One morning after the two had raced around the lawn till they were tired, had climbed trees, jumped from the top step many times, gathered chestnuts1 from the burrs newly opened by the frost, Patty was at her wits' end to know what
to do next. "Let's run away," she said suddenly.
"Oh, what for?" said Marian to whom such adventures never suggested themselves.
"Oh, just because; just to do something we haven't done," was the reply.
"But where shall we run?"
"Oh, anywhere. Down there." Patty nodded toward the road which led from the college grounds.
Marian looked dubious2. "But where would we stay at night, and where would we get anything to eat?"
"Oh, along the way somewhere."
"We haven't any money to buy food."
"No, but some one would give it to us if we asked."
"Why, then we would be beggars."
Patty nodded. "I've always thought I would like to try what it would be like not to mind your clothes, nor your face and hands. It would be rather fine, don't you think, not to have grown-ups say to you: Be careful of your frock. Don't get your shoes wet. No lady ever has such a face and hands."
"Ye-es," doubtfully from Marian. "Suppose we should get lost and never find our way back."
"We couldn't if we kept a straight road. We might meet a princess in disguise, riding in her carriage and she might take us in with her. I should like to see a real princess."
"My father has seen one."
"I don't believe it."
"He has. Cross my heart. He wrote to grandma about her and said she looked like any one else."
"Then she couldn't have been a real princess," said Patty triumphantly3.
"My father doesn't tell stories, I thank you," said Marian indignantly.
"You don't know whether he does or not; you don't know him," retorted Patty.
Marian gave her one look, arose from where she was sitting, and stalked into the house. Patty was at her heels in a moment. "Oh, please don't get mad," she begged.
Marian made no reply for a moment, then she said in a low voice, "I'm not exactly mad, but my feelings hurt me."
Patty was too warm-hearted to let this pass.
She flung her arms around her friend's neck. "I was horrid4 to say that," she said, "when I have a father close by and you haven't any mother."
"Neither have you," returned Marian mollified.
"I know, but I have brothers and sisters, and live with my father. I think, after all, Marian, we won't run away, but we might go down that road a little way and see what it looks like."
"Haven't you ever been there?"
"No, we always go in the other direction." She did not say why, nor did she tell Marian that she had been warned of a rowdy neighborhood in the vicinity of some factories further on. "You see," she continued, "it would be fun to pretend we were running away. We could stay till it gets dark and we began to be afraid."
"Not till it is really dark," Marian improved on the suggestion, "but just till it begins to be."
"Well, yes, that would do. Come on, let us start."
"Don't you think we ought to take some lunch?"
"Well, maybe, though I would rather trust to luck; it would be much more exciting. I think I will take five cents that I have, and then if we
don't see any chance of getting something to eat we can buy enough to keep us from getting very, very hungry." So saying, she ran toward the house.
"Bring Patty Wee," called Marian after her.
"All right," answered Patty the Big from the door-step. She came out again directly with the money clasped in her hand, and bearing Patty Wee.
"I suppose we mustn't go near any children," said Marian as they started off, "for we might give them the whooping-cough."
"I'm sure I don't want to go near any," replied Patty independently. "See, the road we are going to take leads right past the chapel5 and down that hill."
"What are those chimneys sticking up there at the foot of the hill, where all that smoke is coming out?"
"They are the chimneys of the factories."
"What kind of factories?"
"Oh, some kind. I don't know. We can ask when we get home if you would like to know." She hurried Marian past the big factory buildings from which issued the clattering6 noise of
machinery7, and from whose chimneys black smoke was pouring. At the foot of the hill there was a little bridge spanning a rapid stream. Further up, the stream was bordered by willows8, and a meadow beyond seemed an inviting9 playground. "Let's go up there," said Marian; "it looks so pleasant."
"We might fish if we had a hook and line," said Patty, bent10 on some new diversion.
"Oh, do you suppose there are any fish so near the factory?"
"There might be," returned Patty, "but as we haven't anything to catch them with they are perfectly11 safe."
Marian laughed, then added, "I think I am glad they are, for I don't believe it would make me very happy to see the poor things struggling and gasping12."
"Then it is just as well we can't catch them, for I don't want to make you unhappy," said Patty. "See that big tree over there with that flat rock near it? I think it looks as if it would be a nice place to play."
"So it does. I wonder if we can reach it easily."
"I'll go and see. If it is all right I will call you. Just wait here for me."
