Chapter 2 We Are Seven.
Rebecca's dress was so clean and full of starch that it caused the poor girl to slip and slide all over the stagecoach's leather seat.
She was so small that she flew up into the air every time the coach hit a bump.
If the wheels fell into a rut, up she went all over again.
After each jolt, Rebecca fixed her hat back on her head and checked on her most precious possession, her pink parasol.
When she wasn't being thrown from one side of the seat to the other, she would open up her beaded purse and look lovingly at its contents.
The few coins her mother had given her as spending money lay neatly inside.
Mr. Cobb was not used to having passengers.
After traveling along the dusty roads for a while, he forgot Rebecca was even there.
He also forgot that he was supposed to be keeping an eye on her.
Suddenly he heard a small voice above the rattle of the wheels.
At first he thought it was a cricket or a bird or a tree toad.
The voice called out again and again until he finally turned to look behind him.
Much to his surprise, he saw Rebecca hanging out the window as far as she could safely manage without falling.
Her long black braid swung back and forth with the motion of the coach.
She was using one hand to hold her hat and the other to poke him with her parasol.
Mr. Cobb, she called.
Mr. Cobb.
The driver slowed down to hear her better.
Does it cost more to ride up front with you? she asked.
I'm slipping and sliding in awful fright back here.
It's making me black and blue, and I want to see everything better, too.
Mr Cobb listened to her carefully and then answered No, young miss, it doesn't cost anything more to sit up on the bench with me.
Hold on one minute and I'll help you out and up.
Mr. Cobb stopped the carriage and climbed down.
Then he lifted Rebecca up to the front to sit beside him.
Rebecca sat down very carefully.
She didn't want to crease her dress.
She placed her parasol gently under the bench.
Once she knew it would be safe, she sat up straight and adjusted her white gloves.
Oh, she exclaimed, this is so much better, Mr. Cobb.
I felt like a chicken in a coop back there.
Do we have a long way to go?
Please say yes.
Oh, I hope we do.
Mr. Cobb laughed.
We've only just started.
We'll be on the road for a few more hours at least.
Well, then, that's going to have to do, Rebecca said with a sigh.
Young miss, shouldn't you be using that parasol?
It's quite sunny out today.
Rebecca moved her dress to make doubly sure the parasol was perfectly safe under the bench.
Oh no, Mr. Cobb, I never put it up when it's sunny out.
Why, the pink would fade so very fast.
No, I only use it when it's cloudy, but not when there's a chance of rain.
Water might ruin it as well.
As the two continued down the road toward Riverboro, Rebecca chatted away to Mr Cobb about her beloved parasol.
As she was speaking to him, Mr. Cobb couldn't help but notice her bright eyes.
They lit up her small, plain face like two shining stars.
Did you notice the pink double ruffle? she asked.
Did you see the handle?
It's made of ivory, but it's scratched because Fanny chewed it when I wasn't looking.
I've been mad at her ever since.
Is Fanny your sister?
Mr. Cobb asked.
One of them, Rebecca replied.
How many are you?
Seven.
Hannah is the oldest, then me, then John, Jenny, Mark, Fanny, and Mira.
That's a big family, Mr. Cobb exclaimed.
Far too big.
At least that's what everyone says, Rebecca answered.
I do love them all, but it's so much worse.
Hannah and I have been taking care of babies for as long as I can remember.
But it's finished now, and that's a relief.
Once we're all grown, we'll have a lovely time.
All finished, Mr. Cobb asked.
You mean now that you're going to live with your aunts?
No, no, Rebecca answered.
The family is finished.
Mother said so, and she always keeps her word.
There have been no babies since Mira, and she's three.
She was born the day father died.
Mr. Cobb nodded.
He didn't know quite what to say.
Rebecca continued.
Aunt Miranda wanted Hannah to come to stay with her and Aunt Jane, but Mother said she couldn't spare her.
Hannah's so much better at the chores than I am, so I'm going in her place.
Rebecca chatted on to Mr. Cobb about her life back on Sunnybrook Farm.
Everyone knew the place as the Randall Farm, but Rebecca thought Sunnybrook was a much prettier name.
It made her think of warm summer days, sparkling water, and wonderful fun.
Didn't he agree?
Oh, I should think so, young miss, Mr. Cobb replied.
He listened as well as he could, but he couldn't help feeling like he was being rushed from mountaintop to mountaintop without a good breath in between.
I do know the area quite well, Mr. Cobb said, but I can't seem to locate your Sunnybrook farm.
