Father Swallow told the doctor about Ready, and the doctor listened with great interest, saying, every now and then, “Certainly,” and “Of course.”
When Father Swallow had finished, the Doctor threw away the cigar he had been smoking, and was silent for a moment. Then he said:
“I think it will be quite safe for you to go on with Ready and leave the children here to take care of the patient. He must sleep, anyway, and only needs some one about to see that he is not disturbed. You will be back in time to take him home.”
Oh, how Ready loved Dr. Barn Swallow for those words! Even to this day he never passes a barn swallow without saluting most politely and asking if he can be of any service.
And so it was all settled. Soon the good-byes and thank-yous were said, the Doctor’s fee was paid, and Ready and Father Swallow were speeding along the meadow road.
Ready was afraid that it was too late for the Field Mouse to appear. He felt that it must be long past noon. So he was greatly excited when he saw one scudding along the road, and was about to run after it and say, “I am Ready. Are you waiting for me?”
But Father Swallow laid a detaining wing on his shoulder, saying, “The Eagle’s directions are to wait until the Field Mouse says ‘Ready.’ There are some bad little fellows about here that might lead you astray and then pick your pockets.”
So Ready had to content himself with going quietly along, but his eyes were eagerly watching both sides of the road. Several field mice passed him and stared quite rudely, but none of them said a word to him.
Just as they came to a turn in the road, Ready stopped short, for there, lying under a toad-stool, was a Field Mouse, fast asleep. Ready gave a tiny bark. At least he thought there would be no harm in that. The Field Mouse awakened immediately, blinked, and then squeaked: “Ready?”
