Faunce, you know." 
 
 " She's nothing either, to me. If God didn't give 
 her to me, we wasn't adopteds. She was just a new girl 
 what went to the convent, like the Mother Superior said, 
 and I was mistaken. France never was my mother." 
 
 " But we love you just the same, darling, so " 
 
 " You don't love me the best ! You hadn't ought to. 
 You've both got your fam'lies, and I'm just a pesky 
 orphan girl what bothers folks. I bother everybody 
 'cept God. He was my folks, Him and the angels. 
 And now they're dead." 
 
 Because, owing to his own lack of conviction, he 
 was unable to contradict her, he took her in his arms 
 and kissed her, while a tear fell that did not come from 
 Woody's eyes. 
 
 " I thought you were my little free and independent 
 orphan," he said; and hated himself for saying it. 
 Hadn't he tried to shatter her faith? 
 
 " How can I be free and independent, without God 
 to help me, Dr. Kingston, a little red-headed girl like 
 me? What's the fun without God? For, don't you 
 see? if He is dead, they all are: Mamma, Papa, and 
 Steppie ! And there are no angels to tell me dreams at
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 night, and no heaven, where they are waiting in the lit- 
 tle home for me." 
 
 " Why, Woody ! " he said. And even to himself the 
 remark sounded painfully inadequate. He longed for 
 some good Christian woman to help him comfort the 
 child for the loss of her Deity; but since none was at 
 hand, and comfort was sorely needed, he resolved to 
 reach out beyond his own unbelief to bring God back 
 to Woody. 
 
 " He was the best friend I ever had," she sobbed, 
 " And I loved Him and nothing mattered, only Him. 
 And just because I loved Him and was so little and an 
 orphan, and He was so big anil sweet, He was always 
 on my side. Now He's dead ! " 
 
 It was no abstraction for which Woody grieved. 
 What she had lost was the friend of the friendless, the 
 refuge of the homeless, the hope of the despairing. 
 
 " Tell me about it, Greenwoods. Why do you think 
 He is dead?" 
 
 " Because I'm a-going back to Wayville." 
 
 " Is that so dreadful that it has made you lose your 
 faith in God? Were you so unhappy there? " 
 
 " I wasn't unhappy anywhere when God was living." 
 
 " But why has going back to Wayville made you be- 
 lieve Him dead ? " 
 
 " Because He said, if you have faith as a grain of 
 mustard seed, your prayers will be answered. And I 
 prayed to stay with France, and had more faith than 
 a bushel of old mustard seed, and here I am a-going 
 back to Wayville ! " 
 
 Her tears were dry, and within her righteous indig- 
 nation was rampant. She left Robert's embrace and 
 took the seat facing him. God might be dead, but she
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 233 
 
 was going to have it out with somebody. The young 
 man was relieved at the change, and brought the logic 
 of common sense to bear upon the situation. 
 
 " How could God have helped it, Woody, unless He 
 had taken my life, or have made me break my promise? " 
 
 " In some nice way, Dr. Kingston. He needn't 'a had 
 a volcano unless He wanted to." 
 
 " A volcano ? " He was puzzled, for he had never 
 heard of that volcano. 
 
 Her righteous indignation was tempered with a feel- 
 ing of guilt. She looked up contritely. 
 
 " I didn't know all those folks was dead. I thought 
 they was enjoying theirselves, and thought it would 
 be nice for you to be down there having a good time 
 with 'em. The middle of the earth must be mighty en- 
 tertaining ! And I was a-going to dig you up the very 
 minute I was of age ! " 
 
 He gave her a long straight look of reproach that al- 
 most made her forget her grievance against the Infinite. 
 
 " Did you pray for a volcano to get me, Woody ? " 
 
 " Not to hurt you, Dr. Kingston ! Just to keep you 
 there nice and safe ! You see, I thought you'd be good 
 as new when you got out, and I figured you'd enjoy 
 the experience." 
 
 "You figured wrong. I wouldn't! I see where the 
 trouble is now, Woody. Nothing is wrong with God; 
 the fault's with you. God loves me, if you don't ; and 
 He may not think a volcano conducive to my welfare. 
 You spoke of the mustard seed a few minutes since, but 
 you must remember that it was Christ who made that 
 promise about faith moving mountains; and He was a 
 gentleman, and certainly didn't expect any of those 
 mountains to be thrown at a little man like me ! "
 
 234. "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Well, you needn't get so hot about it ! I never had 
 no volcano. France wouldn't hear of it ! " 
 
 He was immediately appeased. 
 
 " She said volcanoes are so unkind and perhaps there 
 are gentler ways of bringing us together ; so for me to 
 go on praying and leave the particulars to God." 
 
 " That's the idea, Woody. You just go on praying. 
 You gave up too soon." 
 
 " Not much too soon. If I hadn't stopped just when 
 I did and sent you to Chicago, the volcano would 'a got 
 you sure! My prayers had warmed things up, and the 
 peaked-looking one was about ready to go off." 
 
 " You sent me to Chicago ? Nonsense ! I went be- 
 cause Didn't Miss Faunce say she wanted me to go? " 
 
 He stared at The Greenwoods forebodingly. He had 
 had misgivings about that Chicago trip, but the full 
 extent of its absurdity had never dawned upon him. 
 Even now it was not dawning but was bursting forth 
 into the full light of day. Miss Faunce had been wait- 
 ing to crown him with the garland of her love, and he 
 had run away, to keep a volcano from getting him! 
 
 " I didn't ask her. That was no time for talking. 
 If I saved you, I had to save you quick. And if 
 France hadn't a-been praying hard herself for you I 
 might not have succeeded." He groaned, " She said she 
 didn't want a volcano to get you, so I just hustled you 
 off." 
 
 Words failed him in the face of this revelation. 
 
 He recalled his interview with Frances ; the hesitancy 
 in her manner, the sudden blush, because she had been 
 praying for him, the quickly assumed hauteur, which 
 he who loved her knew was but a cloak for her genuine
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 235 
 
 humility; and, above all, the hurt look in her eyes that 
 had pained him, even in his own disappointment. 
 
 The gift he had most longed for had been within 
 his reach; and he had run away, to keep a volcano 
 from getting him ! 
 
 Of course he had intended going to Chicago all the 
 time. There was some comfort in that; but he had 
 not meant to go just then, nor to decamp so hurriedly; 
 especially, not when the woman he loved, the only one 
 he ever could love, was ready to brave all for love of 
 him. 
 
 He studied The Greenwoods respectfully. She 
 looked so weak, and was so potent ; had handled her 
 big guardian with so much skill and ease. He had 
 often laughed at her pretensions, but he did not laugh 
 now. He remembered his mother's sneer : " Either all 
 the forces of nature are working for her, or she is 
 the deepest little schemer I've ever known." 
 
 The former hypothesis was more gratifying to 
 Robert's pride. But what force was working through 
 The Greenwoods that she walked through life so royally, 
 accepting the best of all things as her rightful portion ? 
 By what agency were all hearts opened unto her? By 
 what authority did she bid young men, of, at least, 
 average intelligence, to go hence, to keep a volcano 
 from getting them? 
 
 " I needn't have worried, though," she sighed, " for 
 there couldn't have been any miracle, there isn't any 
 God." 
 
 That was the answer. God ! Woody was just a little 
 happy-go-lucky child, but God had been working 
 through her, because she had faith in Him. 
 
 " And now God's dead," she mourned.
 
 236 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " God can't die, Woody." Robert spoke with convic- 
 tion, for through her he had seen God. " You musn't 
 lose faith just because you haven't got something you 
 want." 
 
 " But if He raised France up especially for me, Dr. 
 Kingston, why can't He arrange for me to live with 
 her? There must be some way besides volcanoes? " 
 
 Robert knew another way, but it seemed dark and 
 hopeless; yet, from his mortal view-point, it was 
 not God that had made it dark but Woody. 
 
 " There is another way, dear ; and if you stop talk- 
 ing so much, perhaps God will give her to you some- 
 time." 
 
 " Time's nothing to Him, Dr. Kingston. And if 
 I'm ever a-going to have a mother, I want her now, 
 not when I'm gray-headed." 
 
 " Time is nothing to Him, but people are ; and He 
 doesn't want me buried alive, or foresworn. Now He 
 had arranged a gentle, kindly plan, and was just on 
 the point of consummating it when your volcano in- 
 terfered. The prayer of faith, it seems, is powerful, 
 so your miracle clashed with the other one. He would 
 not have sent the volcano, but because your prayer 
 was wicked you are being sent back to Wayville." 
 
 "I don't care; just so He is living." 
 
 She knew that if God were only living, all would come 
 right in the end, so her soul was untroubled. For the 
 first time since entering the car she looked out of the 
 window to note the scenery. It all seemed beautiful. 
 Now that God had been found again, life was once 
 more a joyful privilege. 
 
 Robert was reflecting, on the influence that The 
 Greenwoods' prayer for a young and pretty mother
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 237 
 
 had had on his life and Frances'. He thought he saw 
 God's plan, but he was puzzled about The Greenwoods' 
 part in it. The power working through the child 
 seemed to be trying to unite his fortunes with Miss 
 Faunce's, but Woody her little self seemed to be a 
 marplot. 
 
 " I'm sleepy," she said presently. " I haven't slept 
 a wink since I left Wayville." 
 
 " Is it possible? " he asked in amused concern. 
 
 " No, it wasn't possible. France talked all night. 
 Guess what she woke me up in the very middle of last 
 night to ask ? " 
 
 He was discreetly silent. 
 
 " She wanted to know which is the prettier, the widow 
 or Miss Ardelia Wile! Now, did you ever? "
 
 CHAPTER XXX 
 
 THE GREENWOODS went on praying, per request, 
 but as Robert saw it, her works offset any good her 
 faith might have accomplished. She continued to do 
 those things which she should not have done; and Mrs. 
 Kingston blamed Miss Faunce's influence. 
 
 School opened, and The Greenwoods began to be kept 
 in. She accepted her numerous detentions philosophi- 
 cally, but Marie tattled; while Mrs. Kingston apolo- 
 gized, publicly and continuously, for the child's past 
 training. 
 
 The young guardian tried hard to ignore his ward's 
 delinquencies, but they were brought to his attention 
 abroad as well as at home. Other mothers, besides 
 Mrs. Kingston, were jealous of The Greenwoods' 
 charm, and had suffered from the rights of orphans. 
 Among the younger set in Wayville, parents had gone 
 out of style. Naturally, the parents objected. 
 
 Remembering Frances' advice, given on their first 
 meeting, Robert decided to meet Woody half-way, 
 give her a few hints, and leave it to her sweet reason- 
 ableness and willingness to do what was right. 
 
 He had little confidence in the method, but Frances 
 had sanctioned it ; so he would give it a trial. Besides, 
 a young man is always at a disadvantage in his deal- 
 ings with a little girl, and he was willing to get on with 
 his ward any way he, conscientiously, could. 
 
 Marie returned from school one day with the tears in 
 her eyes and reported that her brother and herself 
 
 238
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 239 
 
 had been publicly insulted. Mrs. Kingston investi- 
 gated, and the following essay was produced: 
 
 "GROWN FOLKS" 
 
 " There are many kinds of Grown Folks, but no kind is any 
 use. Some are old and some are not. Some have hair and some 
 have not or teeth. Some are men and some are not. They 
 never have no fun for they never do anything but talk whitch 
 will get you into trouble every time. It is bad enough for a 
 little girl to talk all the time who is not old enuff to have lernt 
 not to. But it is worse for Grown Folks to talk all the time for 
 they are old enuff to have lernt not to. 
 
 "If I could find a Happy Land when I am awake where the 
 foot of grown Folks never trod I would go there and live forever 
 with the Happy Children. 
 
 " Once upon a time a little girl had a cruel guardian. Him 
 and the teachers tried to make her be good but she was top polite. 
 So she ran away and went to the Happy Children's Kingdom. 
 This is an inside Kingdom where she is Queen. Sometimes it is 
 in a gorgous forest. Sometimes in other places. That day it 
 was at the bottom of the sea. 
 
 "Gaily she rode the bounding billers upon a large white swan. 
 A golden crown was on her head and also its. As it swam the 
 swan sang sweetly. The Happy Children were with her and 
 they had Fun. 
 
 Suddenly a ship appeered. Upon its prow stood the cruel 
 guardian. His little sister held him by the hand. O let U3 join 
 the Happy Children they cried. Suddenly the little girl ap- 
 peered. You cannot come she said. For you are too good. 
 And in this Kingdom you have .to be polite. They wept 
 bitterly." 
 
 The Kingstons read the essay with varied emotions. 
 " It is a story too, for I never even saw the Happy 
 Children," sobbed Marie, " never in all my life ! " 
 
 Robert seized the opportunity it offered of having a 
 friendly and confidential chat with the young writer. 
 
 " Why," he asked, " couldn't that little girl have been 
 good and polite too ? " 
 
 " Because a polite child will speak when she is spoken 
 to," was the ready response, gained from a sad experi-
 
 240 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 ence ; " and the teachers will keep her in for it, because 
 it is not good." 
 
 " But it isn't polite to disturb the order of the 
 school, dear. And " 
 
 " Papa told me always to speak when I was spoken 
 to." 
 
 " But circumstances alter cases, Woody ; and until 
 
 " They alter the goodness, but not the politeness, 
 Dr. Kingston. Is it polite to help a person out of 
 trouble or is it good? " 
 
 The Greenwoods seldom dodged the issue, but Rob- 
 ert was wary. 
 
 " That depends upon circumstances. How " 
 
 " The goodness does, but never the politeness. 
 Prompting for instance. I'm never stingy with my 
 facts and those in sound of my whisper are welcome 
 to all I know. Is " 
 
 " But how will it help them to improve if you tell 
 them their lessons? Unless they learn the lessons, 
 school will not be an advantage to them." 
 
 It won't be an advantage anyway. I don't believe 
 in school. School is a fake! The books are wrong, 
 the teachers are cross-eyed, and the rules are impolite. 
 Let me stop." 
 
 " Not until you are graduated, my child ; so stop 
 arguing, and study." 
 
 " But it is such an awful waste of time. Did you 
 ever study 'rithmetic ? " 
 
 " Don't be silly, Greenwoods. Of " 
 
 " Not for worlds ! But do you remember that fool 
 sum about the frog? It fell into a well, and every time
 
 it climbed up two feet it slipped back one. How many 
 days did it take it to get out? " 
 
 He looked rather dazed. 
 
 " How deep was the well, and how - " 
 
 " I disremember, but it makes no difference at all, 
 Dr. Kingston. That frog never did get out! In the 
 first place, all the wells I ever saw (which is consider- 
 able) are too slick for any frog to climb; in the 
 second place, the frog most likely broke its neck when 
 it tumbled; in the third place, it starved to death, and 
 in the fourth, it drownded. Now, I've studied that 
 sum hard, Dr. Kingston, and there never was a chance 
 for the frog. Fifthly a bucket would have smashed it ; 
 sixthly, what did it rest on at night, when it was about 
 a week from the bottom and a month from the top? 
 And seventhly and lastly, how could any mere frog 
 fall so even and climb so even, with never an inch to 
 spare and nothing to carry? " 
 
 " I admit that it is a pretty big frog story, Green- 
 woods," laughed Robert ; " but arithmetic is not the 
 science of frogs but of numbers ; and if - " 
 
 " But if it's stories about frogs, how can we believe 
 it about numbers ? " 
 
 " The rules for proving the numbers are given. And 
 
 " You can't prove it any way except the book's way. 
 Try it mine, and it will come out wrong every time." 
 
 So far he had gained nothing by his advance. 
 Woody had not met him half-way, and by refusing to 
 accept a self-evident fact, had proved that she could 
 not be reasoned with. He frowned. " Nevertheless two 
 and two are four." 
 
 " How you know, Dr. Kingston. I've got a feeling
 
 242 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 that it makes thirty-seven. I asked Miss Jones to try 
 it a few days, and see if the sums wouldn't turn out 
 better." 
 
 " And what did Miss Jones say ? " 
 
 " She said for me to remain after school." 
 
 " That was the wisest thing she could have said, 
 Greenwoods. Miss Jones is a capable woman. I am 
 beginning to entertain a high regard for her." 
 
 " For Miss Jones ! " The Greenwoods was aghast 
 before this unsuspected possibility. Miss Jones, in- 
 deed ! Good Heavens ! 
 
 " Yes," continued Robert blindly, " and you should 
 consider her too. You say you always try to be polite, 
 but is it treating her politely to force her to remain 
 after school with you ? " 
 
 For once she had nothing to say, and he felt that 
 at last he was making an impression; but little did he 
 know what the impression was. 
 
 " You must think of the teacher as well as the pupils, 
 my dear. The rules are made for the good of all, as 
 you will understand when you are older; so by keeping 
 them yourself you make life easier for all. So will you 
 try to be a good little girl in the future as well as a 
 polite one? " 
 
 " Yes sir," promised The Greenwoods. 
 
 And thoroughly confounded by this new develop- 
 ment, she sadly left the room.
 
 CHAPTER XXXI 
 
 IN asking The Greenwoods to keep the rules out of 
 politeness to her teacher, Robert fondly believed he 
 had solved the problem of controlling his little ward; 
 so when, the very next day, she was detained again, he 
 was chagrined. 
 
 Yet, after he had announced his regard for Miss 
 Jones, Woody had heard nothing more. 
 
 As he was convinced that the power working 
 through Woody was trying to make a match between 
 Frances and himself, Woody may have caught a con- 
 fused sense of his idea by mental telepathy. At any 
 rate she continued to steer his love affairs. 
 
 " It's not my fault I was kep' in, Dr. Kingston. I 
 don't stay in for fun, and I'm not the only one what's 
 kep' in either, only the others don't get fits about it 
 afterwards. The trouble is that you are so inexpe- 
 rienced that every old cat in town is trying to help you 
 raise me ! " 
 
 " Greenwoods," he spoke with dignity, " please re- 
 member " 
 
 " I'm not likely to forget it, Dr. Kingston. But 
 these cross-eyed teachers keep me in as quick when 
 I'm good and know my lessons as when they think I'm 
 bad and miss 'em. To-day it was for actually obeying 
 Miss Jones ! " 
 
 " Don't misstate facts, Greenwoods, and stop " 
 
 " Why, that's exactly what it was about ! Have you 
 met Miss Jones since school ? " 
 
 243
 
 244 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 To The Greenwoods collusion had been proved. 
 Eying her guardian suspiciously, she continued: 
 
 " Them was her words exactly, * Don't misstate 
 facts ! Don't say millions when you mean hundreds ! 
 Exaggeration is a mild form of lying, and lying is un- 
 becoming to the daughter of a soldier, and a million is 
 a lot.' Why, in all the heavens, Dr. Kingston, there's 
 not a million stars visible to the naked eye, and most 
 eyes are naked; upon a mighty oak (which from little 
 acorns grow, like lying from fibbing) are not a million 
 leaves; you can circumnavigate the whole circumfer- 
 ence of the globe, from end to end, and not go a 
 million miles ; and you can place a million something or 
 other upon the point of a needle ! It sounded fishy to 
 me, but after what you told me about your regard, I 
 decided to follow your advice and not argue the point. 
 So I upped immediately and promised before the school 
 never to say millions again unless I positively knew it 
 was millions. But what was the result? " 
 
 She paused for a reply, but Robert was speechless. 
 
 "Why in less'n ten minutes the old cat asked me 
 the population of the United States ! Now could I be 
 positive it was millions when I'd never counted 'em 
 myself and the books are wrong half the time? Could 
 I break my promise ? No ! So I said hundreds, and 
 the old ape kep' me in for it ! " 
 
 " Please speak of your teacher more respectfully, 
 Greenwoods ! " 
 
 " Excuse 'em, Dr. Kingston, I forgot about your 
 regard. I admire Miss Jones as much as you do, 
 in some ways, but she is hard to please. And if 
 you went to school to her like me, you wouldn't be so 
 much in love. She's "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 245 
 
 His feet had been upon a chair before him, but 
 he brought them to the floor with an angry thud. 
 
 " I am not in love with Miss Jones, Woody ! " 
 
 "Yessir, Dr. Kingston. There, there! It's all 
 right. I'm glad you're not! She is an awful piece to 
 get along with, and I don't blame you for hating her 
 like poison." 
 
 " I don't hate her like poison ! " He was indignant. 
 " Now get this thing straight ! " 
 
 " With pleasure, and I beg your pardon. But what 
 must I believe? You say you have a high regard " 
 
 " Exactly. I know Miss Jones very slightly, but I 
 esteem her as an excellent woman. Now this is to go no 
 further! Do you understand? " 
 
 And the rest of his lecture forgotten, he angrily sent 
 The Greenwoods from the room. 
 
 In her perplexity, The Greenwoods wrote to 
 Frances. 
 
 MY OWN DARLING FRANCES : 
 
 It looks like the jig is up now, and I diskovered it all by 
 muself because he is so touchy about her. It is Miss Jones. 
 I like all his others best. Miss Ardelia is so linguistick and 
 Harriet and I could have had a grand time together even if the 
 Widow is cross-eyed. But a school-teacher and a guardian 
 married together is too much. 
 
 Very truly 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 P. S. The acquaintance is but slight, and he told me not 
 to let this information go no further. So please don't mention 
 it. I'd hate for it to get out through me. Maybe he will 
 change his mind. 
 
 THBG. 
 
 It did get out, though, and created a sensation. 
 Then The Greenwoods wrote another letter.
 
 246 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 DEAR FRANCE: 
 
 Thank goodness it is not so. I wrote you wrong. They are 
 all cut up about it. Mrs. Kingston has gone to bed, and they 
 blame me. They say you would have been better than Miss 
 Jones. 
 
 I tried to get it straight, Francie; but why did he say he 
 had a regard and even an esteem and on slight acquaintance? 
 And why did he meet her after school? And why did he want 
 it kept a secret? It looks plum mysterious. 
 
 Still he is surely not going to marry her. He needs a wife 
 but you bet it won't be her. Or the Widow for he barked at 
 her last summer. Or Edith for I made him quit. So there is 
 no one left but Miss Ardelia. They are boyhood friends and 
 both have money and Pilgrim fathers and the families are 
 pleased. Anyone will suit me who will rescue me from these 
 nervous Kingstons. They give me more trouble than any family 
 I have ever lived with since I left St. Louis. 
 
 Affectionately 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 And while Frances was remembering that she had 
 left Robert free to marry, he was wondering what she 
 thought of Woody's latest move.
 
 CHAPTER XXXII 
 
 " THEY keep me in as quick when I am good and 
 know my lessons as when they think I am bad and miss 
 'em," The Greenwoods had said, and, like most of her 
 incredible statements, this one had a basis of truth. 
 For when she knew her lessons she insisted on reciting 
 them from start to finish, and when she did not, her 
 ignorance was the most obvious thing in the room. 
 Besides, as school tradition is opposed to reciting out 
 of time, she was never good when she knew her lessons. 
 Staying in was inevitable. 
 
 The Greenwoods in school was like the square peg in 
 the round hole. 
 
 She liked history, because it dealt with war, which 
 is a soldier's business, while her father's having been 
 a soldier made it a family affair, like heaven. So, 
 when she came to the description of Washington cross- 
 ing the Delaware a responsive chord was struck. 
 Skimming the reading matter, she carefully examined 
 the picture and, with the fragment of truth thus ac- 
 quired, her imagination gave a preliminary flap and 
 soared. 
 
 " Poor old George Washington ! I bet he got good 
 and cold! He don't show it, though. See how heroic 
 he stands, not even shivering! He was most as brave 
 as papa. But he should be wrapped up better." 
 
 She scrutinized the illustration, with maternal solici- 
 tude. 
 
 " Maybe he had hot bricks. Of course ! General 
 247
 
 248 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 Washington had too much sense to start on a trip like 
 that without 'ern. Still even hot bricks wouldn't 
 a-kep' his nose warm. A nose that size would a-froze 
 for sure. What a shame, and him so handsome ! He 
 ought to 'a had a nose protector. It might 'a spoilt 
 the picture, but it would 'a saved his nose. No wonder 
 the Yankees whipped! Anybody could 'a whipped a 
 cripple. I shall tell Marie so next time she gets to 
 bragging ! 
 
 " Still, if the Daughters of the Confederacy had 
 got these nose protectors, the accident never would 
 'a happened ! If they'd done their duty, instead of run- 
 ning around the country a-going to Suffragette meet- 
 ings the war would have ended differently. Mother 
 Burns says it's perfectly scandalous ! " 
 
 Her thoughts came nearer home. 
 
 " I almost hate Marie ; she brags so and tells so and 
 cries so. What'll become of me this winter, anyhow? 
 It's time that gentle miracle was a-happening! I'd as 
 soon have my nose froze as stay in the house with the 
 missus. The glowering, smiling hypocrite! She's an 
 inhospitable lady and I'm tired visiting her. AH the 
 mothers in this town have it in for me. Jealous, I 
 s'pose, 'cause I'm an orphan and their kids ain't. 
 
 " I'm glad my mamma's not a meat woman ; angel 
 ladies are so much sweeter. Still, meat ladies can be 
 sweet, for France is. France isn't helping me now 
 though, and I'm wondering where I shall play this win- 
 ter. It's getting colder and colder outdoors and in- 
 hospitabler and inhospitabler in the house. Ere long 
 The Four Oaks will be froze clean through, the ground 
 will be frost-bit, and the swing, slippery with ice. I 
 can't play out there, and inside Mrs. Kingston will
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 249 
 
 act the hypocrite when there is company, and frown 
 when there is not. 
 
 " Well, well! The Lord will provide, so why worry? 
 And I know this lesson, too, and am ready to recite it. 
 They never will get through with that old grammar 
 and I'd like to get this history off my mind Oh, 
 what's the use in procrastinating? I'll recite it now! " 
 
 Yet that very afternoon The Greenwoods was de- 
 tained for missing that very lesson; but when she 
 reached home her anxiety as to where she was to spend 
 the winter was allayed. It was in a closet! 
 
 A well-lighted and ventilated one that was fur- 
 nished with a straightback chair, a table and writing 
 materials, but a closet it was for all that ! When the 
 " lab." had been a residence that closet might have 
 been a bath-room. 
 
 As has been said before, something just had to be 
 done with Woody, and as it was impossible for Rob- 
 ert to get in his side of the argument edgewise, reason- 
 ing had been impossible, lecturing a farce. She knew 
 all the lectures by heart. Hence the closet. 
 
 " Walk in, Greenwoods, and be seated," said Dr. 
 Kingston. " You may remain here and make up some 
 of the time you wasted in school to-day." 
 
 " I didn't waste a minute. I studied my head most 
 off. But never again ! " 
 
 " You may write the first lesson in your gram- 
 mar " 
 
 " I wasn't kep' in for missing grammar ! I never 
 missed nothing. The trouble was over history. To 
 hear Miss Jones tell it you'd think Washington 
 crossed the Delaware on the Fourth Day of July ! She's 
 prejudiced against him because he was a Confederate! "
 
 250 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 A weaker than Robert might have wavered at that 
 and have set her to writing history, but his will was 
 adamant. He stuck to grammar. 
 
 " We wont argue the point now, but " 
 
 " And you are perfectly right, too ! I told Miss 
 Jones so and asked her just to put it to a vote before 
 the school, to let the majority decide whether it was 
 froze off or not, but ' Stubbornness ' is her name. Why, 
 Washington was in Washington on the Fourth a- 
 writing the Declaration of Independence ! " 
 
 Even that failed to turn him. 
 
 " You are backward in your grammar " 
 
 " Somebody's been a-storying about me again ! I'm 
 fine in it! Just gim'me out a word and let me parse 
 it!" 
 
 " Write it instead. And be sure to have " 
 
 " No use learning it now, Dr. Kingston. You can't 
 recite grammar before the proper time. Teachers are 
 so cranky ! I can study it to-morrow." 
 
 " Have it ready when I get back." 
 
 " But this isn't to-morrow's lesson ! " 
 
 " You are to begin at the first page, and every time 
 you are detained you are to write another lesson. I 
 hope in time that you will improve in both your En- 
 glish and in your deportment:" 
 
 " He felt a thrill of triumph, for this was one of the 
 few speeches he had ever got in whole. 
 
 " Of all cross-eyed shames ! Surely you are not a- 
 going to lock me up because I have to stay in, Dr. 
 Kingston ? I don't stay in for fun ! " 
 
 " Yes, every time ; but if you play less, study more, 
 and obey your teachers, instead of arguing with 
 them, you will not be detained so often. The trouble
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 251 
 
 is that you think you know more than your elders, but 
 you are only a little girl 
 
 " I'm an orphan, though ; and have had lots of ex- 
 perience." 
 
 " That erroneous idea of orphans is the secret of 
 all your folly, Greenwoods ; and it is turning people 
 against you. It is a sad thing to be an orphan, and 
 
 " Yes, Dr. Kingston, but God makes up to us for it 
 by giving us our independence." 
 
