“Dear, dear, what’s all this? A millinery store? You and Katy and Gertie, I suppose. Well, I don’t know but that would be a nice way to help teach you to sew. You must comb your hair again and put on a clean white apron before you go downtown—and don’t go anywhere but Mrs. Smith’s. By the way, have you finished your practicing?”
Chicken Little wriggled painfully before she reluctantly shook her head.
“Well, do your hour first, then you may have the money.”
“Oh, Mother, couldn’t I practice after dinner—the girls are waiting for me?”
“Duty before pleasure, little daughter, go finish your hour and I’ll hunt up some bits of tulle and ribbon for you myself.”
“Oh, will you, Mother? Goody, goody! May I go tell the girls? I’ll come straight back.”
“Yes, but don’t get so excited. Little ladies should learn to be more composed—and don’t stand on one foot. Come here—the top button of your dress is unfastened.” Jane submitted to the buttoning process then flew off to tell the others, who were already setting up shop in the fence corner.
“Oh, Jane,” they chorused the moment she came in sight, “Mother gave us the loveliest yellow satin and some pink flowers and lace, too!”
“Yes, and I found six chicken feathers that’ll be grand for turbans,” broke in Gertie.
Chicken Little flung herself breathless upon the grass and explained between gasps.