Is it near Temperance?
No, she said, it's miles away from there.
I guess Temperance is the closest town, though.
We took the train there from the farm.
Then we slept a night at Cousin Anne's before we borrowed her wagon to come to Maplewood.
That's when we met you so I could take the coach.
That's quite a memory you have, young miss.
I guess it ain't no trouble for you to do your lessons now, is it?
Rebecca laughed and said, I do love my lessons, and that's the truth.
I'll be in school here, too.
Mother wants me to be a teacher, but I think I'll be an artist like Miss Ross.
She was the art teacher at my last school.
Oh, she was such a lovely teacher.
She gave me my parasol.
Mr. Cobb looked around and noticed that the sun was high up in the sky.
You'd better have your lunch now.
It's about that time.
Rebecca looked at Mr. Cobb intensely for a minute before saying, My stomach does feel hollow.
I was so afraid I'd miss the stagecoach that I didn't have any breakfast.
What are you having for lunch?
Oh, I don't have anything until I get to Milltown.
Then I get a piece of pie and a cup of coffee.
I wish I could see Meltown, Rebecca exclaimed.
It's supposed to be even grander than Wareham.
Why, I'll bet it's just like Paris.
Miss Ross told me all about Paris.
You know, that's where my parasol is from.
It's also where she found my bead purse.
The girl took it out to show Mr. Cobb.
See how it has a lovely snap here?
She opened it up and carefully showed off its contents.
I've got twenty cents for the next three months.
It's all the money Mother had to spare.
She's given it to me for stamps and for ink.
It's for paper, too.
Mr. Cobb thought for a second, and then he said, No, Paris isn't all that great.
It's the dullest place in the state of Maine.
Rebecca looked at Mr. Cobb curiously for a minute.
She didn't know whether or not she should correct him.
Then she blurted out, Oh no, Mr. Cobb, I don't mean that Paris.
I mean the Paris that's the capital of France.
You can't get there by wagon, only by boat.
It's the grandest place on earth, full of beautiful women and lively dancing.
I can see it so clearly when I close my eyes.
She squeezed her fiery black eyes shut for effect, but I'll bet you can see Milltown just as clearly as I can see Paris.
Mr. Cobb laughed.
You know, young miss, if your aunt Miranda will let me, I'll take you to Milltown someday this summer when the stagecoach isn't full.
Thrill of excitement ran through Rebecca's body.
It went from the top of her head right down to the tips of her toes.
She grabbed Mr. Cobb's arm, held back tears of joy, and said, Can it really be true?
It's not a dream?
Oh, I would love to see Milltown, Mr. Cobb.
It's my fondest wish. old man's heart swelled with happiness as he looked down at this young miss.
The stagecoach came to the top of a hill and then crossed over a bridge.
Mr. Cobb told Rebecca that they were very close to Riverboro.
He asked if she was scared.
I didn't think I would be, Rebecca said, but now that we're almost there, maybe I am just a bit.
She held her hands tightly together in her lap.
Would you rather we turned around and went home?
She flashed him a brave look and replied, I'd never go back.
There might be butterflies in my stomach, but I can't turn back now.
We're having an adventure.
Who knows what we'll see once we get there?
Why, there might be ogres and giants under the stairs, but there could be fairies and elves as well.
You just never know.
Mr. Cobb laughed at Rebecca's odd way of thinking.
How about we go into town as fast as we can and make a grand entrance?
Would that make you feel better?
The child's face lit up for a minute as she thought about Mr. Cobb's idea.
She almost told him to go ahead, but then she changed her mind.
As much as I would love to go very fast,
I almost forgot that my mother put me in the back of the stagecoach.
Maybe she'd like me to be there when I get to Aunt Miranda's house.
You see, then I could step out of the door like a proper lady.
Could you stop and let me change seats?
Mr. Cobb pulled on the horse's reins, and the coach slowed to a stop.
Rebecca waited for him to climb down and walk around to lift her down.
Soon she was in the bumpy back seat with her parasol and beaded purse tucked safely beside her.
We've had a great trip, Mr. Cobb said.
You won't go forgetting about Milltown now, will you?
Never.
I promise on my honor, Rebecca swore.
And you won't either?
Cross my heart, Mr. Cobb vowed.
The stagecoach rumbled down the road.
Soon it came into town, where the streets were lined with maple trees.
Then it turned into the driveway of the old brick house.
Rebecca's journey had come to an end.
