Part 46 (2/2)
”I'll write to you soon as we get settled,” she promised.
Ernest came to fetch her to breakfast accompanied by Carol and Sherm, who had whistled for him before he was out of bed. These reinforcements soon lightened her load of plums and Grace Dart got her a paper bag for the rest.
Mrs. Halford's fried chicken and hot biscuit and honey were a great bracer. Chicken Little's teary mood slipped away and she revelled in the excitement of the good-byes. She promised everybody weekly letters for the remainder of her natural life.
”You must write to us the very first ones, Jane,” Katy demanded.
”I see you young ones are fixing to break me up buying postage stamps,”
remonstrated Dr. Morton, trying to tease them.
”Dear me!” exclaimed Mrs. Morton about an hour after breakfast, ”has anyone fed Pete. I entirely forgot him last night and this morning. How could I be so careless?”
”Sure enough, where is Pete?” asked the doctor.
”He--he isn't here,” replied Chicken Little. ”I gave him away.”
”That was nice--Katy and Gertie will take good care of him I know.”
”I didn't give him to Katy and Gertie.”
”Why--who?” Mrs. Morton looked puzzled.
”I gave him to Pat--when he came for the things.”
”Well, I declare,” e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Mrs. Morton. ”You certainly are the queerest child! Well, I suppose if you wanted to give your pet to a little Irish boy instead of to your best friends it's all right.”
Katy looked reproachfully at Jane, but Mrs. Halford understood.
”I told you Chicken Little wouldn't give you Pete when you teased him. I am glad you gave him to Pat, dear. He is a kind boy and the parrot will mean far more to him than to my little spoiled girls.”
”Here comes the expressman for the trunks,” said Dr. Morton. ”You had better get your things on, Mother, the bus will soon be here.”
Chicken Little danced up and down as the big yellow omnibus backed up to the front gate and d.i.c.k Harding swung off the top, where he had been sitting beside the driver.
”How many pa.s.sengers for Kansas?” he demanded.
”We're all going as far as the station if there's room,” Mrs. Halford replied.
It was a merry group that gathered outside the car window. But tears were close to the smiles, for Marian was leaving father and mother and Mrs. Morton looked forward with anxiety to the new country and the new home.
Chicken Little felt blissfully important. d.i.c.k Harding had brought her a box of chocolate creams and gum drops to match Pat's bag of plums. She waved one in each hand as the train pulled out.
”Good-by, Mr. Harding. Good-by, Katy. Good-by, Gertie.”
”Good-by, Chicken Little.”
The rattle of the car wheels and the shriek of the engine drowned out their voices, but Chicken Little watched from the window until they were all a blur.
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