they were all fresh and blooming in a way.

They could leave the shoe only one at a time. They began descending
the ladder in a sort of procession. You would have thought the last
one would never make her appearance.

They paid very little attention to Everychild. They began taking in
the wash. Some held their arms out to receive the clothes which others
removed from the line. They took the line down the last thing of all.
They wound it up carefully.

Just at this time there were stealthy movements all about the house, as
if robbers were coming. From among the trees the boys began to steal
home. They came from various directions, all walking on tip-toe. Many
of them hung back fearfully, though two of them found courage enough to
come up close to Everychild.

"You must be the boys coming home," said Everychild.

The first son nodded, but kept his eyes fixed anxiously on the Old
Woman. She was glaring at a girl ascending the ladder. "Look sharp
where you put those things, now," she was saying. "I'll be inside in a
minute, and if you haven't put them away properly I'll know the reason
why!"

Everychild felt that he was fully justified in saying (to the first
son) "She seems to be pretty bad, doesn't she!"

The first son fairly jumped. "Not so loud!" he whispered. "She might
hear you."