Joe and Rufus resumed their stilt-walking. Their sister Jane sometimes did extremely curious things, they agreed. Mama called to Jane to hand her her duster. Mama was still disturbed about Jane walking under that horse. Of course, she was used to unexpected things happening. After all, with four such children that was only natural. But walking under a horse, now! That was different and dangerous. It is true that Jane herself had no further desire or interest in walking under a horse again. But Mama had no way of knowing this. Goodness! For all she knew, Jane might make a habit of this. Best send her on some errand and get her mind off horses. "Jane," she said, "run down the street to Tilly Cadwalader's and ask her to just slip on this sleeve for the length." Mama carefully wrapped the sleeve in white tissue paper. She told Jane not to run and to be very careful. If anything happened to that sleeve, she didn't know what she'd do because there wasn't any more satin and goodness only knows..."Why, maybe Tilly couldn't get married at all if anything happens to this sleeve, and that would be a dreadful thing, a dreadful thing altogether," said Mama, chuckling.
