Chapter XVI. Up at Merry's

emedfullofbeauty. ShehadacapitaltimewithMolly,calledonJill,didhershoppinginthevillage,andhadjustturnedtowalkupthehill,whenRalphEvanscametrampingalongbehindher,lookingsopleasedandproudaboutsomethingthatshecouldnothelpaskingwhatitwas,fortheyweregreatfriends,andMerrythoughtthattobeanartistwasthemostgloriouscareeramancouldchoose. “Iknowyou'vegotsomegoodnews,”shesaid,lookingupathimashetouchedhishatandfellintostepwithher,seemingmorecontentedthanbefore. “Ihave,andwasjustcominguptotellyou,forIwassureyouwouldbeglad.Itisonlyahope,achance,butitissosplendidIfeelasifImustshoutanddance,orflyoverafenceortwo,toletoffsteam.” “Dotellme,quickhaveyougotanorder?”askedMerry,fullofinterestatonce,forartisticvicissitudeswereveryromantic,andshelikedtohearaboutthem. “Imaygoabroadintheautumn.” “Oh,howlovely!” “Isn'tit?DavidGermanisgoingtospendayearinRome,tofinishastatue,andwantsmetogoalong.Grandmaiswilling,ascousinMariawantsherforalongvisit,soeverythinglookspromisingandIreallythinkImaygo.” “Won'titcostagreatdeal?”askedMerry,who,inspiteofherlittleelegancies,hadagooddealofherthriftymother'scommonsense. “YesandI'vegottoearnit.ButIcan—IknowIcan,forI'vesavedsome,andIshallworkliketenbeaversallsummer.Iwon'tborrowifIcanhelpit,butIknowsomeonewhowouldlendmefivehundredifIwantedit”andRalphlookedaseagerandsecureasiftheearningoftwicethatsumwasameretriflewhenallthelongingofhislifewasputintohisdailytasks. “IwishIhadittogiveyou.Itmustbesosplendidtofeelthatyoucandogreatthingsifyouonlyhavethechance.Andtotravel,andseeallthelovelypicturesandstatues,andpeopleandplacesinItaly.Howhappyyoumustbe!”andMerry'seyeshadthewistfullooktheyalwaysworewhenshedreameddreamsoftheworldshelovedtolivein. “Iam—sohappythatI'mafraiditneverwillhappen.IfIdogo,I'llwriteandtellyouallaboutthefinesights,andhowIgeton.Wouldyoulikemeto?”askedRalph,beginningenthusiasticallyandendingratherbashfully,forheadmiredMerryverymuch,andwasnotquitesurehowthisproposalwouldbereceived. “IndeedIshould!I'dfeelsograndtohavelettersfromParisandRome,andyou'dhavesomuchtotellitwouldbealmostasgoodasgoingmyself,”shesaid,lookingoffintothedaffodilsky,astheypausedaminuteonthehill-toptogetbreath,forbothhadwalkedasfastastheytalked. “Andwillyouanswertheletters?”askedRalph,watchingtheinnocentface,whichlookedunusuallykindandbeautifultohiminthatsoftlight. “Why,yesI'dloveto,onlyIshallnothaveanythinginterestingtosay.WhatcanIwriteabout?”andMerrysmiledasshethoughthowdullherletterswouldsoundaftertheexcitingdetailshiswoulddoubtlessgive. “Writeaboutyourself,andalltherestofthepeopleIknow.Grandmawillbegone,andIshallwanttohearhowyougeton.”Ralphlookedveryanxiousindeedtohear,andMerrypromisedshewouldtellallabouttheotherpeople,adding,assheturnedfromtheeveningpeaceandlovelinesstothehouse,whencecametheclatterofmilk-pansandthesmellofcooking,— “Inevershouldhaveanythingverynicetotellaboutmyself,forIdon'tdointerestingthingsasyoudo,andyouwouldn'tcaretohearaboutschool,andsewing,andmessingroundathome.” Merrygaveadisdainfullittlesniffatthesavoryperfumeofhamwhichsalutedthem,andpausedwithherhandonthegate,asifshefounditpleasanterouttherethaninthehouse.Ralphseemedtoagreewithher,for,leaningonthegate,helingeredtosay,withrealsympathyinhistoneandsomethingelseinhisface,“Yes,Ishouldsoyouwriteandtellmeallaboutit.Ididn'tknowyouhadanyworries,foryoualwaysseemedlikeoneofthehappiestpeopleintheworld,withsomanytopetandcareforyou,andplentyofmoney,andnothingveryhardorhatefultodo.You'dthinkyouwerewelloffifyouknewasmuchaboutpovertyandworkandnevergettingwhatyouwant,asIdo.”