 " No, Woody, you are not independent. You are 
 dependent on me. You must obey me, or I will pun- 
 ish you, but I don't want to. So won't you waive 
 those imaginary rights of yours, and obey me through 
 principle or friendship. Can't we be friends ? " He 
 held out his hand entreatingly, for he was humilated at 
 his failure to win either her love or her respect. 
 
 The Greenwoods spoke regretfully. 
 
 " I'm sorry, Dr. Kingston, but we can't. We are 
 enemies, you see." 
 
 " Then you don't love me? " 
 
 " Oh, but yes. The Bible specially says that we must 
 love our enemies. What it means, you know, is guard- 
 ians and teachers. Love 'em, even when you put 'em 
 down." 
 
 " Well then, I will use force, since you desire it. And 
 
 " But I don't. Great-granddaddy ! All I want is 
 to keep my independence! Why, it makes me feel like 
 the pitiful kind just to hear you talk! And you 
 needn't feel hurt. I obey you just lots of times, on 
 the sly." 
 
 Frances would have known what to do, but Robert,
 
 252 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 being a man, was unfit to handle the situation. To him 
 it seemed that some one had to surrender, and he was 
 resolved not to be that one. He answered coldly, as he 
 prepared to leave: 
 
 " Unless your task is finished when I return, I will 
 punish you more severely." 
 
 " But, Dr. Kingston," she was alarmed, and he was 
 correspondingly gratified, " I er hope your inten- 
 tions are not er ungentlemanly. Pardon me for 
 even mentioning the possibility; but I've been a-telling 
 Marie all this time that you was a gentleman." 
 
 A little fun germ alighted on the corner of his lip, 
 and he held his face straight with difficulty. 
 
 " What did Marie say ? " He was turning the knob. 
 
 " She advised me not to rely on it." 
 
 He opened the door. 
 
 " Then heed her warning." 
 
 " Oh, wait a minute, Dr. Kingston." 
 
 Hoping that she had come to terms, Robert 
 obeyed. 
 
 " Have you thought that you and Marie are sisters, 
 and you and me no kin and that lots of things are 
 propriety between you'uns that would be impro- 
 prietous between us? " 
 
 " I shall be judge of the propriety." He answered 
 her sternly, but the fun germs had him in their grip. 
 
 " And how will you feel afterwards about it, if you 
 and me get married? 
 
 He slammed the door, locked it securely, and beat a 
 hasty retreat. She gazed after him disconsolately. 
 
 " And to think I saved his life ! " 
 
 Turning to the task set her, she dipped her pen into 
 the ink and addressed this apostrophe to the ceiling :
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 253 
 
 " And this is what I get for it. Grammar now, and 
 next, the Lord knows what ! " 
 
 The Greenwoods wondered if he were in earnest, 
 decided that he was, and for three minutes wrote busily. 
 
 " Well, the Lord provided all right. But if He, in 
 His infinite wisdom, couldn't find, in a house this big, 
 any better place than this for a little orphan to 
 spend the winter, it's a slam on the Kingstons ! " 
 
 Two lines more she wrote and was lost in thought. 
 
 " After all, this is not so bad. Why, that enchanted 
 maiden what was locked up by the old witch and let 
 her hair out the window wasn't in it with me. This 
 certainly is romantic ! Me and her's just exactly alike, 
 'cept my hair's too short. Walter can be my lover, and 
 I can borrow a switch from Miss Ardelia to throw out 
 the window to him. Oh, that grammar ! What a hate- 
 ful word ' switch ' is for * hair ' ! " 
 
 When Robert returned the task was finished. He 
 examined it sadly, but after all it was not much worse 
 than he had anticipated. 
 
 " You must take more pains with your writing, 
 Woody." 
 
 " I was in a hurry. You scared me to death ! " 
 
 " And you've left out all the punctuation marks." 
 
 " You surely didn't want me to put in those dirty 
 little things ! Why, they spoil the looks of the page." 
 
 " Put them in, just the same, and " 
 
 " Commas ? Oh, not commas, Dr. Kingston ! I'll 
 put in the periods, for periods help you to find the 
 sense, but if you'd just begin all your sentences with 
 capitals you wouldn't even need the periods." 
 
 " I insist upon all the punctuation marks, and " 
 
 " All right, if you've a fancy for 'em. But, say,
 
 254 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 are you trying to starve me clean to death? I haven't 
 had no lunch ! " 
 
 He had forgotten the lunch, but concealed his embar- 
 rassment. 
 
 " Then, you may run and get something now. In the 
 future I shall have a glass of milk and a slice of bread 
 out here for you, and if you are only detained occa- 
 sionally, I will add an apple."
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII 
 
 WHILE refusing to change her views, The Green- 
 woods did try to amend her ways but continued, never- 
 theless, to gravitate between the school-room and the 
 closet with a monotonous regularity. Naturally, she 
 objected, and for a wonder, Mrs. Kingston did too. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston had formed good intentions in regard 
 to loving The Greenwoods, and the Greenwoods, as a 
 rule, was friendly with anyone with whom she was 
 thrown, but the natures of the two were antipathic, 
 Mrs. Kingston tried to treat The Greenwoods kindly, 
 because the child was an orphan and a dependent of 
 the family; The Greenwoods tried to tolerate Mrs. 
 Kingston, because the latter was old and nervous, and 
 her hostess, as well but each thoroughly disapproved 
 of the other. 
 
 Since both meant well, overtures of friendship were 
 repeatedly being made, and accepted, after which 
 the tension was gradually renewed, until the breaking 
 point was reached, when all was done over again. The 
 Greenwoods, regretfully forced to decide that her host- 
 ess was an undesirable acquaintance, avoided her as 
 sedulously as was consistent with the duties of a guest ; 
 while Mrs. Kingston, seeing that she was avoided, con- 
 cluded that The Greenwoods was ungrateful and in- 
 corrigible, and told the public about it in self-defense. 
 
 Feeling guilty, and wishing to palliate her own treat- 
 255
 
 256 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 ment of the orphan, she tried to open every one's eyes 
 to the child's enormities, and, in Robert's case, had suc- 
 ceeded. Yet when the " grammar room " had gone into 
 operation she was alarmed. 
 
 She had prejudiced public opinion against The 
 Greenwoods (among the elders), but was afraid it would 
 rebound if Robert were too severe. 
 
 There was less danger of this in the present case 
 than she suspected, for the parents of Wayville felt 
 that, at any hazard, the free and independent orphan 
 should be made to recant her treasonable doctrine. 
 Not knowing this, Mrs. Kingston expostulated with 
 Robert, but in vain. He was not easily turned. 
 
 Not only was Mrs. Kingston afraid of public opin- 
 ion, but she was apprehensive of trouble between her 
 boys; for Chester and Walter were indignant at Bob's 
 treatment of their little favorite. Hence, since Rob- 
 ert refused to remit his sentence, Mrs. Kingston 
 humbled herself to plead with Woody. Would she 
 please be good? 
 
 " But I can't, Mrs. Kingston. I am free and in- 
 dependent." 
 
 " Still, even if you are independent, Sylvia," Mrs. 
 Kingston said gently, " you can be friends with Rob- 
 ert. Children are usually so fond of him. Marie and 
 Walter love him dearly." 
 
 " Of course, Mrs. Kingston. He's their brother; but 
 he's no kin to me ! " 
 
 In trying to save the family affection for Marie, 
 Mrs. Kingston had been blind to the orphan's posi- 
 tion in her house. Mrs. Kingston, through loyalty to 
 Marie, whose supremacy was threatened, had tried to 
 keep her children from loving The Greenwoods, but
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 257 
 
 had only succeeded in keeping her from loving them. 
 The mother now realized that, discipline having failed, 
 the child might have been ruled through love. 
 
 " Robert is no kin, dear, but a guardian is almost the 
 same as a relative." 
 
 How devoid the child was of earthly ties! Mrs. 
 Kingston felt ashamed. 
 
 " You wouldn't think so, if you'd had as many as 
 me, Mrs. Kingston. Guardians are so ephemeralistic ! " 
 
 Woody spoke in her best society manner, and, in 
 the face of her airs, Mrs. Kingston's compassion faded. 
 It was difficult to be sorry for one who seemed so little 
 in need of sympathy. Still, the lady tried again! 
 
 " But won't you be good for my sake, Sylvia. I want 
 to be your friend; but how can I while you hold this 
 false idea of independence? " 
 
 " Why, you have been quite friendly enough, I am 
 sure, Mrs. Kingston. Accept my appreciations! But 
 how can I give up my independence, when it is God's 
 blessing, to make up to me for my loneliness? " 
 
 " But you won't be lonely, Sylvia. Every one loves 
 you." 
 
 " Not the best, though ; and I can't give up my in- 
 dependence for second best. Second best doesn't count 
 for much." 
 
 " But I will love you as my own child, my dear." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston's kindly impulse was checked again 
 by Woody. 
 
 " But how can you, when I'm not ? " she asked. 
 
 And Mrs. Kingston, knowing that she could not, 
 was silent. How could she love as her own this child 
 who was not her own, who was constantly putting her 
 own at a disadvantage, and who seemed to have no need
 
 258 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 of her care? If The Greenwoods had been " the pitiful 
 kind," it might have been different. 
 
 " I wish you wouldn't worry about me so, Mrs. King- 
 ston," added Woody sweetly, " I've had lots worse 
 things happen to me than grammar. I've had kisses ! " 
 
 The child was hopeless. " So nothing will induce 
 you to give up? " 
 
 " Oh, yes ! I'll give up for France. For she's God's 
 blessing to me, too. She is my raised-up mother. And 
 a mother is better even than independence." 
 
 " Miss Faunce is impossible ! " said Mrs. Kingston 
 hastily. 
 
 " Dr. Kingston doesn't think so, nor France either. 
 They both told me to go on praying. And I do." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston's perturbation was greater than be- 
 fore. How was the situation to end? Robert might 
 conquer by physical masculine strength, and take away 
 the orphan's only blessing; or The Greenwoods, by 
 physical feminine endurance, might win license for her 
 mischief. But both alternatives were objectionable. 
 Then, there was Frances. 
 
 Frances would bring relief; but relief may be too 
 dearly bought. Better anything, even death, though 
 not Robert's death, than that the Kingston name and 
 honor should be given into the keeping of a volatile 
 coquette. 
 
 The subconscious coup which The Greenwoods had 
 made with Miss Jones had not only kept alive the For- 
 esters' fears of losing each other (always a powerful 
 factor in a love affair) but it had informed Mrs. King- 
 ston that there were other undesirables besides Frances. 
 Still, it had not reconciled her to Frances. 
 
 There was more work for Woody to do before that
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 259 
 
 end could be attained; and she was now, subcon- 
 sciously again, offering her ultimatum. Frances or 
 disorder ! 
 
 Consciously, however, The Greenwoods never 
 dreamed that she was trying, by most remarkable 
 methods, to win Mrs. Kingston's consent to the For- 
 esters' marriage. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston was dimly aware of it though, and 
 her heart was hardened. She had felt from the first 
 that some power was working through the orphan, but 
 had thought it a prematurely developed faculty for 
 scheming. She had thought that the situations through 
 which the orphan walked so triumphantly were of the 
 orphan's making, so had been prejudiced. Entering 
 her chamber, Mrs. Kingston tried by prayer to offset 
 Woody's prayer. When her devotions had ceased her 
 decision was made. 
 
 Robert must triumph! 
 
 His victory might sadden the orphan, but the child 
 must give up her independence and learn humility. She 
 would not be unkindly treated ; she had found an asylum 
 in the bosom of wealth and distinction, so let her under- 
 stand who her benefactors were, and be grateful. 
 
 Henceforth Mrs. Kingston prayed nightly that 
 Robert might subdue the orphan, and marry Ardelia 
 Wile. 
 
 And Mrs. Kingston's faith and Mrs. Kingston's 
 works went hand in hand.
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV 
 
 DESPITE the romantic nature of the closet, The 
 Greenwoods had not yet become acclimated to it. So, 
 her most ingenious schemes having failed to circum- 
 vent it, she sought relief of her chief enemy, Miss 
 Jones. 
 
 " Can't you do something besides keep in, Miss 
 Jones?" she asked, after having explained the situ- 
 ation ; " like sitting on the front row, or standing up, or 
 writing lines, or suchlike things what are disagreeable, 
 but not everlasting? Marie will tattle, of course, but 
 if I just walk in the door when she does they won't 
 have fits." 
 
 Keeping-in having failed as a reformatory measure, 
 Miss Jones promised to try other tactics. 
 
 "And will you stop talking in school, Sylvia?" 
 
 " I'll do my best, Miss Jones, but I was born talking, 
 almost. I've often heard it said that I began at 
 three weeks. That is young to start, for most babies 
 don't begin before a month ! So it must be natural for 
 me to talk. But I'll try to quit. If I had my way, I'd 
 never speak another word! It gets you into trouble 
 every time." She leaned over confidentially. " But 
 the truth is 7 never do talk! It just talks itself, while 
 I sit there a-listening to it come out in perfect amaze- 
 ment, and a-wondering what is coming next. It's the 
 scariest feeling that you ever saw ! " 
 
 The other teachers, however, were not bound by Miss 
 260
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 261 
 
 Jones' agreement, they developed a marvelous activ- 
 ity in keeping in; while Miss Jones herself seemed to 
 live in dread of Woody's getting the better of the ar- 
 rangement. Hence the child was hectored unmercifully 
 during school hours, detained afterward, and locked up 
 on reaching home. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston's hostility had increased, while Marie 
 regarded The Greenwoods as her own private compan- 
 ion, and resented her friendships with other children. 
 
 " Well, God knows best," sighed Woody, " Maybe He 
 wants me to learn how to be happy in spite of school, 
 the Kingstons, and the closet, and is saving Francie to 
 reward me when I learn. But, just to my human un- 
 derstanding, it looks like I need her more now than I 
 will then. But of course He knows. Anyway, it's bet- 
 ter to be happy, even in a closet, than in a closet 
 and unhappy too. So, here goes." 
 
 And that indomitable something in The Greenwoods, 
 which expressed itself in smiles and laughter, and which 
 seemed to require happiness for its existence, cast 
 about to find it in the closet. 
 
 Success had not yet been achieved, so The Green- 
 woods was depressed, and her little mates, indignant. 
 What fun was it to play without this festive young 
 creature, who was to a game what wine is to a feast? 
 Even Marie, growing lonesome, stopped tattling, and 
 began instead to make ineffectual excuses for her kept-in 
 friend. 
 
 " I hate Miss Jones ! She is meaner to The Green- 
 woods than to any girl in school," Harriet remarked 
 one day on the way home. The one under discussion 
 was with them, but was feeling strangely dejected. 
 
 " The teachers are picking at Woody from morning
 
 262 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 till night," added Pearl vindicticely ; " and Miss Jones 
 is the worst ! " 
 
 Miss Jones did harbor a grudge against The Green- 
 woods. Of a shrinking nature, she had for thirty-eight 
 summers blushed unseen; then, without a moment's 
 warning, she had been advertised as the prospective 
 bride of a prominent young millionaire. She had 
 blushed then for all the world to see and clutched at 
 privacy with agony. Yet all was not in vain. For 
 while the limelight shone upon her she was found by 
 her affinity. He had been seeking her for years (at in- 
 tervals, for he was twice a widower), and though he 
 had known her all her life, he had never suspected her 
 of being his soul-mate until her name had been con- 
 nected with another's. When the wedding bells rang, 
 The Greenwoods was forgiven; but that time had not 
 yet come. Miss Jones was still a follower of Diana's, 
 and Cupid's agent was held in slight esteem. 
 
 " Never mind, Woody," spoke Marie comfortingly. 
 " Brother Rob won't lock you up to-day. The way the 
 teachers treat you is a reflection on our family, and I'll 
 tell him about it, and he'll make them stop." 
 
 " You needn't bother yourself, Marie. Me and Miss 
 Jones can manage our own business, without any of 
 your assistance ! " 
 
 The free and independent orphan had not relished 
 the compassion lavished upon her. She was not the 
 " pitiful kind " yet, and she wanted the fact known. 
 Then, too, she was not acting in harmony with her own 
 ideals. Scorning the ethics of the school-room, she was 
 secretly trying to conform to them ; while every suc- 
 cess made her despise herself as a hypocrite, and every
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 263 
 
 failure landed her in the closet. The subject of her 
 wrongs was not one she cared to hear discussed. 
 
 " If it hadn't been for you and your mamma," she 
 continued, with some heat, " Dr. Kingston wouldn't 
 have noticed my staying in, and the closet wouldn't 
 have happened ! You make me sick ! " 
 
 This unexpected insult, in return for her kindly prof- 
 fer, brought the tears to Marie's eyes and sundry, 
 " Why Woody's ! " to the lips of her associates. Sym- 
 pathy veered to Marie, who accepted it gratefully. 
 
 The Greenwoods, who had been longing for a home 
 beyond the skies, felt more cheerful. She made a face 
 in answer to Marie's sobs, and her misery was still fur- 
 ther lightened. She would show them how to pity her ! 
 
 " Brother Bob told you not to make faces," moaned 
 Marie, " and I will tell ! " 
 
 " You bet, you will ! If you wasn't telling or cry- 
 ing, you would bust ! " 
 
 The bystanders giggled and Marie's grief grew 
 louder. " I haven't told in a long t-time," she sobbed ; 
 " and I won't now if you'll be g-good to me ! " 
 
 At little spoilt selfish Marie's turning the other 
 cheek, the giggling ceased. Every one waited for 
 Woody to bestow the well-deserved commendation. She 
 made a face instead. 
 
 " He locks me up anyway, without your telling, 
 whenever he gets his hands on me; so what's the use? " 
 asked Woody. 
 
 " Stop making faces at me ! " Marie cried. 
 
 " I'll make all I please, missy, for I've got the blues 
 and I need cheering up. So I'm just a-going to relieve 
 myself of my opinion of you and all your kin, you low- 
 down, youngest child of a cross-eyed gang ! And you'd
 
 264 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 better stay here and take it, or I'll call you worser 
 names to your swayed, old, freckled back ! " 
 
 Still more relieved of her melancholy, the speaker, 
 with no cessation of her vituperation, distorted her 
 countenance and stuck out her tongue. Marie might 
 have been called " worser names " had she retreated, 
 but the listeners doubted it. . 
 
 " Don't stand it, Marie," Harriet urged in the in- 
 terests of fair play, " Call her others just as good, and 
 make the faces back again ! " 
 
 " I can't," sobbed Marie, " Mamma says it will make 
 me ugly ! " So meekly she writhed beneath the flames 
 of The Greenwoods' invective. 
 
 The children in front came running back, those be- 
 hind hastened forward, and they gathered round to 
 watch the sport. The boys cheered and the girls ex- 
 claimed, while The Greenwoods turned her undivided 
 attention to Marie's family, past, present and to 
 come. Her gloom had vanished and, heedless of conse- 
 quences, she was enjoying herself thoroughly when one 
 of the teachers on the way home caught the child 
 roughly by the arm and, with a vigorous shake, brought 
 the scene to an end. 
 
 Then both Marie the tearful and Woody the defiant 
 were conducted home; the former being given crumbs 
 of comfort as they walked, the latter, an occasional 
 pinch. And while the weeper sobbed, the shameless one 
 twiddled her fingers behind her back, to show her mates 
 that her soul was still unconquered. 
 
 Safe in the drawing-room, the teacher, while waiting 
 for the mother and brother of the victim, imprudently 
 loosened her clutch upon the aggressor, it was to
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 265 
 
 dry Marie's ever-growing volume of tears, when The 
 Greenwoods, like the Arab, silently stole away. 
 
 Out of the back door she scudded, aided and abetted 
 by every servant on the place, over the back fence she 
 flew; and, chuckling in wicked glee, made a hasty semi- 
 circuit of the block and caught up with the other chil- 
 dren who were busily speculating on the fate that was 
 overtaking her at that moment. Yet, there she stood 
 before them, waving her arms and pirouetting gaily, 
 an unrepentant, irrepressible, triumphant little imp of 
 
 " Now," she shouted, waves of enthusiasm vibrating 
 from her lively young frame, " we are a-going to play 
 * Follow your leader,' and I am it ! Come on ! Come on 
 quick! Whoever keeps up with me this day will be a 
 daisy ! " 
 
 Without a dissenting voice, they followed. Even 
 Marie, very unreasonably, was hurt when she heard 
 of it at not having been invited to join. At the first 
 turning The Greenwoods gave this order: 
 
 " Holler, kids ! Holler loud ! " 
 
 Another block was passed when there came another 
 order : 
 
 " Throw down your school books, chilluns, and tram- 
 ple on 'em ! " 
 
 And she set the example.
 
 CHAPTER XXXV 
 
 As the children of Hamelin followed the Pied Piper 
 so did those of Wayville The Greenwoods. And while 
 the mothers of Wayville were waiting they telephoned 
 Mrs. Kingston to ask what had become of their little 
 ones. 
 
 One frantic parent inquired if Mary Ellen had worn 
 her coat, while another hoped that little Johnnie 
 wouldn't take his death of cold. Rumors were rife of 
 pillage and devastation, and again the mothers in a 
 steady stream wanted Mrs. Kingston to tell them who 
 was to pay for the damage, themselves or her son 
 Robert. Then, as the hour grew late, the mothers rang 
 again, and asked Mrs. Kingston when The Greenwoods 
 intended to bring their children back. As Mrs. King- 
 ston saw it, she was supposed to be in league with 
 Woody in the kidnapping. 
 
 Daylight faded, and the truants, by ones and twos, 
 sneaked home. The Greenwoods was left alone. Her 
 naughtiness had worn itself out; her joy had vanished. 
 The time had come for froward little girls to go home 
 and be punished or forgiven. Having no home of her 
 own, she must needs seek the one where lived the people 
 she had slandered. She must return, eat of their bread, 
 and accept their kindness or their reproach, she, the 
 little alien, who had called them names ! 
 
 Standing at the gate, she looked fearfully in. The 
 hour of repentance was at hand, and she was intimi- 
 dated by her conscience. Strange shapes haunted the 
 
 266
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 267 
 
 premises; the house seemed huge and threatening; the 
 awnings frowned; on the trees the dead leaves shivered, 
 while the limbs moving to and fro seemed to be shaking 
 their fingers at her ; flickering shadows trembled on the 
 lawn, and she gazed at them in terror, for the very 
 ground on which the Kingstons walked was making 
 faces at her ! 
 
 Walter saw her standing there, a lonely, penitent 
 little figure, and hurried to her side. She guiltily re- 
 treated. Was he coming to upbraid her? She need 
 not have feared; the boy ran after her and took her 
 hand. 
 
 " Greenwoods," he said, " you're a peach ! " 
 
 " Aren't you angry with me, Walter ? " Her voice 
 quivered, for his generosity had melted her heart. 
 
 " With you, Woody? Why, I love you! " 
 
 She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. 
 She, who dodged kisses as she would a pest. 
 
 " Walter, I'm sorry I was bad ! " 
 
 " Bad nothing, sweet ! You're the greatest kid on 
 earth ! " And he returned that kiss and put his arms 
 around her. All summer he had wooed her, and all the 
 fall ; but she had evaded his pursuit, running away, with 
 a smile dropped over her shoulder. Now his hour had 
 come, and she was his to cherish and protect. " What 
 a trick you played that teacher, darling ! They're still 
 wondering how you got away." 
 
 " Are their feelings hurt ? " 
 
 " I don't know about their feelings, but they're hop- 
 ping mad. O Woody, you've mixed this town up by 
 your little self as it never was before ! " 
 
 " Have you heard the dreadful names I called your 
 people, Walter? I'm awfully sorry. Little girls
 
 268 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 shouldn't call folks names, or make faces at 'em. It's 
 not polite. I just said it 'cause I had the blues! I'll 
 eat dirt at the table, though, to show I'm sorry." 
 
 " No, you won't. And you were right in what you 
 said. They've every one been mean to you. I'm glad 
 you said it ! " 
 
 " Oh, Walter, they haven't been mean ! They've 
 been lovely to me. I just was in the dumps ! But I 
 never said they was mean. I only said several 
 things." 
 
 Tears were running down her cheeks, so he kissed 
 her again and, his arms being still around her, gave her 
 a comforting pat upon the back. 
 
 " I'll tell you the worst, Walter ; and you can hate 
 me. I said boohoo that Marie, and all her cross- 
 eyed kin were bugs, Yankee bugs boohoo with 
 donkey heads what squealed ! I take it back, though. 
 I never meant it ! " 
 
 Even at that tragic moment, when the brickbat was 
 in his pocket and his eye was on the door, Walter 
 laughed. " How did you ever think of such a funny 
 thing? You cunning darling!" 
 
 "I didn't think of it; I just said it! I'd 'a been 
 quiet if I'd thought. O Walter, you're so chivalrous 
 and magnanamitous ! " 
 
 His chest swelled with pride. " I licked three boys 
 to-day for wanting to marry you, too," he boasted, 
 " You won't marry 'em, will you, sweetheart ? " 
 
 " No," she rashly promised, " I won't never marry 
 anybody you don't want me to. You are a friend what 
 counts ! " 
 
 He kissed her rapturously. " O you angel ! You 
 are not an angel, though. You're too jolly for an an-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 269 
 
 gel; too good for a human; too sweet for a boy; too 
 game for a girl ; and too pretty for anything ! " 
 
 The door opened, and Robert emerged. To the chil- 
 dren's excited fancy he loomed large and terrible 
 through the darkness. Looking searchingly about, he 
 advanced in their direction. The Greenwoods clung 
 nervously to Walter, who clasped her protectingly to 
 his side and got out his brickbat. 
 
 " What you got? " she whispered. 
 
 " Never mind, sweetheart." He had been practicing 
 that tender word for months. " But don't be afraid, 
 I'll fix him ! " 
 
 " I don't want him fixed! I'm just a little girl, and 
 little girls are always getting them and I was bad, you 
 know." 
 
 " He sha'n't beat you ! I'll kill him first ! " 
 
 " I'd rather he would, please." And catching Wal- 
 ter's hand, she loosened his hold on the brickbat, and 
 it dropped to the ground. Her little hand was so 
 powerful in its frail tenderness that he was helpless. 
 Not for all the world could he have thrust that tiny 
 hand aside. Then she said rapidly : " Even if you kill 
 him I'd catch it anyhow. There's always somebody to 
 give 'em to naughty children. Besides, if they were all 
 as sweet as you about this, I'd die of shame. Do you 
 think I'd ever be able to look 'em in the face, after all 
 I'd said, unless something like this evened up ? " 
 
 While she was speaking Robert joined them, and his 
 accents were crisp and sharp. " Greenwoods, you may 
 come to the * lab.' with me ! " 
 
 " Wait a minute, Bob " 
 
 " Go to the house, Walter, and don't interfere in my 
 affairs!"
 
 270 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " But she's sorry, Bob, and " 
 
 " Come, Greenwoods ! " 
 
 The boy's arm tightened about her waist. " Please, 
 Bob? She's sorry for what she did, and you sha'n't 
 hurt her ! " 
 
 Walter was crying, and the caress Woody gave him 
 only made him cry the louder. He was willing to go to 
 any length of recklessness to save her or to any depth 
 of humiliation; but her courage was as great as his. 
 Slipping from his detaining arm, she called out in a 
 cheery voice, a voice that made his fears seem foolish : 
 
 " Why, who minds lickings, Walter ? I've got thou- 
 sands of 'em and they don't even hurt ! " 
 
 Then, instead of meekly following, she led the way. 
 
 Once more she had saved her guardian's life, and 
 once more he failed to thank her. Still, she felt kindlier 
 toward him and more forgiving of herself. She had 
 abused the rights of hospitality; but, now, having 
 saved one member of the family from death and one 
 from crime, the heavy score against her conscience 
 was lessened. 
 
 However, as she reached the scene of expiation, she 
 faltered; but like an echo eame Walter's tribute: 
 " You're too jolly for an angel ; too good for a human ; 
 too sweet for a boy ; too game for a girl ; and too pretty 
 for anything ! " 
 
 With words like those in her heart, a true woman will 
 face the scaffold with a smile. 
 
 Walter waited. At length she came, sobbing and 
 alone. No longer a heroine, but just a motherless 
 child in need of comfort. And he was there to give it 
 her. Reverence and devotion burnt like a white flame
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 in his breast. He took her in his arms, and she wept 
 upon his shoulder. 
 
 " There, there, darling ! I'll get even with him for 
 this, when I'm grown ! " 
 
 " I'm so ashamed ! " 
 
 " He's the One to be ashamed ! To give a darling 
 little girl like you a whipping ! " 
 
 " He he gave me two ! " 
 
 Walter's reply was unquotable. 
 
 " Just because after he'd finished with the first 
 one I called him an ungentlemanly, dirty cur ! " 
 
 An element of mirth entered into Walter's fury. 
 
 " Oh, sweetheart ! That was not the time to tell 
 him so." 
 
 " I know it now," she sobbed. And the boy 
 smiled as he kissed her. No matter what the circum- 
 stances, the fun germs were always present. 
 
