The shower did not last long, and the warm sun melted the diamonds from
the grass, so that it was soon fit for the little girls to go out into
the freshness and enjoy the pleasant air.
"Don't you think this a pretty cottage?" asked Alice, as they stepped
outside and stood looking upon her home. "See the moss all over the
shingles; how velvety it is! Tabby goes up there to sleep on the soft
cushion in the sun. And here's where I put my convolvuluses, and they
climb up and run all over the window and make such a nice curtain, with
the pink and blue and white and purple mixed with the green; and they
reach up to the very chimney, Maddie, and hug it round, and then trail
down upon the roof. Oh, I think it's elegant! And here's my flower-bed,
right under the window, where mother can smell the blossoms as we sit
sewing when she has a day at home. We take real comfort here, mother and
I, Maddie." And so the little blithesome child prattled about her humble
home, while her companion looked in astonishment upon her, wondering why
it was that Alice always seemed so happy, while _she_ was so miserable.
"We'll go down by the brook-side now," said Alice. "There's my grand
palace. Such hangings! all blue and gold and crimson; and carpets that
your feet sink into; and a great mirror, such as the richest man couldn't
buy. Don't you know what I mean, Maddie?" And Alice laughed gleefully
as they reached the brook-side, and pointed to the heavens above, so
brilliant in the sunny radiance, and down to the green and flowery turf
beneath their feet, and to the clear stream that reflected all things,
like the purest glass. And she said, "Now, don't you like my palace,
Maddie?"
"Yes, it's very pretty here," said Maddie; but she didn't seem to feel
about it as Alice did, who was in such good spirits that she could keep
neither her feet nor her tongue still, but frisked about the green like a
young deer, and chattered like a magpie, only in far sweeter tones.
"_This_ is my _bower_," said she, lifting up the drooping branches of a
willow and shutting herself and Maddie within. "Here I come for a nap
when I am tired of play; and the leaves rustle in the wind, making a
pleasant sound, and the birds sit on the boughs and sing me asleep, and I
dream always happy dreams. When awake, I think about the pure river that
my Bible speaks of, and the tree of life that is on either side, and the
beautiful light that isn't like the sun, nor the moon, nor the blaze of a
candle, but comes from the face of God, and is never hidden from us to
leave us in darkness."
Maddie sat down upon a large stone that Alice called her throne, and
looked eagerly up at her companion for more; for Alice's words seemed to
her like some beautiful story out of a book.
"Did you ever go into any great house, Maddie?" asked Alice.
"No, never," said Maddie. "I passed by Mrs. Cowper's one day, and looked
in at the open door when somebody was coming out, but I couldn't see
much."
"That's just where I went with mother," said Alice; "and little Mary took
me into a high room, the walls all velvet and satin and gold, so that my
eyes ached for looking; and there were such heaps of pretty things on the
tables and all about the place; but it didn't make me feel glad as I do
when I get out here in my grand palace with these living, breathing
things around me. O Maddie, there isn't anything on earth so beautiful
as what God has made!"
"Do you stay out here always?" asked Maddie.
"Oh no," said Alice; "that would be idle. When mother has work I stay at
home to help her. I've learned to sew nicely now, and can save mother
many a stitch. To-day's my holiday, and I can play with you as long as
you please. I've brought some dinner, and we'll set a table in my dining-
hall." And she took from her pocket a little parcel, and led Maddie from
the bower to a hollow near the brook, where was a flat rock, and there
she spread her frugal fare.
There were two pieces of homemade bread and a small slice of cold bacon,
which she put upon leaves in the middle of the rocky table; and gathering
some violets, she placed them in bunches here and there, till the table
was sweet with their delicious fragrance.
Just as the children were about to help themselves to the food, there
came some little tired feet over the grass; and a more forlorn figure
than Maddie's stood a few yards off, looking shyly, but wistfully, at
them.
"Now, Lolly, you may just run home again as quick as you can," said
Maddie sharply. "We haven't enough dinner for Alice and me. Go, now!"
And she went towards her and gave her a slight push, at which the child
cried, but without turning away or making a step towards home.
"Is that your sister?" asked Alice, going up to Maddie.
"Yes; she's always running after me," returned Maddie, with an
ill-natured frown.
"Poor little thing!" said Alice. "I wish my sister Nellie had lived. I
shouldn't be cross to her, I know. Come here, Lolly: you shall have some
of _my_ dinner." And she led the little grateful child to the wild
table, that seemed to her like a fairy scene, with the fresh leaf-plates,
and the pure sweet flowers breathing so delightfully.
"Mother makes capital bread--doesn't she, Maddie?" said Alice, as she ate
her small portion with evident relish, while she shared the remnant with
her guests.
"Now, Maddie," said she, as they finished the repast, "you clear the
table and wash the dishes, and Lolly and I'll go to my mirror to make
ourselves nice to sit down, and then I'll tell you the story my teacher
told me the other day, if you would like to hear it."
Maddie gladly agreed to this; and Lolly gave herself up to the gentle
hands of her new friend, who took her to the brook and washed her face
until the dirt all vanished and her cheeks were like two red roses. Then
she took her pocket-comb, and, dipping it into the water, made the
child's hair so smooth that Lolly didn't know herself when she looked
into the brook, and asked, "What little girl it was with such bright eyes
and fresh rosy cheeks?" And when Alice told her that it was herself, she
laughed with delight, and said "she would come every day to dress herself
by Alice's mirror if she could look so nice." And then Alice and Maddie
and Lolly went to the bower for the story.
Alice sat down on the grassy bank, and Lolly laid her head upon her
friend's lap, while Maddie crowded close to her to listen.
"I don't know that I can remember it very well," said Alice; "but I'll
tell it as nearly as I can like Miss Mason. She called it 'The Little
Exiled Princess,' and this is it."