Enter Prince Charming

           “I’mcontrastingtheclaimsofindoorsandout,”saidAnne,lookingfromthewindowofPatty’sPlacetothedistantpinesofthepark.

           “I’veanafternoontospendinsweetdoingnothing,AuntJimsie.ShallIspenditherewherethereisacosyfire,aplatefulofdeliciousrussets,threepurringandharmoniouscats,andtwoimpeccablechinadogswithgreennoses?OrshallIgotothepark,wherethereisthelureofgraywoodsandofgraywaterlappingontheharborrocks?”

           “IfIwasasyoungasyou,I’ddecideinfavorofthepark,”saidAuntJamesina,ticklingJoseph’syellowearwithaknittingneedle.

           “Ithoughtthatyouclaimedtobeasyoungasanyofus,Aunty,”teasedAnne.

           “Yes,inmysoul.ButI’lladmitmylegsaren’tasyoungasyours.Yougoandgetsomefreshair,Anne.Youlookpalelately.”

           “IthinkI’llgotothepark,”saidAnnerestlessly.“Idon’tfeelliketamedomesticjoystoday.Iwanttofeelaloneandfreeandwild.Theparkwillbeempty,foreveryonewillbeatthefootballmatch.”

           “Whydidn’tyougotoit?”

           “‘Nobodyaxedme,sir,shesaid’—atleast,nobodybutthathorridlittleDanRanger.Iwouldn’tgoanywherewithhim;butratherthanhurthispoorlittletenderfeelingsIsaidIwasn’tgoingtothegameatall.Idon’tmind.I’mnotinthemoodforfootballtodaysomehow.”

           “Yougoandgetsomefreshair,”repeatedAuntJamesina,“buttakeyourumbrella,forIbelieveit’sgoingtorain.I’verheumatisminmyleg.”

           “Onlyoldpeopleshouldhaverheumatism,Aunty.