Kitty Maloney disappeared; and, in about a minute, Dovey Sparrow tripped in, blushing and looking as frightened as a wood-pigeon. The roguish Kitty had just told her that her little visitors were very ginteel folks, and she must talk to 'em as if she was reading it out of a book.
Meantime Kitty was hiding in the back parlor, with her apron over her mouth, forgetting her potato yeast in her curiosity to watch these fine young ladies.
Flaxie rose and shook hands, but entirely forgot to speak. Lucy did the same.
"H'm," said Flaxie, snapping the card-case, which she had taken from Lucy.
"Yes'm," responded Dovey, trembling.
It was getting rather awkward.
Flaxie wiped her nose, and so did Miss Lucy. Then Flaxie folded her arms; also Lucy.
Poor Miss Dovey tried to think of a speech grand enough to make to these wise little people; but the poor thing could not remember any thing but her geography lessons.
Flaxie Frizzle was also laboring in vain. The only thing that came into her head was a wild desire to sneeze.
At last, her eye chancing to rest on the crimson trimmings of Dovey's dress, she was suddenly reminded of turkeys and their dislike of red things. So she cried out in despair,—