“I haven’t the right clothes to wear,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter about the clothes,” said Peggy. “It is the person inside them.”
Old Michael was so curious to see how Peggy took the surprise of the seventh hen that he strolled around to see. He had on his working clothes, but his face and hands had been well scrubbed after the day’s work was over. He waited until the grown-up people turned to go back into the house, and then came forward where Peggy could see him. Alice, followed by the other children, was going toward the house.
“Well, Peggy, was it a good surprise party?” he asked.
“It was great, and I got surprised myself! How nice of you to give mother Angelica Seraphina Hen-Farrell! That is her name, isn’t it?”
“Certainly,” said Mr. Farrell. “How did you happen to know it?”
“It just popped into my head,” said Peggy. “I shut up my eyes, and I just seemed to know she was Angelica Seraphina Hen-Farrell.”
“She is called ‘Angel’ for short,” he said.
“Angel? What a nice name! I’m so glad we have seven hens. Don’t you like odd numbers best, Mr. Farrell? I think they are much more interesting.”
“They say there is luck in odd numbers,” he said.