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And now my tears began to flow。
They came in a storm a storm I could
not control； and I fled back to mother's
room； and stood there before the west
window weeping as I never had wept
before。
The quiet loveliness of the closing
day had passed into the splendour of
the afterglow。 Mighty wings as of
bright angels； pink and shining white；
reached up over the sky。 The vault was
purple above me； and paled to lilac； then
to green of unimaginable tenderness。
Now I quenched my tears to look； and
then I wept again； weeping no more for
sorrow and loneliness and shame than
for gratitude and delight in beauty。 So
fair a world！ What had sin to do with
it？ I could not make it out。
The shining wings grew paler； faded；
then darkened； the melancholy sound
of cow…bells stole up from the common。
The birds were still； a low wind rustled
the trees。 I sat thinking my young
〃night thoughts〃 of how marvellous it
was for the sun to set； to rise； to keep
its place in heaven of how wrapped
about with mysteries we were。 What
if the world should start to falling
through space？ Where would it land？
Was there even a bottom to the uni…
verse？ 〃World without end〃 might
mean that there was neither an end to
space nor yet to time。 I shivered at
thought of such vastness。
Suddenly light streamed about me；
warm arms enfolded me。
〃Mother！〃 I murmured； and slipped
from the unknown to the dear familiar…
ity of her shoulder。
It was； I soon perceived； a silk…clad
shoulder。 Mother had on her best
dress； nay； she wore her coral pin and
ear…rings。 Her lace collar was scented
with Jockey Club； and her neck； into
which I was burrowing； had the inde…
scribable something that was not quite
odour； not all softness； but was com…
pounded of these and meant mother。
She said little to me as she drew me
away and bathed my face； brushed and
plaited my hair； and put on my clean
frock。 But we felt happy together。 I
knew she was as glad to forgive as I
was to be forgiven。
In a little while she led me； blinking；
into the light。 A tall stranger； a lady
in prune…coloured silk； sat in the high…
backed chair。
〃This is my eldest girl； Aunt Cor…
delia；〃 said my mother。 I went for…
ward timidly； wondering if I were
really going to be greeted by this per…
son who must have heard such terrible
reports of me。 I found myself caught
by the hands and drawn into the em…
brace of this new； grand acquaintance。
〃Well； I've been wanting to see
you；〃 said the rich； kind voice。 〃They
say you look as I did at your age。 They
say you are like me！〃
Like her who was good！ But no
one referred to this difference or said
anything about my sins。 When we were
sorry； was evil； then； forgotten and sin
forgiven？ A weight as of iron dropped
from my spirit。 I sank with a sigh on
the hassock at my aunt's feet。 I was
once more a member of society。
VI
TRAVEL
IT was time to say good…bye。
I had been down to my little
brother's grave and watered the sorrel
that grew on it I thought it was sor…
row； and so tended it； and I had walked
around the house and said good…bye to
every window； and to the robin's nest；
and to my playhouse in the shed。 I
had put a clean ribbon on the cat's neck；
and kissed my doll； and given presents
to my little sisters。 Now； shivering be…
neath my new grey jacket in the chill
of the May morning air； I stood ready
to part with my mother。 She was a
little flurried with having just ironed
my pinafores and collars； and with hav…
ing put the last hook on my new Stuart
plaid frock； and she looked me over
with rather an anxious eye。 As for me；
I thought my clothes charming； and I
loved the scarlet quill in my grey hat；
and the set of my new shoes。 I hoped；
above all； that no one would notice that
I was trembling and lay it down to fear。
Of course； I had been away before。
It was not the first time I had left
everything to take care of itself。 But
this time I was going alone； and that
gave rather a different aspect to things。
To go into the country for a few days；
or even to Detroit； in the company of
a watchful parent； might be called a
〃visit〃； but to go alone； partly by
train and partly by stage； and to arrive
by one's self； amounted to 〃travel。〃 I
had an aunt who had travelled； and I
felt this morning that love of travel
ran in the family。 Probably even
Aunt Cordelia had been a trifle nervous；
at first； when she started out for Ha…
waii； say； or for Egypt。
Mother and I were both fearful that
the driver of the station 'bus hadn't
really understood that he was to call。
First she would ask father； and then I
would ask him； if he was quite sure the
man understood； and father said that
if the man could understand English
at all and he supposed he could he
had understood that。 Father was right
about it； too； for just when we that is；
mother and I were almost giving up；
the 'bus horses swung in the big gate
and came pounding up the drive be…
tween the Lombardy poplars； which
were out in their yellow…green spring
dress。 They were a bay team with a
yellow harness which clinked splendidly
with bone rings； and the 'bus was as
yellow as a pumpkin； and shaped not
unlike one； so that I gave it my instant
approval。 It was precisely the sort of
vehicle in which I would have chosen
to go away。 So absorbed was I in it
that； though I must have kissed mother；
I have really no recollection of it； and
it was only when we were swinging out
of the gate； and I looked back and saw
her standing in the door watching us；
that a terrible pang came over me； so
that for one crazy moment I thought
I was going to jump out and run back
to her。
But I held on to father's hand and
turned my face away from home with
all the courage I could summon； and we
went on through the town and out
across a lonely stretch of country to the
railroad。 For we were an obstinate lit…
tle town； and would not build up to the
railroad because the railroad had re…
fused to run up to us。 It was a new
station with a fine echo in it； and the
man who called out the trains had a
beautiful voice for echoes。 It was cre…
ated to inspire them and to encourage
them； and I stood fascinated by the
thunderous noises he was making till
father seized me by the hand and thrust
me into the care of the train conductor。
They said something to each other in
the sharp； explosive way men have； and
the conductor took me to a seat and
told me I was his girl for the time be…
ing； and to stay right there till he came
for me at my station。
What amazed me was that the car
should be full of people。 I could not
imagine where they all could be going。
It was all very well for me； who be…
longed to a family of travellers as wit…
ness Aunt Cordelia to be going on a
journey； but for these others； these
many； many others； to be wandering
around； heaven knows where； struck me
as being not right。 It seemed to take
somewhat from the glory of my adven…
ture。
However； I noticed that most of them
looked poor。 Their clothes were old
and ugly； their faces not those of pleas…
ure…seekers。 It was very difficult to
imagine that they could afford a jour…
ney； which was； as I be