 " And and he made me say I was sorry ! " 
 
 " I was a fool not to kill him ! " 
 
 " Your own brother?" 
 
 " I don't care ! I love your little finger more than 
 him, more than all the rest put together. Why, 
 Woody, if I had to choose between you and the whole 
 wide world, I'd put the world upon a chip, send it sail- 
 ing down the river, take you, and go on singing." 
 
 " I'm so glad ! A person wants some one to love her 
 best at a time like this. A person feels so measly ! " 
 
 " Greenwoods ! Didn't I tell you to go to bed ? 
 Must I whip you again? " 
 
 Before Walter's eyes his true love was being ruth- 
 lessly shaken. " No, sir," said a meek young voice. 
 " Please, sir, I'll be good ! " 
 
 Then Walter charged. With feet and teeth and nails
 
 272 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 he attacked his brother, but he was only a boy, so was 
 overpowered, and he, too, was taken to the " lab." 
 The Greenwoods rushed to the house and gave the 
 alarm. 
 
 Ten minutes later there was a knock at the labo- 
 ratory door. Walter was stretched out, winded and 
 spent, upon the rug, where, in spite of all his efforts, 
 Bob had repeatedly laid him. He was still furious, 
 though, and was longing for a brickbat. He had 
 missed his aim with books but could have hit Bob with 
 a brickbat. He hoped this was Chester coming. To- 
 gether they might kill Bob! 
 
 A similar thought was in Robert's mind, not that 
 he might be killed, but that it might be Chester, and 
 that, as Woody's guardian, he would be forced to 
 administer another beating before bed-time. He 
 opened the door with a frown, and to his sorrow, saw 
 his father. He just could not flog his father, not even 
 to keep The Greenwoods straight. 
 
 Colonel Kingston, however, had come in behalf of 
 Walter. Mrs. Kingston had sent him. Her fears were 
 taking concrete form; and now, she was wildly wring- 
 ing her hands because one of her sons was killing the 
 other. The Greenwoods' version of Walter's attack had 
 been thrilling. 
 
 Robert stepped outside and closed the door. Col- 
 onel Kingston asked anxiously: "Where is Walter?" 
 
 " Inside, lying on the rug. Why? " asked Robert 
 pleasantly. 
 
 " Your mother is frightened. Woody said he was 
 killing you." 
 
 "Woody is prejudiced. He was only trying to."
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 273 
 
 "Don't be hard on him, Bob? He is in love!" 
 pleaded the father. 
 
 " With my ward, too. I won't forget it," replied the 
 guardian. 
 
 " Send him out, and I will take him to the house." 
 
 " We are not quite through in here yet." 
 
 " I won't have that boy flogged, Bob. Open that 
 door!" 
 
 "But I'm not flogging him." Bob squared himself 
 before the entrance. " He can stop fighting whenever 
 he gets ready ; but when he does I want to have a talk 
 with him, a talk that he may not like you to hear. 
 Leave us to settle this between ourselves, Father, and 
 he and I will be friends ; interfere, and we may be ene- 
 mies for life." 
 
 Colonel Kingston unwillingly withdrew, and Robert 
 called softly after him : " Tell mother not to worry. 
 I will bring your boy back, if not good as new, at least 
 as well patched up as it can be done by any surgeon in 
 America." 
 
 Walter, convinced that nothing short of an earth- 
 quake could knock Bob down, had left the rug and was 
 sitting in a chair. He retained his seat when Robert 
 reentered, and the latter knew the fight was ended. 
 He tactfully drew up another chair and continued as 
 if it were a conversation that had been interrupted: 
 " Now, Kid, let's see if we can't reach an understand- 
 ing about this thing. The trouble seems to be over the 
 proper control of my ward. I suppose you will admit 
 that I am res " 
 
 " She doesn't need any control ! " 
 
 "You think children should be permitted to do as 
 they please? "
 
 274 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " She's different from others ! " 
 
 " You mean steadier, quieter, more dignified ? " 
 
 With an effort, Woody's champion repressed a grin. 
 
 " She has more sense." 
 
 " Yet I am confident that if allowed her own way she 
 would stop school to-morrow ! " 
 
 "What if she does? She can educate herself just 
 talking to people." 
 
 " Knowledge so gained isn't always authentic, and 
 that is a poor way to learn spelling." 
 
 " Miss Faunce didn't beat her to death ! " 
 
 " Not exactly. But Miss Faunce is a firm believer in 
 corporal punishment." Robert smiled and then looked 
 grave. What would Frances think? 
 
 "For The Greenwoods?" 
 
 " Even for that model child. She gave her one her- 
 self that I know of." Bob was trying to convince him- 
 self that she would therefore sanction his act of vio- 
 lence. 
 
 " Well, I'm not. Now look here, Bob. I intend to 
 marry Woody, and I don't want all the fun beat out 
 of her!" 
 
 " Am I to take this as a request for her hand ? " 
 
 " You may take it for a fact." 
 
 " I had hoped you regarded her as a sister. Has 
 the day been set? " 
 
 " The very minute I am old enough." Walter spoke 
 with an assurance he did not feel, for The Greenwoods 
 had not promised. 
 
 " Thanks for your frankness, Walter. Still, that 
 is several years off. Hadn't you better let me control 
 her in the meantime? " 
 
 " I guess I'll have to. But you might treat her
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 275 
 
 gently. She's no rough boy! And just because she is 
 sweet and merry is no sign she doesn't have trouble. 
 Why don't you try moral suasion or something de- 
 cent? " 
 
 " Since it's my job, Walter, hadn't you better leave 
 the method to me? Moral suasion doesn't seem to 
 work. And since she refuses to obey me from love, it 
 unfortunately places me under the necessity of making 
 her obey me, well, just any way I can." 
 
 Again Walter was on the verge of laughter; for the 
 humor of Woody's personality made a stronger ap- 
 peal than the pathos of her position. Even her name 
 dissipated thoughts of injustice and oppression. The 
 brothers became more companionable. 
 
 " I don't see how you can be so hateful to her, Bob. 
 She's the sweetest girl alive. This afternoon now, I 
 bet Marie had been nagging at her." 
 
 " If Woody had only told me so, I might have let her 
 off; but she blamed me. She said I'd made her be so 
 good for so long that she got full up and busted wide 
 open, and she hoped it would be a lesson to me ! " 
 
 Walter's gravity was utterly destroyed, until an- 
 other memory thrust the laughter down his throat. 
 
 " She said she'd be good, Bob ! How could you get 
 her into a state like that. That's what made me fight ! " 
 
 " Don't worry, old chap ! " soothingly. " She 
 didn't mean it. It is just an expression commonly 
 used under the circumstances." 
 
 " I don't ever v/ant her to talk like that again, Bob. 
 I want you to remember that she's an orphan and is up 
 against it. So you let her stay independent. She ought 
 to have some rights. She has no home, no family, no 
 money, and has never whined once ! "
 
 276 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " I admit her good qualities, Walter. She is sweet, 
 brave and straightforward, and her characteristics may 
 accord with those of the angels. But if she is going to 
 live in this prosaic old world there are a few things 
 left for her to learn. She is in my care now, and must 
 keep my rules ! When she is old enough, though, I shall 
 willingly turn her over to you. So shake hands, old 
 fellow, and let's be friends." 
 
 Walter complied, and friendship was restored. 
 " Now I want to speak of something else. You say you 
 don't regard her as a sister ? " 
 
 "You bet I don't!" 
 
 " Then," Robert spoke with unmistakable grimness, 
 " don't you ever again let me catch you kissing her ! "
 
 CHAPTER XXXVI 
 
 " * be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands,' " sang The 
 Greenwoods. 
 
 It was not a year after the humiliating experience 
 last recorded, nor a month, nor a week, but only the 
 next morning. She had retired, ashamed to look even 
 Mother Burns in the face, and trembling at the thought 
 of the sneers she would encounter at school next morn- 
 ing when Marie told about that whipping. The inde- 
 pendent one had felt so immune! 
 
 She arose from her bed a heroine of romance, a 
 combination of Mary Stuart and Helen of Troy, rolled 
 into one little red-headed girl over whom knights had 
 fought. She had put iron into her alembic and poured 
 out gold. Queen of philosophers ! 
 
 " There she goes again," groaned Mrs. Kingston, who 
 heard the song of gladness, " as irrepressible as ever ! 
 I fear I can't stand this much longer, Colonel." 
 
 The Greenwoods was still warbling her joyous re- 
 frain when this note was slipped under her door: 
 
 Hurry down, you darling angel, and let me tell you all 
 about it. Bob says you are like the angels, and straight, and 
 brave, And you are. Your own, SWEETHEABT. 
 
 " ' As it was in the beginning,' " chanted The Green- 
 woods, " * is now, and ever shall be.' " 
 
 And she scrambled into her dress and buttoned up 
 her shoes crooked. " I'd like to tell the girls about 
 last night," she thought, " but 'twould seem like brag- 
 
 277
 
 278 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 ging ! But goody ! Marie will tell ! Now I'm a-going 
 to tell the fam'ly I'm sorry for all I said." 
 
 Later she wrote to Frances. Robert had suspected 
 that she would, and was nervous. Of course Miss 
 Faunce ought to understand the difficulty of living with 
 The Greenwoods, but did she? 
 
 Would she give him credit for having performed a 
 disagreeable duty or would she think him a brute? If 
 she loved him, if she ever could love him, she would 
 know that he would not mistreat a child! She had 
 doubted that her love would last. Well, this would be 
 the test ! Woody might paint the scene at its blackest, 
 but if Miss Faunce's next letter to him was of a 
 friendly tone, he would go to Baltimore, and stay un- 
 til he won her. 
 
 But if she should write in anger? Then all would 
 be over between them. Unless she could trust him, 
 love would not last. 
 
 So he wrote, explaining nothing, merely paving the 
 way for her reply. And then he waited. 
 
 The two letters were delivered to Frances at the same 
 time. As a child she had eaten her icing before she 
 had her cake, so now she read Robert's first. It brought 
 forth a blush and a smile. The rosiness was due to a 
 remark he made about Woody and himself needing a 
 woman to look after them; the smile, to his specifica- 
 tion of the woman. < 
 
 Woody's epistle was less explicit. Frances had to 
 sift it to find any meaning at all. 
 
 PEECIOUS FRANCE: 
 
 It happened. 2 ! Awful ones ! You are not in it with him. 
 I was too good when I had ought to been so-so. Then it 
 would not have happened. But I forgive him. I wish you
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 279 
 
 had sawn him when he jumped on him. I most died laughing. 
 He is a brave and noble hero. I told him so. It won't do to 
 trifle with the Doctor. I am being good. 
 
 " She must," cogitated Frances, " have gotten a 
 spanking. At least, that is all I can make of it. I 
 wonder if she called him names." 
 
 Whereat she laughed. She had never taken her young 
 friend's troubles very seriously. It had never entered 
 her head that anyone could be responsible for that ex- 
 uberant being without loving her devotedly or spanking 
 her occasionally. Robert might have set his fears at 
 rest. 
 
 There was a postscript, though, and it caused the 
 misunderstanding. 
 
 " You were right, France, when you said he was a dangerous 
 animal. Dr. Kingston is the most dangerous animal I have 
 ever saw ! " 
 
 Frances dropped the letter in amazement. " Why 
 I never said he was a dangerous animal in my life, 
 nor any other kind of animal! What does she mean? 
 I wonder if she has told him I said that. It would be 
 just like her! O Woody, you'll break my heart, if 
 you keep this up ! Oh, how I hate the darling's letters ! 
 When she isn't writing about his marrying some horrid 
 wretch, she starts a thing like this! His mother's 
 hating me is bad enough, without his hating me too! 
 And he thinks I called him a dangerous animal." 
 
 She got out her handkerchief. " If it wasn't so silly, 
 I could cry," she sobbed ; " being misrepresented in 
 this horrid way to him. No wonder he hasn't been to 
 see me, if he thinks I talk like that behind his back. 
 And what am I to do about it? Sit here with folded 
 hands and let him hate me for something I never said,
 
 280 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 or have him feeling hurt like he did last summer, and 
 thinking me to blame? I won't have a misunderstand- 
 ing now. I will just write and explain." 
 
 The Foresters were afraid; Robert that Frances 
 would think him a brute and Frances that he thought 
 she had called him a dangerous animal. Fear is con- 
 fusing. Frances, as it was such a silly subject, had 
 broached it playfully, as she supposed, though in- 
 dignation at The Greenwoods vibrated through every 
 line. Robert thought it was directed against himself 
 and mistook her jesting for sarcasm. 
 
 Expecting to be called a brute, he felt her allusion to 
 " a dangerous animal " like a blow on the cheek. His 
 reply to Frances was like a slap in return. 
 
 Some time since, Sylvia asked me the meaning of the word 
 " Brute," and I told her it was " a dangerous animal." Per- 
 haps that is what she meant. But you wrong her, Miss Faunce. 
 She has never told me that you called me a brute, and unless 
 you had done so yourself I should never have known you 
 thought it. 
 
 This was not exactly true, but he could not remem- 
 ber everything The Greenwoods had told him. 
 
 Frances was in love, but was not lacking in spirit. 
 Having written especially to tell him that she had not 
 called him a dangerous animal, she had no intention of 
 writing again to explain that she had not called him a 
 brute. That she had answered The Greenwoods' post- 
 script, instead of Robert's letter, never entered the fair 
 girl's head. 
 
 If, she decided, he misunderstood so easily, and quar- 
 reled over so trivial a matter, why, he mubt want a 
 quarrel. He was too sensible to be really hurt 
 over so silly a remark, but must be using it as a pre-
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 281 
 
 text for closing a correspondence of which he had 
 wearied. His real reason was either his mother's ob- 
 jection, or Miss Ardelia Wile! 
 
 Well, let him go ! Love is not a serious thing, and 
 the world is full of charming men. Frances had no 
 superstitions anent love, and nothing but contempt for 
 a broken heart. She would forget. So, taking her 
 last dance program, she carefully scanned her list of 
 partners, selecting the most eligible as an aid in driving 
 Robert from her heart. 
 
 Between the Foresters all was over. Letters and 
 photographs were returned, and every memento of 
 their friendship was destroyed, except The Green- 
 woods.
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII 
 
 DEAB FRANCE: 
 
 What would you do about it if you were me and did not 
 know how to be good and everybody you picked out to be good 
 like cried and said you was mocking them? I tried Marie's 
 way and Pearl's but neither way is any fun and it hurt their 
 feelings. It is not polite either. So I won't be good any way 
 at all but polite like my papa said for he has more sense 
 than all the teachers and Kingstons put together. I told the 
 dangerous animal so and he looked at me awful long and hard 
 and scary and locked me up and left the room. But I won't be 
 good. No never. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 DEAB FBANCIE : 
 
 What do you want me to be good for? I am not your busi- 
 ness now and when I was you never turned gray-headed over 
 it. Besides you was not good when you was little and are 
 not so powerful now or him either tho he acts so pious about 
 me. His Sister Ellen told me about him. He was a case. 
 I got after him about his pertending and expecting it of me 
 and he said he was a boy and boys are different. I told him 
 you was not a boy and was the worst ever. The girls and 
 boys are playing snow-ball and I am locked up. But Walter 
 throws his snow-balls to my window. Stop your fussing, cross- 
 eyed-angel and tell me about your new dress. 
 
 Lovingly, 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 DARLING FRANCE: 
 
 No I won't so there. My papa knows best and I will be 
 polite. I might be good if I was living with you but that will 
 never be. I asked him a minute ago why that gentle miracle 
 didn't hurry so you and me could live together instead of me 
 spending my life in this pesky grammar room. And he said 
 we cannot have everything we want in this world but must 
 take what God gives us and be resined and I said darn and he 
 
 282
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 283 
 
 scolded me and kissed me. When people lock me up I wish 
 they might leave out the kissing. 
 
 Lovingly, 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 PRECIOUS FRANCIE; 
 
 I was not kep in to-day but thair is no child to play with 
 for Mrs. Kingston has taken them all slay riding except me. 
 She said she was sorry but she supposed I would be locked up 
 so she asked another girl in my place what is not kep in so 
 often. I think she fibbed and did not want me for it has 
 happened before with her and other mothers. Marie and 
 Harriet are chums now and have secrets from me and Pearl 
 is still mad because I mocked her. But I don't cair for a 
 crack is in the Grammar Room and the Happy Children 
 
 With much love, 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 P. S. The reason I stopped writing is because Walter came 
 and took me skating on the pond. 
 
 MY OWN DARLING FRANCE: 
 
 What have you done to make these people hate you so? 
 Every time I speak your name they nearly take my head off 
 except Walter. He said if Bob had any sense he would marry 
 you and I said you have too much sense to marry Bob. 
 And he is mad at me. When I mention you to the doctor he 
 tells me some ink is on my nose and don't say ain't and such 
 like. But I do not care I love you and told the family boldly 
 you was prettier than Miss Ardelia knew how to fix up to be. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 FRANCIE FAUNCE: 
 
 I am surprised to deth at the wedding. How ever did it 
 happen? When is it to be? Did you ever, ever, ever? I 
 cannot think it true. I cannot think that such a thing can be. 
 I wish I was with you to hear it all. How long has it been 
 going on? I had not heard a word. Why did you not tell 
 me last summer? Did you know it then? A person can never 
 tell what will happen next but I did not think of this. 
 
 Your loving and devoted friend, 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 DEAR FRANCE : 
 
 I am still having fits about the wedding. It is awful at a 
 time like this to be with strangers what do not know a person's 
 folks. I am crazy to know it all. It beats anything I ever
 
 284 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 heard. Who'd a thought it? When I got your letter I was so 
 near popped to tell it that I ran out to the lab and busted in 
 the door to where the doctor was making some dope to cure 
 tifoid fever whiten is all he ever does now except to lock me 
 up. He is like a bear. He is so hateful even Miss Ardelia is 
 mad at him and they have quit and he never even goes to 
 see the widow. I forgot my manners I was so upset about 
 the wedding and thought he would be glad to hear the news. 
 So I hollered it out quick and he said a bad word and dropped 
 the nasty stuff he was making on the carpet. And it burnt a 
 hole in the carpet and made an awful smell and he looked 
 so stupendous curious for a minute not even noticing the fire 
 that you would thought it a deth and not a wedding. Then 
 he put out the fire and asked when it is to be and I said you 
 had not writ. And he told me to get out and you bet I did. 
 When is it? 
 
 Your loving and devoted friend as ever, 
 THE GBEENWOODS. 
 
 DEAREST AND BELOVED FRANCIE: 
 
 Have I told you about it lately that I love you the same 
 as ever and tho time and distance part us we can be adopteds 
 on our inside but not without. So it is to be in March. How 
 things will be changed. Did I tell you about Dr. Kingston 
 shaking my head off yestiddy? The hateful thing over nothing. 
 Just because when I was so excited about the wedding when I 
 got your first letter I told him it was you going to be married 
 insted of Edith and your brother. And he has been thinking 
 it was you. 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 P. S. He said he shook me for never getting things straight, 
 and if I could not tell them right not never to talk at all. 
 And he left me locked up clean till night. The cross-eyed dog. 
 
 THE G. 
 
 DEAB FRANCE : 
 
 Your brother has mighty little to do. A sister's enemy is 
 no person for a brother to marry. He is not treating you 
 right. He is disgracing you. I knew he went with her last 
 summer but I thought it was because I asked him to watch 
 and keep the doctor from courting her and to cut him out. 
 Then he fell in love hisself. I thought he had more sense 
 and feeling, or I would have stopped him too. How can I 
 ever keep things straight when grown folks act like that? 
 Their foolishness makes me sick. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 THE GREENWOODS.
 
 THE GREENWOODS " 285 
 
 P. S. Will they live with her people or by theirselves or 
 sponge on you? Don't you stand it a minute. Do you want 
 me to write to them? When I get married to Mr. Chester or 
 Walter or some of the others you can live with us. I have 
 asked them all about it and they say they will be pleased. 
 
 THE G. 
 
 OH FBANCIE: 
 
 Now what do you think? Edith has asked me to be a 
 flower girl with Goldilocks! Is it not stupendous scrumptious!?! 
 It was a nice letter too. What if she turns out to be a sweet 
 girl after all? And you maid of honor. And Mrs. Bowers 
 and the school crowd to be there. Won't they drop dead when 
 they see you and me and Goldilocks and Edith all marching up 
 to be married together and Brother Raymond? I bet the folks 
 will grin. Will you get my dress or must I? Won't it be 
 sweet? Me and Goldilocks in them little, cunning dresses? 
 It will be like at the convent when I was flower girl for Sister 
 Mary Joseph only Edith won't have her hair cut off and there 
 will be a man. 
 
 Your friend and well wisher, 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 FBANCIE : 
 
 What do you think now? I asked him if I could go and he 
 said he could not go himself and who would take care of me 
 and I said you and he said you had not offered and I said 
 you had and he said he had not received a letter from you 
 and if you wanted to take his ward you could write and ask 
 him and he would decide later. 
 
 Lovingly, 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 DEAR FRANCE: 
 
 Have you got my dress yet? If some one don't tend to it 
 righterway it will be too late for the wedding and what will 
 I do? It is most time now and your letter about me has not 
 come and he is waiting and I am most crazy. He says for 
 me to be pashunt. But how can I pashunt and my dress not 
 started? Yours in haste, 
 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 FRANCE: 
 
 I cannot go to the wedding and I am about to die of sorrer. 
 
 1 want to go so bad. Everybody will be thair but me and I 
 will be here in Wayville where no one wants me. He is 
 sorry too or I would be mad at him but he was willing and
 
 286 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 your letter never came and the time is near and Edith would 
 want to know so he could wait no longer. Franeie what has 
 happened? 
 
 Lovingly, 
 THE GREENWOODS. 
 
 P. S. I want to die and go to heaven. Heaven is not like 
 this for my papa is there in a beautiful little home with a room 
 in it for me. I want to see my little room. I wonder will 
 it be trimmed in jewelry or flowers. It will be lots of fun 
 in heaven but no weddings. 
 
 THE G. 
 
 P. S. Why did you not write, Francie? Did you not want 
 to take me? Have I made you mad too? I never ment it. 
 
 THE G.
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII 
 
 THEY were in the big, comfortable-looking room, 
 the children's study, where they romped, popped corn, 
 and were supposed to get their lessons. Marie was 
 down-stairs chatting with her parents, while Walter 
 and The Greenwoods, with a studious array of books 
 around them, were talking to one another. On his face 
 was a frown of impatience, on hers, the look of gentle 
 scorn that a big man wears when his wife is urging 
 overshoes upon him. 
 
 " You're so nervous, Walter. All the Kingstons are. 
 Now how can a crack behind the door harm a little 
 girl?" 
 
 " It's not the crack. It's the things that come 
 through it." 
 
 "What's wrong with the Happy Children? I love 
 'em." 
 
 " You'd better leave 'em alone. Live folks ought to 
 go with live folks, and spooks with spooks. It's Bob's 
 fault. He shouldn't lock you up so much by your- 
 self. You'll die, darling. People always die when 
 they get to seeing ghosty things." 
 
 " What if I do ? You talk like heaven is the small- 
 pox!" 
 
 " Do you want to die? " 
 
 " It's perfectly lovely both ways, alive and dead. 
 It's the same to me. At least, it would be, if if I 
 liked Wayville. I believe I'll run away. I'm tired of 
 going to school, and being bossed, and playing with 
 
 287
 
 288 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 girls whose mothers don't like me. Where would you 
 go if you were me? " 
 
 " You can't go. Girls never run away. Wait till 
 spring, sweetheart, and I will play outdoors with you 
 all day long." 
 
 " Why don't girls run away ? " 
 
 " It is too easy to catch 'em, and they get into such 
 everlasting trouble when they're caught." 
 
 " They'll never catch me ! " 
 
 " Yes they will. Bob will advertise for the sweetest 
 girl on earth, and they will spot you in a minute. What 
 would you do, anyway ? " 
 
 " I'm a-going to hermit, all by myself in a beauti- 
 ful cave, so the Happy Children can visit me. They 
 won't come unless I am alone. You see the grammar 
 room would do if it wasn't for the grammar. Besides, 
 Dr. Kingston's feelings get hurt because he has to 
 lock me up so often, him not knowing that I do it a- 
 purpose now, and he makes himself so unpleasant that 
 he hurts mine. In the cave there won't be any feelings, 
 only soft, green moss, like velvet, and flowers in the 
 corners, and pink silk on the walls, and diamonds and 
 turquoises in the ceiling. It's a lovely cave ! " 
 
 " Where is it?" 
 
 " I don't know. I want you to tell me, so I can go 
 to it. My inside body's seen it often, but I can't find it 
 in the go'graphy. You are ahead of me though and 
 I thought maybe you knew the country. It is a lovely 
 land with fruit and flowers, near the sea, with snow- 
 capped mountains. The sun's always shining there, 
 and there's trees a mile high for little girls to swing in. 
 Where is it, Walter? " 
 
 He had heard before, with disapproval, of her
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 289 
 
 various bodies and the Kingdom; so he grasped at the 
 commonplace explanation that promised to hold her 
 thoughts to earth. 
 
 " In California, I guess. But there's no such cave 
 there. Caves are not like that." 
 
 " Mine is, because my insides's seen it How far is 
 California? " 
 
 " More than a thousand miles. Bob will catch you 
 before you get started and you know what he will do ? " 
 
 Disliking Bob's probable behavior, she sighed, 
 more reflectively, though, than despondently, and 
 slightly changed her plans. 
 
 " .What's the use in putting off marrying till we are 
 grown, Walter? Let's marry and go to California now. 
 We can hermit together." 
 
 With a despairing smile, he looked at her, wishing 
 that this dear little lady of his had been endowed with 
 a larger share of common sense. 
 
 " I'd love to, but they wouldn't let us. We are too 
 young." 
 
 " We won't ask 'em." 
 
 " But, sweetheart ; the preacher would know we are 
 too young and would telegraph papa and Bob, and 
 they would come and get us." 
 
 She sighed again; still not resignedly, regretfully 
 rather, as if for a dream that had passed. 
 
 " I'm sorry, Walter, I like you and admire you so 
 much. You are different from other boys, and I know 
 you would help me if you could? You are brave and 
 noble, and I wish that it could be. But if it can't, it 
 can't. So I guess I'll have to marry Mr. Chester." 
 
 The boy sprang to his feet. 
 
 " I thought you loved me."
 
 290 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 " I do." 
 
 " I thought you loved me best." 
 
 " No, Walter, I love God the best." 
 
 " I mean better than Chess." 
 
 " I love you better as a sweetheart, and him better 
 as a beau." 
 
 " You can't love us both the best. It must be one, 
 and that one you must marry." 
 
 " I love God the best, but I love you and Mr. Ches- 
 ter both the better in your way and his way. You are 
 both human beings. It isn't your fault or his, but that 
 is all you are. So what's the use in being so particular 
 with poor critturs ? " 
 
 " Which had you rather marry ? " 
 
 " The one that I can get." 
 
 " Suppose you could get us both? " 
 
 " I can't. You are too young." 
 
 " You sha'n't marry him." 
 
 "Who'll stop me?" 
 
 " I will. You promised not to marry anyone I didn't 
 want you to." 
 
 " Well," she regarded him with a noble air of im- 
 partiality, "who do you want me to marry? I'll 
 marry anyone you say, if they are willing." 
 
 The boy was not pleased with this impartiality. He 
 felt that a husband was one of the things for which a 
 woman should have a predilection. Were all people 
 alike to The Greenwoods? Did she make no nice dis- 
 tinctions? He frowned. 
 
 " I want you to marry me." 
 
 " All right. How will to-morrow suit ? " 
 
 "We can't marry to-morrow. We must wait till 
 we are grown."
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 291 
 
 " Now, Walter ; you be reasonable. I've give you 
 your chance, and if you can't take it, you be quiet and 
 sweet about it. I didn't promise you to be an old maid, 
 so it is Mr. Chester. If he happens to die by the time 
 you are grown, I'll marry you; but if he doesn't, me 
 and him will just go on being happy together." 
 
 " If you marry him, I'll never speak to you again." 
 
 " You'll have to. I'll be your sister-in-law." 
 
 "Chess doesn't love you! He is just fooling you 
 because you are little and cute. He is not in earnest." 
 
 " Why, he is crazy about me and has asked me to 
 marry him a million times." 
 
 " He's a flirt." 
 
 " Don't talk about my future husband that way, 
 Walter ! He is not." 
 
 " Remember what I tell you. Grown men don't 
 marry eight-year-old girls." 
 
 " That's because the girls are babyish and silly. 
 Lots of men have wanted to marry me. And if Mr. 
 Chester hadn't a-wanted to marry me, he never would 
 'a asked me. You wait and see." 
 
 The Greenwoods was tired of the constant struggle 
 with environment. She was formed for happiness and 
 happiness she would have. She had never sought it in 
 the world, but had found it in herself and shared it 
 with the world; but when the world no longer wanted 
 it, it was no longer offered. The happiness was still 
 there, but no longer bubbled out toward earth, but to- 
 ward heaven. 
 
