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.

"Because you know the kind fairy can't give you the cage if you're not,"
said Magdalen, smiling.

"I forgot about that," observed Hoodie, coolly.

And her behaviour during the meal left nothing to be desired. But to do
her justice, her naughtiness did not as a rule show itself in such
circumstances, and according to Martin this was the "provokingest" part
of it. "That a little lady who could be so pretty behaved if she chose
should stamp and scream and rage like a little wild bear"--though where
Martin had seen these wonderful performances of little wild bears, I am
sorry to say I cannot tell you--_was_ aggravating, there is no doubt.
And as Magdalen watched Hoodie through luncheon, and saw her pretty way
of handling her knife and fork, and noticed how she never asked for
anything but waited till it was offered her, never forgot her "if you
please's" and "thank you's," and was always perfectly content with
whatever was given her, she repeated to herself in other words Martin's
often expressed opinion.

"What a nice child she might be! What a nice child she _is_, when she
likes! Oh, Hoodie, what a pity it is that you ever let the little black
dog climb on to your shoulders or the little cross imps get into your
heart!"

Just at that moment Hoodie caught her eye. She drew herself straight up
on her chair with a little air of inviting approval.

"Am I not _vezzy_ good?" Magdalen could almost fancy she heard her
saying, and in spite of h