Well, Alice Wibblewobble didn't have to do this when she wanted to go barefooted, for, you know, she never wore shoes and stockings in summer. You see it would be too much trouble to take them off every time she went in swimming with Lulu and Jimmie, so that's why it was arranged that she never had to wear any.

 

Now it happened one day, oh, I guess it must have been about a week and a minute after Lulu had been frightened by that big dog, that Alice was going to the store for her mother. The store was kept by Mr. Drake, who had a little round door knob² on the top of his head, so his hat wouldn't blow off in windy weather.

 

"Bring me a pound of butter and some cornmeal, Alice," her mother had said to her, "and be sure the cornmeal is fresh. I am going to fry some for your father's supper."

 

So Alice said she would be sure about it, and she started off.

 

"Want me to come, Alice?" asked Lulu.

 

"No, dear," replied her sister. "I think it is too hot for you to-day. I'll soon be back again."

 

"Better take Jimmie," went on Lulu. "You may meet the bad dog or an ugly fox."

 

"No," spoke³ Alice again, "I think I'll go alone. Besides, Jimmie is off with Sammie Littletail, playing leapfrog. I'll go alone."

 

So off she went. Now I'm going to tell you why she wanted to go alone, but don't whisper it to any one. You see, Alice thought maybe she might meet the fairy prince, for she still hoped that some day he would change into a king with a golden diamond crown on his head.

 

But, as she walked on toward Mr. Drake's store she saw nothing of the fairy prince, though she kept a sharp lookout⁴. Well, she got the pound of butter and the cornmeal, and to make sure it was fresh she ate a little, for that's the surest way to tell. Then she started for home, with the butter under one wing and the cornmeal under the other.

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