CHAPTER XVI . AUNT UNA 'S STORY Felicity , and Cecily , Dan , Felix , Sara Ray and I were sitting one evening on the mossy stones in Uncle Roger 's hill pasture , where we had sat the morning the Story Girl told us the tale of the Wedding Veil of the Proud Princess . But it was evening now and the valley beneath us was brimmed up with the glow of the afterlight . Behind us , two tall , shapely spruce trees rose up against the sunset , and through the dark oriel of their sundered branches an evening star looked down . We sat on a little strip of emerald grassland and before us was a sloping meadow all white with daisies . We were waiting for Peter and the Story Girl . Peter had gone to Markdale after dinner to spend the afternoon with his reunited parents because it was his birthday . He had left us grimly determined to confess to his father the dark secret of his Presbyterianism , and we were anxious to know what the result had been . The Story Girl had gone that morning with Miss Reade to visit the latter 's home near Charlottetown , and we expected soon to see her coming gaily along over the fields from the Armstrong place . Presently Peter came jauntily stepping along the field path up the hill . `` Has n't Peter got tall ? '' said Cecily . `` Peter is growing to be a very fine looking boy , '' decreed Felicity . `` I notice he 's got ever so much handsomer since his father came home , '' said Dan , with a killing sarcasm that was wholly lost on Felicity , who gravely responded that she supposed it was because Peter felt so much freer from care and responsibility . `` What luck , Peter ? '' yelled Dan , as soon as Peter was within earshot . `` Everything 's all right , '' he shouted jubilantly . `` I told father right off , licketty-split , as soon as I got home , '' he added when he reached us . `` I was anxious to have it over with . I says , solemn-like , ` Dad , there 's something I 've got to tell you , and I do n't know how you 'll take it , but it ca n't be helped , ' I says .
Dad looked pretty sober , and he says , says he , ` What have you been up to , XXXXX ?
'S Markdale Peter Presbyterianism Princess Ray afterlight afternoon evening right