Miss Brown despite her ten
years of teaching. She had brought a big box of bright colored stick
candy to top off with. One thoughtful boy gratefully started three
cheers for Miss Brown by way of the thanks most of the children forgot.
The hearty cheering of the shrill young voices went far to repay her for
the morning's trouble, and warmed her heart much more than the stiff
little "I've had a nice time, Miss Brown," "Good-bye, Miss Brown,"
which the more gently-bred children conscientiously repeated at parting.

Chicken Little turned to look back at the teacher's plain face as they
left her at the school-house gate.

"I don't mind hanging her a basket now--she--she didn't act mad a bit
today."

She went straight over to Marian's to display her treasures.

"Oh, the lovely woodsy things! I wouldn't have believed there were so
many out--how I love them!" and Marian sniffed the wild-wood fragrance
hungrily.

"Oh, I do hope I'll be well enough to go hunt them soon. Bring your
baskets over here, Chicken Little--Katy and Gertie too, and let me help
you fill them--I'd love to."

Jane had something on her mind. She wanted to lay it before Marian but
shyness overcame her whenever she opened her mouth to mention it. She
hung round Marian's chair restlessly till Marian discovered that she
wanted something and helped her.

"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