Part 14 (1/2)

”Indeed, I will,” said the doctor, and there was a mist in his eyes as he clasped her hand, ”and you must let me be your friend, Judith, as I was your father's.”

”I shall be glad--” she said, simply, and then and there began a friends.h.i.+p that some day was to bring to Judy her greatest happiness.

That afternoon the Judge and Judy drove Anne home.

”It seems just like a dream,” said Anne, as they came in sight of the little gray house, with Belinda chasing b.u.t.terflies through the clover, and Becky Sharp on the lookout in the plumtree. ”It seems just like a dream--the good times and all, since Friday, Judy.”

”A good dream or a bad dream, Annekins?” asked Judy.

”Oh, a good one, a lovely dream, and you are the Princess in it, Judy,”

said the adoring Anne.

”Well, you are the good little fairy G.o.dmother,” said Judy. ”Isn't she good, grandfather?”

”Oh, I am not,” said Anne, greatly embarra.s.sed at this overwhelming praise, ”I am not--”

”I never could have changed my hair,” affirmed Judy.

”What's that?” asked the Judge.

”Oh, a little secret,” said Judy, smiling. ”Shall I tell him, Anne?”

”No, indeed,” Anne got very red, ”no, indeed, Judy Jameson.”

There was a little pause, and then the Judge said:

”I am sorry the picnic was such a failure.”

”Oh, but it wasn't,” cried Judy, ”it wasn't a failure.”

Anne and the Judge stared at her. ”Did you enjoy it, Judy?” they asked in one breath.

”Of course I did,” said the calm young lady.

”But the rain,” said the Judge.

”That was exciting.”

”And your fainting--” said Anne.

”Just an episode,” said Judy, wafting it away with a flirt of her finger-tips.

”And Amelia, and Nannie, and Tommy, did you like them?” asked Anne.

”Oh, Amelia is funny, and Nannie is clever, and Tommy is a curiosity.

Oh, yes, I liked them,” summed up Judy.

”And Launcelot--”