"Now look here, what's the meaning of all this boys?"

Before the boys could recover from their surprise sufficiently to answer, Dr. and Mrs. Morton and Alice came running in.

Frank stopped their questions with a word.

"Let me tend to this, please, Father."

Little by little he extracted the trio's version of the day's happenings.

He turned to the Irish boys. "Is that straight?" he demanded.

At first the lads maintained a sullen silence, but finally Pat volunteered.

"They don't own that 'ere pond any more'n we do."

"Who said they did?" asked Frank quickly.

"n.o.body," admitted Pat, "but they allus act like they did. They told us to keep off the north end."

"How is that Ernest?"

"Well, we didn't want them mixing up with us."

"Anybody give you a deed to that pond?"

The boys were silent.

"Now look here, boys," Frank's voice was stern. "It strikes me you fellows were in a pretty poor business trying to hog half a public pond for yourselves. Now you have six times the opportunities for fun these boys have, and yet you try to spoil their skating. Pretty small I call that!

"As for you boys," turning to his captives, "you weren't helping matters any by being mean--now were you? You didn't think acting that way would make you any more popular did you? By the way you're Mrs. Casey's boy, aren't you? Your mother is a fine woman and she works too hard to have to pay for broken windows, don't you think so, Son?"

Frank laid his hand on the boy's shoulder and looked straight into his eyes.

Pat shifted from one foot to the other uneasily.

"Yes, sir," he mumbled with an effort.

"Well, she isn't going to have to this time. I will give you a chance to earn the money to pay for it yourself? Want to?"

The boy nodded eagerly. Frank smiled in return.

"Ernest, pa.s.s that candy over here and you boys shake hands with Pat and Mike and see to it you treat them white after this! My brother and his friends aren't as small as they let on, boys," he added turning to the others.

The Irish lads grinned sheepishly, and shyly accepted the candy and apples which the trio, with a complete change of heart pressed upon them.

Chicken Little not to be outdone made them all laugh by offering her small fist, which was hopelessly gummed up with the taffy she had forgotten in the excitement.

CHAPTER IX

CHICKEN LITTLE JANE'S GIFT

"Well, Alice," said Dr. Morton, coming in one noon stamping and shaking the snow off his broad shoulders. "I have discovered why you haven't heard from Ga.s.sett again. He is down with typhoid fever--looks like a bad case. He won't be in a condition to start lawsuits for some weeks, so you may set your mind at rest for the present."

The Christmas holidays had gone by all too quickly for the Morton family. The children were already grumbling about starting back to school. Dr. Morton had a number of very sick patients on his hands and looked worried in consequence. Mrs. Morton was helping Alice with her simple wardrobe, and Alice was helping Mrs. Morton break in a new maid.

It was really a great comfort to Mrs. Morton to feel that Alice could now be received as an equal. She had grown fond of her unconsciously, but according to her rigid ideas, friendship with a servant was impossible. "I have always felt," she told her friends, "that Alice was too refined for her situation. Blood will tell, you know."

Chicken Little and Ernest mourned Alice's departure loudly. Ernest turned up his nose promptly at the new girl--a willing soul with scant intelligence.

"Have we got to have that thing round, Mother?" he demanded in deep disgust. He had just deluged his hot cakes with cream which Olga had put in the syrup jug by mistake.

"I'm afraid so, my son, until we can find someone better. Girls are hard to get in this town. Alice has certainly spoiled us."

"What did you let her go for?" Ernest grumbled as if keeping her with them were optional.

"Why, Ernest, I thought you were pleased with Alice's good fortune."

"Well, that's not saying I want her to go off and never see her again."

"Oh, you'll see me again, Ernest," said Alice, coming into the room just then and divining the boy's mood.

"I am coming back to Centerville as soon as I finish school. It seems so hard to leave you all. You've been so good to me----"

Alice broke down and turned hurriedly away to hide her tears.

Chicken Little jumped up and threw her arms around Alice's waist, laying her face against her hands lovingly.

Alice hugged the child tight.

"I am going to miss you so, dear. There won't be any little girl to cuddle at Uncle Joseph's."

Jane followed Alice into her room after breakfast to help pack the shiny new trunk. This was Alice's last day.

"My, isn't it grand! It's got a place for hats and your parasol--and what are these little places for, Alice?" Chicken Little was eagerly investigating.

"Oh, handkerchiefs and ties and gloves. I'm a lucky girl to have all these nice things. Just think--three new dresses! Blue and brown cashmeres for school and a green silk poplin for Sunday best--aren't these little bows down the front cunning?"

Alice surveyed her treasures with a sigh of satisfaction.

"If they'll only like me a little at Uncle Joseph's. I wish I could take you along, Chicken Little Jane, I wouldn't be lonely if I had you."

"Will you be dreadfully lonely, Alice?" Chicken Little was getting concerned.

"I am afraid I will, Chicken Little."