human
Then Aunt Helen said: 'I've only one thing to say, Mary. If Miss Sarah is to undertake all this, I hope you will feel that you have enough to let her have all she can make out of her--her----'
gpt
Her experiment,
human
I think she said 'undertaking,' said Mary Lee, not to be corrected.
gpt
Then I said: 'Are we really going to California, Aunt Helen?' And she said, 'I should like to think so. It all rests with your mother. I have always wanted to go there and I can't bear to be parted from you all, so why can't we go together?' Then she asked mother what she thought about it.
human
She said yes, of course,
gpt
Uhm--hm. She did indeed, and I got up and just yelled, and then I told them I was going hot-foot to find you, and I left them there still talking about it.
human
Oh, do let's go back and hear the particulars, said Nan.
gpt
Isn't it perfectly wildly exciting? Did you ever believe such a thing could happen to us? To think we are all going. I wonder when we shall start, and where we shall go, I mean the exact place. To think of living, really living there. Come, let's find out more.
human
Are we really going to California? asked Nan, excitedly.
gpt
When shall we start? What place is our cottage to be in? May I take some of my books? What trunk shall I use?
human
Gently, Nan, gently, said her mother.
gpt
We are not going to-morrow, and there will be plenty of time to decide on trunks before October.
human
Fairy godmother, she said,
gpt
We shall go to Southern California, said Miss Helen, drawing Nan close to her,
human
Do let's have a Chinese servant.
gpt
Perhaps we can try one.
human
And we can have a garden?
gpt
If we can find a house with one attached. I think it is extremely probable that we will have one. A little cottage of about six or eight rooms will be large enough, I think, and, if we can, we will have a garden where the geraniums will grow so high that they will shade our second story windows, and where roses will bloom in January. We will not be too far from orange groves and olive orchards nor too distant from the city, and we must be near enough to slip over into Mexico and to have the Pacific ocean for a neighbor. We shall hear Spanish spoken, and the ancient missions will give an old world air to our surroundings. We shall be where your mother will gain strength and health, and where you will have the opportunity of learning all sorts of new things, where I shall try to forget many sad things of my old life, and shall feel that I have a sister and her children to make me content and give me a new peace. Do you like the picture, West Corner?
human
It is beautiful. Now it all seems real. I can see everything, dearest, it's lovely. Just one thing more: How do we go?
gpt
I think we shall take the southern route and come back by some other.
human
You mean---- Just which way is the southern route?
gpt
Down through New Orleans, Texas, and a bit of Mexico, then up through Southern California. Coming back, we will go through upper California and perhaps come home through the Canadian Rockies, but we will decide that when the time comes.
human
It is just too lovely for words. I may tell it, may I? It's all going to really happen?
gpt
So far as any one can say a thing will really happen. Of course, if any one should go prowling around at night in strange places and break an arm or leg and so detain us, we all could not go.
human
It won't be me, at any rate, she declared.
gpt
I'm going to hunt up the kiddies now before Mary Lee gets hold of them to tell them.
human
Whither away, my little maid? cried Nan, catching her.
gpt
Where's Jack?
human
Oh, Nan, said Jean,
gpt
Why in the world did Jack want to get into the pig-pen with the pig? asked Nan.
human
Did she want to make piggy 'screal'?
gpt
No, she fell in. Come, get her out, please, Nan.
human
Goodness, child! exclaimed Nan,
gpt
She ran on ahead until she reached the brook, whose waters were warmed by the June sunshine.
human
Off with your shoes and jump right in, she cried to Jack;
gpt
she went on,
human
Oh, Nan, wailed Jack,
gpt
Like Tiny in the song Aunt Sarah sings. Never mind, dear, I was only quoting 'Pilgrim's Progress,' and you mustn't be scared. Piggy Wee shan't eat little Jack Corner. Jump, jump, jump, froggy. There you go. Splash about and I'll run home for some dry things while you are soaking off the worst.