 The mothers, fearful of her influence, had joined 
 with Mrs. Kingston in her attempt at alienating the 
 childrens' affection from the independent young or- 
 phan. A chord had been touched to which the human
 
 292 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 nature in the children's breasts responded. The Green- 
 woods was as independent of playmates as she was of 
 guardians. 
 
 " It is a lot of fun to play with her," Harriet had 
 complained, " but what does she care for us? " 
 
 " She would just as soon," agreed Marie, " play with 
 our mothers' washerwomen's children as with us. 
 I've been running after her ever since she's been liv- 
 ing in our house and she will scarcely associate. She 
 has never run after me once! I'm tired of it." 
 
 " Let's organize a club and leave her out. Of course 
 we won't leave her out for good. We will just show 
 her that we can get on without her. She thinks too 
 much of herself." 
 
 " She acts like I am the dirt under her feet," agreed 
 Marie, " but just the minute she says she is sorry, or 
 asks us to let her join, we will take her in. You see, 
 it won't be long, Harriet ; for brother Robert won't 
 let her play with common children, so it is us or no 
 one, and she will soon be glad to be nice to us." 
 
 So in an hour of madness the deed had been done. 
 The club was organized at Marie's while The Green- 
 woods was writing grammar. When, at last, free from 
 her durance, she came joyously running out to play 
 with them, they showed her! There had been one 
 astonished gasp, and then she had turned and left them ; 
 and a sorry, sorry victory had been theirs. 
 
 She had withdrawn into her Kingdom for comfort; 
 and there the Happy Children had come, had dried 
 her tears, and compassed her about with strength and 
 gladness. She had a crowd of her own, an invisible 
 hos^, and she went on her way rejoicing. The gram- 
 mar room had lost its terrors, for there was a crack
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 293 
 
 behind the door; and through it her shadowy com- 
 panions stole and played with her ; and the Greenwoods 
 was in thrall. 
 
 At first she had only known them dimly, as if de- 
 prived of one of her senses; but after she had learned 
 to call them through the crack they had grown more 
 distinct to her vision; until at length they came with- 
 out her bidding, because they were always hovering 
 near. She saw them floating on billowy clouds, dancing 
 in the open fire, or playing up high in the falling snow, 
 while always they were calling her from work or 
 play : " Greenwoods ! Greenwoods ! " 
 
 Sometimes she answered, and people looked at her 
 strangely. But they were only stupid, meat people, 
 so what did it matter? As she grew more alive to the 
 voices of the ethereal creatures that haunted her, the 
 call of her human friends seemed further off. Only 
 Walter and his companions, with their livelier sports, 
 could break through the spell. 
 
 No one noticed the change in her but Walter, for no 
 one but Walter cared. Many loved her, but few sus- 
 pected how much of her time was spent in solitude. 
 Robert thought that when she was not in the closet she 
 was playing with the children ; the children thought she 
 was playing with some one else more fortunate. The 
 " meat children " in leaving her out had omitted their 
 chief element of fun, and soon wanted her back again. 
 
 " She knows more about having fun," they mourned, 
 " than anybody living. She knows all about it that 
 there is to know, and now she won't play with us any 
 more." 
 
 For The Greenwoods had failed to see the over- 
 tures they had made. She was free from resentment,
 
 294 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 but with her Kingdom, her dolls, the servants, the boys, 
 school, grammar, and letters, she simply had no time 
 for pesky, little meat girls. 
 
 The grammar room was generally considered a 
 stroke of genius. Even Mrs. Kingston, who had dis- 
 approved at first, had begun to consider it an ideal ar- 
 rangement. She acknowledged that she has been mis- 
 taken in thinking the situation could not last. Every 
 one spoke of the excellent effect it was having upon the 
 child, who was becoming unobtrusive and as quiet as 
 a little mouse. Mrs. Kingston was enjoying her first 
 era of peace since the arrival of The Greenwoods. 
 
 Yet even Robert had underestimated the child's love 
 of play. Play she would, even though she had to slip 
 through the gates of Heaven and play with angels. As 
 it was, she had found the land where poets dwell, the 
 land which some enter by violence with the aid of 
 drugs, and there, piloted by the Happy Children and 
 surrounded by pleasures that never grow stale, she 
 longed to pass her days. To do this she must be alone, 
 for the Happy Children were timid. Therefore, she 
 would be a hermit. 
 
 The next day she was late, as usual. She had re- 
 mained after school to obtain some information about 
 her Kingdom, under the guise of California and caves. 
 She was slipping around to the side door, which she 
 used habitually now in order to avoid the family, 
 when she was called to the " lab." Absorbed in the new 
 books she held, she absently entered, and, before she 
 realized it, was given a task and locked up in the gram- 
 mar room. 
 
 In disgust, she surveyed the hated text-book. She 
 hadn't " done nothing," so what'd she have to write
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 295 
 
 "that hateful grammar for?" Then it dawned upon 
 her. She had been locked up by mistake! Her face 
 suffused with smiles, she seized her pen and writing 
 across the paper, " April Fool," grabbed her book, 
 tilted back her chair, and was lost in Mammoth Cave. 
 
 When Robert returned he was greeted with a smile: 
 " Have you finished your grammar ? " he asked. 
 
 " Yessir, it's done just beautiful," she meekly an- 
 swered. 
 
 Turning to examine it, his eye was offended by the 
 glaring sign and he looked at her in displeasure. He 
 met a broadening smile. " That's what you get," she 
 chuckled, " for locking a girl up what wasn't kept in. 
 I hope 'twill be a lesson to you. Oh, it's a joke on you, 
 Dr. Kingston ! " 
 
 He made a gesture of dismay, and she shook with 
 laughter at his confusion. Long ago he had wearied of 
 her insouciance, and by a forbidding manner, had al- 
 most repressed it, during hours of discipline ; but now, 
 over an unmerited punishment, it had broken out again. 
 
 " Why were you late in getting home, then ? " he 
 asked. For he felt the injustice of his act, if she did 
 not. 
 
 " I stayed to ask Miss Jones about California. And 
 you thought I was kept in ! I got ahead of you one 
 time, Dr. Kingston ! " 
 
 " I'm glad you, at least, are enjoying the joke, you 
 monkey! Have you had a very dull afternoon, 
 Woody?" 
 
 " It's been lovely ! But I wish you would put a rock- 
 ing-chair in here." 
 
 " I suppose I must, if you want it. The treat's on 
 me, you know."
 
 296 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 " h ! Is there to be another treat ? " She gurgled 
 in delight at the prospect, and he looked at her re- 
 proachfully. 
 
 It was only on occasions like this that he realized 
 how dependent she was upon him, how little he under- 
 stood her, and how easily satisfied she was. He could 
 count upon his fingers all the requests she had ever 
 made him. She was the best child in the world, in 
 some ways. 
 
 "If you want anything, dear, why haven't you 
 asked for it? You needn't wait for me to treat! 
 Haven't I told you time and again that I will give you 
 anything I can ? " 
 
 " I beg your pardon, Dr. Kingston. I hope I haven't 
 hurt your feelings again, but I haven't wanted this very 
 long." 
 
 He was almost as eager to grant the favor as she 
 was to obtain it. 
 
 "What is it?" 
 
 " May I go to California, and live in a beautiful 
 cave? " 
 
 At this simple request he grew sarcastic. 
 
 "Is that all, dear child?" 
 
 " Yessir. May I go?" 
 
 "You and I together?" 
 
 " No, sir. Just me by myself." 
 
 " Where thou goest I go, Greenwoods." 
 
 " Whatever would you do in a cave, Dr. Kingston? " 
 
 " Whatever would you do there, Greenwoods ? " 
 
 I shall hermit." * 
 
 He laughed. " Won't something within the bounds 
 of reason do as well." 
 
 " No, sir. Nothing will do but hermiting."
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 297 
 
 " I'm sorry, but I can't permit any hermiting." 
 
 " Then something else will do." 
 
 " That sounds better." He laughed again. " What 
 is it now? " 
 
 " I'd like to get married, please, sir." 
 
 She lisped her request, she had recently lost a tooth 
 very seriously, and she looked so childish, with her 
 short curly hair and pinafore, that his wonder grew. 
 
 " Now why in thunder do you want to marry ? " 
 
 '* So as I can go to California and live in my beauti- 
 ful cave." 
 
 " Oh ! Well, I can't even allow you to marry." 
 
 "All right!" cordially. "I just asked you to be 
 on the safe side." She was visibly entertained at some 
 thought. " Don't you never say I didn't ask you." 
 
 Her confidence was so superb, and she had so many 
 jolts ahead, that, knowing he would not be able to 
 spare her, he felt a pang. Little Greenwoods, with 
 her wide-eyed hopefulness, her laughter, and babyish 
 trust, what had the world to give her? He took her 
 in his arms. 
 
 " You are too little to marry, dear. Don't set your 
 heart on it. And if you try any time soon, remember 
 that I warned you."* 
 
 " Was you ever inside of Mammoth Cave, Dr. King- 
 ston? " She looked up with an air so sweetly superior 
 that he put her down. 
 
 " No. Now you have been shut up long enough. 
 Run out and play. I'm sorry I made that mistake, and 
 when you want something, I mean something that 
 isn't absolutely absurd, remember I owe you a treat."
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX 
 
 ON Friday nights Chester came home from college, 
 and The Greenwoods thought he came especially to see 
 her, a delusion he encouraged. Always he found time 
 to take her for a ride or to a photoplay. When he 
 came he brought her chocolates, when he left he gave 
 her flowers; and these civilities were never offered as 
 to a little girl, but always as to the lady of his af- 
 fection. Underneath his jesting was a real tribute to 
 her charm. 
 
 They were kindred spirits, and each shone brighter 
 for the other's presence. His coming was a festival for 
 which she dressed her finest, and as the hour of his ar- 
 rival approached, her manners grew more airy and her 
 smiles incessant. 
 
 Thus she kept the feast outwardly ; but for her own 
 private satisfaction, she put fresh dresses on her dolls 
 and garnished her room, so that everything might be 
 beautiful when he came. Mrs. Burns connected the 
 decorations with their cause and one day in the fall had 
 shown them to Chester. The small apartment was 
 gay with colored leaves, while on every doll was a rose. 
 He never forgot it, and the little girl that embellished 
 her dolls for his coming became sacred in his eyes, 
 his little patron saint. It was after this that he began 
 to give her flowers. 
 
 Until his salutations to the family were finished she 
 never appeared. When she entered the room, as if by 
 chance, one or the other would exclaim, in joyful sur- 
 
 298
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 299 
 
 prise, " Why, there is Mr. Chester ! " or, " Miss For- 
 est," as the case might be. She gracefully advanced, 
 and he, bowing low, imprinted a kiss upon her hand. 
 After the compliments of the day had been exchanged, 
 he presented his offering and received her thanks. 
 
 Early in the acquaintance he had formed the habit 
 of proposing. In fact, it had been forced upon him. 
 Her reply was always negative, but an unprejudiced 
 observer might have judged that he derived a certain 
 pleasure from the graciousness and ingenuity of these 
 rejections. 
 
 Now, however, her sweet unkindness was at an end. 
 She had decided to make her unsuspecting lover happy. 
 Her opportunity came on Saturday afternoon. He 
 was smoking his cigar in the den, while she, dressed 
 elaborately in white, was entertaining him. 
 
 " Was you ever in California, Mr. Chester ? " 
 
 " I regret to say, Miss Forest, that I've never yet 
 had the pleasure." 
 
 "It's a lovely State. I'm thinking of presiding 
 there, " she angled, with a smile. 
 
 He was surprised. " Honestly ? When do you 
 leave?" 
 
 " Whenever I can get congenial company." 
 
 At this announcement he grew dumb, watching her 
 tactics with amusement. As he did not seem to under- 
 stand, she explained more fully. 
 
 " I shall live in the part where the big trees grow, 
 in a beautiful cave, and I shall hermit all by myself, 
 unless the company is awfully congenial." A pause. 
 " The cave is up in the mountains, and sitting on the 
 porch, you can overlook the sea. White snow is there 
 what never melts, and purling streams, and four gey-
 
 300 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 sers. One at the front door for bathing, and one for 
 ornamental purposes, another at the back for cooking, 
 and the last for washing the clothes. Isn't it a con- 
 venient cave? " 
 
 "Perfectly grand!" 
 
 Here followed another pause. 
 
 " But I haven't told you half yet ! When you hear 
 the rest about that cave, you will be crazy to go with 
 me." A more perceptible pause. " It has soft, green 
 moss on the ground for a carpet, and velvet, balsam 
 cushions; the ceiling is interspersed with crystal 
 formations of diamonds and turquoises, while tour- 
 malines are stuck all over it thick. The walls are 
 draped with lace over pink taffeta ! There's fireflies to 
 light it up; jardinieres of palms and vases of rare cut 
 flowers in the corners; gorgeous birds flit about tap- 
 estry lounges from the Orient, while, scattered here and 
 there, are stalagmites of gold and stalactites of ivory, 
 to hang your clothes on ! " 
 
 Chester was overcome. He buried his face in his 
 handkerchief, while The Greenwoods regarded him 
 gravely. He had never been so slow before. 
 
 " I don't see anything to laugh at, Mr. Chester." 
 
 " I'm not laughing. It's the smoke from this cigar." 
 
 " Stop smoking then." 
 
 " I'm better now, Miss Forest. Tell me more 
 about that cave; your stalagmites and stalactites." 
 
 " They're always in caves, and gold and ivory grow 
 in California." 
 
 " But gold doesn't grow ; it's dug out of the 
 ground." 
 
 " So are potatoes, and they grow. I lived on a farm 
 once, and I know."
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 301 
 
 " But they are vegetables, and gold is a mineral." 
 
 "What's the dif, outside of books?" She spoke 
 impatiently. 
 
 " Vegetables have roots and grew, while minerals 
 are formed by well, various phenomena and cata- 
 clysms of nature." 
 
 Such words are convincing, and she thoughtfully re- 
 constructed her plans. Nevertheless, she wondered why 
 Mr. Chester was so tardily rising to the bait. 
 
 " Then I'll need some one to dig the gold for me, 
 and the ivory, too." 
 
 " But ivory grows." He fenced manfully, but she 
 pressed him hard. 
 
 " Why, Mr. Chester ! They're presactly alike, 
 'cepting one's the paler. If one's formed, the other's 
 formed ; if one grows, so does the other. You can have 
 it either way, but not both ways. You are contrary 
 this afternoon ; and I never thought it of you ! " 
 
 " I'm being sweet as I know how ! Surely you don't 
 think I would deceive you about a thing like this ! " 
 
 " No, I don't. I told Walter you wouldn't. But 
 you are acting queer." 
 
 " Now I shall tell you the truth. Ivory grows on 
 elephants." 
 
 With a cold, unfavoring stare, she walked with dig- 
 nity to the door. 
 
 " Pray don't be offended, Miss Forest. I can't help 
 it!" 
 
 " Is this a time for joking, Mr. Chester? " 
 
 "Me joking!" He wondered what there was es- 
 pecial about the time. 
 
 " About elephants being vegetable gardens, when I'm 
 a-telling about my cave? And me a-leaving you ! Wai-
 
 302 THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 ter's too young to go, but he never laughed. He loves 
 me!" 
 
 " I love you too, better than he does ! " 
 
 " You are not showing it, then. I'm a-going to 
 skate with him." 
 
 As there was nothing for it but a proposal, he gal- 
 lantly knelt before her. 
 
 " Fair maiden, leave me not alone ! Say thou lovest 
 me? See me at thy feet! Wilt thou be mine? " 
 
 " Marry you, Mr. Chester ? " 
 
 " Yea, dear one. And let us live in j oy supernal 
 through all the coming years ! " 
 
 "All right, then. Come on." 
 
 At this fortuitous termination of his wooing, Ches- 
 ter was not only amazed, but flustered. He got up 
 from his knees, and though he took her outstretched 
 hand, he looked, as he felt, rather awkward. The 
 citadel he had been besieging having fallen about his 
 shoulders, he was wondering how to extricate himself 
 from the ruins. 
 
 " Come on, Mr. Chester." 
 
 " Where to, Woody ? " This was the first time he 
 had ever called Miss Forest by her nickname. 
 
 " To the preacher's, of course, goosie ! Where else 
 should we go ? " 
 
 " But this is so sudden ! " 
 
 " Why, I've known it a week ; and I dressed up a- 
 purpose. So, come on ! " 
 
 She smiled triumphantly, and the veil of masculine 
 blindness fell from his eyes. He saw that from the big 
 bow on her head to her little shoes she was in bridal 
 white. And at the sight of these confident prepara- 
 tions, a wave of remorse swept over him. As his mother
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 303 
 
 and brother had warned him, he had gone too far. But 
 who would have dreamed that little Greenwoods would 
 really think she could marry? 
 
 " Why didn't you tell me about it sooner, if you 
 knew? " he asked. And he ransacked his brains for a 
 getting-out place. 
 
 " Because you never asked me sooner. I told you as 
 soon as you asked. But I knew you would ask, so I 
 just got ready beforehand." 
 
 He looked into her trusting eyes and groaned. He 
 was a tender-hearted young Lothario, and he dreaded to 
 hurt her or to lose her esteem. It was a delicate situa- 
 tion, but if Bob would help, a way out of it might be 
 found. 
 
 " What you waiting for, Mr. Chester? Don't you 
 want to marry me? " 
 
 " Of course, darling ; but let's talk it over first and 
 
 " What for? I'm ready. So let's marry and pull 
 out." 
 
 " But I have some things to attend to first." 
 
 "What?" 
 
 " Why er examinations, you know, and " 
 
 " You and me are a-going to quit school." 
 
 " But you are so young, Woody." 
 
 " Do you want your wife to go to school ! " 
 
 " I mean too young to marry." 
 
 " I may not be old Mr. Chester, but I've got plenty 
 sense. I can cook and sew and clean up. And all 
 last summer I washed every sock you wore ! " 
 
 The pathos of this plea almost made Chester weep. 
 Taking the bride-expectant into his arms he kissed her. 
 If she were only a few years older !
 
 304 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 " You see, darling, every one will object. Little 
 girls your age can't marry. It is against the law." 
 
 " What made you ask me then ? If I'm too little to 
 be married, I'm too little to be asked. I don't mind 
 about the law. Let's run away." 
 
 " But that will not be honorable. Suppose we 
 speak to Bob about it? " 
 
 " No use, I've done done it. He won't let us. We'll 
 have to run away." 
 
 " But when did you ask him ? We have not been 
 engaged ten minutes ! " 
 
 " Beforehand, of course. I knew we would get en- 
 gaged." 
 
 " But you usurped my privilege. It's the gentle- 
 man's place to ask. Now, before we go any further, I 
 want to have an " 
 
 " Looks like we never are going any further, but just 
 stay here and talk forever. Don't you love me? I 
 knew none of your family did, but I thought you was 
 true. Have you gone back on me? " 
 
 " No, indeed. Every one loves you, dear. You are 
 wrong about the family ? " 
 
 " Your mamma hates me. She doesn't want me in 
 her house ! I stayed outdoors all summer to keep from 
 bothering her, but I can't stay outdoors now. I should 
 freeze. So I shan't stay here any more. I've put up 
 with things for your sake, but I believe you are bad 
 as the rest ! Now I am a-going to leave. If you love 
 me, you can come with me; if you don't, I shall know 
 you are a low-down, storying flirt ! " 
 
 " I will explain to my mother and Bob, dear, and 
 if " 
 
 " I don't want you to explain. I want you to marry
 
 *< THE GREENWOODS " 305 
 
 me if you love me, and if you don't, I want to know 
 why you asked me." 
 
 There was no escaping the circle. If he loved her, 
 why didn't he marry her; and if it were wrong to 
 marry her, why had he asked her? The case called for 
 Bob, Bob, who must smooth things over and be more 
 lenient in the future. 
 
 " You see, Woody, as I can't marry my brother's 
 ward without asking him " 
 
 " Ask him then, Mr. Chester. You are grown, and 
 it may do some good. Only, talk up to him like a 
 man. If he mentions my size, tell him he's a burning 
 coward, and size or no size, I've got more sense than 
 any married woman in town ! Say you like 'em young 
 and little, and it's none of his cross-eyed business ! " 
 
 " Why, Woody ! " 
 
 " Will you let him insult your wife about her size? " 
 
 "Perish the thought!" 
 
 " Well, I hope so ! Lots of little folks have married. 
 A queen did once when she was only five ; and I'm years 
 older than that. So you tell him to shut up with his 
 foolishness, that I've got as much sense as any 
 queen ! " 
 
 A more determined fiancee Chester had never known. 
 He looked almost haggard as he went to find his 
 brother. Remembering that Bob had discountenanced 
 these attentions to his ward, Chester doubted if he 
 would do his part in this tragic little comedy. 
 
 Bob seemed more amenable, though, than Chester had 
 expected. He promised to open The Greenwoods' eyes, 
 to spare her feelings, and to help Chester out of the 
 scrape. He was generous, too, not even asking
 
 306 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 Chester not to offend again.* He laughingly returned 
 with him to the den. 
 
 And Bob was as good as his word: for not only to 
 The Greenwoods' surprise, but to Chester's as well, he 
 gave his full and free consent. He even added his 
 blessing. 
 
 It was Chester who hurt The Greenwoods' feelings, 
 for Chester said a bad, bad word.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 SHORTLY afterward Mrs. Kingtson entered the room 
 and was shocked to find her sons engaged in what Robert 
 smilingly assured her was " a sparring match." Chester 
 was not smiling, though, and she was not deceived. They 
 were fighting like two common rowdies, and in their 
 mother's home! 
 
 She was too agitated to ask any questions, but none 
 were needed. The Greenwoods was not present, but 
 who else could have made Mrs. Kingston's sons for- 
 get the respect they owed their mother? Ever since 
 Walter's attack upon his brother Mrs. Kingston had 
 been dreading this. Now it had come! Sinking into a 
 chair she regarded her boys with pale-faced reproach. 
 
 Robert, cool and self-possessed, who had only begun 
 fighting on the defensive, came penitently and put his 
 arm around her. 
 
 " Don't worry, mother," he said ; " this isn't serious. 
 Just an incident in the guardianship of The Green- 
 woods. But if you want to beat us both, I'll fetch the 
 stick and take mine, and then I'll hold Chess while 
 you give him his ! " 
 
 Chester had cut a sorry figure in both love and war. 
 He knew he was in the wrong, but thought others were 
 too. "Laugh, if you want to, Bob," he exclaimed, 
 angrily jerking on his coat. "You turned the joke 
 on me very neatly. But what have you done to The 
 Greenwoods ? " 
 
 " Brought her to her senses. Isn't it time you came 
 to yours? Your mother is worried!" 
 
 307
 
 308 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 " We are discussing The Greenwoods, I believe ! " 
 
 At her relative insignificance, the mother trembled. 
 Unheedingly, Chester continued. " You may think it 
 was our innocent little jest that made Woody decide 
 to marry. You are wrong. All she wanted was to get 
 away from you and mother! She is tired of living in 
 a house where she knows she isn't wanted ! " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston's white face grew paler, and Rob- 
 ert was indignant. 
 
 " Look here, Chess ! In your zeal for my ward you 
 are forgetting your duty to your mother." 
 
 " I am talking of the treatment your ward has re- 
 ceived in my mother's home ! " Chester was thor- 
 oughly unstrung, " There are only two people in the 
 world whom The Greenwoods loves ; Miss Faunce and 
 me. You took her away from Miss Faunce to fill up 
 your pocketbook; and brought her here and turned 
 her over to the mercy of Marie and the servants ! You 
 have the money, what do you care about her? The 
 only pains you have ever taken has been to see that 
 she hasn't worried your mother nor sister ! I am the 
 only one who has shown her any consideration. In re- 
 turn she loved me, she trusted me! Now you've 
 brought her to her senses! Well, you have put the 
 servants in Miss Faunce's place. Whom will you put 
 in mine ? " 
 
 " Chester, you are speaking wildly ! " expostulated 
 Mrs. Kingston. 
 
 " Haven't you hated her, mother, from the minute 
 she tripped out behind Bob last June, to be intro- 
 duced? " 
 
 " How can you ask such a question of me, Chester ? 
 I don't understand her; I have complained of her as I
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 309 
 
 would have of any child that was naughty. But what 
 cause have I to hate her? " 
 
 " 1 don't know, mother. But since she was orphaned 
 for your brother's sake, and torn from her friends to 
 fill your son's pocketbook, it looks as if you might have 
 tried to love her ! " 
 
 " You've said enough about that, Chess ! If my ward 
 has any complaints to make, let her come to me ! " in- 
 terrupted Robert. 
 
 " She'll never do it ! If you wait for that child to 
 complain, you will wait too long. But I advise you 
 to get her to more congenial surroundings at once ! " 
 
 And Chester left the room and, without another 
 word, returned to college. Robert, absolutely unim- 
 pressed, angrily watched him leave, but Mrs. Kingston 
 was conscience-stricken. Every reproach had gone 
 home, and she buried her face in her hands. 
 
 Robert put his arms about her. 
 
 " Don't heed this nonsense, Mother. Chess didn't 
 know what he was talking about. He didn't mean half 
 he said. If you'd only waited five minutes longer to 
 enter, he'd have been more tractable." 
 
 " Robert, don't mention that fight ! " 
 
 " Then you mustn't worry." 
 
 "For my own son to accuse me of hating an or- 
 phan child! Do you think I have been unkind? " 
 
 " If I did, I should have taken her away." 
 
 " Have I impressed you as hating her? " 
 
 He hesitated and her heart sank. 
 
 " You haven't been exactly cordial, Mother, but 
 Woody is difficult. I suppose she has rejected your 
 friendship, as she has mine. Do you hate her? " 
 
 " I do not understand her, and she never responds to
 
 310 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 my advances, but I am far from hating her. If she 
 had ever needed help or sympathy, my heart would 
 have gone out to her. I don't know what Chester 
 means. Instead of neglecting her, I have actually en- 
 vied her her facility for winning love. Still, I haven't 
 treated her as I should have treated Captain Forest's 
 daughter. Chester was right." 
 
 " You couldn't, mother. Woody stands squarely on 
 her own little feet, and must be liked or disliked for 
 herself alone. She can't be reduced to the position of 
 somebody's relative." 
 
 " But I have been remiss in my duty. And your 
 uncle," Mrs. Kingston faltered. " Of course Sylvia is 
 better off here, but if she doesn't realize it Robert, 
 I am not blaming Mark! He had a reason for moving 
 the child, and I know it was a good one. He never 
 forgot his obligations, but, if that woman understood 
 Sylvia, it's a pity he didn't leave the child there ! " 
 
 Robert left his mother's side and stood before the 
 mantel. 
 
 " If it's Chester's amiable insinuation about my pock- 
 etbook that's disturbing you, mother, you may set 
 your fears at rest! If I had refused to accept the 
 terms of the will, Woody would have been sent back to 
 the convent." 
 
 " Do you mean that the woman would have aban- 
 doned her ? " 
 
 " No, but Miss Faunce was a minor, and not in the 
 good graces of her family. They wanted to punish 
 her." 
 
 "For what?" 
 
 " For jilting a millionaire! "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 311 
 
 Mrs. Kingston looked thoughtful. She had never 
 before considered the jilting from Miss Faunae's view- 
 point. 
 
 " Chester inferred that I could hate my brother's 
 enemies, but not love his friends. But, Robert, I had 
 cause to be prejudiced against Miss Faunce. She 
 jilted your uncle, and six weeks later she jilted another 
 man. I have never met the young lady; she may be 
 charming, but she seemed to be skimming over her love 
 affairs too lightly and too rapidly for a well-balanced 
 young woman." 
 
 " She is not unbalanced though, not light, nor 
 fast." He spoke coldly. 
 
 "Is she worthy?" * 
 
 " Of what ? " He knew that his mother meant worthy 
 to be his wife, but he was not taking kindly to her be- 
 lated interest. 
 
 " To mould a young child's character? " 
 
 " She is ; but. as she is not to mould The Greenwoods', 
 I fail to see the reason for your inquiry." 
 
 " Do you still love her, son ? " 
 
 His face was inscrutable, but in its inscrutability 
 she read her answer. 
 
 " Why are you asking these questions, now, mother? 
 What difference does it make now? She has gone her 
 way ; I have gone mine. All that is over ! " 
 
 He, too, left the room, and she sat and looked in 
 the fire. 
 
 All was over between Robert and Miss Faunce, but 
 Mrs. Kingston was not relieved, Her prayers had 
 triumped over the orphan's, and The Greenwoods had 
 kept her independence. Mrs. Kingston had never in- 
 tended to accept the ultimatum, but had believed that
 
 she could at any time do so. Now it was too late. All 
 that she feared was coming to pass. Her sons were 
 at daggers' points; Robert, still determined; The 
 Greenwoods, still unsubdued. 
 
