"It is just their breakfast time, and they are as punctual as clockwork.

They go off early in the morning, to scratch about a little for themselves first." As she spoke she stepped off the plank walk and looked off towards the fields.
Miss Laura burst out laughing.

Away beyond the barns the hens were coming.

Seeing Mrs.Wood standing there, they thought they were late, and began to run and fly, jumping over each other's backs, and stretching out their necks, in a state of great excitement.

Some of their legs seemed slicking straight out behind.