CHAPTER II WHERE THEY FOUND HIS MASTER

dbeenruffledbythelateoccurrences. "Ididn'tsneeze!I'vegotenoughtodototalkandcryandcoughformyownpoordears,withoutbotheringaboutyours,"criedBab,evenmoreruffledthanhersister. "Thenwhodid?Iheardareallivesneezejustasplainasanything,"andBettylookeduptothegreenroofaboveher,asifthesoundcamefromthatdirection. Ayellow-birdsatswingingandchirpingonthetalllilac-bush,butnootherlivingthingwasinsight."Birdsdon'tsneeze,dothey?"askedBetty,eyinglittleGoldysuspiciously. "Yougoose!ofcoursetheydon't." "Well.Ishouldjustliketoknowwhoislaughingandsneezingroundhere.Maybeitisthedog,"suggestedBettylookingrelieved. "Ineverheardofadog'slaughing,exceptMotherHubbard's.Thisissuchaqueerone,maybehecan,though.Iwonderwherehewentto?"andBabtookasurveydownboththeside-paths,quitelongingtoseethefunnypoodleagain. "IknowwhereI'mgoingto,"saidBetty,pilingthedollsintoherapronwithmorehastethancare."I'mgoingrightstraighthometotellMaallaboutit.Idon'tlikesuchactions,andI'mafraidtostay." "Iain'tbutIguessitisgoingtorain,soIshallhavetogoanyway,"answeredBab,takingadvantageoftheblackcloudsrollingupthesky,forshescornedtoownthatshewasafraidofanything. Clearingthetableinasummarymannerbycatchingupthefourcornersofthecloth,Babputtherattlingbundleintoherapron,flungherchildrenonthetopandpronouncedherselfreadytodepart.Bettylingeredaninstanttopickupandendsthatmightbespoiltbytherain,and,whensheturnedfromtakingtheredhalterofftheknocker,twolovelypinkroseslayonthestonesteps. "Oh,Bab,justsee!Here'stheveryoneswewanted.Wasn'titniceofthewindtoblow'emdown?"shecalledout,pickingthemupandrunningafterhersister,whohadstrolledmoodilyalong,stilllookingaboutforherswornfoe,SallyFolsom.Theflowerssoothedthefeelingsofthelittlegirls,becausetheyhadlongedforthem,andbravelyresistedthete