Marian sat down on the stump13 of a tree near the bridge to wait. It was pleasant to hear the murmur14 of the water, and to watch the little eddies15 and ripples16. It was a true Indian summer day, warm and hazy17. The squirrels were whisking their tails in the trees near by, and the crows were cawing in a corn field not far off. Marian was enjoying it all very much when Patty called, "Come, Marian, come. I've found something. Come around by the fence and creep under."
Marian obeyed and was soon by Patty's side. "What have you found?"
"Just see here," said Patty excitedly. "Some one has been playing here before us."
Marian stooped down to look where, in a little cave made by the large stone, was a small doll, a table made of a block of wood, some bits of blue china for dishes, a row of acorns19 for cups, and a bed of green moss20. Outside stood a small cart made of a box with spools21 for wheels.
"Isn't it cunning?" said Patty, appealed to by the unusual. "Now we can play nicely."
"Do you think we ought to touch them?"
"Why not? They are out here where anybody could get them. I shouldn't wonder if some child had been playing here and forgot all about it. There's no telling how long they have been here." This quieted Marian's scruples22 and they took possession. Patty Wee, as they now called Marian's little doll, just fitted in the cart, so she was brought in state to visit the cave doll, whom Patty called Miggy Wig23, neither knew just why.
It was much more interesting to serve grass and acorn18 kernels24 from broken bits of china than it was to have a real tea-party in an orderly nursery with real cups and saucers, and the strange doll added to the zest25 of the play because she was an unknown. The children speculated upon who might be her possible owner, and wondered if she were mourned and missed, or only forgotten. A fat toad26, tempted27 out by the warm sunshine, hopped28 from under the stone and sat blinking at the children in such a funny way that they laughed so loud as to send him away.
Everything was going on merrily when presently the shrill29 whistle of the factory announced that it was noon, and pretty soon crowds of men,
women, boys and girls trooped down the road toward a group of small houses further along. It was a noisy, jostling crowd and the two children were glad they were not nearer. They cowered30 down behind the big rock to wait till the factory hands had passed by.
In a few minutes Patty peeped forth31. "They've gone," she whispered. "I don't believe they would have noticed us anyhow. Let's play that the fat toad is an enchanted32 prince, and that Miggy Wig is going to liberate33 him from his enchantment34."
"All right," agreed Marian. "What shall Patty Wee be?"
"If Miggy Wig is the fairy, Patty Wee can be the princess who will wed35 the prince. Now Miggy Wig and I are going to gather three kinds of herbs to make the charm," said Patty.
Marian was delighted. She had but lately entered the wonderful region of fairy-land, but under Patty's guidance was becoming very familiar with its charms and enchantments37.
Patty and Miggy Wig hied forth to gather the three kinds of herbs while Marian kept watch with Patty Wee. It was now so quiet that the
toad ventured out again. Patty had dubbed38 him Prince Puff39, a very fitting name the girls agreed. Marian was watching him as he did his funny act of swallowing, shutting his eyes and looking as if he meant to eat his own head, Patty said, when suddenly voices sounded behind her, angry voices.
"Well ain't that cheek?" cried some one.
Marian looked up and saw two shabby looking girls about her own age. She quickly rose to her feet, letting Patty Wee slip to the ground. The other Patty was some distance away.
"What business have you got here?" said the taller of the strange girls, stepping up.
"Why, we're just playing," replied Marian.
"Just playing," mimicked40 the girl. "Do you hear that, Pearl? Just playing with our things. Ain't that cheek for you? Let's show her what we think of folks that steal our belongings41."
"I haven't taken a thing," said Marian indignantly. "I am not a thief."
"Where's my doll, then? Call me a liar36, do you?" said the girl fiercely, and stepping still nearer she gave Marian a sounding slap on the cheek.
By this time Patty had seen the newcomers and had hurried up. "Don't you dare touch my friend," she cried. "We're not doing any harm to you and your things."
"Well, you've meddled42 with them, and you were going to take my doll; you've got it now. Give it to me," and the girl snatched Miggy Wee from Patty's hand. "They meddled, didn't they, Pearl?"
"Yes, they did," chimed in the younger girl. "They meddled, so they did."
"Well, they've got to hustle43 off pretty quick or I'll set my father's big dog on them. Get out, you thieves," she said to Patty and Marian.
"We are not thieves," replied Patty indignantly.
"What were you doing with my doll, then?"
"I didn't know it was yours. I didn't know it belonged to any one."
"Oh, you didn't," in sarcastic44 tones. "Perhaps you thought it grew here like that there weed; you look green enough to think that."
Patty clenched45 her hands and bit her lip to keep from making an answer which she knew would only aggravate46 matters. She drew her
self up and gave the girl a withering47 look, then she turned to Marian. "Come, let us go," she said.
