"Come here, piglets," she called from her kitchen window.
"All right, Mother, I'm coming," answered Little-wee Pig as he jumped from his swing and ran to the house.
But not so Blacky-ears! And I'll tell you why. Bad Boy Mischief, you remember, is always after everyone; little children, little bears, and little pigs. Blacky-ears, I am sorry to say, had been very friendly with him. So, as soon as Bad Boy Mischief heard Mother Grunty call, he hopped right onto Blacky's shoulder and whispered in his ear.
And what do you suppose? Blacky-ears listened and answered his mother just as Bad Boy Mischief had told him to! "Aw, wait a minute, can't you?" he grumbled!
When Mother Grunty called the second time, Blacky-ears managed to jerk himself into the house and stand sulkily beside her chair. Then she told the two piggies of her plan.
"Now," said Mother Grunty, "I find that I must go to Styford at once. I fear to leave you here alone, for I too well remember what happened to my two brothers. So, if you'll promise to be very, very good, you may go with me."
"Oh goody, goody!" sang Little-wee Pig, dancing around his mother's chair.
"Hurrah for some fun!" cried Blacky-ears.
"You will promise to be good, my dears?" said Mother Grunty anxiously.