Katy continued her way without glancing ’round.
“It’s something you’ll like.”
Katy wavered and unbent enough to ask: “What is it?”
“Come here and I’ll tell you. I’m not going to yell it.”
Katy considered and finally returned reluctantly.
When she came back to the pen, Chicken Little glanced round to make sure that no one was about, to overhear, then, to make sure, whispered excitedly into Katy’s ear.
Katy’s face lighted. “All right, let’s. Gertie won’t care.”
They had entirely made up this slight unpleasantness by afternoon. Perched on rocks under the shade of the cherry trees they waited impatiently for Dick and Alice. Jilly had been coached in her little speech so often that there was no doubt at all that she would get it wrong. She had been told to say, “Welcome, Uncle Dick, welcome Auntie Alice.” She had said it faultlessly three times already when approaching wheels started them to their feet expectantly. They were disappointed by seeing a neighbor drive round the bend in the lane. When the familiar bays did come into view with their swinging trot, Jilly was so enchanted she started off 225pell mell to meet them, spilling her blossoms out generously as she ran. The girls overtook her before she quite got in the path of the horses and reminded her of her responsibility.
Dr. Morton pulled up and Dick leaped to the ground, punctuating her attempted “Weecome” by tossing her into the air and kissing her noisily.
Jilly struggled free. Her coaching had not been in vain.