"Oh, you think you're very grand, don't you," said the girl teasingly. "Well, you're not, and I can tell you we're not going to let you off so easy. You've got to pay for the use of our playhouse. I'll take this in pay," and she grabbed Patty Wee from Marian.
"Oh, no, no," cried Marian in distress48, "you can't have my doll."
"I can't, can't I? I'll show you whether I can." And the girl faced Marian so threateningly that she shrank away.
Then Patty thought of a device. "You'd better not come too near us," she cried, "for we've got the whooping-cough," and indeed just then by reason of the excitement she did have a paroxysm of coughing which plainly showed that she spoke49 truly.
The girl backed away, and as soon as Patty had recovered, she grasped Marian's hand and hurried her away. "Never mind Patty Wee," she said; "I'll get you another just like her. Let's get away as fast as we can."
Marian realized that this was the wiser plan,
and they hurried off, their two enemies calling after them mockingly.
Their breathless flight set them both coughing, and when they recovered breath they both walked soberly on without saying a word, their object being to get as far away as possible from the scene of trouble. Up hill and down again they trudged50, and presently saw ahead of them a house and garden at the junction51 of two roads.
"I never saw that place before," said Patty, looking at it with a puzzled air. "I'm sure I don't know where we are."
"Oh, Patty," exclaimed Marian in dismay, "are we lost?"
"Well no, not exactly. We'll stop at that house and ask the way."
As they approached they saw that the front of the house was a small country store, so they went around to the door and opened it. A bell jangled sharply as they entered, and from somewhere in the rear a woman came forward. "What's wanting?" she asked.
"Will you tell us how far we are from Revell?" said Patty. "We want to go there, to the college."
The woman looked at her with some curiosity.
"It's about three miles," she said. "You go up this road and turn to your left about a mile on, just before you come to the factories. You pass by them and keep straight on."
"Thank you," said Patty. Then seeing piles of rosy52 apples, boxes of crackers53, and such eatables, she realized that she was very hungry. "Will you tell me what time it is?" she said.
The woman looked up at a big clock over the door. "It is after two," she said, "about quarter past."
"Oh, dear," Patty looked at Marian, "we can't get back to dinner." Suddenly all the joys of a gypsy life faded away. She looked at the apples, felt in her coat pocket for her five cents, and fortunately found it. "How much are those apples?" she asked.
"Ten cents a quarter peck," the woman told her.
"Oh, I meant how much apiece."
"I guess you can have 'em for a cent apiece. There'll be about ten in a quarter, I expect."
"Then I'll take two." The woman picked out
two fine red ones and handed them to her. "I have three cents left," said Patty. "What shall I get, Marian?" Her eyes roved along the shelves.
"That soft mixture's nice," said the woman, "and it's right fresh."
"Can I get three cents' worth?"
"Oh, yes."
"Then I'll take it."
The woman took down a box of mixed cakes and weighed out the necessary amount. Patty gave the five cents and the two little girls left the store.
"I never was so hungry," said Patty, her teeth immediately seeking the apple.
"Nor I," said Marian, following her example. And they trudged along munching54 the apples till they reached the top of the hill. They could see the factory chimneys in the distance and knew they could find their way, though both dreaded55 to pass the neighborhood of the rude girls who must live near the factory. They almost held their breath as they approached the spot, but they got by safely, and toiled56 on toward home, two thoroughly57 weary, disgusted little girls.
"It wasn't much fun," said Marian plaintively58, as they neared the house.
"I shall never, never want to go that way again," said Patty contritely59. "We haven't had any real dinner; I've spent my five cents, and you've lost Patty Wee."
At the thought of this last disaster Marian's eyes filled. "Don't feel so," said Patty in distress. "I'll buy you another the very first time I go to the city. I know Dolly will give me five cents."
"But it won't be Patty Wee," said Marian mournfully.
Patty was honest enough to go straight to her sister Emily with the whole story of the morning's trouble. "You knew you were disobedient, didn't you, Patty?" said Emily gently. "Now you see why daddy always forbade your going down that way. He knows those factory people are a rough set."
Patty hung her head. "I know I was as bad as could be, Emily, but I'll never do it again."
"The worst part is that you led Marian into it, for she didn't know, as you did, that you mustn't go that way. You say those girls struck her,
and took her doll away from her. I think she had the worst of it, and yet it was all your fault, Patty."
"Oh, dear, oh, dear, I am wickeder than I thought," sobbed60 Patty. "What can I do, Emily, to make up for it? I will do anything you think I ought. I spent my five cents and I haven't any more to get another Patty Wee."
