r guest,
"how glad I am to see you!" She hurried her into the living-room
where Billy Potter was talking with Granny. "This is Rosie Brine,
Billy," she said, her voice full of pride in her new friend. "And
this is Billy Potter, Rosie."

Billy shook hands gravely with the little girl. And Rosie looked at
him in open wonder. Maida knew exactly what she was thinking. Rosie
was trying to make up her mind whether he was a boy or a man. The
problem seemed to grow more perplexing as the evening went on. For
part of the time Billy played with them, sitting on the floor like a
boy, and part of the time he talked with Granny, sitting in a chair
like a man.

Maida showed Rosie her books, her Venetian beads, all her cherished
possessions. Rosie liked the canaries better than anything. "Just
think of having six!" she said. Then, sitting upstairs in Maida's
bedroom, the two little girls had a long confidential talk.

"I've been just crazy to know you, Maida," Rosie confessed. "But
there was no way of getting acquainted, for you always stayed in the
store. I had to wait until I could tease mother to buy me a top."

"That's funny," Maida said, "for I was just wild to know you. I kept
hoping that you'd come in. I hope you'll come often, Rosie, for I
don't know any other little girl of my own age."

"You know Laura Lathrop, don't you?" Rosie asked with a sideways
look.

"Yes, but I don't like her."

"Nobody likes her," Rosie said. "She's too much of a smarty-cat. She
loves to get people over there and then show off before them. And
then she puts on so many airs. I won't have anything to do with
her."

From the open window came the shrill scream of Miss Allison's
parrot. "What do you think of that?" it called over and over again.

"Isn't that a clever bird?" Rosie asked admiringly. "His name is
Tony. I have lots of fun with him. Did you ever see a parrot that
could talk, before?"

"Oh, yes, we have several at Pride's."

"Pride's?"

"Pride's Crossing. That's where we go summers."

"And what do your parrots say?"

"One talked in French. He used to say 'Taisez-vous' so much that
sometimes we would have to put a cover over the cage to stop him."

"And did you have other animals besides parrots?" Rosie asked. "I
love animals."

"Oh, yes, we had horses and dogs and cats and rabbits and dancing
mice and marmosets and macaws and parokets and--I guess I've
forgotten some of them. But if you like animals, you ought to go to