Maid Sally (Paperback)

Excerpt: ...Corniel; "you was all 'lone when we comed up. Ef there'd been anybuddy else roun', dey couldn't 'a' got 'way dout our seein' 'em." "Oh, well, never mind," said the young master, "if none of you saw any one, there's no use in talking, but I know what I saw, and my head wasn't light or flighty, either." The well-trained servants did not reply, but Pg 144 Bill, the groom, who stood behind Lionel, rolled his eyes in so droll a fashion, at the same time touching his own woolly crown, that Sam Spruce only stopped a titter by a loud cough. But he did not deceive his bright young master. "Oh, you fellows may grin and make up eyes all you want to," he said, good-naturedly, "but I wasn't knocked crazy all at once, and one of these days you may find out I saw just what I say I did. Now get me home as fast as you can." They helped him mount the proud but steady Lord Rollin, and in a moment more three of them rode away, leaving Sam Spruce to walk back. Left alone, Sam took a good look around, and Sally, who had seen them talking but could not hear what was said, was in terror lest he should spy her in the branches of the oak; but Sam, who looked in other directions, did not look up, and, finally, wagging his head in a knowing way, he moved off, greatly to Sally's relief. Pg 145 The maid was in a kind of dream all the rest of the day, and, without exactly knowing it, she was very happy. Shortly before noon she returned to the house, and going directly to the mirror in the keeping-room she said, without vanity, but with considerable curiosity: "I wonder if I am fair at all?" and as the mirror flashed back the image of a maiden surely very pleasant to look upon, she chuckled: "I don't care, very glad I am that when I first touched the Fairy Prince and looked right into his eyes, I was in my best attire, and also dressed in flowers. I wonder did it mean anything?" "What should it mean?" asked the faithful Fairy. "Mistress Cory Ann might say it was a good sign, ..".