"If you will go without dessert for a week I will give you five cents to buy another doll. I think you have had punishment enough otherwise, but you can't make up to Marian for having those girls treat her so."
Patty's tears flowed afresh, but she agreed to give up what meant a great deal to her.
However, the five cents did not go toward buying another Patty Wee, for when Patty told her brothers of the morning's adventure, they looked at each other knowingly, and a little later on plotted together in the shed. So a few days after they triumphantly appeared with the lost Patty Wee which they restored to the delighted Marian. They would never tell how they recovered the doll, but Pearl and Evelina have memories of three big determined61 boys bearing
down upon them when they were playing under the big tree, boys who demanded a doll taken by force, and having great respect for manly62 strength the girls gave up Patty Wee without a word.
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1
chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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3
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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4
horrid
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| adj.可怕的；令人惊恐的；恐怖的；极讨厌的 | |
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5
chapel
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| n.小教堂，殡仪馆 | |
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clattering
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| 发出咔哒声（clatter的现在分词形式） | |
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7
machinery
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| n.(总称)机械，机器；机构 | |
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8
willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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inviting
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| adj.诱人的，引人注目的 | |
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10
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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11
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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12
gasping
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| adj. 气喘的, 痉挛的 动词gasp的现在分词 | |
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13
stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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14
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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15
eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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ripples
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| 逐渐扩散的感觉( ripple的名词复数 ) | |
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hazy
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| adj.有薄雾的，朦胧的；不肯定的，模糊的 | |
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18
acorn
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| n.橡实，橡子 | |
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19
acorns
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| n.橡子，栎实( acorn的名词复数 ) | |
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moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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spools
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| n.（绕线、铁线、照相软片等的）管( spool的名词复数 )；络纱；纺纱机；绕圈轴工人v.把…绕到线轴上（或从线轴上绕下来）( spool的第三人称单数 )；假脱机（输出或输入） | |
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22
scruples
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| n.良心上的不安( scruple的名词复数 )；顾虑，顾忌v.感到于心不安，有顾忌( scruple的第三人称单数 ) | |
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wig
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| n.假发 | |
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kernels
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| 谷粒( kernel的名词复数 )； 仁； 核； 要点 | |
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zest
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| n.乐趣；滋味，风味；兴趣 | |
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toad
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| n.蟾蜍，癞蛤蟆 | |
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27
tempted
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| v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词） | |
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28
hopped
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| 跳上[下]( hop的过去式和过去分词 )； 单足蹦跳； 齐足（或双足）跳行； 摘葎草花 | |
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29
shrill
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| adj.尖声的；刺耳的；v尖叫 | |
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30
cowered
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的过去式 ) | |
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31
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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32
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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33
liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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34
enchantment
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| n.迷惑，妖术，魅力 | |
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35
wed
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| v.娶，嫁，与…结婚 | |
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liar
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| n.说谎的人 | |
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enchantments
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| n.魅力( enchantment的名词复数 )；迷人之处；施魔法；着魔 | |
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38
dubbed
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| v.给…起绰号( dub的过去式和过去分词 )；把…称为；配音；复制 | |
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39
puff
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| n.一口(气)；一阵(风)；v.喷气，喘气 | |
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mimicked
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| v.（尤指为了逗乐而）模仿( mimic的过去式和过去分词 )；酷似 | |
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41
belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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42
meddled
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| v.干涉，干预（他人事务）( meddle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
hustle
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| v.推搡；竭力兜售或获取；催促；n.奔忙(碌) | |
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44
sarcastic
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| adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的 | |
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45
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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46
aggravate
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| vt.加重(剧)，使恶化；激怒，使恼火 | |
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47
withering
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| 使人畏缩的，使人害羞的，使人难堪的 | |
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48
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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49
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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50
trudged
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| vt.& vi.跋涉，吃力地走（trudge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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51
junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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52
rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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53
crackers
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| adj.精神错乱的，癫狂的n.爆竹( cracker的名词复数 )；薄脆饼干；（认为）十分愉快的事；迷人的姑娘 | |
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54
munching
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| v.用力咀嚼（某物），大嚼( munch的现在分词 ) | |
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55
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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toiled
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的过去式和过去分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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57
thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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plaintively
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| adv.悲哀地，哀怨地 | |
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59
contritely
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60
sobbed
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| 哭泣，啜泣( sob的过去式和过去分词 )； 哭诉，呜咽地说 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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manly
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| adj.有男子气概的；adv.男子般地，果断地 | |
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