“Have to stay after school on a birthday—well, that is tough. I see plainly you need the services of a lawyer. I guess I’ll have to take this under advisement and see what can be done. You know it’s my turn to help you out. Clear up that solemn face, Chicken Little,—that’s better—I see the smile coming. I’ll tell you—wait by the school gate when you come back from dinner and I’ll think up some way to mend matters.”
Chicken Little hurried through her dinner and back to school, posting herself expectantly to watch for Dick Harding. She did not have long to wait. Mr. Harding had hurried, too, on her account.
“I have been considering this, Jane. I don’t believe it would be quite fair to the other pupils to persuade Miss Brown to let you off, as I at first thought of doing. Do you think it would?”
Richard Harding regarded the child keenly, curious to see whether she would see the point.
Chicken Little looked up at him soberly.
“No, I guess it’s just as bad to be late on your birthday as any other time. And I s’pose if Miss Brown let me go she’d have to let the rest go, too. And I guess there wouldn’t be any rule if she did that.”
“Right you are, but I think I have a plan that won’t be unfair to anybody and will still keep the birthday intact. We couldn’t have the birthday hurt you know, Chicken Little. It’s such a little young birthday—it might cry!” Dick Harding smiled down at her whimsically and Jane smiled understandingly back.
“Why don’t you ask me what my plan is? You haven’t the proper amount of feminine curiosity.”
Chicken Little smiled again—a confiding little smile.
“How would it do, Chicken Little Jane, if I should get a cutter with two gray horses and lots of bells—real noisy bells—and call for your guests first, then come here to the school after you? We could go for a nice sleigh ride before that supper party.”