1. "No, I have nothing to amuse me," said Betty, "but the thought of how handsome I am. It is nice to think of that, and yet I am almost tired of hearing it."
2. Betty would have given one of the best feathers in her tail for a good race after a beetle1, or for a good scratch for grubs down by the manure2 heap, which was the best place.[Pg 118]
3. But she had hardly yet begun her trials. On the next day, the coachman took her in a hamper3 to the show. Betty screamed as she was put into it, for she did not like it at all.
4. "I will behave well, no matter what happens," said poor Betty. But she felt afraid of the noise, the pushing, and the crowd of people and poultry4 at the Palace.
5. There were Spanish cocks and hens, who were lofty and silent. There were little silver bantams who chuckled5. Some hens were tiny dwarfs6 like the bantams, others were giants like the Cochin China fowls7.
6. There were gamecocks, too, looking like fierce soldiers. Among all the smart poultry Betty found herself passed over and called "only a pullet."
7. All the other fowls were called "loves" and "dears," while hardly any people took notice of her plain white dress and rosy8 head-dress. But one gentle lady came by, who stopped near B............