Part 34 (1/2)
”What is it, Sis? Do you want some of my flowers for the baskets?
Anything I've got except that big lily.”
”Oh, Marian, I don't want to take your flowers--I just--wanted to ask you something.”
”Ask away--I can give you advice to burn--it's about all I'm good for these days.”
”It's about the May baskets. Do you think it would be all right to hang one for Carol?”
”Why sure, dear. Anybody would like one of your lovely baskets with these dear flowers.”
”But--I----”
”Yes?”
”Johnny Carter gave me all his flowers and I thought maybe I ought to hang one for him.”
”Well, you have plenty of flowers for two.”
”Ye--es.”
”Well?”
”I thought maybe it wasn't nice--to have two.”
”Two what?”
Chicken Little wriggled uneasily and got rather red in the face.
”Two beaux.”
Marian suppressed a laugh.
”Why, Chicken Little, I think you are a little young to be talking about beaux. I wouldn't, if I were you. Carol is Ernest's friend and he does lots of nice things for you. And you certainly don't want to neglect Johnny when he was so kind about giving you the flowers. It would be very nice for you to show your appreciation by hanging a basket for each of them. I'll write the names for you, if you want me to--then they won't recognize the writing.”
”Oh, will you? And Marian----”
”Yes?”
”Don't tell Katy or Ernest--or Mother, will you?”
”I won't tell a living soul, dear, this shall be our very own secret.”
”Katy's going to hang one to Ernest,” said Chicken Little shamelessly betraying Katy's secret just after she had secured Marian's promise to keep her own.
”Is she? That's nice, but Chicken Little, if you don't want me to tell about you, you oughtn't to tell about Katy--ought you?”
”I am not going to tell Ernest,” the child a.s.sured her hastily.
”Well, I don't believe I'd tell anybody. It's Katy's little secret. Let her tell it if she wants to.”