large herd I bought in Texas and cost me very little. I
have argued this all out with your Father and he understands my feeling.
Won't you be as generous?"

Before Ernest could answer, Chicken Little reached up both arms and gave
the speaker a hug and a kiss that were warm enough to satisfy the
loneliest heart. Before she had released him, Ernest had hold of his
hand and was trying to make up by the vigor of his hand shake for the
embarrassing dumbness which had seized him.

Dr. Morton relieved the situation by remarking mischievously:

"Ask Ernest who's surprised now, Chicken Little?"

CHAPTER V

THE GUESTS ARRIVE

The Morton family were up early the next morning. Jane was in a state
of prickly excitement between her delight over her wonderful pony, all
her very own, and the expected pleasure of seeing Katy and Gertie.

"If the others have grown as much as you kids, we shan't recognize
them," said Frank.

"Anyhow, we can tell which bunch to cut out by Alice and Dick," Ernest
answered.

Mrs. Morton was horrified. "Ernest, the idea of your talking about our
friends as if they were cattle! I do trust you children will not mortify
me before our guests by using such vulgar expressions."

"Never mind, Mother," Frank consoled her, "Alice and Dick will revel in
these vulgar westernisms. See if they don't. Why Mother, it's by slang
that a language is enriched, didn't you know that?"

"That will do, Frank. I should think you would try to help me keep up
correct standards instead of hindering. You will feel very differently
when Jilly is a little older."

The train was due at two-thirty at the neighboring town of Garland--the
neighboring town being some nine miles distant. They decided to have an
early dinner at home, then Dr. Morton would drive the spring wagon in
for the guests, Frank would take the farm wagon for the trunks, while
Jane and Ernest formed a sort of ornamental body guard on their new
ponies.

"My, but you present an imposing appearance!" laughed Marian coming out
to the road with Jilly to see them off.

"We do look rather patriarchal," said Frank, glancing around at the
impressive array. "If we only had you and Mother mounted on donkeys, the
reception committee would be complete. I will do my best to apologize
for your absence."

"If you are late, send Jane on ahead, they can see her a mile off on
that calico pony."

"The piebald is conspicuous," said the Doctor, "I guess Captain Cla