Perhaps it was because he was hungry that Bobby suddenly remembered something.
Anyway, he began to run as fast as his legs would carry him and ran all the way up the lane, Rover at his heels.
And, as he ran, he kept thinking, "A long time since breakfast! But the little chickens didn't have any breakfast at all."
When he came to the spot where he had left the two basins, there the two basins were, but both empty.
He looked over toward the chicken coop.
There was Old Speckle walking back and forth, putting her head out between the slats every once in a while, and looking greatly distressed.
There were the little chicks saying, "Peep, peep, peep," as they tried to find something to eat in the grass.
Bobby took the basins into the house.
"Mother," he asked, "did you feed the chickens?"
"No," said she, "that is your chore, Bobby."