"Yes—very!" said Mrs. Woodchuck. "I've come over to tell you the news about the Muley Cow. I hope you haven't heard it already," she added, for she dearly loved to be the first to spread a bit of gossip.
"I fear I do know it," Aunt Polly replied, as she pushed her poke bonnet back and began to fan herself with a plantain leaf. "I suppose you've just heard about the Muley Cow's meeting Cuffy Bear in the back pasture."
Mrs. Woodchuck had begun to look disappointed. But now her honest face brightened. "Oh, no! There's newer news than that," she explained. "It hasn't anything to do with the Muley Cow's jumping the fence into the back pasture."
"Do tell!" Aunt Polly exclaimed.
"It's something about her clothes—something new she's wearing." Mrs. Woodchuck wasn't going to give up her news too soon. She liked to get people well interested before she actually told them anything.
"She hasn't a pair of horns, has she!" Aunt Polly inquired eagerly.
"Oh, no! Not that! But I knew you'd like to hear the news. I knew it would please you."
"Well, what is it?" Aunt Polly demanded.
"That's a pretty poke that you have on," Mrs. Woodchuck remarked.