 And Robert loved Miss Faunce! 
 
 The year of grief had passed, and Mrs. Kingston 
 had taken off her mourning. She could no longer say, 
 " A year ago dear Mark was here, said this, did 
 that." Because a year ago he had been lost, some- 
 where, in infinity. He had formed new ties, was en- 
 gaged in new activities, which she at present could not 
 share; or, if consciousness had ended, he could no 
 longer be affected by what his sister thought or by 
 what his nephew did. 
 
 Mark was far away; Robert was near. One was 
 her brother ; the other was her son. If both living had 
 loved the same woman, with whom would she have sym- 
 pathized? With Robert! So, since Mark could not be 
 injured by Robert's success, why should her sympathy 
 be withheld ? But now, it was too late ! 
 
 Marie entered, weeping convulsively, with this note 
 from The Greenwoods: 
 
 Your kindness and hospitality are extremely appreciated. 
 But I don't love nobody in this family. Dr. Kingston promised 
 me a treat. And this is it. I have gone to live with Miss 
 Ardelia Wile. 
 
 The threatened calamity was unexpectedly stayed. 
 All was over between Robert and Miss Faunce, and 
 now The Greenwoods was leading him to Ardelia ! 
 
 The orphan was followed by Mrs. Kingston's bless- 
 ing.
 
 CHAPTER XLI 
 
 THE GREENWOODS had gone to live with Miss Ardelia 
 Wile! 
 
 Society, knowing the terms of Mark Perkins' will, 
 drew its own conclusions, so did Frances, but Mrs. 
 Kingston rejoiced. 
 
 Society was mistaken, though, and Frances had her 
 pains for naught, while Mrs. Kingston rejoiced too 
 soon; for The Greenwoods came back again! The 
 Greenwoods had, apparently, raised Mrs. King- 
 ston's hopes only to show the poor woman their futil- 
 ity. 
 
 But the Greenwoods did not willingly return. 
 
 She " never intended to live with the Kingstons 
 again and wouldn't marry one of 'em if they was the 
 last man on earth ! " She was " a-going to be an old 
 maid, like Miss Ardelia." At least, that is what she 
 told Ardelia. 
 
 Severally they tried to induce the wanderer to re- 
 turn. Chester called with explanations, candy, flow- 
 ers, and regrets ; but all were futile. 
 
 "What's the use in talking, Mr. Chester? You said 
 
 * damn,' and you looked * damn,' and you meant 
 
 * damn ! ' And that's no word for a gentleman to say 
 when the lady's guardian what he loves says they can 
 marry. Besides, if you are sorry, we can marry now." 
 
 " But they will put us in j ail ! " 
 
 "Oh, shuckings! You can't scare me with jails! 
 Why, they used to put me in jail every time I ran away 
 
 313
 
 314 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 from the old woman what lived in St. Louis when they 
 could catch me. And I liked it there! They had a 
 special corner for me to play in, and the matron and 
 cops was perfect darlings. So jails are no excuse. 
 You needn't marry me unless you want to, but don't 
 try to fool me any more." 
 
 " I know now," she told Miss Ardelia after Chester 
 had gone, " why it is wrong to tell fibs, even when they 
 are polite. It's because the polite kind hurt worse than 
 any, when you find them out." 
 
 Walter came, too; but she turned a cold ear to his 
 pleadings. He had missed his chance. Knowing how 
 that interview with Chester must end, he had waited 
 outside the door. When, scorned by the one she had 
 trusted, she had rushed madly out, he had jeered and 
 derided her! Had said: 
 
 "I told you so." 
 
 All called, from the Colonel to the cook, and last of all 
 came Robert, and got her. 
 
 Immediately on reaching home, Robert sought his 
 mother : 
 
 " May I ask," he inquired coldly, " if you authorized 
 The Greenwoods to offer my hand to Ardelia? " 
 
 " You Icnow I didn't, Robert ! Surely the child " 
 
 " She assured us of your consent to our nuptials, 
 and also of the chambermaid's. And one of the stable- 
 boys is in favor of it, too. She says we are both old 
 enough to marry, and objects seriously to a further 
 postponement. In fact, she threw me at Ardelia's head 
 and Ardelia at mine, till Ardelia was on the verge of 
 tears, and I had to run away in self-defense. Why 
 have you discussed my affairs with her, Mother? " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston might have retorted that The Green-
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 315 
 
 woods had turned the joke upon Robert as neatly as 
 he had upon Chester, but she was too taken aback to 
 think of it. She had said something to her about Rob- 
 ert and Ardelia, but had not expected her to negotiate 
 the match. 
 
 " Robert ! I never heard of such presumption ! Poor 
 Ardelia ! Sylvia seems to have the knack of always say- 
 ing the wrong thing at the most inopportune time.' 
 She is very wearisome." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston had had as much of The Green- 
 woods' company as she could possibly endure. Any- 
 thing seemed preferable to a continuation of it. 
 There was dissension at home, gossip abroad, and 
 laughter everywhere, always at the expense of Mrs. 
 Kingston, or some member of her household. 
 
 " She is indeed ! " agreed Robert, so heartily that his 
 mother was frightened. Robert had to endure The 
 Greenwoods, or lose his fortune. Not knowing the num- 
 ber of the luckless guardians, Mrs. Kingston had 
 fearlessly opened his eyes to his ward's iniquities, but 
 now that his own interests were at stake, she tried to 
 put blinkers on him. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston was a regulator. She would temper 
 joy and cheer up sadness; mitigate harshness and prod 
 good nature; put a weight on speed and give the lash 
 to slowness. Hating extremes, her ideals were prettiness, 
 placidity, and mediocrity. When a beauty was named 
 in her presence, she always praised the beauty's plainer 
 sister. She now applied herself to toning down The 
 Greenwoods' faults. 
 
 " She seems wearisome to us, son, but that is only 
 because she is at variance with her environment." 
 
 " Exactly. And unless she changes for the better, I
 
 316 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 shall shut her up in a convent and keep her there till 
 she is twenty-one." 
 
 " How about your promise to your uncle? " 
 
 " I have tried to keep it. Nothing else can be ex- 
 pected of me." 
 
 " But your fortune, Robert ! " 
 
 " If possible, I will compromise with the other heirs ; 
 if not, I will go to work. I would rather plow than try 
 to keep that child in order ! " 
 
 " Why, Robert ! Don't let one small girl get the 
 better of you. Be a man! And Sylvia is improving. 
 She's never been really naughty. She just looks at 
 things from the wrong angle, and hasn't sufficient re- 
 gard for custom and precedent. She is very consider- 
 ate, so unobtrusively so that it had almost escaped 
 even me. You need a wife to help you. It takes a wo- 
 man to understand a child like her." 
 
 " You haven't understood her." 
 
 " I have been absorbed in Marie ; but Miss Faunce 
 did." 
 
 He stared, and when he spoke his words came slowly. 
 
 " What has that to do with the case ? Do you want 
 me to marry Miss Faunce? " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston could easily have died for her princi- 
 ples, if death had merely been a matter of hanging or 
 burning. She came of Puritan stock. But she had 
 lived in the house with The Greenwoods for ten months 
 now, and her endurance was being ground to powder. 
 She was not yet reconciled to Frances, but she wanted 
 to get rid of her tormentor and Robert to keep his 
 fortune. 
 
 " It's a pity Mark didn't let her keep the child. It 
 might have been hard on Miss Faunce, but we were his
 
 THE GREENWOODS " 317 
 
 next of kin and he might have had some regard for us ! 
 Mark was wont to show me more consideration." 
 
 " Haven't your views changed considerably, 
 Mother? " 
 
 " In what respect ? " 
 
 " In respect to Uncle Mark's motives in giving me 
 The Greenwoods ? " 
 
 " I know nothing of his motives. But he could not 
 have been prompted by a desire to punish Miss Faunce. 
 If I ever thought so, it was before I knew The Green- 
 woods ! A sweet child, but incomprehensible ! " 
 
 She spoke with feeling. Any one who would take 
 The Greenwoods away from Mrs. Kingston's home and 
 keep Robert's fortune in the family was Mrs. King- 
 ston's friend. Mrs. Kingston had never before con- 
 templated the possibility of the fortune being lost. Ah ! 
 The Greenwoods' hands were powerful, if empty. 
 
 " You need a rest, Robert. Get away from the child 
 for a while." 
 
 " And where will I leave her? " 
 
 " With Miss Faunce. Didn't you promise her you 
 would?" 
 
 He listened in a sullen daze. Frances had wounded 
 him to the quick by not offering to take his ward to 
 the wedding. He failed to understand that to reopen a 
 correspondence she believed he had closed, to ask to 
 be entrusted with a child he had forcibly taken from 
 her, would have been a greater strain than her pride 
 could bear. 
 
 " I can get along without Miss Faunce ! " he said. 
 
 And turning his back, he walked away.
 
 CHAPTER XLII 
 
 SEEING, at last, that though The Greenwoods' 
 pockets were empty her hands held Robert's fortune, 
 Mrs. Kingston sedulously looked for the child's good 
 qualities, in order to point them out to Robert and 
 bring about a more kindly feeling between the two. 
 
 This was soothing to Mrs. Kingston's conscience, but 
 trying on The Greenwoods' nerves. The latter was al- 
 ways being drawn into the family circle, and she pre- 
 ferred the society of the Happy Children. 
 
 However, she smiled at Mrs. Kingston, and dodged 
 her at every chance. She promised to be friends with 
 Walter, but sweethearts, never; and in answer to 
 Chester's daily tribute, she at length wrote: 
 
 DEAB SIB: 
 
 When a gentleman has fooled a lady and fooled her bad they 
 can't never again be beaux together any more. So I thank you 
 for the many lovely tokens of esteem you send but what is the 
 use? If you must send me presents though let it be candy. 
 A lady can eat candy but flowers are a sign of respect. 
 
 Very respectably, 
 Miss FOREST. 
 
 Yet amid all these changes one there was who re- 
 mained unaltered. That one was Robert, and the 
 grammar-room yawned for Woody as of yore. Against 
 it neither protests nor pleadings could prevail; noth- 
 ing counted but being good ! Woody, however, was not 
 given to protesting beforehand or to sulking after- 
 ward. The punishment would have been more effica- 
 cious had it been taken more seriously. As it was, she 
 
 318
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 319 
 
 accepted it as cheerfully as she could, and forgot it. 
 
 It was not the closet she objected to now, but just 
 the grammar. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston, knowing that Robert was daily grow- 
 ing more impatient, tried again to intervene. " Why 
 were you detained after school to-day, Sylvia?" she 
 asked one day when the double confinement had been ex- 
 ceptionably rigorous. 
 
 " For dropping a pencil, Mrs. Kingston." 
 
 " Did you drop it intentionally? " 
 
 " No, Mrs. Kingston ; but the teacher thought I did." 
 
 " Then why didn't you explain to Robert that your 
 offense was unavoidable? He doesn't want to be un- 
 just, dear! " 
 
 " He isn't, Mrs. Kingston. And I didn't explain 
 about the pencil, because he didn't lock me up for that 
 but for being kep' in." 
 
 " But, child, you should not even have been kept in 
 for that ! " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston was puzzled. She thought the child 
 strangely submissive for one who was making such a 
 fight for her " rights." 
 
 " That's what I've been saying all the time, Mrs. 
 Kingston. The pesky rules are wrong ! " 
 
 " I don't mean that you should never be detained, 
 Sylvia, or that the rules are not needed, only that you 
 should not be punished for an involuntary act." 
 
 " But rules are rules," said the Greenwoods, " and 
 kep' in is kep' in. I'd lots rather be kep' in for drop- 
 ping pencils than for talking; for I've gone for days 
 without dropping a pencil, and I've never gone a single 
 one without talking, not since I learnt how ! " 
 
 To understand Woody was beyond Mrs. Kingston's
 
 320 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 power of comprehension, and the lady sadly realized 
 it. 
 
 " She needs some one old enough to understand life, 
 and young enough to understand her point of view. 
 Some one she loves and trusts, who can explain in 
 terms that she can understand." 
 
 And Mrs. Kingston thought again of Frances 
 Faunce.
 
 CHAPTER XLIII 
 
 MARIE had the grip. 
 
 The Greenwoods was tired of Marie and of all 
 Marie's kindred, and her heart was cold to Marie's 
 suffering. Didn't Marie love to suffer? But visiting 
 the sick is a Scriptural injunction; so The Greenwoods 
 heeded it. Then, when she saw the array of medicine 
 bottles, a fellow-feeling trembled into life. She offered 
 her services immediately. 
 
 " Do you want me to throw that dope into the slop- 
 jar, Marie, and fill them bottles up with syrup? " 
 
 The visit had been made in Mrs. Kingston's absence. 
 
 " Of course not ! Do you think I'm pretending this 
 sickness ? " 
 
 " Gracious, no ! Excuse me ! " 
 
 " How can I get well if I don't take medicine, Green- 
 woods ? " 
 
 " Why, I don't know ; but I hate it myself. Yet, 
 it's not the dope so much. But don't they hurt you 
 when they hold your nose? " 
 
 Marie was insulted. 
 
 " They don't hold my nose ! I take it like a lady ! " 
 
 " Gee whiz ! How silly ! Why, the nicer you take 
 it the more they'll give! You'd better howl, Marie. 
 France gave me some once, nasty smelling oil ! But by 
 the time I got through howling and kicking and crawl- 
 ing under the bed and jumping out the window, her and 
 brother Raymond and Sambo and the cook was so 
 tired they didn't get more than two drops down me. 
 
 321
 
 322 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 And, " she made a wry face, " I can taste them 
 yet!" 
 
 Marie was emulative: especially of The Greenwoods, 
 who originated the fads and fashions that swayed the 
 junior circles of Wayville society, where the prevail- 
 ing idea of comeliness was red hair and freckles, and 
 where no beauty that was not dish-faced could pass 
 muster. Word was passed now that medicine, like 
 parents, was de trap. Marie liked to assimilate these 
 new ideas before they became the mode. So now she 
 listened with interest, but answered in seeming scorn: 
 
 " I never howl, thanks ! " 
 
 " Then I hope 'twill cure you." 
 
 The Greenwoods heard Mrs. Kingston coming and 
 made ready to go. " Only I hope the Doctor won't 
 give you the kind what sets carpets afire, for it will 
 fix your withinsides. And if you've got typhoid fever, 
 don't never let him find it out ! " 
 
 After that Woody was tactfully kept from the room 
 until convalescence was reached, when her coming was 
 hailed with relief by all concerned. The minutes were 
 counted till her return from school, and both invalid 
 and nurses felt a grudge against the grammar-room. 
 
 Yet The Greenwoods preferred it to discontented, 
 fretful little Marie. School, the closet, and then Marie 
 were pressing hard on her. Mrs. Kingston, watching 
 her efforts to please, began to understand Marie's in- 
 fatuation, and the lady's kindness was at last becoming 
 genuine. She even tried, ineffectually, however, to 
 stand between the child and Marie's exactions. 
 
 Saturday and Sunday came, when neither school nor 
 closet interrupted The Greenwoods' entertainment of 
 Marie. For once Woody regretted both. And how
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 323 
 
 she longed for the Happy Children ! Mrs. Kingston 
 grew more ashamed of her tyrannical little daughter 
 every hour, but her interposition was half-hearted. 
 
 " Don't let her impose on you, Woody ! " was all she 
 said. 
 
 " She doesn't impose on me, Mrs. Kingston. She 
 can't. I just give up to her a-purpose, because she 
 is sick." 
 
 " She is nearly well now, though, and must not be 
 selfish." 
 
 " She's still sick enough to take medicine, and how 
 much sicker do you want her to be? I'm worse'n her 
 when I am sick ! " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston smiled unbelievingly. Even when she 
 had thought the worst of Woody she had not con- 
 sidered the child selfish. 
 
 " And she's in a bad enough fix when she's well. So 
 think how she must feel now ! " 
 
 Mrs. Kingston looked surprised. 
 
 " Marie never has any fun, and she can't learn how, 
 'cept when she's with me, and then it's just my fun 
 leaking out to her. She can't understand fun. It's 
 like the sums in the back of the book when you haven't 
 learnt the first part. There must be something she 
 ought to learn first, to make the fun come easy." 
 
 A light shot through Mrs. Kingston's mind and re- 
 vealed a truth: that happiness is the end of man, and 
 duty a rudiment that must be mastered in its attain- 
 ment. She had always thought that duty was the end 
 and happiness the interference. Yet, what is duty but 
 making others happy? And if it isn't worth while for 
 one self, why is it for others? 
 
 Mrs. Kingston had wanted Marie to be happy, and
 
 324 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 had sated her with praise, gifts, and privileges. Think- 
 ing that duty and happiness conflicted, she had left 
 duty out. And Marie had missed happiness, because 
 she had skipped the most important lesson in the art. 
 
 Was this, mused the mother, why Woody was happy 
 even under adverse circumstances? Had she passed 
 her initiation, learnt the rudiments, served her appren- 
 ticeship, and gained a knowledge that the world could 
 not take away? 
 
 " I bet," continued The Greenwoods, " that that's 
 why Marie hasn't any Kingdom." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston fairly jumped. 
 
 "What is a Kingdom, Woody?" 
 
 " Mine's a secret place I go to when I'm tired of 
 meat folks and things don't go to suit me. It's where 
 the Happy Children live." 
 
 " And who are they ? " Mrs. Kingston was uneasy. 
 
 " Just the Happy Children, not human children, 
 you know." 
 
 " Not human ! " 
 
 " Well, maybe they was human once, but they've got 
 loose from their meat. Walter calls 'em * spooks.' " 
 
 Marie, having heard all this before, was calm and 
 cool, but Mrs. Kingston felt a vibration at the roots 
 of her hair. 
 
 " And do you see them? " she asked. 
 
 " Yes, Mrs. Kingston ; every time I go to my King- 
 dom." 
 
 " Where is your Kingdom, Greenwoods ? " 
 
 "In California." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston was shocked at the inner life the 
 orphan had been permitted to lead in her well-regulated, 
 modern home. She was relieved at finding herself on
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 325 
 
 solid earth again. " Have you ever been to California, 
 dear?" 
 
 " Why, I go most every day." 
 
 " How do you manage it? " Mrs. Kingston was 
 both amused and troubled. 
 
 " Through cracks. Most any old crack will do, but 
 the best one is in -the grammar-room, behind the door." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston grasped the arm of her chair and 
 tried to retain her presence of mind. While she had 
 been complaining of the child's merriment, trying to 
 stop the leak of happiness ; while Robert had been try- 
 ing to make Woody more serious, an orphan child, sur- 
 rounded by Christian people, had been driven to 
 " spooks " for comfort. 
 
 " No, any old crack won't do," said Marie skepti- 
 cally, " Harriet and I tried it. Brother Bob," en- 
 viously, " won't let anybody in the grammar-room but 
 you; but we found a crack at Harriet's, and most 
 knocked all the plaster off the walls trying to get 
 through. It can't be done," she finished, with an air of 
 scientific finality. 
 
 " Yes, it can, Marie. It's easy when you know how." 
 
 " How big must the crack be ? " 
 
 " Not too big. About the size of a hair." 
 
 " Well, we couldn't do it." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston was thankful. 
 
 " Maybe you didn't go about it right. Maybe you 
 tried to take your meat \hrough. You can't get your 
 meat through a crack that size." 
 
 " How do you keep from it, if you go through ? " 
 
 " Just get out of your skin, and leave your meat be- 
 hind." 
 
 That let Marie out. The directions, while explicit,
 
 326 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 were difficult for the average person to follow. And 
 Marie was an average person. That very process of 
 getting out of the skin, so casually mentioned, was 
 beyond her. Marie gave up. 
 
 " I can't do it, and I want to stay in my skin any- 
 how. If you leave your skin and meat behind, what's 
 left?" 
 
 "Your inside body. That's what does the enjoy- 
 ing." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston articulated faintly, but had recovered 
 her voice. " What is the inside body, Greenwoods ? " 
 
 " Oh, I just call 'em * insides and meats ' for short," 
 explained Woody readily. " It's in the funeral service 
 what they said over Papa and Steppie. * There is a 
 natural body and there is a spiritual body.' Two 
 bodies, you see. Now the natural body is made of meat 
 and belongs to this world; but the spiritual body is 
 made of celestial stuff and belongs to heaven. When a 
 girl is living in this world her spiritual body is inside 
 of her meat, most generally. So I call 'em * insides 
 and meats.' See? " 
 
 " Not exactly, Woody," gasped Mrs. Kingston. 
 " How have you found this out? " 
 
 " With my inside body. My people all being inside 
 folks, you know, what have got out, keeps me interested 
 in inside things. They seem inside 'cause I know 'em 
 with my inside mind. The crack helps. For when I get 
 tired of meat, I look hard and straight at a crack in 
 the wall and long for the Happy Children. At first 
 they came through into the grammar-room to me; but 
 now I go through to them, and we play and play to- 
 gether in the Inside Kingdom." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston's hard-won peace was at an end. She
 
 THE GREENWOODS 327 
 
 no longer worried about Marie, but about The Green- 
 woods. Without doubt, a child that can go through 
 cracks is a responsibility. 
 
 Leaving the children, Mrs. Kingston went to the 
 laboratory. She wanted to see that crack, and she 
 wanted to see Robert. He was not in and the door 
 was locked; so, returning to the house, she hung help- 
 lessly over The Greenwoods, fancying the child looked 
 pale. 
 
 The Greenwoods was pale, and tired. Monday 
 Marie was to return to school and to-day was Sunday; 
 so, seeing the privileges of invalidism slipping from 
 her, she stretched them to the farthest limit. So The 
 Greenwoods told stories when Marie demanded them; 
 played the games Marie selected ; soothed Marie's feel- 
 ings, and yielded to her exactions until weary of Marie's 
 voice, with its note of peevish mastery. 
 
 Thoroughly disturbed, Mrs. Kingston vacillated be- 
 tween allowing The Greenwoods' endurance to be taxed 
 by these impositions and setting her free to seek relief 
 through cracks ! 
 
 Mrs. Kingston went again for Robert, but found 
 that he had gone to Boston and would not be back till 
 night. When she rejoined the children The Green- 
 woods was in tears. 
 
 Tears from Marie were like the heat in summer, 
 disagreeable, but not surprising; but when joyous little 
 Woody cried, everyone rushed to comfort her. To 
 Marie this was fresh proof of the callousness of human 
 nature ; herself in tears, she was blamed for making The 
 Greenwoods cry! She could prove the contrary, 
 though; and recrimination was on her lips, when there 
 came The Greenwoods' answer.
 
 328 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 " Marie didn't make me cry, Mrs. Kingston ! I'm 
 just feeling bad." 
 
 On the whole, Marie was glad she had not complained 
 of Woody. Good old Woody, who never told tales, 
 and never blamed her mates ! Marie adored her ! 
 
 Such incidents were constantly creating in the chil- 
 dren a consciousness of The Greenwoods' superiority. 
 They were always trying to outdo her, and succeed- 
 ing; yet when they had beaten her in matches, games, 
 or books she could, with a word or smile, make their 
 achievements as naught. Their worth lay in what they 
 did; hers, in what she was. 
 
 "Are you ill?" inquired Mrs. Kingston anxiously. 
 
 "No, Mrs. Kingston; just tired." 
 
 " Don't you want to play with Pearl ? She plays 
 like a little lady, and doesn't make you cry ! " 
 
 Jealousy and gloom filled Marie's soul at this re- 
 proof, but Woody once more turned aside her wrath: 
 " But Marie didn't make me cry either, Mrs. Kingston. 
 And I don't wish to visit Pearl, thank you. I'm tired 
 of meat children. I never want to play with anybody 
 again ! " 
 
 And this from The Greenwoods, from the soul of 
 play! 
 
 Mrs. Kingston's heart sank; but the next moment 
 she was smiling, though the smile was sad. 
 
 " I think," said The Greenwoods, rising wearily, like 
 a tired little old woman. " I shall go and dress my 
 dollies. They haven't had on their Sunday clothes 
 to-day ! "
 
 CHAPTER XLIV 
 
 HALF an hour later, Marie, having talked with her 
 mother, slipped into Woody's room to say that she 
 was sorry and wanted to be friends. Entering softly, 
 she found the young mother asleep in a chair, sur- 
 rounded by dolls, the adored Belinda in her lap. 
 With a clap of her hands, Marie jumped and shouted, 
 " Boo ! " 
 
 There was a scream, a start, a fall ; and on the floor 
 lay a tangled heap of little girl and broken doll. When 
 The Greenwoods extricated herself and viewed the re- 
 mains, Belinda, the faithful, the beautiful, the ever- 
 smiling, was a total wreck! 
 
 Marie, thoroughly frightened, was thinking of her- 
 self; but The Greenwoods, filled with horror at this 
 overwhelming catastrophe, was thinking only of Be- 
 linda, Belinda! Antedating the St. Louis days, Be- 
 linda had accompanied her out of a prehistoric past, 
 outlasting homes and mothers and dynasties and eras. 
 Now she was dead! 
 
 " I didn't go to do it," faltered Marie, " I'm sorry, 
 Woody ! I didn't know you'd jump like a scared rabbit, 
 or I wouldn't have shouted." 
 
 Tears were in her eyes. 
 
 "You did it a-purpose to make me jump, Marie! 
 You wanted to kill her ! You've been angry all day at 
 me, and came here to get even about something! And 
 I hadn't done a thing to you ! " 
 
 329
 
 330 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 " I know you hadn't, Woody. I wasn't angry. 
 Please don't cry ! " 
 
 " You've always had it in for Belinda ! You wanted 
 to shoe-polish her and bury her, and now you've killed 
 her ! " The Greenwoods wrung her hands. " Oh, Be- 
 linda, Belinda! You was the oldest friend I had, and 
 now they've killed you! " 
 
 She dropped on the floor and gathered the frag- 
 ments into her lap. Marie was confounded. 
 
 " Please don't blame me, Woody ! I didn't mean to do 
 it! I came to tell you I was sorry I'd been hateful. 
 Don't cry ! I'll give you another doll. A prettier than 
 Belinda! Belinda was getting old. She was the oldest 
 doll you had and had lasted long enough. I'll give you 
 a new one." 
 
 Thus spoke Marie the comforter, but The Green- 
 woods sat and brooded over her daughter's mangled 
 corpse. Marie sat down before the dresser. She had 
 learned that, however dark The Greenwoods' mood, it 
 speedily changed to one of gay good humor. So, 
 having said she was sorry and offered reparation, she 
 waited, feeling that she had acted with great nobility 
 and was deserving of praise. No reply forthcoming, 
 she was hurt. A doll to Marie was but a doll. 
 
 With admirable patience, as she saw it, she tactfully 
 changed the subject. 
 
 " You keep your dresser mighty neat. May I look 
 at your things? " 
 
 " I don't care what you do ! You broke Belinda ! " 
 
 " Oh, bother Belinda ! I said I'd give you another. 
 You oughtn't to be angry with me just over a doll, 
 when I'm sick. I've broke your dolls before, and you 
 didn't cry ! Who is this a picture of? "
 
 " THE GREENWOODS " 331 
 
 It was a likeness of The Greenwoods' mamma, dressed 
 in the fashion of a past decade. Marie asked the ques- 
 tion to change the subject to one more cheerful; and to 
 prove herself free from resentment at Woody's speech, 
 she laughed. The object of her mirth was Woody's 
 mamma's clothes! She meant well, but her joke was 
 not successful. 
 
 The Greenwoods looked even grimmer than before, 
 and Marie, unused to catering to the ill humor of 
 others, was provoked. She dropped the photograph 
 on the floor (threw it, The Greenwoods thought) and 
 picked up Captain Forrest's. She giggled again, 
 partly from nervousness. 
 
 " Who is it, Woody ? A policeman ? Isn't he 
 ugly?" 
 
 TKat too fell on the floor, and Steppie's picture was 
 seized. 
 
 " I bet this is that Faunce woman ! Does she always 
 grin so? How thankful you should be to live with 
 nice people like us, instead of with her! Who gave 
 you this pretty mirror, my uncle or my brother? 
 How nice my folks have been to you! If it wasn't for 
 brother Rob, you'd be just a common beggar. Of 
 course you are really a beggar now, yet we treat you 
 like one of the family! So you should be sweet to me 
 and not pout so over just a doll, when I'm sick." 
 
 Even this failed to restore The Greenwoods' cheer- 
 fulness; so Marie continued her inventory, while the 
 storm was brewing. At last Marie finished her inspec- 
 tion, pushed back her chair, and broke another doll! 
 
 " Well ! Why don't you break 'em all ! What you 
 waiting for ? " 
 
 Marie began to cry, for fate was against her.
 
 S32 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " You know I didn't mean to." 
 
 " Don't tell stories, you sneak ! You miserble, little, 
 whining, sick kitten ! Sore-eyed puppy ! Pig ! " 
 
 " Don't say I tell stories and don't call me pig, or 
 I'll break all your old dolls and tell my brother on 
 you ! " 
 
 The threat was idle, but The Greenwoods did not 
 know it, nor did she care. She sprang to her feet and 
 danced in fury. 
 
