"Well, I don't know as I made such a glorious fist of it," she said, "but at least, as you say, I've nothing to be ashamed of!"
I almost hugged her head off.
"Of course you haven't!" I cried. "Of course you wouldn't have!"
I just kissed her over and over for joy; I was so glad my heart hurt for father and mother. Shame had not come to them!
"Now, I guess I'll run to the house and get a comb," I told her.
"Go on," said Shelley. "I know you are tired."
"I'm not in the least," I said. "Don't you remember I always use a comb when I fuss with your hair?"
"It is better," said Shelley. "Go get one."
As I got up to start I took a last look at her, and there was something in her face that I couldn't bear. I knelt beside her, and put both arms around her neck.
"Shelley, it's a secret," I said in a breathless half whisper. "It's a great, big secret, but I'm going to tell you. Twice now I've had a powerful prayer all ready to try. It's the kind where you go to the barn, all alone, stand on that top beam below the highest window and look toward the east. You keep perfectly still, and just think with all your might, and you look away over where Jesus used to be, and when the right feeling comes, you pray that prayer as if He stood before you, and it will come true. I KNOW it will come true. The reason I know is because twice now I've been almost ready to try it, and what I intended to ask for happened before I had time; so I've saved that prayer; but Shelley, shall I pray it about the Paget man, for you?"