Dick Harding laughed heartily.
“Miss Alice is A1, isn’t she? And we don’t like to have her go away so far—do we? Education doesn’t always make people nicer, but it often helps, Chicken Little. You like your father’s ways rather better than old Jake’s don’t you? Well, your father has education and Jake hasn’t. That’s not all the difference but it is part. Besides, even if it didn’t make us nicer to know things, it is rather good fun to learn them, don’t you think?”
He patted the hand in his and smiled down at her. Chicken Little partly understanding yet puzzled, smiled back.
They walked on a half block farther before Jane found anything more to say.
“I guess Alice won’t be lonesome now she’s got the kitty. Don’t you think it was a pretty kitty? I wanted it awfully bad myself but I’ve got Ernest and Katy and Gertie to play with and Alice won’t have anybody you know.”
Dick Harding stifled a laugh as he recalled Alice’s surprised face.
“I think that was an uncommonly pretty kitty and you were very generous to give it away when you wanted it yourself. It is mighty hard to part with things we want ourselves, don’t you think so, little partner?”
Dick looked off where the smoke of the departing train could still be plainly seen in the distance.
Chicken Little followed his gaze but not his thoughts.
“Do you s’pose I’ll ever go ’way off to school, Mr. Harding?”