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XIII. A Golden Picnic
Shewastiredtodeathofthenoiseofthebigcityandthecrowdsofpeoplealwayscomingandgoingandcaringnothingforher.Shejustwantedtoescapefromitalltosomestill,green,friendlyplacewhereshecouldrest.Andshegotjustwhatshewanted,whichissomethingveryfewpeopledo,Ibelieve.Shehadfourbeautifulyearsbeforeshedied...fouryearsofperfecthappiness,soIthinkshewastobeenviedmorethanpitied.Andthentoshutyoureyesandfallasleepamongroses,withtheoneyoulovedbestonearthsmilingdownatyou...oh,Ithinkitwasbeautiful!”
“Shesetoutthosecherrytreesoverthere,”saidDiana.“Shetoldmothershe’dneverlivetoeattheirfruit,butshewantedtothinkthatsomethingshehadplantedwouldgoonlivingandhelpingtomaketheworldbeautifulaftershewasdead.”
“I’msogladwecamethisway,”saidAnne,theshining-eyed.“Thisismyadoptedbirthday,youknow,andthisgardenanditsstoryisthebirthdaygiftithasgivenme.DidyourmotherevertellyouwhatHesterGraylookedlike,Diana?”
“No...onlyjustthatshewaspretty.”
“I’mrathergladofthat,becauseIcanimaginewhatshelookedlike,withoutbeinghamperedbyfacts.Ithinkshewasveryslightandsmall,withsoftlycurlingdarkhairandbig,sweet,timidbrowneyes,andalittlewistful,paleface.”
ThegirlslefttheirbasketsinHester’sgardenandspenttherestoftheafternoonramblinginthewoodsandfieldssurroundingit,discoveringmanyprettynooksandlanes.Whentheygothungrytheyhadlunchintheprettiestspotofall...
