“Pooh, you won’t look like fairies if you do have a lot of spangled tarlatan. Fairies are just as tiny and they have weenty mites of feet!” and Katy pointed this last remark by a withering glance at Chicken Little’s feet which were beginning to be much too big for the rest of her, and were encased in stout boots with tiny copper rims on the toes which she heartily loathed. Dr. Morton had insisted upon these as being the only proper foot-gear for children in winter, and many were the jibes Jane suffered from her schoolmates because of them. Katy and Gertie wore lovely button boots, shapely if not sensible.
“You don’t need to talk, Katy Halford, my feet aren’t much bigger than yours, and I’m going to wear my white shoes and Miss Gray said I’d look lovely, so there!”
Katy, who was swinging on the gate looking down on her small sister and Chicken Little on the sidewalk outside, took three entrancing swings before replying:
“Well, maybe, but Miss Gray don’t look so awful nice herself and your hair isn’t a speck curly and I never did see a fairy with straight hair.”
Jane was sure she had, and Gertie said pretend fairies didn’t have to be exactly like really fairies, but Jane was troubled and resolved to consult Alice immediately.
Alice guessed Katy had been up to mischief purposely.
“Nonsense, Katy’s just talking about the little flower fairies. Get your Grimm and I’ll show you all sorts. Of course, fairies are not all alike any more than little girls. I’m sure you and Gertie will make darling fairies, so don’t you worry.”
But Alice decided to give Katy a lesson, that young lady boasting a year and a half’s advantage over Chicken Little and Gertie was rather too fond of lording it over them. She bided her time and did not have long to wait. Katy came over a few days later proud as a peacock over a minute pair of kid gloves, the first she had owned. Jane and Gertie followed, admiring and not a little envious.
“See, Alice,” Katy struck an attitude with both hands spread out ostentatiously.
Alice saw and hardened her heart.