“Because,” said Mary Jay, “there were seven eggs. Let us go to the nest and see.”
So Mary Jay and Lucy went back towards the house. They went through the garden and the yard beyond, where the aqueduct was situated, and thence they passed into another yard, where there was a barn and a shed.
“I don’t see how the little ducklings could get over all these fences,” said Lucy.
“No,” said Mary Jay, “they didn’t; there is another way for them to go. I will show it to you presently.”
They now came into a shed, where there was a cart and a wagon; and in one corner there was a sleigh, which had been stored away there for the summer. Mary Jay looked under the sleigh, and Lucy stooped down and looked under too.
There was a nest made of hay under the back corner of the sleigh, with several egg-shells lying about it; in the nest was one egg remaining, which seemed to be whole.
“There is one egg,” said Mary Jay; “couldn’t you creep under and get it, Lucy? Stop a minute, and I will put something down for you to kneel upon.”
So Mary Jay took the seat out of the sleigh, which was a smooth board, like a box cover, and she put it down upon the ground between the two runners. Then Lucy crept in upon this, going in in front; and when she came to the end of the seat, she found that she could just reach the egg. She took it up, and was bringing it out, when suddenly she dropped it, appearing to be frightened.
“What is the matter?” said Mary Jay.
“Why, I heard it peep,” said Lucy.