if she knew how mother
hated asking her to come to our house; and yet she did it, beautifully
too, just to give her a chance to see that very thing. But I almost
made her do it. I don't believe she ever would alone, Laddie, or at
least not for a long time yet."

"I saw that, and understood it perfectly," said Laddie. "Thank you,
Little Sister." He picked me up and hugged me tight. "If I could only
make you see!"

"But Laddie, I do! I'm not a baby! I know how people love and make
homes for themselves, like Sally and Peter are going to. If it is with
you about the Princess as it is with father and mother, why I do know."

"All right! Here we are!" said Laddie.

He parted the willows and we stepped on the Magic Carpet, and that
minute the Magic worked. I forgot every awful, solemn, troublous thing
we had been talking about, and looked around while Laddie knelt and
hunted for a letter, and there was none. That meant the Princess was
coming, so we sat on the throne to wait. We hadn't remembered to bathe
my cheek, we had been so busy when we passed the water, and I doubt if
we were thinking much then. We just waited. The willow walls waved
gently, the moss carpet was spotted with little gold patches of
sunlight, in the shade a few of the red flowers still bloomed, and big,
lazy bumblebees hummed around them, or a hummingbird stood on air
before them. A sort of golden throbbing filled the woods, and my heart
began to leap, why, I don't know; but I'm sure Laddie's did too, for I
looked at him and his eyes were shining as I never had seen them
before, while his cheeks were a little red, and he was breathing like
when you've been running; then suddenly his body grew tense against
mine, and that meant she was coming.

Like that first day, she came slowly through the woods, stopping here
and there to touch the trunk of a tree, put back a branch, or bend over
a flower face. Brown as the wood floor was her dress, and cardinal
flowers blazed on her breast, and the same colour showed on her cheeks
and lips. Her eyes were like Laddie's for brightness, and she was
breathing the same way. I thought sure there was going to be something
to remember a lifetime--I was so excited I couldn't stand still.
Before it could happen Laddie went and said it was a "beautiful day,"
and she said "it didn't show in the woods, but the pastures needed
rain." Then she kissed me. Well if I ever! I sank on the throne and
sat there.