Chicken Little was surprised to see Ernest flush up and stammer. "Why I--I don't want any pay--I was glad to help out a neighbor." "That's exactly what I am going to ask you to do, my boy, to help me out by letting me feel that I can still give somebody pleasure. The ponies are part of a 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 Clarke picked him out for the Chicken so her mother could see her from afar." Chicken Little ignored this pleasantry. "Thank you for saying calico, Marian. I was just wondering what to call him and that will do beautifully."