Hoodie gravely contemplated her little brother, but without giving any signs of obeying her cousin's request.
"I have been unhappy too," she said, "and it wasn't my fault. It was Hec's."
"Well, then," said Magdalen, "it should make you the more sorry for Hec. He has had the unhappiness of knowing it was his fault, which is the worst unhappiness of all."
Hoodie threw back her head.
"I don't think so," she said. "I think the worst is when people alvays says you're naughty when you're not."
"I am sorry you thought I said you were naughty when you weren't, Hoodie," said Magdalen, "but you thought I meant more than I did. As soon as I thought about it quietly I felt sure you hadn't touched the basket—and even more sure, that if you had been tempted to touch it, you would have said so."
"'Cos Hec toldened you it was him," said Hoodie.
"No, before Hec said a word, I said to Martin I was sure it wasn't you."
Hoodie looked up with a new light in her eyes.
"Did you?" she said, as if hardly able to believe it.