“Well,” she said. “I can read my books any time, I suppose. Isn’t it nice to think of that? Yes—I’ll go with you, Katy. It will be fun. Just wait till I get my hat, and tell Mother.”
“You’re a dear!” burst out Katy, hugging her.
“If I go with you this time, Katy, you’ll have to read Shakespeare with me another time,” bargained Mary with good-natured guile.
“All right,” said Katy. “Sometime, when it is not so nice and crisp and walky out of doors, as it is to-day.”
And off the two girls started, with comradely arms about one another’s shoulders.
CHAPTER VI
THE LANTERN
MARY had no chance to begin reading her Shakespeare until the following day. But just as soon as she had finished her French and algebra home lessons, she laid aside those books and seized the list which Aunt Nan had made for her.
“‘Mem. Read in this order—Midsummer Night’s Dream.’ That sounds good for a beginning,” she said to herself. “I just love the name of it. I wonder what it’s about?” Running to the bookshelves on the left side of the fireplace, where one whole section was devoted to the works of William Shakespeare, Mary began fumbling among the little red books. “Here is ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’!” said she, settling herself in the big leather armchair to read. “Why, it’s full of fairies and private theatricals! I know it is going to be nice!”
Mary read for some time and found that she liked the play even better than she had expected. She always liked to read about fairies, of whom, indeed, the book was full. And the scene of the play-acting was very funny, she thought, especially where Bottom wanted to play all the parts himself.
Presently she came to a place in the text where a line was heavily underscored. It was where Moon says, “This lantern is my lantern.” “I wonder why Aunt Nan marked that line?” thought Mary. She turned to see if there was anything about a lantern in the notes. And there she found this remark in the writing which she had come to recognize as Aunt Nan’s: “See lantern on mantelshelf. Careful!”