“’Cause you—she—why I guess ’cause you and she both know how little girls feel inside—and you’re so comforting.”
“Much obliged, little sister, I know Miss Alice deserves that nice compliment and I hope I do. Are you lonesome without her?”
“Yes, only when I’m with you it always seems as if she were close by, too.”
“Happy thought! Perhaps, it’s because I’m partial to being in her neighborhood myself. There goes the bell—I’ll be here at 4:30 sharp.”
Chicken Little was not the only unfortunate that afternoon. Two small boys were late at noon and Miss Brown set them all to writing long lists from their spellers as soon as the other children filed out. Chicken Little watched the clock anxiously, starting up at every distant tinkle of sleigh bells. It was a glorious clear crisp afternoon and the jingle of bells sounded at frequent intervals.
Her excitement rose as half-past four approached. Finally, just as the clock chimed the half hour, an answering chime tinkled in the distance and two or three minutes later, ceased suddenly in front of the school building.
Chicken Little ran quickly down the walk and there they all were. Dick Harding had a lovely double-seated cutter with white horses and two gay strings of sleigh bells on each horse. Packed snugly in under the bright colored robes were Katy and Gertie and Grace and sister Marian—and the entire family of dolls. Dick Harding had insisted on the dolls. He said he never approved of parents leaving their offspring at home to cry their eyes out, while they went skylarking.
Katy had secured the place next to their host and Chicken Little looked enviously as she started to climb in. But Dick Harding made room for her beside him, saying finally:
“I believe I am to have the honor of having Miss Morton and the birthday sit beside me.”
A shadow of disappointment crossed Katy’s face. Marian made a little sign to Jane and the child responded bravely.