XII
MISS LILLY DOVE
“Mammy, look at Tishy Peafowl in Mary Van’s yard.” Willis pointed across the street to a peacock in full expression of his feathered pride.
Phyllis went to the window and exclaimed, “You sho’ly ain’ callin’ Majer Peafowl, dat ugly ole Tishy?”
“You said Tishy was fine and pretty,” reminded Mary Van.
“She wus, tell Mist’r Mount’in Fowel tu’n out ter be nobody but er ole low down buzzard. I tell yer dat gal act so scand’lous dat all her purty feath’rs start ter drappin’ out, ’caze she act so ugly on de inside, dey wusn’t nuthin’ ter hole de purty on de outside.”
“Did all her pretty feathers drop out sho’ nuf?” asked the little girl, much concerned.
“Dey ain’ all drap out yit, ’caze she ain’ loss all her inside purty yit.”