“I’ll go with you, Jan, and help carry it back,” offered Belle.
“So’ll I, Janet,” added Frances.
Norma had too much to do in planting flowers, to think of accompanying her friends, and Natalie was too angry to offer to assist in any way in curbing the chickens’ escapades. So the three girls started for the store, leaving the poultry locked securely in the hen-house until such times as the runway was safely inclosed.
But they had not been gone very long, before Frances’s father and mother drove up in the automobile. It was Norma who suggested that Mr. Lowden play the Good Samaratin and go for the girls, to help them bring back the roll of wire-netting. So the girls and their wire were soon back again at Green Hill, as I told you fully, in the first book.
Then the main object of the Lowdens’ visit was explained, and the rejoicing of the girls was vociferous and deafening. When high spirits had been calmed somewhat by Mr. Lowden’s warnings he left the car for them to use that summer.
Frances said: “I think it is a strange coincidence that only last night I should write Daddy a letter and asked him this very great favor. All the time he and Mother were planning it.”
After the Lowdens had gone, Janet said she must begin work on the chicken-fence. Mrs. James offered to go with her and help, and Belle said she might as well go, too. Frances had driven her parents to the station, so she was not there to be drafted into service for Janet.
Janet unrolled the entire length of wire upon the ground and then stood studying it, as if for inspiration of how to handle it. Mrs. James watched her, and finally remarked:
“Why did you get it so wide, Janet? It’s five feet, at least, and you really do not need it any wider than three feet.”
“I was afraid the chickens would fly over if it was only three feet high,” explained Janet.