 " You can tell, you tattler ; but you can't break my 
 babies ! I'll break 'em myself ! " 
 
 And she did. Marie looked on in fear and conster- 
 nation, quailing before the storm, and wondering when 
 her own time would come. She retreated as far as the 
 door, and held her breath. 
 
 Picking up one golden-haired infant, the savage 
 mother crushed its skull against the iron bedstead and 
 the pieces flew. The twins followed, and Salviny lay 
 in atoms on the floor; Laura Louise was drawn and 
 quartered; Mary Frances was trampled on; Carlotta 
 was ground to pieces ; Samella was tossed to the ceiling, 
 and her corpse was spoilt ; Prince Charlie was beheaded 
 at a blow, and the massacre was complete! 
 
 The Greenwoods turned on Marie, who stood with 
 blanched face and gaping mouth. 
 
 " Now, get out of here, Marie Kingston, and never 
 enter my room or speak to me again ! I'm a-going to 
 break all those things you made fun of to pieces " 
 
 She danced over to the dresser, snatched the cover 
 and, jerking it off, brought the ornaments with it. 
 Marie, rooted to the spot, understood now the cause 
 of the devastation. The pictures she had laughed at 
 were of Woody's dead relatives. Marie was heartsick,
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 333 
 
 but The Greenwoods glared in brutal satisfaction at 
 the havoc she had wrought. 
 
 Her possessions had been derided; her dolls were 
 dead; there was no escape from the Kingstons, so she 
 would end it all! With settled determination, she 
 walked to the corner where her dear dead family had 
 lived so happily, sat down, and hurled her defiance at 
 the world: 
 
 " Now, Marie Kingston, I'm a-going to stay here 
 until I rot ! I'm never a-going to speak to you or any 
 of your family again, or be a beggar again! I 
 won't have nothing what your family give me ! I won't 
 eat your grub, or sleep in your beds! I've struck! 
 I'm done! I will sit in this corner till I die, and never 
 speak another word to nobody ! " 
 
 Then she locked her lips together and folded her 
 arms. 
 
 Awed and terrified, Marie went to her mother. With- 
 out exonerating herself in any particular, she confessed 
 each thoughtless act, each unkind, tactless word. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston, already worried by one little girl's 
 selfishness and the other's mysticism, was appalled. 
 Then (because, while all the world can pity a mis- 
 shaped body, only a mother can discern a distorted 
 soul, and love it, and pity it to the last) she took 
 Marie in her arms and kissed her. 
 
 The orphan's blithe spirit would, in time, forget 
 her injuries, but when would Marie find rest from her 
 shallow egotism? 
 
 " Do you s'pose she will ever forgive me, Mamma ? " 
 
 " I never could, Marie, if I were she." 
 
 "Neither would I. But," her face brightened,
 
 334 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " she's not like us. She forgives and forgets ! I'd hate 
 to be that way myself, but I'm glad she is. It must be 
 awful to live in the house with folks like us ! " 
 
 While Marie went to her own store of toys to select 
 a peace offering, Mrs. Kingston went to The Green- 
 woods and tried to heal the wounds for which she 
 knew no reparation could atone. As she talked and 
 pleaded for even a look of recognition The Green- 
 woods kept her eyes fixed on her father's picture still 
 lying ignominiously on the floor. The little daughter's 
 resolution never to speak again was strengthened. 
 
 After trying in vain to soften the child's anger, Mrs. 
 Kingston ordered the reminders of it removed. So a 
 maid came with broom and duster, and while Mother 
 Burns exclaimed and wondered, they swept the remains 
 of Belinda and the babies into the dustpan and threw 
 them out with the garbage. 
 
 " They might have buried 'em ! " thought Woody. 
 
 One precious fragment alone was saved. They were 
 brushing it by her when it caught in her dress, and, 
 looking down, she recognized it. She wrapped it in 
 her handkerchief and put it in her lap. It was Be- 
 linda's smile! 
 
 Marie brought the promised doll that was to take 
 the place of poor Belinda. (As if it could!) She had 
 painstakingly selected the best she had and gave it 
 without a grudge. It was prettier than Belinda, and 
 far finer ; but it lay repudiated on the floor. 
 
 Colonel Kingston came and took his little tenant into 
 his arms. 
 
 " Did Marie break your doll? " he asked, " If she 
 did, I will punish her myself ! " 
 
 The Greenwoods shook her head. The old man al-
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 335 
 
 most wept over her, but she was cold and unresponsive. 
 
 They brought her chocoloate and cake; it remained 
 beside the doll, unnoticed. 
 
 "Why don't you eat, Woody?" coaxed Marie, 
 " Please eat. You will die if you don't ! We are glad 
 to have you eat our grub. You are not a beggar, 
 either. Papa says you aren't, but our honored guest. 
 I'm sorry for what I said." 
 
 This apology was ignored as was the dinner (brought 
 by the cook) of Woody's favorite viands. A surly look 
 was on the cook's face; she loved The Greenwoods. 
 " They've done it, have they? " she asked. " Bad 'cess 
 to 'em ! " 
 
 Putting the dinner on the other side of the chocolate, 
 she sat down beside the striker, and together they 
 glared at all intruders. That daunted the bravest, 
 all but Walter, and he too joined the strike. Marie 
 stood without the door and cried. 
 
 The Greenwoods had always talked her anger away 
 in gusts of vituperation, but now, through her vow of 
 silence, it was pent within; and every well-meant word 
 and deed seemed like an added insult. She brooded over 
 her wrongs, her loneliness, her neglect; and slights, 
 offenses that had been condoned at the time, came 
 back and swelled her rage. 
 
 Nobody wanted her; the Kingstons didn't, yet they 
 wouldn't let her live with any one else, not even with 
 Miss Ardelia, who didn't want her either. Frances 
 loved her, but believed in spanking and said she talked 
 too much ! Well, she wouldn't talk too much any more. 
 She'd quit. They'd wanted her to for years; grown 
 folks had fussed about it ; children had laughed ; school- 
 teachers had kept her in ; everybody had said " not to
 
 336 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 interrupt," and " little pitchers," and " mind your 
 grammar." All they cared for was grammar! They 
 didn't care for what she said, just for the grammar; 
 so now she'd stopped, and she hoped they were satis- 
 fied ! There was plenty to say, but no one to say it to. 
 So what was the use? She would never speak again 
 and never come out of that corner! She had always 
 wanted to stop talking and go hermiting. But they 
 wouldn't let her " have a cave, or marry, or nothing ! 
 So the corner it should be for ever and ever. Amen." 
 
 Bedtime drew near, and she had neither spoken nor 
 budged. She had kept her vow. But at last the Sand- 
 man came, and sprinkled dust in her eyes. The tired 
 little striker dropped off to sleep, was tenderly un- 
 dressed, and gently put to bed. Then one by one the 
 various members of the family, and after them the ser- 
 vants, slipped softly in and kissed the little curly head.
 
 CHAPTER XLV 
 
 THAT was a trying night for the Kingstons. Dinner 
 was eaten in sympathetic gloom for the striker and in 
 displeasure at Marie. Marie's impression was that she 
 was scowled out of the family circle and into bed, 
 where she cried herself to sleep, wondering if Woody 
 would ever, ever, ever leave the corner. Every one was 
 disgusted with every one else and the family dispersed 
 early, except Mrs. Kingston. She waited up for Rob- 
 ert. 
 
 She no longer disliked The Greenwoods, she would 
 have sacrificed much to make her happy, but it was not 
 in her power to do so, and her best efforts merely inter- 
 fered with the current of joy that coursed through 
 that mysterious young person's veins. 
 
 Her welcome of Robert was almost tearful, so re- 
 joiced was she to see him. 
 
 He might know what to do when The Greenwoods 
 went on a strike. He might prevent her from going 
 through cracks ; he might keep her in her skin ! If 
 her mind were disordered, he might give her medicine 
 or a change of environment. He might be persuaded, 
 now that these complications had arisen, to take her 
 back to Frances Faunce. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston thought of Frances almost hungrily; 
 no longer did she seem the mercenary wretch that had 
 jilted brother Mark and was trying to catch son Rob- 
 ert, but a lovable, womanly young girl, who was willing 
 to relieve the Kingstons of The Greenwoods, save the 
 
 337
 
 338 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 family conscience and Robert's fortune, if he would 
 let her. Time works its changes. 
 
 Robert was late, and his conversation with his mother 
 lasted until nearly midnight, when both retired in high 
 dudgeon. He had heard of The Greenwoods' Kingdom 
 before, and was unawed by the description, and her 
 facility for going through cracks he diagnosed as a 
 too active imagination. He was angry with his mother 
 for her suggestion concerning Frances, and doubly 
 offended with Frances for making it embarrassing for 
 him to act upon it. 
 
 Why need she have condemned him as a brute just 
 for doing what he thought to be his duty? He could 
 overlook the charge of brutality from others, but not 
 from her. Still, he could have forgiven her even that, 
 had she not returned his letters and ended it all so 
 quickly. Then, when an opportunity had been offered 
 her to smooth things over, she had most pointedly re- 
 fused to lift her hand. 
 
 Colonel Kingston had his troubles too. After await- 
 ing his wife for hours, he had just dozed off, when she 
 came in and waked him. That was his trouble, but she 
 had one also, and he had to listen to it and respond 
 with comfort or correction. Her trouble was Robert. 
 
 " He has caused me more anxiety and annoyance 
 than all the rest of my children combined ! " she said, 
 " As a boy he was almost unmanageable, with his temper 
 and stubbornness, and he is obdurate still ! " 
 
 " It's easy to complain about Bob, but I notice he is 
 the one all of you go to when in trouble." 
 
 " I'm not saying he isn't a good boy. I appreciate 
 my son's good qualities; but he is entirely too ob- 
 durate!"
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 339 
 
 " A man must have a will of his own, my dear." 
 
 " I understand that, and no one is prouder of Rob- 
 ert's determination than I. He is so like the Perkinses ! 
 All of us have strong wills, Colonel. There has never 
 been a weakling in our family! But that is no reason 
 why he should sacrifice The Greenwoods to his whim. I 
 don't approve of a man acting like a balky horse ! " 
 
 " What's the matter with Woody now? Isn't she 
 asleep? " 
 
 " I have told you time and again, Colonel : she goes 
 through cracks ! " 
 
 " A plaintive note was in her voice, and he hastened 
 to soothe her. 
 
 " Yes, yes, I remember. Too bad ! Perhaps she will 
 get over it, though ; she is young yet, and Bob is a good 
 physician ! " 
 
 " Something's about to happen, Colonel. I've been 
 feeling strange all day. This is a presentiment ! " 
 
 " You are just nervous, dear. It's been too much for 
 you. Try to sleep ! " 
 
 " I can't live in a house with a child who amuses 
 herself in that uncanny way. Robert should have some 
 regard for my feelings ! " 
 
 " He must move at once then to a home of his own." 
 
 " Colonel Kingston ! For a man of your intelligence 
 to make a remark like that ! " 
 
 He sat up in bed and glared around at the darkness. 
 
 " What's wrong with my remark ? " 
 
 " How could his moving help ? How could it keep 
 me from worrying? Do you think that simply taking 
 her to another house would relieve my apprehensions? 
 I should worry more than ever! And think of the in- 
 convenience! If I ever wanted to see any of my chil-
 
 340 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 dren, I should have to follow them there; and all my 
 
 servants would go with her. I've had my cook fifteen 
 
 years too, and my housekeeper, ten. Do you want me 
 
 to begin all over again at my age? " 
 
 " I spoke hastily. I didn't foresee the consequences." 
 " Then don't encourage Robert in his obduracy. 
 
 For understand, Colonel, I will go to law before I will 
 
 permit him to take that child away. He threatened to 
 
 do it to-night ! " 
 
 " I shall ask him to leave her here then, and we will 
 
 make the best of things just as they are." 
 
 " Indeed, we will not ! Are you willing for that dear 
 
 little girl to be sacrificed before your eyes? " 
 
 " What are you after, woman ! What do you 
 
 want?" 
 
 " Calm yourself, Colonel ! I only want Robert to do 
 
 his duty." 
 
 " And what, in thunder, do you think that is ? " 
 " Simply to take the child back to Frances Faunce." 
 "To v.hom? To the creature that jilted your 
 
 brother, that unprincipled flirt ? " 
 
 ''' Please ^peak more respectfully of Miss Faunce, 
 
 Colonel Kingston. She is nothing to you, of course, 
 
 but remember, my brother loved her ! " 
 
 He had been sitting up again, but fell over with a 
 
 groan. 
 
 " Then why did he take the child away from her? " 
 " Because of his great love ! What man would want 
 
 the woman he loved burdened with such a child? " 
 
 " Then why do you want to send her back again? " 
 " I'm under no obligations to Miss Faunce. But she 
 
 seems to be willing to take her, and it will be best for 
 
 Woody."
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 341 
 
 The hour was late, or rather, early, and Colonel 
 Kingston slowly cooled down and dozed again. No 
 sooner, it seemed, had he closed his eyes than a clear 
 sweet voice was heard singing: 
 
 " ' O be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands, 
 
 Serve the Lord with gladness and come before 
 His presence with a song.' " 
 
 " In the name of all that is good and holy, why is 
 Woody singing at this time of night? " he ejaculated. 
 
 " Be cairn, Colonel Kingston ! If that poor, heart- 
 broken child wants to sing now, she shall sing." Mrs. 
 Kingston had not been asleep. 
 
 " But I won't have the house disturbed in this un- 
 heard-of manner ! " 
 
 " ' Be ye sure that the Lord he is God ; 
 
 It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves: 
 We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.' " 
 
 " What does Bob mean by allowing a thing like this ! 
 Why doesn't he go back and choke her? " roared the 
 Colonel. 
 
 " If you object so seriously to hearing an orphan 
 child singing a religious song, Colonel Kingston 
 (though I fail to understand your impatience), you 
 must simply induce Robert to take the poor thing back 
 to Frances Faunce ! " 
 
 He groaned. The chant had abruptly ended, and 
 silence brooded. Again Colonel Kingston slept and 
 again he was disturbed. The summons to be joyful was 
 heard once more. It had turned gray in the east, but it 
 was still too early for rising, so, instead of rejoicing 
 as the songstress urged, the old man raged. 
 
 " This is too much ! " he murmured as in his ears the
 
 342 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 Jubilate rang. " How do you expect me to sleep, 
 madam? " 
 
 " I don't expect you to sleep. I haven't slept myself. 
 But if you insist on the child's staying here against her 
 will, you should not object to her singing occasionally." 
 
 " I have nothing to do with it ! I didn't bring the 
 chit." 
 
 " You are the head of this house, sir ! Assert your 
 authority and make Robert take the chit (oh, Colonel!) 
 back to Miss Faunce ! " 
 
 However penetrating The Greenwoods' vocalizing 
 had seemed to Colonel Kingston, it was unheard by the 
 younger generation, who were sound sleepers. Having 
 grown accustomed to her morning song, they resented 
 its absence. Therefore, while Colonel Kingston was 
 enraged because she had sung too much, the rest were 
 uneasy because she had not, to their knowledge, 
 sung at all. 
 
 Marie, noticing the lack of melody in the air, dressed 
 with the vision of The Greenwoods in the corner. 
 Every one had blamed Marie for sending her there and 
 her own conscience joined them. Marie had had enough 
 of the strike and was willing to submit to any terms to 
 end it. As she was going miserably down to break- 
 fast she met Walter. 
 
 " So you've succeeded at last in knocking all the song 
 out of Woody, have you ? Feeling good about it ? " he 
 inquired. 
 
 Marie began to cry; but she cried so often over 
 nothing that he pulled her hair, in order to give her 
 something to cry about. 
 
 " How does that feel, and that, and that ? " Each 
 " that " was accompanied with a tweak. " That is
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 343 
 
 just to let you know how it feels; and every time I 
 meet you I shall give you another till The Greenwoods 
 is in a good humor. So there ! " 
 
 Marie went sobbing to her mother, but that erstwhile 
 fond parent had begun reformatory measures. The 
 once indulged darling got a vigorous shake, instead of 
 the expected comfort, and a promise of worse to come 
 if the crying did not stop. 
 
 Despite these passages, all were at length seated at 
 the table, except The Greenwoods. 
 
 " Where is she? " asked Mrs. Kingston. Every eye 
 was immediately fixed on Marie. " Is she ill ? " 
 
 " From the amount and volume of her singing," spoke 
 Colonel Kingston testily, " her lungs, at least, are in a 
 good condition ! " 
 
 " I didn't hear her sing," said Robert. 
 
 " You must be deaf ! She's been at it since four 
 o'clock." 
 
 Marie looked at Walter with resigned and patient 
 martyrdom. He felt guilty, until he convinced him- 
 self that hair-pullings and shakings were doubtless 
 good for Marie, when he scowled severely. 
 
 " I hope she didn't disturb you." Robert spoke 
 shortly. His father's complaint was the last straw, 
 and he renewed his resolve to take a house. 
 
 " She kept me awake all night. I don't object to the 
 little girl's singing, Bob; but she ought to have a time 
 limit ! " 
 
 " I shall speak to her about it this morning." 
 
 " You must do nothing of the kind ! " interposed 
 Mrs. Kingston, " Her feelings have been sufficiently in- 
 jured already." She gazed reproachfully at Marie. 
 " If she feels like singing after your daughter's be-
 
 344 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 havior Colonel Kingston, I think you might endure it 
 more patiently." 
 
 Marie twisted unhappily in her chair. 
 
 " Whose fault is it," demanded Colonel Kingston, 
 " that Marie behaves like an ill-bred, little beast ? If by 
 saying she is my daughter you mean you are willing to 
 turn her over to me, I will soon beat some of this rude- 
 ness and lack of consideration for others out of her ! " 
 
 He too had decided to reform Marie. The unfor- 
 tunate child burst into tears, and her father looked 
 ready to begin his treatment. Walter shot at her a 
 glance of exultation; Robert frowned; and, shaking 
 a reproving finger, Mrs. Kingston reminded the miser- 
 able sinner of some dark promise that had been pre- 
 viously made. The day of reckoning, which comes to 
 every spoilt child, had come to Marie ; and her measure 
 was meted out by the hands that had indulged her. 
 
 Rendered acrid by loss of sleep, Colonel Kingston 
 turned to his wife. 
 
 " You are too lenient with the children, madam ! 
 What with Marie crying all day and Woody singing 
 all night, you have turned the place into a bedlam." 
 
 " I will attend to The Greenwoods," promised Robert 
 sternly ; " and I assure you that she will never offend 
 again, at any rate, not in this particular. But if 
 Mother can stop Marie's plaintive moan She's a 
 daisy!" 
 
 " Marie, hush at once, or leave the table. And wait 
 for me in my room. I will give you what I promised! 
 Robert, I will not have The Greenwoods scolded ! " ex- 
 claimed Mrs. Kingston. 
 
 " I can't have my father disturbed, Mother ! " 
 
 " I wish I was dead ! " said Marie.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 345 
 
 " I can't have my slumbers disturbed, madam ! " said 
 Colonel Kingston. 
 
 " There is no occasion for it, Colonel. Robert need 
 only listen to reason, and take the child back to 
 Frances Faunce ! " said Mrs. Kingston. 
 
 At that moment the door opened, and The Green- 
 woods entered, a radiantly smiling Greenwoods, and 
 in her Sunday best! 
 
 " Good-morning, everybody ! " she shouted gaily, 
 " I'm so sorry I was late."
 
 CHAPTER XL VI 
 
 THE GBEENWOODS was not sensitive. She had too 
 positive an atmosphere of her own for her feelings to be 
 governed by the feelings of others. 
 
 So now, wrapped in some secret bliss, she was 
 oblivious of the surrounding ill humor. Her smile was 
 like a whiff of fresh air. Those who had been anxious 
 were relieved, while those who had been angry were 
 ashamed. Hers was the first cheerful face they had 
 seen that morning; hers were the first pleasant words 
 they had heard, and her sins were forgiven. 
 
 " Howdy, Dr. Kingston ! I thought you were in 
 Boston. Glad to see you ! " Owing to her deep-seated 
 disapproval of all guardians in general, and of her 
 own in particular, he was not wont to receiving such 
 hearty greetings. He kissed her as he helped her into 
 her seat, which in turn surprised her. He forgot the 
 scolding he had promised to give her; Colonel King- 
 ston forgot the sleepless night she had caused, and Mrs. 
 Kingston forgot the necessity of returning her to Miss 
 Faunce. 
 
 " Say, Tommie," thus she addressed the dignified 
 English butler, " I don't hanker for this breakfast, 
 somehow, and they are fixing me something good in the 
 kitchen. Get it, please." 
 
 Robert glanced in contrition at his mother, who 
 was always jealous of her authority, to find her smil- 
 ing. Since The Greenwoods had come out of the 
 corner, all minor faults were pardoned. The butler 
 
 346
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 347 
 
 obeyed with alacrity, and placed the dish before her 
 with tenderness. 
 
 " I've had two breakfasts already," she announced 
 unblushingly, " so I'm not exactly hungry. But now 
 that I'm not to have any more tummy-aches, I may as 
 well eat my fill! This is awful good, oatmeal with 
 whipped cream, and chunks of banana and cocoanut ! " 
 
 " Don't eat too much of it," laughed Robert. 
 
 " Certainly not ! Just a nibble for pleasure. Have 
 a bite? " 
 
 " No, thanks ! " 
 
 " Say, Marie ; I got something to tell you ! " 
 
 At these friendly words Marie's eyes filled with tears 
 of gratitude. No one rebuked her for crying now, for 
 they were too busy smiling at the jolly little girl eating 
 her funny mixture. Even Marie was smiling through 
 her tears at this adorable child, who had come out of 
 her corner and, without even a reproachful look, had 
 taken her again into good-fellowship. Verily, there was 
 no one like The Greenwoods! 
 
 Marie's voice was tremulous with love and repen- 
 tance as she replied : " Oh, I'm so glad, Woody ! I 
 thought you were still in your awful corner and would 
 never speak to me again ! " 
 
 This tactless outburst won Marie the smiles of her 
 kindred, but filled The Greenwoods with dismay. The 
 Greenwoods had forgotten her rash vow; and, sud- 
 denly finding herself out of the corner and talking in 
 the midst of her enemies, was overcome with embar- 
 rassment. One moment she sat appalled; then grasp- 
 ing at her fast-receding self-esteem, she caught it, and 
 began to make excuses. 
 
 " Why, that happened yesterday, Marie ! You can't 
 expect me to stay mad always! I haven't time! Be-
 
 348 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 sides, it was for the best. It always is. It was sad to 
 lose poor Belinda, and hard to see the babies swept out 
 like rubbish! But what would have become of them 
 without me? " 
 
 " If you'll be friends with me again, Woody, you can 
 have everything I've got ! " 
 
 " I don't want your things, Marie. I ain't got no 
 use for 'em. But, say," she leaned forward, intent on 
 proving the unpleasantness a thing of the past, " you 
 can manage my funeral for me ! " 
 
 At this novel proposition Robert and Colonel King- 
 ston laughed, but Mrs. Kingston remembered her pre- 
 sentiment, while Walter and Marie, knowing how near 
 the orphan lived to the portals of another world, 
 were prescient of evil. 
 
 " Oh, Woody, you are not going to die ? " 
 
 " Yes, I s'pose so, Marie. Leastways, I'm a-going 
 to heaven; and that's generally the way folks get 
 there." Marie's horrified face caused this statement to 
 be modified. " But I may be translated, I never 
 thought of that." She pondered the possibility with 
 pleased interest, but truth compelled her to abandon 
 the idea. " But the fact is, Marie, folks aren't trans- 
 lated often nowadays; it's not the style. So I reckon 
 I shall die." 
 
 " Not any time soon though ? " 
 
 " Um-humgh, to-night. But don't bother about it, 
 for I shall be better off. Just wait till I'm laid out and 
 see if they don't all say so ! " Marie still looked grave. 
 "And just think how much fun the funeral will be! 
 Remember, everybody," she glanced smilingly at the 
 shocked faces around the board, then took another 
 bite, " that Marie is to manage it all by her lone- 
 some."
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 349 
 
 "What sort of talk is this, little girl?" Robert 
 frowned, but solicitously placed his arm about her, 
 sadly interfering thereby with the progress of her meal. 
 
 The smiles had vanished, for though she seemed in the 
 pink of health, there is a seriousness about the thought 
 of death that will not be laughed away. 
 
 " Didn't I tell you? " Spoon in air, she glanced up 
 sweetly at him. " I'm a-going to heaven to-night ! " 
 
 " What makes you think so, Woody ? " Of course 
 it was just one of her nonsensical ideas, but his voice 
 shook, and no one else had the fortitude to speak. 
 
 " My Mamma told me so." 
 
 " Your Mamma ? " Robert asked the question, and 
 Mrs. Kingston gasped. 
 
 " Haven't you heard about it ? Mamma visited me 
 last night ! " 
 
 They understood now the cause of the servants' 
 solemnity, of the cook's breakfast favor, of the butler's 
 tenderness. 
 
 " She came in the middle of the night and stood be- 
 side my bed. She promised to come again to-night 
 and take me back with her to Paradise. I wish you 
 could a-seen her, Dr. Kingston! She was all glorious 
 and beautiful! You too, Marie; she wasn't tacky a 
 bit, like you said ! " 
 
 Marie hung her head. 
 
 " Nor stylish neither. Her dress was more like those 
 in a Greek drill, only white as white can be, with lovely 
 colors shining through it like shadows when she moved. 
 And she had the most gorgeous halo I ever saw! 
 Diamonds, with a rainbow over it, what lighted up the 
 room ; and a lily was in her hand ; and when it trembled, 
 little, faint, sweet music played."
 
 350 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 Robert's lips were dry, and he spoke with an effort. 
 " It it was only a dream, dear child ! " 
 
 " No, Dr. Kingston ; the first part may have been a 
 dream, for that's the usual way those inside people 
 come. And they're so quick, that, no matter how 
 fast you wake, they slip away like lightning, and 
 leave you lonely. But this time it wasn't so ! For I 
 had the dream, and then the lily played and woke me 
 up, and there she stood ! " 
 
 " You only thought you saw her, dear ! " 
 
 " I saw her with my own two wide-awake meat eyes ! 
 She stayed a long sweet minute. And then suddenly 
 she wasn't there. And the room was dark, and I was 
 by myself. But I was so glad I'd seen my mamma (you 
 know every little girl wants to see her mamma once) 
 that I jumped right up and was a-laughing and a-sing- 
 ing at the top of my voice before I knew it ! " 
 
 Colonel Kingston sank back limply. He glanced 
 guiltily at his wife and dropped his handkerchief. He 
 was, ordinarly, a sweet-tempered old gentleman; and it 
 seemed hard that the only complant he had ever made 
 of The Greenwoods should have been at a time like this. 
 He left the room, and Walter followed. 
 
 " I'm ready to go," finished Woody, " for I got right 
 up and started my preparations. Mother Burns was 
 sleeping on her good ear and missed the noise. I re- 
 membered how upset she was over my trip last sum- 
 mer, so I didn't bother her over this one till this morn- 
 ing, when I told her. 
 
 " I've been all over town. I went before it was light ! 
 And I've given away every rag I've got to my poor 
 friends, 'cepting just this," she touched the fine 
 raiment she wore, " and the white clothes I wanted to
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 351 
 
 get married in; but buried will do just as well. They 
 are laid out on the bed, Marie, awaiting ! " 
 
 Walter's boyish soul was pleading in a tempest of 
 despair with the powers of life and death; Colonel 
 Kingston, forgetful of his cigar, restlessly walked to 
 and fro as he waited to consult with Robert and insist 
 that something be done instanter to save The Green- 
 woods' life; the servants had gathered in an awe-struck 
 group around the kitchen range; The Greenwoods had 
 bustled from the room in a whirlwind of preparation, 
 Marie, fascinated, in her wake. Robert and his mother 
 were alone. 
 
 Mrs. Kingston hesitated. Having seen the clouds 
 gathering, she had warned him of the coming storm; 
 had pointed out the only shelter that would avail. But 
 he had been restive under her advice, cynical and de- 
 fiant. 
 
 She looked at him where he sat, so stricken and help- 
 less, for all his masculinity. Then she went to his side 
 and put her arms about her big boy. 
 
 " My son," she asked, " what can I do to help you? "
 
 CHAPTER XL VII 
 
 HAVING brought nothing into this world, The Green- 
 woods was determined to carry nothing out. So, laden 
 with a portion of her belongings, she was on her way to 
 school, accompanied by Marie, heavy laden, and by 
 Walter, who was heavy laden too. 
 
 There had been an interview with her guardian in 
 which her vocabulary had been enlarged by several 
 choice verbal specimens, and in which her faith had 
 triumphed over his logic. The argument had ended 
 amicably, and she had invited him to visit her im- 
 mediately after his demise. Then he had subjected her 
 to a physical examination and mental quizz, after which 
 common sense had resumed its sway. 
 
