“I think you should have a fireman’s medal for life-saving, Rose,” said her mother.
“Oh, I ought not to have a medal,” said Rose modestly. “I only built the fire-escape. But every one of those brave ants who came back into the fire and saved the babies ought to have one.”
“Yes, we should call them Heroes if they had been men,” said Papa.
“They would rather have something sweet than a medal,” said Kenneth, who knew a great deal about sweet things.
“Sure enough!” cried Rose, clapping her hands. “Mama, may I scatter some sugar out there in the grass where Papa shook the ants?”
Her mother said that she might. So I dare say the rescued ants had a jolly banquet that night to celebrate their wonderful escape. But I suppose that the ant babies were too little to share in it.
CHAPTER IV
BEECH HOUSE
BRIGHT and early the next morning a small procession came up the path to Sweetbrier Cottage. It was the little Prouts, making their first real visit to the Thornton children. Tom and Mary led the way. It was the second time they had come that morning. Once, before daylight, they had traveled over the same path to bring the milk for Kenneth’s and Rose’s breakfast. But they did not mind an extra walk of a mile or two. Behind Mary and Tom came Susan, holding little Jane by the hand, and after them trotted Bill and Bob. The three girls carried each a doll, dressed in her prettiest clothes.
It was a great event for the little Prouts. They were rather frightened when they found the piazza empty and no one anywhere to be seen. They had hoped that Kenneth and Rose would be outside waiting for them. That would have made them a little less bashful. They did not know what to do next, so they gathered in a bunch and began to whisper.
“You must knock on the door, Tom,” said Mary.