  All and every one of Fowl Farm on a cold Winter afternoon were seated in the sitting room at the second hen house. Lady Gray and Lady Featherly had come in to spend a sociable afternoon, as they said. Lady Featherly had her embroidery, Lady Gray her knitting. The others were sewing. "Mrs. Penny, may I ask what article of dress you are making?" asked Lady Featherly. "Only hemstitching an apron, lady." "May I see it?" "Certainly." Henny unfolded, as she spoke, a beautiful apron. It was embroidered in forget-me-nots, which were sprinkled over it. Fluffie laughed and told Speckle afterwards that Lady Featherly nearly had a fit when she saw it. For she said:— "O, Mrs. Penny, how beautiful. Thought you A GROUP IN THE YARD. A GROUP IN THE YARD. Soon every one was admiring Henny's work. "May I ask who you are making it for, Mrs. Penny?" "For sale." "How much do you ask?" "Five dollars!" "I will buy it then. I will pay you now." Looking in her purse she drew forth an eight dollar bill, handed it to Henny, and said:— "Mrs. Penny, here is a bill for your apron. When you finish it please send it to my home at Chicken Place. I hope it is right. Is it?" "Why, my dear lady, it is too right. I only asked five dollars for the apron. You have given me eight." "Five dollars is not enough for such exquisite work. So please accept eight." "Why, thank you very much, my dear lady," said Henny. "Fluffie, dear, you look badly. What is the matter?" asked Lady Gray about an hour later. "I feel rather badly, too, Lady Gray. I think we have been having too much fuss down here. I will try to stay in my nest more." "Fluffie, I want to ask you and Henny and Speck up to the Castle if you will come," said Lady Gray. "If we will come! We certainly will. We will be delighted to come to the Castle on a visit." "Fluffie, I don't want you on a visit. I want you there to live. How would you like that?" asked Lady Gray. "O, my dearest lady. Do you mean it?" "Yes, I certainly mean it." |
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