 Realizing that this projected journey to the better 
 land was simply one more air castle that Woody was 
 trying to bring to earth, he sent her rejoicing on her 
 way, telephoned the teachers to be on their guard, 
 reassured his mother, and made various plans for di- 
 verting her mind and of bridging her hopes over to a 
 workaday to-morrow. 
 
 In preparing for her decease, she was just as busy, 
 contented, and matter-of-fact as she had ever been be- 
 fore in her life. 
 
 " It will be my funeral, Marie, but I'll let you run it. 
 You love funerals so, I hope you'll enjoy this one." 
 
 Marie dubiously wondered what fun it would be with 
 the star performer shut up in a box. 
 
 " Put a bow on my head (I won't look natural with- 
 852
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 353 
 
 out it), and pin a flower on me. Some don't care for 
 flowers in the coffin, but I wouldn't give a nickel to be 
 buried without one. And there's a brown-paper bundle 
 in my top dresser-drawer. Have it buried with my 
 meat! It's my pictures and things, and I don't want 
 'em left around where others can laugh at 'em. Now 
 don't forget!" 
 
 Marie crimsoned. She had hoped her unfortunate 
 words had been forgotten. 
 
 " I will, Woody ; but I didn't mean to hurt your feel- 
 ings about them. I was just trying to get you into a 
 good humor about Belinda ! " 
 
 " You bury 'em with me, all the same. Just as they 
 are!" 
 
 " I'll see she does, without a single peep ! " promised 
 Walter. 
 
 The Greenwoods smiled brightly at him. 
 
 " Thanks, Walter ! You are the nicest boy I ever 
 knew. I've so enj oyed your acquaintance ! How would 
 you like, being as I've made other plans, to be sweet- 
 hearts with Goldilocks? She's a lovely girl! May I 
 write to-day and arrange it ? " 
 
 He shook his head. 
 
 " I'll never have another sweetheart, Woody ! When 
 a boy is used to you, all other girls seem like fools. I'll 
 never marry." 
 
 " Just as you please, Walter. Hurry up and die. 
 We'll have a time ! You can live with us, and we'll share 
 my star together. You too, Marie. Mamma will be so 
 pleased to have you, and I'd like to reciprocate the 
 hospitality I've enj oyed in your charming home ! " 
 
 Remembering the quality of her hospitality, Marie 
 was perfectly willing to postpone a reciprocation. 
 
 " I'm not good enough to go to heaven."
 
 354 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " It's not goodness what counts so much, Marie, 
 but enjoyment. Just be happy and make all around 
 you happy, and the angels will be lots gladder to see 
 you than if you was so powerful good, and whiney with 
 it. They like things free and easy ; and all this ever- 
 lasting goodness you folks are so crazy about down 
 here would turn 'em gray-headed." 
 
 Walter's heart lightened. Surely if The Green- 
 woods was upon the brink of eternity her words would 
 be more churchy and sedate. 
 
 " Then, doesn't it matter how we behave? " asked 
 Marie. 
 
 " Not if your feelings are right. Down here people 
 can't see your feelings, so they've got to judge you by 
 your acts. But up there it's what you think. If you 
 throw rocks at angels they just dodge 'em and laugh, 
 'cause they're so lively. But if you think hateful 
 thoughts, they will dodge you; then you'll walk about 
 the heavenly streets all by yourself, Marie, seeing the 
 beautiful things and lovely places and hearing the glor- 
 ious music, feeling so lonesome and stuck up, a-think- 
 ing you're the only person there." 
 
 This was not encouraging, but one hope of happiness 
 still was left. 
 
 " And can I have all the beautiful things ? " 
 
 " If you want 'em, Marie. In heaven they give you 
 all you want. So you must be careful. For they don't 
 wear out or rust ; it's not polite to give presents away 
 and there are no thieves to steal 'em, or fire to burn 
 'em, or garbage cans to throw 'em in; and everything 
 is free, so you can't sell, and nothing is hid, so, if you 
 don't look out, you'll have your heavenly mansion look- 
 ing like a nickel store ! " 
 
 Walter laughed, but Marie's celestial aspirations
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 355 
 
 were being chilled. She cared little for a place where 
 one must be on visiting terms with the populace and 
 where great possessions render one ridiculous. She 
 changed the subject. 
 
 " It will be a grand funeral ! Will you come, 
 Woody?" 
 
 " My meat will." 
 
 "What fun is meat? I want you! Please come!" 
 
 The Greenwoods declined this invitation to her ob- 
 sequies with regret. 
 
 " I fear I can't manage it, Marie. I'll be so busy 
 these next few days. And I never did care much for 
 funerals ! I'd like to attend, since you are so cordial, 
 but don't count on me ! The first is such a busy time, 
 and I don't expect to do a thing for hours and hours 
 but sit on Papa's knee and talk ! He's the best to talk 
 to ever ; and he hasn't seen me since I was a little tot ; 
 and I bet he hasn't even heard that I know the multipli- 
 cation table! 
 
 " Then there's Mamma and Steppie ! I shall have to 
 get acquainted with 'em all over again, and how can I 
 possibly leave 'em for just a funeral? Then I must go 
 to church and have my deeds read out, and my halo 
 fitted, and my shoulder blades anointed, to make the 
 wings grow; and meet the ancestors, and be showed 
 about the place. So my hands will be full for quite a 
 spell! Then, Marie, the first spare minute I have 
 guess what I'm a-going to do? Why, fly around and 
 have a peep at old Methuselah ! " 
 
 As she enumerated these avocations her young com- 
 panions, feeling that the waters of the silent river 
 were already trickling down between her and them, 
 drew closer together. 
 
 " Don't talk about it, W_oody ! " groaned Marie.
 
 356 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " You'll be gone soon enough, and we can't do those 
 things! I'll never have a chum again. I never liked 
 any girl but you. I pretended I did, but that was be- 
 cause you was so indifferent: I wanted to make you 
 feel bad!" 
 
 " Please don't take it so hard, Marie ! You knock 
 all the fun out of dying." 
 
 The Greenwoods sighed. Marie was the greatest 
 spoil-sport she had ever known, she couldn't appre- 
 ciate even a sure-enough, human funeral! 
 
 " I told you all the time I was a-going to die ! It 
 runs in our family ! I don't belong down here anyhow, 
 but have just been visiting about ! So now I'm a- 
 going to heaven and settle down. If you want to see 
 me, stop crying and come on up. I've been leaving 
 places all my life, and no matter how folks have treated 
 me, they've always been sorry to see me go. So you 
 make the best of it, like France and the others did, and 
 stop worrying ! " 
 
 Miss Jones had been apprised of the issue, but failed 
 utterly to divert The Greenwoods' attention from the 
 business in hand, or to prevent frequent outbursts of 
 grief from her mourning friends. Woody was turning 
 into an angel before their eyes, and no one could stop 
 her. 
 
 When geography was the topic, she discoursed on 
 the location, customs, climate, and capital of Heaven; 
 when asked to solve a problem in arithmetic, she ex- 
 pounded the mysteries of the future state. On finish- 
 ing grammar, she congratulated herself audibly; and 
 at the end of every recitation gave away her text-book. 
 Being reproved for misconduct, she retaliated with a 
 sermon on " Schools in Heaven." 
 
 " Children don't go to school in Heaven, Miss Jones ;
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 357 
 
 but the grown adults do. And the first thing the angels 
 teach 'em is how to have fun! When they learn that, 
 they are turned loose. The blessed land is different 
 from this dreary place. You don't have to go to school 
 in Heaven just because you're big; and, you don't get 
 out of it just because you're little. The angels ain't 
 cowards and don't take advantage of nobody's size ! It 
 all depends on how much you know. Down here, no 
 matter how much a girl knows, she has to go to school 
 just the same; even when she has more sense than 
 
 The lecture was brought to an abrupt close, and the 
 dear departing wrote long letters telling her absent 
 friends good-bye. To her expected decease the teachers 
 became almost resigned. 
 
 All her trinkets had been given away, her books and 
 clothes, but at recess, to even things, flowers and 
 bon-bons were received from the boys' school. The 
 flowers were made into a wreath and placed upon her 
 head and pinned in decorative garlands upon her dress. 
 The bon-bons were eaten. 
 
 " This is the last candy you will ever eat, isn't it, 
 darling? " asked one lugubrious admirer. 
 
 " I 'spect so. That's why I'm eating so hearty, 
 to be on the safe side. If a girl is through with tummy- 
 aches for all eternity she may as well satisfy her ap- 
 petite for good. Help yourselves, though, girls. 
 There's enough for all." 
 
 " If angels don't eat, how do they live? " 
 
 " On scents. They are not made of meat, -like you, 
 so don't have to eat it and suchlike. They're made 
 of air, so the fragrance of lilies and roses keeps 'em 
 fat." 
 
 She held up her hand to command silence and, smil- 
 ing and flower-crowned, made her farewell speech.
 
 358 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " I'm a-leaving you, my friends, but not forever, 
 'cause sometimes I am coming back. You won't see me, 
 for I will be an invisible, subjunctive hallumination, 
 with no meat for you to see. I will be a spiritual fact, 
 and you will have to discern me spiritually ! 
 
 " Some day, howsoever, you will be a-standing up 
 trying to recite your lesson, and you won't know it. 
 You will think and think, and get scareder and 
 scareder, while Miss Jones will get madder and ever 
 more aggravated. Then suddenly you will know the 
 answer. When that time comes remember that it's not 
 Unconscious Cerebration a-helping you or nobody else, 
 but just your old friend Greenwoods, who popped the 
 answer into your minds. It's her a-telling as of yore! 
 And that is how I shall get even with Miss Jones when 
 I am dead. But don't depend upon me, for I won't 
 hang around a schoolhouse much! And sometimes 
 on summer nights " 
 
 She might have continued in this happy strain until 
 the bell rang (for she was not only eating her last of 
 earthly foods, but talking to her last earthly audi- 
 ence), but Marie stirred restlessly. This prolonged 
 and brilliant exit had lasted too long, had outlasted, 
 in fact, Marie's good resolutions. Pity for one to 
 die so young was impossible in this case, and remorse 
 was changing to the bitter realization that she had been 
 the means of promoting the gay young creature to a 
 loftier form of existence. Marie was envious. 
 
 " When you get to Heaven, Greenwoods," she inter- 
 rupted, despite nudges and dark looks, " you won't be 
 a free and independant orphan any more ! " 
 
 At the humiliation in store for the haughty orphan, 
 Marie smiled maliciously. And, behold, The Green- 
 woods was smiling too, but in angelic j oy !
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 359 
 
 " That's the best part of all, Marie ! I'll have my 
 Papa and my Mamma! No blessing is like that, not 
 even independence. Besides, it's no credit to be an 
 orphan in Heaven, for God and the angels are sweeter 
 than ever to you, and even a stupid child can get on 
 fine and dandy. But down here it takes sense ! " 
 
 At last the children understood. It was not orphan- 
 hood that made The Greenwoods superior, but an in- 
 nate something that enabled her to triumph over the 
 condition in which she was placed. To be like her it 
 was not necessary to be an orphan, it was only neces- 
 sary to make the best of that state into which they had 
 been called. 
 
 " And sometimes on summer nights you will be sitting 
 in the yard. And some one will call, ' Look ! ' And 
 then, across the sky you will see my star sail by (it's 
 the big shooting one, girls, what goes so slow) ; and 
 when you see it you can say, ' There goes The Green- 
 woods out a-riding ! ' 
 
 " How comes it yours ? " asked Marie ! " I've as 
 much right to that star as you? " 
 
 " Maybe so," agreed Woody, who had not yet shed 
 all her human nature, " But I shall get there first and 
 claim it. But you may have it when you come, if it's 
 not wore out ! " 
 
 " You hateful piece ! You are dying just to get 
 there first and take the pick! But you let that star 
 alone, or I'll make trouble the minute I get there! I 
 want it kept nice and fresh." 
 
 " Marie," said a little girl who knew Marie's fail- 
 ing ; " you can never have things nice and fresh, if you 
 get what you want; for you never want except what 
 somebody else has got. So all your things are bound to 
 be second hand or imitation."
 
 360 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " And you haven't got there yet," laughed Harriet. 
 
 "And it will be a sad day for the angels when she 
 does," sneered an older girl who stood by, " for she 
 will break the whole thing up, and be miserable still." 
 
 Marie was unmoved by these reflections on her char- 
 acter. " I don't care. If I have to keep the Ten Com- 
 mandments and go to church every Sunday to get to 
 Heaven and then can't have that star, I'll stay away. 
 I don't think much of Heaven anyhow ! " 
 
 They shrank from her, as from something evil. The 
 future life was near to them that morning. The Green- 
 woods had brought Heaven almost to a level with their 
 eyes, and it had made them in love with death. Now 
 Marie, despoiling eternity of its beauty, was open- 
 ing before their shuddering gaze the vast abyss of Hell. 
 
 "Where will you go, Marie? " Pearl asked gravely. 
 *' Do you actually want to burn forever, because you 
 can't have The Greenwoods' star? " 
 
 Another's star in Marie's eyes was more desirable 
 than Heaven, but the alternative was disagreeable. 
 She burst into tears. 
 
 The smile had faded from The Greenwoods' face. 
 She looked sad and thoughtful, but knew what she must 
 do. All her life she had wanted that star ! It had been 
 her favorite dream of Paradise. Yet she could not let 
 Marie burn because of it; and an angel cannot enjoy 
 what others envy. 
 
 " You won't have to burn, Marie," she said, " You 
 may have the star ! " 
 
 Marie received the gift in silence, and grim anger 
 seized the others. The space around Marie grew wider, 
 and the children gazed at her in scorn, all but Woody. 
 
 " I won't touch it till you get there, Marie, if you 
 will let me ride in it then. Maybe the little ones are
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 361 
 
 prettier inside, and easier cranked ! " There was a 
 faint sigh of renunciation. 
 
 The star was now Marie's, but its charm was gone. 
 Its light had faded, and it seemed a huge dark world 
 pressing her restless spirit down, down, down. A 
 gift taken from an angel through the power of envy is 
 a heavy load to bear. Marie had begun to cry because 
 she did not have the star ; she kept on because she had it. 
 It had lost its beauty and Marie wished to be disencum- 
 bered; but to give it back before the girls would be to 
 unscreen her sin, and cover herself with ignominy. She 
 resolved to wait and return it privately. It was just an 
 incubus. What good is a star in this world? 
 
 The older pupils now claimed The Greenwoods, and 
 they fed her on salted peanuts and listened to a disser- 
 tation on supernal joys. 
 
 The children were indignant. Woody was the sweet- 
 est child they had ever known, but they had been incited 
 to disloyalty by Harriet and Marie, Marie, who now, 
 on this last day, had taken The Greenwoods' star. All 
 they needed was a leader. Harriet's remembrance of 
 her part in the betrayal now spurred her on against her 
 partner in crime. 
 
 " Marie," she commanded, " give that star back to 
 Woody!" 
 
 Marie regarded with bitterness the one that had tried 
 to take The Greenwoods' place. " Let's see you make 
 me!" 
 
 Harriet forthwith seized Marie's luckless hair, and 
 the others followed her example. 
 
 " Don't everybody pull ! " said Harriet, " Some of 
 you, put your handkerchiefs in her mouth, to stop her 
 yelling!" 
 
 A few minutes later, the pride of the Kingstons, she
 
 362 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 who had so recently spurned Heaven itself, was grovel- 
 ing, according to directions, at The Greenwoods' feet. 
 The Greenwoods, who had feared Marie was com- 
 ing to demand her halo, finding that it was but a mat- 
 ter of the return of the star, accepted it thankfully, and 
 forthwith invited all present to ride in it " the minute 
 they was dead."
 
 CHAPTER XLVIII 
 
 NOTHING like this had ever happened in Wayville 
 before and the town was shaken to its center. No one 
 had ever so appealed to the Wayvillites, barring the 
 mammas of small girls, as had The Greenwoods, and 
 many would have gladly died for the merry little soul. 
 They felt that something must have gone hideously 
 wrong that this child, so full of joy, turned from life, 
 and faced the grave with laughter. 
 
 The mammas especially were worried. Who had 
 driven The Greenwoods' hopes from earth? Them- 
 selves? Had they erred in resenting her proud accep- 
 tance of her orphanhood? Her independence had made 
 their children envious, so the independence had seemed 
 wrong. But now the children envied her her coming 
 death ! Where was this envy leading them ? What had 
 it to give? Might it not be that the fault lay more in 
 the envy than in the independence? 
 
 With grave faces the mammas rallied to Mrs. King- 
 ston's help. They met the children at the school in 
 gaily decorated vehicles, and after a drive accompanied 
 them to a party at Marie's. 
 
 But the children were disconcerted, and the party 
 was a failure. 
 
 It had seemed perfectly right and proper, Marie 
 being deserving of punishment, to yank her hair out 
 by the roots, and, considering her covetous disposition, 
 it had seemed expedient also to leave her out of the ban- 
 quet in honor of the dear departing, that had been 
 given at noon, but when it came to going to a party at 
 
 363
 
 364 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 her house only a few hours later, and to facing Marie's 
 outraged parent, it was different! 
 - They tried to get out of it, blushing prettily, and 
 offering regrets that were confused and ineffectual. 
 So they breathed lightly as they munched their mints, 
 squeezed each other's hands for comfort, and gazed 
 fearfully at their hostess, while waiting for the blow. 
 
 The calendar spring had come, but ice and snow still 
 lingered. They stood stiffly around the big bonfire and 
 watched a stew preparing, while the mammas tried 
 sedulously to instil some life into the group. Those 
 mammas seemed like protecting bulwarks to the young 
 hair-pullers ; and gradually it dawned upon the latter 
 that Marie was not going to tell, nor Woody to die. 
 
 In the morning, Dr. Kingston assured them, The 
 Greenwoods would go to school as usual, to let them see 
 that she was living; but in the afternoon she would go 
 to Boston for new toys and new dresses, which she 
 was to select herself, and stay a week with his sister, 
 who had long been eager for a visit, and see the zoo and 
 matinees and everything ! 
 
 " And I have whole bunches of fire-crackers," said 
 Walter, " and the minute I hear her voice in the morn- 
 ing I shall touch them off ! " 
 
 " And Friday I'm to give her a party, Mamma says 
 so," said Harriet. 
 
 " And Saturday she spends with me," added Pearl. 
 
 " And when," inquired The Greenwoods calmly, 
 " will you have the funeral? " 
 
 " Not at all ! " asserted Robert firmly. 
 
 " Aren't you a-going to bury me, Dr. Kingston ? " 
 
 " We won't let you die." He gazed at her, trying 
 with all the power of his will to dispel her delusion. 
 She stared fixedly back again.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 365 
 
 " My Mamma is coming to take me." 
 
 " I will be there when she comes, and ask her to let 
 you stay." 
 
 " I want to go. This world isn't the place for a little 
 girl like me." 
 
 " But we need you, darling. It wouldn't be a bit of 
 fun without you! Your mamma will lend you to us a 
 little longer." 
 
 " And we will be so good to you," promised Marie. 
 
 " You've already been lovely to me, but I want my 
 mamma and my papa ! " 
 
 The veil was down, showing the free and independent 
 orphan weary of her high estate, yet it was one that 
 she never would have chosen, had they only known it. 
 Only a little girl was she, a homesick little girl at that. 
 Seeing her on the verge of tears, the young guests got 
 out their handkerchiefs for a general lamentation. It 
 was mean to keep her when she wanted her mamma so, 
 and they thought remorsefully of certain petitions 
 sneaked up to the Throne of Grace. 
 
 Robert had dismissed her approaching death as a 
 delusion, but her longing for it almost unnerved him. 
 The fun germs had blinded him to the slenderness of the 
 tie that bound her to the earth. So long as she had been 
 contented anything had seemed good enough for her, 
 now he racked his brain to find something good enough. 
 But, having learnt to be happy without earthly aids, 
 she disdained his offers. He took her in his arms. 
 
 " I can't let my little free and independent orphan 
 go ! " he said. 
 
 But independence had lost its charms. " I want my 
 mamma," sobbed The Greenwoods, " I don't want to be 
 independent ! " 
 
 Mammas wiped their eyes, little girls boohooed, little
 
 366 " THE GREENWOODS " 
 
 boys sniffed dolorously. Robert tried again, but felt 
 dishonest in using the props that he had taken from her. 
 " Put off going till Chester comes. He can't be here to- 
 night ; and think how he loves you ! " 
 
 " Why didn't he marry me then ? " 
 
 Robert sadly reflected that her confidence in Chester, 
 like all else on which she had set her affection, even 
 down to Belinda, was lost. Walter answered for him. 
 " Because I am ! " 
 
 " You won't. I'm a-going to be an angel ! " 
 
 " You're already one, the only one on earth, 
 that's why we want to keep you ! " 
 
 Ordinarily Walter was bashful, but now, oblivious of 
 all but her, he declared his love before the crowd right 
 boldly ; yet no one laughed. 
 
 " An angel is the only kind of girl I'd marry ! If 
 you die I'll be a shriveled-up old bachelor. And, sweet 
 precious," he patted the hand that hung over Robert's 
 shoulder, " stay with us a little longer. We know we're 
 just plain meat people, but we need you, and we love 
 you the best that we know how ! " 
 
 " And now let us hurry and get the skates on," said 
 Robert, and the mammas rushed to help him, " You 
 take one hand, Walter, I the other, and what fun we 
 shall have ! " 
 
 " I didn't know," whispered one small miss to another, 
 " that the Kingstons loved her so ; I thought they were 
 cold-hearted ; but they're as crazy about her as we are." 
 
 " Maybe they're feeling mean like we are. Mamma is. 
 I know by the way she talked." 
 
 " Mamma too. And she did tell me not to play with 
 Woody. Did you notice Mrs. Kingston? She cried 
 straight through everything ! "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 367 
 
 " And we always thought her mean to Woody ! Do 
 you s'pose she loves her, or just is scared? " 
 
 The Kingstons looked at one another, and waited. 
 Guests had been coming all evening, as if for a reception, 
 but now they were gone. The Kingstons had taken 
 The Greenwoods up to bed, kissed her good-night, 
 ** good-bye," she called it, returned solemnly to the 
 library, and lost their nerve. 
 
 The Ides of March had come. 
 
 In every home The Greenwoods was the topic of talk ; 
 and while the elders were telling hair-raising stories 
 around the fire, little girls were crying themselves to 
 sleep, and big-eyed little boys were wishing they could 
 see (if their papas were holding their hands) the Thing 
 that was coming for Woody Forest. 
 
 Between The Greenwoods and death, in the public 
 estimation, stood only the stalwart form of Robert 
 Kingston. It was understood that he intended to fight 
 death and angels to a finish. Many believed he was 
 committing a sin, for plainly the child's time had 
 come. Yet, just what he was to do was a mystery, and 
 his assembled family regarded him with anxiety. 
 
 " Of course there is no danger," remarked Colonel 
 Kingston, who was still restlessly bewailing his com- 
 plaints over Woody's song, " People never die of 
 dreams, and I am not superstitious. But she was pale, 
 Bob, and ominously silent." 
 
 " She has been up since daybreak and is tired. She 
 has had a strenuous day." 
 
 " She ate very little dinner ! " said Mrs. Kingston 
 apprehensively. 
 
 " Too much oyster stew this afternoon." 
 
 " Only one plate, Robert, and that, not full ! "
 
 368 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Didn't she have some candy? " 
 
 " Nothing but mints." 
 
 " Enough, though, to affect her appetite." 
 
 " Anyway, I shall take her a glass of hot milk before 
 she goes to sleep. It can't hurt, Robert." 
 
 Mrs. Kingston rose, but as she left the room Marie 
 gloomily shook her head. 
 
 " Hot milk won't help ! The cook noticed that she 
 didn't eat any dinner and fixed her a supper in the 
 kitchen. Walter and I peeped through the door to see 
 if she was eating. She looked just too sweet sitting 
 there like a princess, with all the servants bending 
 over her, but she only ate seven bites ! " 
 
 " Why don't you do something for her, Bob? " asked 
 Walter fiercely. 
 
 " What is there to do, Walter? She isn't sick." 
 
 " When she gets sick it will be too late. Do some- 
 thing now ! " 
 
 The telephone, which had been j ingling steadily since 
 dusk, interrupted them. People simply cannot sit with 
 folded hands when an angel is expected, though what 
 to do is puzzling to poor humanity. Wayville was ex- 
 cited. Feeling as it did that it had entertained an 
 angel unawares, and shabbily, the threatened ap- 
 proach of another was unendurable. 
 
 Walter answered the call and they heard him say. 
 " No, Chess, she's not sick . . . No, she hasn't com- 
 plained; but she never does, you know . . . Yes, aw- 
 fully! . . . Oh, we are just uneasy . . . Nothing ex- 
 cept she has no appetite and is pale as she can be ... 
 Yes, I would, if I were you; and I'd come quick . . . 
 Yes, bring sister Ellen with you. And hurry, Chess, 
 before it is too late ! "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 369 
 
 " Walter, Walter ! " sighed Robert, " I thought you 
 were going to be sensible and help me." 
 
 " Help nothing ! You are not doing anything. I 
 tell you right now, Bob : this is no time for pretending. 
 I'm scared green and I own up to it ! I think that when 
 a poor beautiful little orphan girl, without a relative on 
 earth, is lying in bed waiting for a spook to get her, it's 
 time for her friends, if she has any, to be gathering ! 
 Instead of loafing here like warts, I think we ought to 
 sit around her bed and watch and hold her hands ! I'm 
 going ! " 
 
 The way was barred by Robert. " Be quiet, boy. 
 Nothing will get The Greenwoods. She is perfectly 
 safe ! The cook and Mrs. Burns are staying in with 
 her, and the maid is in the next room. I want her to 
 sleep. She is tired." 
 
 " It seems strange, Robert," said Mrs. Kingston, 
 reentering, " that you trust her to the servants at such 
 a time, instead of to one of us ! " 
 
 " He doesn't love her himself ! " moaned Marie, " so 
 he thinks we don't ! " 
 
 " She had her choice and preferred the servants," 
 he retorted. 
 
 "How is she? " asked Colonel Kingston of his wife. 
 
 " Rather droopy. She tried to drink the milk, but 
 couldn't ! " 
 
 A groan went up. 
 
 " She was simply sleepy," exclaimed Robert. 
 
 " Nonsense, Bob ! She needs a stimulant or a seda- 
 tive or a laxative or something ! " 
 
 " Which do you advise, father? " 
 
 " Anything ! Some oil to clear up her system, or 
 paregoric to soothe her. Isn't that what they give 
 babies? Or a little strichnine or oxygen. Oxygen's
 
 370 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 the thing ! It can't hurt her. Why, we breathe it con- 
 stantly." 
 
 Nevertheless, Robert, as usual, was obdurate. He 
 would neither act himself nor permit them to. They 
 were afraid to retire, and he was afraid to leave them, 
 so they sat listening, with frequent outbursts of impa- 
 tience. Presently Chester and Ellen joined them and 
 they too listened and waited. 
 
 They spoke in whispers, starting at every sound. Oc- 
 casionally one tiptoed to Woody's door and listened to 
 her breathing. The servants held prayer services in 
 the kitchen, and this over, flitted uneasily about, like 
 ghosts in the semi-darkness. Smothered sobs came 
 from unexpected corners. 
 
 Then in the gloom, there trembled through the house 
 a weird, blood-curdling cry. A plaintive wail from one 
 in anguish! Something uncanny was occurring and, 
 with bated breath, they listened. 
 
 " Mother Burns ! O h, Mother Burns ! Ou- 
 
 cheeee ! Come quick ! My stomach hurts ! "
 
 CHAPTER XLIX 
 
 MR. FAUNCE read the telegram, Mrs. Kingston's 
 hurry call, with troubled mein. Frances listened in 
 silence, too stunned for grief, but trying to think, to 
 realize it. 
 
 " Poor little Greenwoods ! " he murmured. " So 
 young, so merry ! " 
 
 " Hush ! " exclaimed Frances resentfully. " She isn't 
 dead, yet ! It doesn't even say she's dying ; only that 
 I must come at once." 
 
 He looked at her pityingly, knowing that the truth 
 must be faced. 
 
 " But would they have sent for you, unless she were 
 in extremis? It is kind of Mrs. Kingston to invite you 
 even now, considering your behavior; but there is 
 nothing you can do, and she certainly doesn't expect 
 you to intrude." 
 
 " I don't care what she thinks, with my Greenwoods 
 dying!" 
 
