"Perhaps what?" said Hoodie, very eagerly.
"Perhaps some kind fairy will fly down with a cage for the poor little bird," said Magdalen, mysteriously.
Again Hoodie's eyes twinkled with fun.
"I know who the kind fairy will be," she said, skipping about in delight. Then suddenly she flung herself upon her cousin and hugged her valorously.
"I do love you, Cousin Magdalen," she whispered. "I do. I do. And I'd love Mamma too," she added—her mother having left the room—"if she wouldn't alvays say I'm naughty."
"But Hoodie, my dear little girl, do you really think you are always good?" said Magdalen.
"In course not," said Hoodie, "but I'm not alvays naughty neither."
Just then the luncheon-bell rang, and the interesting discussion, greatly, it is to be feared, to Hoodie's satisfaction, could not be continued.
"You're going to be very good to-day, any way, aren't you, Hoodie?" whispered Magdalen, as they went into the dining-room, where the children dined at the big people's luncheon.
"P'raps," replied Hoodie.