Chicken Little’s face lit up as instantaneously as if someone had just turned on an electric light before it. She gave one blissful “Oh” then stopped. “If Mother——?” she said.
“‘If Mother’ is all attended to. I met your father and he said he would make it all right with your mother. So if Miss Jane Morton will do me the honor to ride with me this afternoon, I shall consider the matter settled.” Dick Harding made an elaborate bow.
Jane still beamed but found words difficult.
“I’m waiting, Miss Morton, you’d better hurry—I think the bell is going to ring.”
The child glanced back at the school house apprehensively.
“Course I want to—awfully, and—Mr. Harding,” Chicken Little reached up to whisper something and the tall man bent down.
“I love you most as well as Brother Frank.”
“Thank you, dear—I’ve never had a little sister. Don’t you think I might adopt a little piece of you?”
“That’s what Alice said. She said little sisters were so nice and cuddly—I think you and Alice are a lot alike, Mr. Harding.”
“I’m flattered—in what way?”