“Can I go fishing?” she wanted to know.
Sunny Boy was troubled. Evidently Ruth thought she was going to the country, too, and it surely wouldn’t be very kind to tell her plainly that Grandpa Horton hadn’t invited her. To his relief Mrs. Baker called Ruth just then and she went into her own yard, still dragging the unfortunate Paulina by one arm.
“Sunny Boy,” called his own mother from an upstairs window, “Harriet is going to the store for me—wouldn’t you like to go with her?”
Sunny Boy liked to go with Harriet, and he hurried indoors to get his hat and roller skates. Now Sunny Boy was just learning to skate, and if he didn’t have Harriet to hold on to he never could be quite sure what was going to happen to him. He could go much faster on his own two feet, but, as he explained to Harriet, it was most important that he should learn how to skate because when he could skate well he would be able to go to the store much more quickly than he could walk. And Harriet said yes, she understood, and that everybody had to learn how to skate before they could become really expert.
“Did you ever live on a farm, Harriet?” asked Sunny Boy, as they started for the store. His mind was full of the coming visit.
“No,” admitted Harriet. “I never lived on a farm. But I’ve often visited people who did. You’ll like it. There’ll be brooks to wade in, and little calves and lambs to play with, and chickens and ducks. And you can play outdoors all day long.”
“When it rains?” asked Sunny Boy.
“When it rains there’ll be the barn and the haymow,” answered Harriet. “And now here’s Mr. Gray’s. You’d better wait out here for me and not try to clatter in with those skates.”
Sunny Boy saw a basket of apples in the window.
“Will you bring me an apple, Harriet?” he teased. “Mother won’t mind. Apples don’t hurt you.”