"I see you're helping Farmer Green with his squash vines at present," she remarked aloud.
"Yes!" said her cousin. "I have this one almost finished."
"Good!" said Mrs. Ladybug. And she took a closer look at the vine. It seemed far from healthy. In fact she noticed that the leaves were tattered and torn.
"What are these great holes in the squash leaves?" she inquired.
Her cousin fidgeted and made no reply. Glancing at her, Mrs. Ladybug thought she was growing a bit red in the face.
Then all at once Mrs. Ladybug guessed the dreadful truth.
"You've been eating these leaves!" she cried.
Her cousin tossed her head.
"A person has to eat something," she retorted.