, what
you said about my being a comfort and not bothering."

Chicken Little was both ashamed and eager.

The Captain threw back his head and laughed until the tears came into
his eyes.

"My dear, I'll make this call all right with your mother, never fear,
for I want you to come again. I am going to ask her if you and Ernest
can't both honor me by coming to dinner next Sunday."

He was as good as his word but when Chicken Little went to bed her
mother said sorrowfully: "Chicken Little, I shan't scold you because I
promised Captain Clarke I would let you off this time--but I didn't
think you would do such a thing--behind my back, too."

And her mother had asked Katy and Gertie! She had told her after she
came home that evening.

CHAPTER IV

A CHERRY PENANCE

Chicken Little awoke the next morning with a bad taste in her mouth.
She was ashamed to have grieved her mother by her escapade the day
before, especially when Mother was undertaking all this extra trouble
for her happiness. But she just couldn't be sorry she had gone to the
Captain's! It would be something to remember all her life. She gave a
skip of delight every time she thought of all the lovely things--and the
Captain's stories. No, she simply couldn't be sorry, but she knew Mother
expected her to be sorry. Of course, she might have got acquainted with
him some other way, but her father wouldn't promise ever to take her.
"Little girls have too much curiosity for their own good, Humbug," was
all she had been able to get from him.

She could see at breakfast that Mother expected an apology right away.
She could feel disapproval in her good morning and in the way she kissed
her. Mother seemed to have the power to make her feel mean and guilty
all over. But she wasn't sorry.

While they were doing the dishes she told her mother all about the
wonderful things she had seen. Mrs. Morton listened in silence. She was
waiting. Chicken Little heaved a deep sigh and did her best.

"I know it was wrong for me to go without permission, Mother, and I
won't ever do it again, and I think you're just beautiful to ask Katy
and Gertie. I'll help every single bit I can; you see if I don't."

"I am glad you realize you did very wrong, little daughter, is that all
you have to say to me?"

Chicken Little looked at her Mother and fidgeted. Her Mother returned
her look gravely. Still she couldn't--it would be fibbing if she did.
The silence became oppressive.