But Clover, who was a born peacemaker, caught hold of his arm, and her coaxings and entreaties consoled him so much that he finally said he would stay; especially as the others were quite grave now, and promised that they wouldnt laugh any more.
And now, Katy, its your turn, said Cecy; tell us what youre going to be when you grow up.
Im not sure about what Ill be, replied Katy, from overhead; beautiful, of course, and good if I can, only not so good as you, Cecy, because it would be nice to go and ride with the young gentlemen sometimes. And Id like to have a large house and a splendiferous garden, and then you could all come and live with me, and we would play in the garden, and Dorry should have turkey five times a day if he liked. And wed have a machine to darn the stockings, and another machine to put the bureau drawers in order, and wed never sew or knit garters, or do anything we didnt want to. Thats what Id like to be. But now Ill tell you what I mean to do.
Isnt it the same thing? asked Cecy.
Oh, no! replied Katy, quite different; for you see I mean to do something grand. I dont know what, yet; but when Im grown up I shall find out. (Poor Katy always said when Im grown up, forgetting how very much she had grown already.) Perhaps, she went on, it will be rowing out in boats, and saving peoples lives, like that girl in the book. Or perhaps I shall go and nurse in the hospital, like Miss Nightingale. Or else Ill head a crusade and ride on a white horse, with armor and a helmet on my head, and carry a sacred flag. Or if I dont do that, Ill paint pictures, or sing, or scalpsculp,what is it? you knowmake figures in marble. Anyhow it shall be something. And when Aunt Izzie sees it, and reads about me in the newspapers she will say, The dear child! I always knew she would turn out an ornament to the family. People very often say, afterward, that they always knew, concluded Katy sagaciously.
Oh, Katy! how beautiful it will be! said Clover, clasping her hands. Clover believed in Katy as she did in the Bible.
I dont believe the newspapers would be so silly as to print things about you, Katy Carr, put in Elsie, vindictively.
Yes they will! said Clover; and gave Elsie a push.
By and by John and Dorry trotted away on mysterious errands of their own.
Wasnt Dorry funny with his turkey? remarked Cecy; and they all laughed again.
If you wont tell, said Katy, Ill let you see Dorrys journal. He kept it once for almost two weeks, and then gave it up. I found the book, this morning, in the nursery closet.
All of them promised, and Katy produced it from her pocket. It began thus:
March 12.Have resolved to keep a jurnal.
March 13.Had rost befe for diner, and cabage, and potato and appel sawse, and rice puding. I do not like rice puding when it is like ours. Charley Slacks kind is rele good. Mush and sirup for tea.
March 19.Forgit what did. John and me saved our pie to take to schule.
March 21.Forgit what did. Gridel cakes for brekfast. Debby didnt fry enuff.
March 24.This is Sunday. Corn befe for dinnir. Studdied my Bibel leson. Aunt Issy said I was gredy. Have resollved not to think so much about things to ete. Wish I was a beter boy. Nothing pertikeler for tea.
March 25.Forgit what did.
March 27.Forgit what did.
March 29.Played.
March 31.Forgit what did.
April 1.Have dissided not to kepe a jurnal enny more.
Here ended the extracts; and it seemed as if only a minute had passed since they stopped laughing over them, before the long shadows began to fall, and Mary came to say that all of them must come in to get ready for tea. It was dreadful to have to pick up the empty baskets and go home, feeling that the long, delightful Saturday was over, and that there wouldnt be another for a week. But it was comforting to remember that Paradise was always there; and that at any moment when Kate and Aunt Izzie were willing, they had only to climb a pair of barsvery easy ones, and without any fear of an angel with flaming sword to stop the wayenter in, and take possession of their Eden.
March 25.Forgit what did.
March 27.Forgit what did.
March 29.Played.
March 31.Forgit what did.
April 1.Have dissided not to kepe a jurnal enny more.
Here ended the extracts; and it seemed as if only a minute had passed since they stopped laughing over them, before the long shadows began to fall, and Mary came to say that all of them must come in to get ready for tea. It was dreadful to have to pick up the empty baskets and go home, feeling that the long, delightful Saturday was over, and that there wouldnt be another for a week. But it was comforting to remember that Paradise was always there; and that at any moment when Kate and Aunt Izzie were willing, they had only to climb a pair of barsvery easy ones, and without any fear of an angel with flaming sword to stop the wayenter in, and take possession of their Eden.
CHAPTER III
THE DAY OF SCRAPES
Mrs. Knights school, to which Katy and Clover and Cecy went, stood quite at the other end of the town from Dr. Carrs. It was a low, one-story building and had a yard behind it, in which the girls played at recess. Unfortunately, next door to it was Miss Millers school, equally large and popular, and with a yard behind it also. Only a high board fence separated the two playgrounds.