"Now?" inquired Hoodie, "sall I tell it now? It isn't a long one."
"If you like," replied Magdalen, "you can tell it me while I finish doing my hair."
"Well," began Hoodie, solemnly, "just a long time ago—oh no, that's a mistake, it should be just 'onst—'"
"Or 'once,'" corrected her cousin, "'once' is a proper word, and 'onst' isn't."
"I don't care," said Hoodie, frowning. "I like to say 'onst.' If zou don't zink my words pretty you'll make one come, and if one comes I can't tell you stories."
"Very well," said Magdalen, remembering Maudie's explanation of the mysterious phrase, "very well. I won't interrupt you. You may say any words you like."
"Well then," began Hoodie again. "Onst there was a little girl. She was called—no, I won't tell zou what she was called—she had a papa and mamma and bruvvers and a sister, but zey didn't like her much."
She stopped.
"Dear me," said Magdalen, finding she was expected to say something, "that was very sad."
"Yes," said Hoodie, "vezy sad."