 And, with a hot glance of scorn, Frances left to make 
 hasty arrangements for her journey. For of course 
 she went, though she went alone and with the disap- 
 proval of her entire family connection. She cared not 
 a whit what they thought, nor what Mrs. Kingston 
 thought, for her own thoughts were all for Woody. 
 Yes, for The Greenwoods ; who was dying, perhaps, and 
 calling for her ; who of all the world, loved her the best, 
 who had chosen her for a mother. And what a mother 
 she had been! She, who had sacrificed the darling to 
 
 371
 
 372 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 her pride, who had heard the call of her soul, had 
 watched her turn from earth to Heaven for sympathy, 
 had seen the shadows gather and yet had vacillated. 
 Now death was forcing her to act, but would she be in 
 time? Did she deserve to be in time, she who had 
 failed! 
 
 The girl's lip curled in self-contempt. Yet while she 
 had always comprehended her own need of The Green- 
 woods, she had only begun to apprehend The Green- 
 woods' need of her. She could not conceive of Woody 
 being mistreated. 
 
 Chester and Ellen, who met her at the station, rec- 
 ognized her without difficulty. They knew her by her 
 beauty and her grief-worn face. Despite their good 
 breeding they whirled her away with such despatch that 
 she feared the worst. Yet Woody was not dying, they 
 told her, but was critically ill and needed her. 
 
 Frances grew more hopeful, but, as her immediate 
 uneasiness for The Greenwoods was alleviated, her fear 
 of Robert and his mother arose. Would Robert think 
 she had taken advantage of precious little Woody's ill- 
 ness to seek a reconciliation? 
 
 Ellen was giving her a history of the case. Acute in- 
 digestion, complicated with the grip! To Frances' in- 
 experienced ears it did not sound very serious. She 
 was relieved, but embarrassed. 
 
 " They feared she was going to die," said Chester, 
 with a feeble smile, " and tried to keep her alive by con- 
 stant feeding ! " 
 
 " I supposed by the telegram," said Frances, in 
 palliation of her coming, " that it was some grave dis- 
 ease. I didn't know it was indigestion ! " 
 
 They looked at her reproachfully, and Ellen got out 
 her watch. " It is almost time for it," she groaned.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 373 
 
 Frances' terror grew strong again. 
 
 " For what? An operation? " 
 
 " Worse still," said Chester, " for Woody's next dose 
 of medicine ! " 
 
 The girl laughed in relief, but they seemed so shocked 
 at her levity, that she remembered it was no joke to 
 dose The Greenwoods. 
 
 " We had hoped," resumed Ellen, " that with your 
 influence over both persons " Frances blushed " that 
 you could do something." 
 
 Miss Faunce grew chill in apprehension. Did they 
 want her to physic The Greenwoods? Had she defied 
 her friends and come all this way only to repeal to her 
 enemies her helplessness? She could not give The 
 Greenwoods medicine! The Greenwoods wouldn't take 
 it! 
 
 " If all the excitement," continued Ellen, " and the 
 struggle to get it down her were not positively injuri- 
 ous, it would not be so brutal to Bob to try to give it ! " 
 
 Had they sent for her to coerce Dr. Kingston? 
 Frances stiffened. 
 
 " It seems strange," said Ellen, " that in this enlight- 
 ened age a man of Bob's intelligence should pin his 
 faith to drugs ! But with his usual obduracy, he re- 
 fuses to try osteopathy, hydropathy, or mental thera- 
 peutics; which, with a child of Woody's spirituality, 
 would be so much better ! " 
 
 ** Indeed ? " Frances was bewildered, but her head was 
 poised at its loftiest angle. 
 
 " Physicians are so bigoted ! Why is it, Miss 
 Faunce, that those who have to deal in salvation, of 
 either body or soul, always emulate a pig in their 
 broad-mindedness, and a donkey in their reasonable- 
 ness? "
 
 374 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Really, I am unable to inform you ! " replied Miss 
 Faunce icily. 
 
 " You are acquainted with Robert, are you not, 
 Miss Faunce? " 
 
 " I have met Dr. Kingston." 
 
 Frances spoke haughtily, but it was lost on sister 
 Ellen, who was thinking only of The Greenwoods. 
 
 " Then you are doubtless aware that he has a will 
 of his own," duly mindful that she was discussing her 
 brother with a stranger, she had begun with becoming 
 prudence, but warming up to her topic, she continued, 
 with more zeal, " is, in fact, as stubborn as a mule ! " 
 
 " A donkey ! " corrected Chester. 
 
 " A brute ! " said Ellen, and Frances started at the 
 word. 
 
 " An utter brute ! " agreed Chester heartily. 
 
 Frances saw why Robert was sensitive about the 
 epithet, and why he, gun-shy, had flinched when he 
 found the word in her letter, thinking she had hurled it 
 at him as did the others. Poor Robert ! So this is what 
 he had to contend with ! 
 
 " But there is no use telling him about it," stated 
 Ellen. 
 
 " I had no intention of doing so," retorted Frances 
 indignantly. 
 
 " My dear Miss Faunce, I beg your pardon ! How 
 shameful of us to reveal our family squabbles in this 
 barefaced way! What must you think of us? But we 
 are so harrowed by dear little Woody's suffering," 
 she applied her handkerchief, and Chester got out his, 
 " that we are hardly responsible. It isn't, though, as 
 if you were a stranger, for we have heard so much of 
 you from our sweet little Greenwoods, and Robert, and 
 poor dear Uncle Mark. "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 375 
 
 She broke off abruptly. Frances, wishing she were 
 at home, made some indistinct response. Spurred by 
 dire need, Ellen floundered on: 
 
 " Besides you will be there in a minute and will see 
 for yourself how it is ! We are living from dose to 
 dose, and nothing else makes one bit of difference! 
 Marie blames herself for Woody's longing for death, 
 so destroys her medicine and substitutes preserve juice 
 at every opportunity, to make amends. So (you know 
 Bob's savage temper) " 
 
 " A perfect brute ! " said Chester. 
 
 " So Marie is locked up, or tied to a bedpost, and 
 cries incessantly. Walter is bent on killing Bob (and 
 who can blame the dear boy, Miss Faunce), so he is 
 locked up too. Poor mamma is distracted. Papa 
 couldn't stand it, so he left home, declares he will not 
 return till Bob stops torturing that angel child ! And 
 just because we can't conceal our sympathy for the 
 little saint, Bob vows (the horrid brute!) that he will 
 take her to the hospital. If it wasn't for her disturb- 
 ing the other patients, I believe he would have done so 
 before. So unless you can do something, Miss Faunce, 
 Chess and I leave to-day. I wouldn't spend another 
 night with the crying of that tormented baby in my 
 ears, not for millions ! " 
 
 " Pardon me, Mrs. Er I believe you neglected to 
 tell me your name ? " 
 
 " How stupid in me ! Call me Ellen ! " 
 
 Verily the Kingstons were distraught. Yet The 
 Greenwoods had warned Frances that they were " ner- 
 vous." 
 
 " Thanks ! But what is it you wish me to do ? " 
 
 "Make Bob let the child alone!" explained Chester 
 bluntly.
 
 376 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " How absurd ! As if I would presume to dictate to 
 Dr. Kingston how he is to treat either his ward or his 
 patient ! " 
 
 They were disappointed. " Then what will become 
 of The Greenwoods ? " 
 
 " She must take the medicine, Mr. Kingston." 
 
 " But she won't do it. All this ado may seem ridicu- 
 lous, but the situation is serious. She is constantly 
 growing weaker, can't eat because of her stomach, and 
 won't sleep for fear Bob will get some medicine down 
 her without her knowledge. For, O Miss Faunce, The 
 Greenwoods wants to die ! " 
 
 " And she fancies," said Ellen, " the medicine is keep- 
 ing her from heaven ; that the angels are trying to get 
 her but can't stand the odor ! " 
 
 " Then Dr. Kingston is right in giving it," said 
 Frances, " even according to mental therapeutics." 
 
 " But she won't take it ! " declared Chester. 
 
 " For me she will." Frances spoke loftily, for she 
 had received an inspiration and was ready to prove to 
 Robert's mother that the girl he loved was no weakling. 
 
 Chester and Ellen exchanged incredulous glances, 
 and Ellen said dryly : " Then you'd better hurry 
 home, Chess, for the fight will begin in five minutes; 
 and if Miss Faunce can really influence Woody, we can't 
 get there too soon ! " 
 
 The meeting with Mrs. Kingston, which Frances had 
 so dreaded, was neither formal nor humiliating. 
 
 Robert's mother, who seemed nervous and distressed, 
 threw her arms around the girl who had jilted Brother 
 Mark and wept upon her shoulder. 
 
 " Oh, my dear ! " she exclaimed, " I thought you 
 would never come ! And we must hurry now to Woody. 
 For it is time for that red medicine ! "
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 "You needn't be looking at your watch, Dr. King- 
 ston ! " said a weak, querulous voice. " 'Tain't time for 
 it yet ! It's three minutes ! You love to give it so that 
 you can't wait ! " 
 
 Physician and nurses exchanged glances of despair. 
 They were fully cognizant of their helplessness, and 
 The Greenwoods had only begun ! It was a losing fight, 
 yet she could be cured so easily, if she would only 
 submit. Robert thought of the mothers he had despised 
 for their weakness with their sick children, and the con- 
 tempt they had raised was turned against himself. His 
 ward was dying, because he could not control her. 
 
 " I've taken ten million doses of the cross-eyed stuff, 
 and that's enough! You must be trying to drown my 
 withinsides ! " 
 
 " Stop talking, Greenwoods." 
 
 " Then you stop fixing that rat poison ! I won't take 
 it ! I won't ! I won't ! I'll swallow the pillow first ! " 
 
 " Listen, Woody " 
 
 " It's that nasty red stuff! O h ! " The wail of 
 
 anguish that had demoralized the establishment echoed 
 through the house. " Pour it on the carpet ! Pour it 
 on the carpet! Pour 
 
 " All right, darling. We will pour some on the car- 
 pet for you. Don't we always do it? Lie down and let 
 me talk to you." 
 
 " Get away, Dr. Kingston ! Stay over there ! How 
 can I see if it burns when you are talking my arm off? 
 Get away ! " 
 
 877
 
 378 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 " Listen, Woody, we want you " 
 
 " Shut up, and let me die ! I don't care what you 
 want. I want to go to heaven ! And you keep me so 
 chuck full of your smelling dope that I can't get 
 through the gate; and I smell so bad that my Mamma 
 can't come near me ! " 
 
 " But it will make you well, so you can run and 
 play." 
 
 " I don't want to play ! I want my Mamma ! " Tears 
 and sobs mingled with her protests, " I want you, 
 Mamma ! Come and get me ! Mamma ! Mamma ! " 
 
 That was the trouble. That was why the inmates of 
 the house were all unstrung; why Colonel Kingston 
 had left home, and Mrs. Kingston, without even con- 
 sulting Robert beforehand or notifying him afterward, 
 had sent for Frances. The Greenwoods was crying 
 for her mother and would not be comforted. 
 
 " Don't cry so, darling." 
 
 " Go away, Dr. Kingston ! Don't you touch me. 
 Don't anybody in this whole house touch me ! I want my 
 Mamma, my Mamma, my Mamma, my Frances ! " 
 
 For there in the doorway stood, if not the mother 
 she was crying for, at least, one that she loved. So 
 The Greenwoods accepted the gift of the gods and was 
 thankful. 
 
 It was like another " unconscious subjunctive hal- 
 lumination," as she said later, and Robert agreed with 
 her fully. In their surprise, he forgot the quarrel, The 
 Greenwoods, the medicine ; and in less time than it takes 
 to tell it, Woody was in Frances' arms being crooned 
 over and caressed, while she patted Frances' cheeks and 
 smiled into her eyes. 
 
 Robert pinched himself, to see if he were dreaming,
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 379 
 
 and found that he was badly in need of a shave. Later 
 he thought of the medicine. 
 
 " Must she take it ? " asked Frances. 
 
 The house had been divided into two camps ; he on one 
 side, and all the world against him. For even the 
 nurses at heart had gone over to the enemy. So he sup- 
 posed that Frances, too, would array herself with The 
 Greenwoods and against " the brute." 
 
 " Of course, if she is to recover ! " 
 
 Having already explained this point to weariness, he 
 spoke impatiently. Frances glanced at him in quick re- 
 sentment; but he was so worn and haggard that her 
 wrath was softened. 
 
 " Then, if you will leave us alone for a little talk, 
 there will be no more trouble about it." 
 
 The surrounders looked incredulous, he as much so 
 as the rest ; but all respectfully withdrew. They were 
 willing to give Miss Faunce a chance to make good, but 
 were convinced that she could not get around The 
 Greenwoods. 
 
 Twenty minutes later they returned: Robert, to give 
 the medicine, now overdue, the others, to commis- 
 erate The Greenwoods and watch the tug of war. 
 
 And the medicine was swallowed, with so lamblike a 
 meekness that all were routed and confused from the 
 shock of surprise. 
 
 Miss Faunce had demonstrated her fitness for the 
 post of Forester; and Mrs. Kingston, was, after the 
 first gasp, elated and, having assumed the responsi- 
 bility for Frances' coming, claimed the girl as her own. 
 
 " I told you so ! " she exclaimed to one and all, to 
 anyone that would listen. " I said so the morning 
 Woody had her dream! Before that, too, days be- 
 fore; only Robert was so obdurate! We should have
 
 380 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 sent for her then. She is a wonderful girl ! So digni- 
 fied, so firm, so superior; with so strong and well-de- 
 veloped a character! I loved her from the first. But 
 I always knew I should, for dear Mark did; and our 
 tastes were always similar. I know now why Mark left 
 The Greenwoods to Robert : to bring him in touch with 
 Frances ! Dear Mark ! Had he only lived to see this 
 day! And she is so pretty! Quite the prettiest girl 
 I know! Don't talk to me about Ardelia! And, with 
 it all so charmingly modest. I don't remember ever 
 before having met any one so altogether pleasing. 
 Well, now that I have brought her here, I hope Robert, 
 for once, will act reasonably ! " 
 
 And Frances was just as well pleased with Mrs. 
 Kingston. A sweet, gracious, motherly woman ! How 
 could Woody have so misrepresented her? Yet Frances 
 forgave The Greenwoods, for though that dreary wait- 
 ing seemed to have been needless, by it she had been able 
 to test the constancy of her love. For her love had 
 lasted. 
 
 " How on earth," asked Robert after The Green- 
 woods had gone happily to sleep and the Foresters were 
 alone, " did you get her to take the medicine ? I had 
 reasoned, pleaded, threatened, all in vain." 
 
 " Easily enough. I told her how much confusion she 
 was causing others by her refusal, and she was so 
 ashamed that she wanted to take a whole bottle to make 
 amends. She always tries to be polite, you know." 
 
 " I don't quite understand. You mean " He 
 looked puzzled. 
 
 " She is taking it out of consideration for the family. 
 She has also asked me to telephone your father and ask 
 him to come back home."
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 381 
 
 " The blessed little lady ! Miss Faunce, The Green- 
 woods is a peach." 
 
 " I told you long ago that she was perfect." 
 
 He gazed at her dreamily. 
 
 " And you're another ; and so resourceful ! " 
 
 Frances blushed. 
 
 " And to think I feared you would advise me to try 
 osteopathy ! " 
 
 " But I know nothing about osteopathy, nor med- 
 icine, nor even mental therapeutics. I'm hopelessly 
 ignorant. But I love Woody, and have confidence in 
 you. So, if you'll suggest the remedies, I will apply 
 them." 
 
 He beamed upon her. " You will never know," he 
 said, " how much I have been needing you, how glad 
 I am you have come ! " 
 
 Her next remark had nothing to do with the case. 
 It was : 
 
 " I don't like your Sister Ellen one bit ! " 
 
 " Shake hands on it, then," said Bob ; " for I don't 
 either."
 
 CHAPTER LI 
 
 THE GREENWOODS had been buoyed up by the excite- 
 ment of not taking the medicine, but the opposition 
 had taxed her strength. When she relaxed, it seemed 
 as if she would die from weakness. 
 
 Her only wish was to have Frances by her side, and 
 she cold-shouldered the rest of the world without com- 
 punction. Yet Frances had never seen so many beauti- 
 ful tokens of sympathy, so many touching attentions, 
 as were showered upon The Greenwoods. 
 
 When it became know that the child had consented 
 to be " dosed " merely out of consideration for others, 
 tears were shed over the gentle martyr, and few could 
 be found so unfeeling as to administer a single pill ! 
 Yet the Foresters stood shoulder to shoulder, and if 
 the invalid grew no better, at least she grew no worse. 
 
 " If she would only take an interest in something, the 
 fight would be half over," sighed Robert. 
 
 The unpleasantness between the Foresters had van- 
 ished at the first meeting of their eyes. And The Green- 
 woods having brought them together, kept them in- 
 terested and true, gained Mrs. Kingston's consent to 
 their nuptials, and smoothed the future for them, now 
 drew the cords of their hearts together and securely tied 
 the knot. 
 
 Only the three were in the room at the finale; for it 
 was time for a dose. Frances was kneeling by the bed 
 holding the glass, Robert beside her, as the victim 
 asked: 
 
 332
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 383 
 
 " What's the use ? I've taken it three days now 
 without a single squirm, and I'm not well yet." 
 
 " Please, precious." 
 
 " I'm a-going to, Francie ; I hope you are not get- 
 ting nervous too. Have you noticed the Kingstons? 
 Reg'lar every five minutes by the clock the whole family 
 has a fit. I've been here most a year now, and they 
 haven't missed a single time ! " 
 
 " You've given us fits, you monkey," laughed Robert. 
 
 " Take the medicine, precious." 
 
 "Francie, didn't I say I was a-going to? I'm not 
 a-going to distract Mrs. Kingston again or even run the 
 Colonel away from home! That was just their ner- 
 vousness! Why don't you treat 'em for it, Dr. King- 
 ston?" 
 
 " Take it, Greenwoods," insisted Frances. 
 
 " I'm just wondering if you wasn't giving me the 
 wrong stuff. It doesn't seem to be having any effect ! " 
 
 " Woody darling, why don't you take it ! " 
 
 " Because I want to ask a favor of the doctor. He 
 owes me a treat, and this is just a trifle. Please, Dr. 
 Kingston? " 
 
 The Foresters exchanged congratulatory looks, for 
 Woody was beginning to take an interest again, even 
 wanted something. 
 
 "Anything I can get for you, sweet child," Robert 
 promised eagerly. 
 
 " Oh, thank you ! All I want is a little bluing in that 
 medicine, so it won't look so red ! ' 
 
 " That," she exclaimed, with a wry face when the 
 medicine, minus the bluing, had gone down, " is the 
 meanest dope on earth, and that," she pointed severely 
 at her guardian, " is the meanest man ! He is like that
 
 384 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 about everything, France. He will have his way or die ! 
 Bluing is cheap as dirt, yet not one drop would he give 
 me!" 
 
 " Oh, the BRUTE! " sai'd Frances. 
 
 The deadly word was out, and a scared silence filled 
 the room. Frances was still on her knees, Robert still 
 beside her. As the unfortunate word escaped, he looked 
 directly at her. She knelt, motionless, while a crimson 
 flood mantled cheeks and brow and throat. The glass 
 in her hand trembled slightly ; her head was bowed. 
 
 Presently, with an effort, she glanced shyly, appeal- 
 ingly, up at Robert. And so timid a little girl looked 
 at him through Miss Faunce's eyes, a little child so 
 frightened and repentant, that he stooped and kissed 
 her. 
 
 " Goodness gracious, sakes alive ! " exclaimed The 
 Greenwoods, " What DID you do THAT for? " 
 
 " Because I love her." 
 
 " Love Francie? " 
 
 " With all my heart ! " 
 
 " That's the funniest thing I ever heard of in all my 
 life ! France, do you love him ? " 
 
 " Of course, goosie. I've always loved him." 
 
 " Are you a-going to marry each other? " 
 
 " I believe that is the arrangement." And Robert 
 looked imploringly at the girl he loved. 
 
 " I believe it is," she assented. 
 
 " Then, you hateful, cross-eyed things ! " exploded 
 The Greenwoods wrathfully, " Why haven't you told 
 me about it before ? " 
 
 As a matter of fact, they were almost dizzy from the 
 suddenness of the denouement and felt that if they 
 opened their eyes their Paradise might vanish.
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 385 
 
 " What was you a-waiting for? You knew I was like 
 to die any minute! Didn't you want me in the wed- 
 ding? " 
 
 They smiled rapturously at the word. 
 
 " Of course you shall be in the wedding ! " promised 
 France. 
 
 " Then why didn't you let me know ? I wouldn't 'a 
 tried to die with a wedding to be so soon. You should 
 'a told me instead of stuffing me full of that red, smelling 
 rat poison ! " 
 
 " Pardon us, sweet." 
 
 <: I always did want to be in a wedding ; and you both 
 knew it ! I've been a-trying my level best to marry the 
 doctor off, too, ever since I've been here; and here you 
 was a-going to let me go to heaven and miss it! And 
 they don't have weddings there." 
 
 "Little darling!" 
 
 Robert sat on one side of the bed and patted a child- 
 ish hand, while Frances, on the opposite side, gently 
 stroked its mate. They looked at each other. 
 
 " Yes, sweet. In heaven." 
 
 " They don't, no such thing ! And I'm not a-going 
 there, anyway. At least, not just now. Heaven has 
 been there a good many years, and I suppose it will last 
 a few years longer." 
 
 " Not years, beloved. Surely not ! " 
 
 "Dr. Kingston! What are you a-talking about?" 
 
 " The wedding, dearest. There's no use putting it 
 off." 
 
 " Who wants to put it off? I'm talking about 
 heaven ! " 
 
 " Oh ! " 
 
 " I shall stay over for the wedding, for I can die any 
 old time. And no matter how long I live, I won't live
 
 386 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 as long as Methuselah. So I oughtn't to complain. He 
 is a great comfort to me." 
 
 " And to me," said Robert fondly. 
 
 " I've thought of him lots and lots." 
 
 " And I too," Robert fervently agreed, " morning, 
 noon, and night ! Who could help it ? " 
 
 He gazed soulfully across the bed, as he made this re- 
 markable statement, evidently being under the impres- 
 sion that he was making a pretty speech to Frances. 
 And that erstwhile fastidious damsel, who had once 
 looked her compliments so carefully in the mouth, with- 
 out a quibble, appropriated this tribute to the patriarch. 
 Robert could say such lovely things ! 
 
 " He lived nine hundred and sixty-nine years and no 
 telling how many months and days ; but he has been 
 dead longer than he ever was alive ! And he is still dead, 
 and is a-going to stay dead from now on. So, no matter 
 how long I live, I shall die soon enough. And while it 
 is lovely to be dead, when I die I shall stay dead a long, 
 long time. So it won't hurt to put it off a little 
 longer." 
 
 " Oh, you precious, darling angel ! " cooed Frances. 
 
 " No, Dr. Kingston wouldn't let me be an angel. 
 But I shall be a bridesmaid " 
 
 " It certainly shall ! " 
 
 " Or a flower-girl, I haven't decided yet which." 
 
 " It shall be whatever it pleases," Frances promised 
 in the same cooing tone. 
 
 " I know it. And I wish you people would turn my 
 hands loose. You are choking them ! " 
 
 Her hands were promptly liberated; and Robert re- 
 turned to a sense of his professional duties. 
 
 " Think it over quietly, Woody, the wedding, you 
 know, and when you have fully made up your mind
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 387 
 
 what you want to be, let us know. You have talked 
 enough." 
 
 " Yes, sir; but when had I better have the wedding? 
 I haven't a rag 'cepting my Sundays and funerals. 
 I'll need a trousseau." 
 
 " So will I," said Frances ; " so there will be plenty 
 of time." 
 
 " That's good. Now, if the Doctor wasn't such a 
 hateful old obdurate cuss, we could go to Baltimore 
 and get them together." 
 
 " Why, Woody ! " 
 
 " Don't you want me, France ? " 
 
 " Certainly, sweet ; but that is no way to speak of 
 your guardian." 
 
 " Especially when I intend to let you go." 
 
 " Golly Moses ! " exclaimed The Greenwoods. " Well, 
 who'd 'a thought it? " 
 
 The Greenwoods was thinking. The Foresters had 
 been standing at the window lost in the rapture of love's 
 young dream. Then Frances remembered, and softly 
 explained to Robert that she had never thought him a 
 brute or called him one; and he explained that he was 
 an idiot, had always been one, and so had deserved the 
 misery he had endured 
 
 " How comes it? " interrupted The Greenwoods 
 shrilly. 
 
 Wh at?" 
 
 " My going home with France. 
 
 " Yes, dear." 
 
 This not being exactly lucid, she tried again. 
 
 " What has happened ? " 
 
 " Certainly, if you will be a good girl and not talk 
 any more."
 
 388 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 At this uncalled-for answer, the invalid forgot her 
 ailments and sat up in bed. 
 
 " Huh? " 
 
 " Of course, sweet ; but be quiet." 
 
 " What is the matter with you, Dr. Kingston ? 
 What are you a-talking about ? Are you a-going crazy 
 right here before my eyes? What are you doing over 
 there, anyhow? Spooning? Come back here, both of 
 you, and talk some sense ! " 
 
 They meekly approached the foot of the bed, and 
 smiled blissfully upon her. She watched them in dis- 
 gust, and reopened the inquiry. 
 
 " How comes it ? " 
 
 To find a suitable rejoinder to a bald, unconnected 
 query of this order is by no means easy. So, in their 
 uncertainty, Robert looked at Frances, who gazed 
 earnestly at him, until they discovered the solution. 
 
 " Because we love each other." 
 
 " Didn't we love each other last summer ? " asked 
 The Greenwoods. 
 
 " Yes, dear ; we loved you too." 
 
 " If you are talking to me, I wish you'd look at me." 
 
 They obeyed. 
 
 " Yes, precious? " 
 
 " Now : How comes it, if we loved one another last 
 summer and love one another now, that I am to live 
 with France now and couldn't then? What's hap- 
 pened? " 
 
 " A miracle. Greenwoods," said Robert. 
 
 " I didn't hear any ! Must have been while you was 
 shoveling some medicine down my throat. Was it a 
 volcano, an earthquake, or that old gentle one? " 
 
 " The gentle one, the greatest miracle of all. The 
 miracle of love ! "
 
 "THE GREENWOODS" 389 
 
 "Which?" 
 
 " The miracle of love ! Love has come, and all is 
 changed." 
 
 She regarded them thoughtfully. 
 
 " I thought you two had been acting strange. So 
 that's it? But how about Mr. Perkins? " 
 
 " Oh, Woody darling ! " Frances threw up her 
 hands for mercy and turned a frightened face to 
 Robert. 
 
 He was frightened too. They would rather not have 
 been reminded of poor dear Uncle Mark at just this 
 moment, but he was thrust upon them. Robert took 
 Frances' hand to show he understood, and seeing no 
 reproach in his eyes, she found courage to explain. 
 Once more The Greenwoods was forgotten. 
 
 " O Robert ! You will never know how sorry I am 
 about Mr. Perkins. I have always been so sorry! It 
 was all my fault, for I was mercenary and wanted to 
 marry him. But, although I had never met you then, 
 something held me back ! I had so high a regard for 
 Mr. Perkins. He had certain qualities that I have al- 
 ways admired. But he was old, Robert, too old for me ! 
 I wanted youth. What I loved in him were your qual- 
 ities that he possessed, but something was lacking. 
 Then Ned came. And he had youth, and grace, and 
 beauty. But something was lacking there, too ; so I was 
 disillusioned. But when I found you, you ! I knew I 
 had always loved you! It was you I had loved in Mr. 
 Perkins ; it was you I had loved in Ned ; it was you I 
 had always loved ! " 
 
 : My own sweet darling ! " 
 
 "What I wanted to know," asked a grim young 
 voice, " is about Dr. Kingston's promise to Mr. Per-
 
 390 "THE GREENWOODS" 
 
 kins ! I thought me and him had to live under the same 
 roof. How comes it? " 
 
 Frances blushed over her unnecessary explanation, 
 and Robert looked as if he wanted to put an extin- 
 guisher on his little ward. 
 
 " I will tell you about this, Greenwoods, and then 
 you are to go to sleep," he said, " You may go home 
 with Frances for a visit, a short visit ; then she and I 
 will marry, and all three of us will live under one roof 
 and be happy ever afterward. Now isn't that nicer 
 than a volcano? " 
 
 She considered the proposition gravely. She still 
 wanted the volcano, but the wedding would be nice ; 
 and altogether, this arrangement seemed better for the 
 others, so she would try to put up with it. 
 
 " Well, it's not quite so lively, but it has its advan- 
 tages. You see we can take our bridal tour " 
 
 At the prospect of having his bridal tour conducted 
 by The Greenwoods, Robert trembled, but Frances 
 smiled at him reassuringly. 
 
 " To California, and I can live in my beautiful cave, 
 after all! So this is probably the miracle what the 
 Lord intended, and He always knows best. Do you 
 s'pose He was arranging this last summer, Dr. King- 
 ston?" 
 
 " I believe He was." 
 
 " And we never dreamt it ! What geese we was ! 
 Say, France, what does mercenary mean ? "
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL UBflARY FAOUTY 
 
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