Mrs.Gray did not think Dotty was "a very sociable child;" and then so many people were asking for eggs! But Mrs.Gray could not say "No" to Prudy; she gave her thirteen eggs, with a hearty kiss.
"Now whose will the ducklings be ?" asked Dotty on the way home.
"Yours and mine," replied Prudy; "half and half.

Six for each, and an odd one over." "Then," said Dotty, "we'll give that 'odd one over' to Katie." "But they may not all hatch, Dotty." "O, dear! why not?
Then we can't tell how many we shall have.

Perhaps there will be two or three odd ones over; and _then_ what shall we do, Prudy ?" Prudy laughed at the idea of "two or three odd ones." The eggs were put in a barrel under the white hen; and now began a trial of patience.

It seemed to all the children that time stood still while they waited.
Would the four weeks never be gone?
One day Dottie stood with Katie by the back-door blowing bubbles.

The blue sky, the white fences, the green trees, and even the people who passed in the street, made little pictures of themselves on the bubbles.
It was very beautiful.