“If he’s like most boys I guess he’s longer and leggier than I am,” she said.
“You are right there, he is.”
“I’m glad I have long legs,” said Peggy. “They are so useful when you are climbing trees.”
Christopher looked at her with new interest. “Do you like to climb trees?” he asked.
“I just love to,” said Peggy.
They were coming to the stone wall that enclosed the Thornton place. Peggy climbed up and began to walk across it. At one end was a pine tree, with convenient branches that she had often longed to climb. It looked very tall and symmetrical with its spreading green branches against the heavenly blue of the sky.
She could never quite remember whether it was she or Christopher who first suggested climbing the tree. But they hid their baskets on the other side of the wall, and presently she and Christopher were climbing quickly from branch to branch. Peggy had never had a more blissful time. She had often envied Lady Jane her power to scramble up trees with no mother at hand to tell her to come down, or to warn her against spoiling her frock. But now she envied nobody. It was too wonderful to be sitting in the topmost branches of that pine tree. But the thought of Lady Jane’s furry garment made her look down at her less substantial frock, and, to her dismay, she saw a long streak on it. She put her hand down and it felt sticky.
“Oh, dear,” she said, “I’ve got some of the pitch from the pine all over my dress! Oh, dear, what will mother say? She told me to be sure not to stop on the way, and not to talk to any strange children.”
“I’m not a strange child,” said Christopher. “She wouldn’t mind your talking to me.”
“Yes, but I have stopped on the way. I’ll have to hurry,” she said. “But, oh, dear, I’m afraid my dress is spoiled! Oh, what will mother say? I’ve only worn it one other time, and she’s only got one more of these blue frocks finished.”