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Chapter 10
’Ihadtocomeandseethechickens!’shesaid,panting,glancingshylyatthekeeper,almostunawareofhim.’Arethereanymore?’
’Thurty-sixsofar!’hesaid.’Notbad!’
Hetootookacuriouspleasureinwatchingtheyoungthingscomeout.
Conniecrouchedinfrontofthelastcoop.Thethreechickshadrunin.Butstilltheircheekyheadscamepokingsharplythroughtheyellowfeathers,thenwithdrawing,thenonlyonebeadylittleheadeyeingforthfromthevastmother-body.
’I’dlovetotouchthem,’shesaid,puttingherfingersgingerlythroughthebarsofthecoop.Butthemother-henpeckedatherhandfiercely,andConniedrewbackstartledandfrightened.
’Howshepecksatme!Shehatesme!’shesaidinawonderingvoice.’ButIwouldn’thurtthem!’
Themanstandingaboveherlaughed,andcroucheddownbesideher,kneesapart,andputhishandwithquietconfidenceslowlyintothecoop.Theoldhenpeckedathim,butnotsosavagely.Andslowly,softly,withsuregentlefingers,hefeltamongtheoldbird’sfeathersanddrewoutafaintly-peepingchickinhisclosedhand.
’There!’hesaid,holdingouthishandtoher.Shetookthelittledrabthingbetweenherhands,andthereitstood,onitsimpossiblelittlestalksoflegs,itsatomofbalancinglifetremblingthroughitsalmostweightlessfeetintoConnie’shands.Butitlifteditshandsome,clean-shapedlittleheadboldly,andlookedsharplyround,andgavealittle’peep’.’Soadorable!Socheeky!’shesaidsoftly.
