It was not the room, which was far more comfortable than Rebecca's own at the farm, nor the lack of view, nor yet the long journey, for she was not conscious of weariness; it was not the fear of a strange place, for she loved new places and courted new sensations; it was because of some curious blending of uncomprehended emotions that Rebecca stood her sunshade in the corner, tore off her best hat, flung it on the bureau with the porcupine quills on the under side, and stripping down the dimity
It was trimmed with a twist of buff ribbon and a cluster of black and orange porcupine quills, which hung or bristled stiffly over one ear, giving her the quaintest and most unusual appearance.
Touching my hand with the bundle of new-cut quills, he said:—"Dites donc, petite sœur—speak frankly—what have you thought of me during the last two days?
III HOW PRICKLY PORKY GOT HIS QUILLS The newcomer in the Green Forest was a source of great interest to the Merry Little Breezes.
It was Top who had furnished these points, by bringing in a porcupine, rather inferior eating, but of great value, thanks to the quills with which it bristled.
They were prevailed upon, and let him in accordingly; but were so annoyed with his sharp prickly quills that they soon repented of their easy compliance, and entreated the Porcupine to withdraw, and leave them their hole to themselves.
The old woman seated herself at the table with thefeathers, and how they did fly off the quills, which she scarcely touched with her withered hands!
His mother could not suckle him, for he would have pricked her with his quills.
