Chapter 1—Two Girls

ldkeptherin-doors,andshespentmostofhertimeinthelibrarywhereherfather'sbookswerestored.Hereshereadagreatdeal,criedalittle,anddreamedmanyoftheinnocentbrightdreamsinwhichimaginativechildrenfindsuchcomfortanddelight.Thissuitedherbetterthananythingelse,butitwasnotgoodforher,andshegrewpale,heavy-eyedandlistless,thoughAuntPlentygaveherironenoughtomakeacooking-stove,andAuntPeacepettedherlikeapoodle. Seeingthis,thepoorauntiesrackedtheirbrainsforanewamusementanddeterminedtoventureaboldstroke,thoughnotveryhopefulofitssuccess.TheysaidnothingtoRoseabouttheirplanforthisSaturdayafternoon,butletheralonetillthetimecameforthegrandsurprise,littledreamingthattheoddchildwouldfindpleasureforherselfinamostunexpectedquarter. Beforeshehadtimetosqueezeoutasingletearasoundbrokethestillness,makingherprickupherears.Itwasonlythesofttwitterofabird,butitseemedtobeapeculiarlygiftedbird,forwhileshelistenedthesofttwitterchangedtoalivelywhistle,thenatrill,acoo,achirp,andendedinamusicalmixtureofallthenotes,asifthebirdburstoutlaughing.Roselaughedalso,and,forgettingherwoes,jumpedup,sayingeagerly, “Itisamocking-bird.Whereisit?” Runningdownthelonghall,shepeepedoutatbothdoors,butsawnothingfeatheredexceptadraggle-tailedchickenunderaburdockleaf.Shelistenedagain,andthesoundseemedtobeinthehouse.Awayshewent,muchexcitedbythechase,andfollowingthechangefulsong,itledhertothechina-closetdoor. “Inthere?Howfunny!”shesaid.Butwhensheentered,notabirdappearedexcepttheeverlastinglykissingswallowsontheCantonchinathatlinedtheshelves.AllofasuddenRose'sfacebrightened,and,softlyopeningtheslide,shepeeredintothekitchen.Butthemusichadstopped,andallshesawwasagirlinablueapronscrubbingthehearth.Rosestaredaboutherforaminute,andthenaskedabruptly, “Didyouhearthatmocking-bird?” “Ishouldcallitaphebe-bird,”answeredthegirl,lookingupwithatwinkleinherblackeyes. “Wherediditgo?” “Itisherestill.” “Where?” “Inmythroat.Doyouwanttohearit?” “Oh,yes!I'llcomein.”AndRosecreptthroughtheslidetothewideshelfontheotherside,beingtoohurriedandpuzzledtogoroundbythedoor. Thegirlwipedherhands,crossedherfeetonthelittleislandofcarpetwhereshewasstrandedina