Miss Amelia seemed to have used most of her books,and at last picked up an old geography and began giving out points around the coast,while Laddie and the Princess took turns snatching the words from her mouth and spelling them.Father often did that,so Laddie was safe there.They were just going it when Miss Amelia pronounced,"Terra del Fuego,"to the Princess."T-e-r-r-a,Terra,d-e-l,del,F-i-e-u-g-o,"spelled the Princess,and sat down suddenly in the midst of a mighty groan from her side,swelled by a wail from one little home district deserter.
"Next!"called Miss Amelia.
"T-e-r-r-a,Terra,d-e-l,del,F-e-u-g-o,"spelled Laddie.
"Wrong!"wailed Miss Amelia,and our side breathed one big groan in concert,and I lifted up my voice in that also.Then every one laughed and pretended they didn't care,and the Princess came over and shook hands with Laddie,and Laddie said to Miss Amelia:
"Just let me take that book a minute until I see how the thing really does go."It was well done and satisfied the crowd,which clapped and cheered;but as I had heard him spell it many,many times for father,he didn't fool me.
Laddie and the Princess drew slips for the book and it fell to her.He was so pleased he kissed me as he lifted me down and never noticed I was so stiff I could scarcely stand--and I did fall twice going to the sleigh.My bed was warm and my room was warm,but I chilled the night through and until the next afternoon,when I grew so faint and sleepy I crept to Miss Amelia's desk,half dead with fright--it was my first trip to ask an excuse--and begged:"Oh teacher,I'm so sick.Please let me go home."I think one glance must have satisfied her that it was true,for she said very kindly that I might,and she would send Leon along to take care of me.But my troubles were only half over when Ihad her consent.It was very probable I would be called a baby and sent back when I reached home,so I refused company and started alone.It seemed a mile past the cemetery.I was so tired I stopped,and leaning against the fence,peeped through at the white stones and the whiter mounds they covered,and wondered how my mother would feel if she were compelled to lay me beside the two little whooping cough and fever sisters already sleeping there.I decided that it would be so very dreadful,that the tears began to roll down my cheeks and freeze before they fell.
Down the Big Hill slowly I went.How bare it looked then!Only leafless trees and dried seed pods rattling on the bushes,the sand frozen,and not a rush to be seen for the thick blanket of snow.A few rods above the bridge was a footpath,smooth and well worn,that led down to the creek,beaten by the feet of children who raced it every day and took a running slide across the ice.I struck into the path as always;but I was too stiff to run,for I tried.I walked on the ice,and being almost worn out,sat on the bridge and fell to watching the water bubbling under the glassy crust.I was so dull a horse's feet struck the bridge before I heard the bells--for I had bells in my ears that day--and when I looked up it was the Princess--the Princess in her red dress and furs,with a silk hood instead of her hat,her sleigh like a picture,with a buffalo robe,that it was whispered about the country,cost over a hundred dollars,and her thoroughbred mare Maud dancing and prancing."Bless me!Is it you,Little Sister?"she asked."Shall I give you a ride home?"Before I could scarcely realize she was there,I was beside her and she was tucking the fine warm robe over me.I lifted a pair of dull eyes to her face.
"Oh Princess,I am so glad you came,"I said."I don't think I could have gone another step if I had frozen on the bridge."The Princess bent to look in my face."Why,you poor child!"She exclaimed,"you're white as death!Where are you ill?"I leaned on her shoulder,though ordinarily I would not have offered to touch her first,and murmured:"I am not ill,outdoors,only dull,sleepy,and freezing with the cold.""It was that window!"she exclaimed."I thought of it,but I trusted Laddie."
That roused me a little.
"Oh Princess,"I cried,"you mustn't blame Laddie!I knew it was too cold,but I wouldn't tell him,because if he put me down I couldn't see you,and we thought,but for your eyes being softer,you looked just like a cardinal."The Princess hugged me close and laughed merrily."You darling!"she cried.
Then she shook me up sharply:"Don't you dare go to sleep!"she said."I must take you home first."Once there she quieted my mother's alarm,put me to bed,drove three miles for Dr.Fenner and had me started nicely on the road to a month of lung fever,before she left.In my delirium I spelled volumes;and the miracle of it was I never missed a word until I came to "Terra del Fuego,"and there I covered my lips and stoutly insisted that it was the Princess'secret.
To keep me from that danger sleep on the road,she shook me up and asked about the spelling bee.I thought it was the grandest thing I had ever seen in my life,and I told her so.She gathered me close and whispered:"Tell me something,Little Sister,please."The minx!She knew I thought that a far finer title than hers.
"Would Laddie care?"I questioned.
"Not in the least!"
"Well then,I will."
"Can Laddie spell `Terra del Fuego?'"she whispered.
I nodded.
"Are you sure?"
"I have heard him do it over and over for father."The Princess forgot I was so sick,forgot her horse,forgot everything.She threw her head back and her hands up,until her horse stopped in answer to the loosened line,and she laughed and laughed.She laughed until peal on peal re-echoed from our Big Woods clear across the west eighty.She laughed until her ringing notes set my slow pulses on fire,and started my numbed brain in one last effort.I stood up and took her lovely face between my palms,turning it until I could see whether the thought that had come to me showed in her eyes,and it did.
"Oh you darling,splendid Princess!"I cried."You missed it on purpose to let Laddie beat!You can spell it too!"
