entioning such delicate subjects. The Kangaroo never noticed that
anything was left out, because she was bursting to relate her interview
with Willy Wagtail.

She told Dot eagerly how she had found Willy Wagtail near his old
haunt; how that gossiping little bird had told all the news of the
Gabblegabble town and district in ten minutes, and how he had said he
believed he knew Dot by sight, and that if such were the case he would
show Dot and the Kangaroo the way to the little girl's home. Then Dot
and the Kangaroo hurried on their way again, the little girl sometimes
running and walking to rest the kind animal, and sometimes being
carried in that soft cosy pouch that had been her cradle and carriage
for all those days.

It was quite dusk by the time they arrived at a split-rail fence, and
heard a little bird singing, "Sweet pretty creature! Sweet pretty
creature!"

"That is Willy Wagtail making love," said the Kangaroo, with a humorous
twinkle in her quiet eyes. "Peep round the bush," she said to Dot,
"and you'll see them spooning."

Dot glanced through the branches, and saw two wagtails, who looked very
smart with their black coats and white waistcoats, sitting on two posts
of a fence a little way off. They were each pretending that their long
big tails were too heavy to balance them properly, and they seemed to
be always just saving themselves from toppling off their perch.
Occasionally Willy would dart into the air, to show what an expert
flyer he was; he would shoot straight upwards, turn a double somersault
backwards, and wing off in the direction one least expected.
Afterwards he would return to his post as calm and cool as if he had
done nothing surprising and say "Pretty pretty Chip-pi-ti-chip!" that
name meaning the other wagtail. Then Chip-pi-ti-chip showed off HER
flying, and they both said to one another "Sweet pretty creature!"

At the sound of Dot and the Kangaroo's approach Chip-pi-ti-chip hid
herself in a tree, and Willy Wagtail, not knowing who was disturbing
them, scolded angrily; but when he saw the Kangaroo and the little
girl, he gave them the most cordial greeting, and wobbled about on a
rail as if he must tumble off every second.

"This is Dot," said the Kangaroo a little anxiously, and rather
breathless with the speed she had made.

"Just as I had expected!" exclaimed Willy Wagtail, with a jerk of the
tail which nearly sent him headlong off the rail. "I should know you
anywhere, li