Part 39 (2/2)
”Grace Dart jogged me--she wanted me to look at Johnny Carter. He had the back of his hand all covered with transfer pictures.”
”Well, you must learn not to let your attention wander in school. Johnny Carter seems to be a very mischievous boy.”
”What can I wear to the party, Mumsey?” Chicken Little wished to change the subject.
”I think you may wear your blue poplin and the white shoes if it's a nice day. But you must be a little lady and not romp--the poplin won't wash, you know.”
”Couldn't I wear a white dress?--they almost always play rompy games at May's.”
”My dear, it is high time for you to learn to take care of your clothes and Mother knows best what little girls should wear.”
Chicken Little puckered up her mouth rebelliously but Pete walked in the door at this moment calling ”Chicken Little” so plaintively that she had to pick him up and comfort him. She took him out in the yard and relieved her mind to him.
”Pete, if I ever have any little girls, I'm always going to let them wear exactly what they please--and I'm never going to tell them to be little ladies. Anyhow I guess I can wear my white shoes and there haven't any of the other girls got any yet.”
Pete eyed her in silence.
”I shall take my Christmas dolly--she's the prettiest.”
Pete c.o.c.ked his head on one side and began to climb up in her lap. He had caught sight of Ernest and Carol coming in the front gate, and the boys often teased him.
As they came near he cuddled up close against Jane, calling vigorously, ”Scat!--Go off and die!”
The boys laughed and Ernest held out his slate pencil which the parrot nipped fiercely.
On the afternoon of the party Katy and Gertie came by for Chicken Little. They were crisp and dainty as usual in ruffled white dresses with blue and pink sashes and hair ribbons. Chicken Little looked from them to her own silken finery regretfully.
Katy began by cheering her the wrong way.
”My, you'll have to be awful careful with your dress, Jane. I guess it would spoil it if you dropped ice-cream on it.”
”I'm glad white will wash,” added Gertie complacently, smoothing down her ruffles.
Chicken Little hugged her doll tighter and ignored these remarks.
”I'm glad it didn't rain today 'cause Mother wouldn't have let me wear my white shoes if it had.”
”It rained hard enough last night--you'll have to watch out for puddles.
Father said everything was soaked this morning,” replied Katy.
”It's dried awful fast--May's going to have the party on the lawn. Her mother's set a table out under the trees,” said Gertie.
”Yes, and she's going to have a prize for the prettiest doll. We're each to write a name on a piece of paper and put it in a hat and then they'll count them and give it to the doll that has the most.”
”Mother made a new dress for Minnie and painted her cheeks where I washed the pink off, but I don't s'pose she'll get the prize--she's so old. Maybe your Victoria will, she has such pretty blue eyes.”
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