Chicken Little had not forgotten lumps of sugar for Calico and Caliph. Ernest had given his pony a high-sounding name. The intelligent beast was proud and dainty enough to deserve it. He was shy about coming for his lump, but when he once got the taste, he nosed around Chicken Little for more. They ended the morning's wanderings in Jane's own particular bower, known to the family as the Weeping Willows because she had once retired there to cry out her troubles, and had been discovered in a very moist state by Frank, who was a merciless tease. There were two rows of the old willows. They formed a long leafy room on the edge of one of the orchards, out of sight both of the house and road. Chicken Little had been known to flee thither on more than one occasion when she did not wish to be disturbed in the thrilling place in a novel. For you really couldn't hear any one calling from the house in this leafy fastness. Ernest had made her two or three rustic seats, and a little cupboard where she could keep her treasures sheltered from the sun and rain. Katy and Gertie were charmed with this retreat. "If there was only a table, I could write all my letters home out here. Wouldn't it be romantic?" Katy loved the unusual. "It's lovely, Jane, let's stay out here lots." Gertie settled down on one of the seats with a little sigh. "I wish I had my old doll here; it would make such a dandy playhouse." "Gertie Halford, the idea of a great, big girl like you wanting to play with dolls." "I get Victoria out sometimes and dress her up," confessed Jane. "It isn't much fun all alone, but I like to see her sometimes. If you'd like to, Gertie, we'll have a doll sewing bee this afternoon and you can be Victoria's mother and Katie and I will be dressmaker's though I never could sew decently. Mother's about given me up in despair." Chicken Little had noticed a little far-away look in Gertie's eyes ever since she came. Marian had warned her the night before that she had better keep Gertie pretty busy for a day or two, or she would be homesick. Unfortunately, Chicken Little's kindness precipitated the catastrophe she was trying to avoid. She was so motherly she reminded Gertie afresh of the dear little mother she had left so many miles behind and the tears came in spite of her. Chicken Little coaxed and comforted, and Katy coaxed and scolded, but Gertie's tears were apparently turned on for keeps and the Weeping Willows was earning its name again. Gertie cried till she got all shivery, declaring solemnly whenever she could command her voice sufficiently to talk, that there wasn't a thing the matter--only--only--she--was a little bit homesick. She wouldn't hear to Jane's going to fetch Alice or Mrs. Morton or Marian. "She'd be all right in a minute, if they'd just let her alone."