said Henry, "and seem not to be
thinking about her. Let us seem to be looking another way; perhaps she
will then come near to us of her own accord."

"We will try," replied Emily. And the children seated themselves
quietly on the thatch; and if they had not been uneasy about the
magpie, would never have been better pleased with their seats.

But it might seem that Mag did not choose to be thus passed over, and
not to have her friends busy and troubled about her; for as soon as
Emily and Henry had planned not to notice her, and to seem to look
another way, she began to cry in her usual croaking voice, "How do you
do, sir? Good morning, sir! Oh, pretty Mag! Mag's hungry!"

"What a tiresome bird it is," said Henry, impatiently. And Emily began
to coax and invite her to come near, holding out her hand as if she had
something in it.

Mag was not a bit behind in returning Emily's empty compliments, for
she hopped towards her, and very nearly within reach of her hand, still
crying, "Good morning! Oh, pretty Mag!"

Emily now thought she had her, and was putting out her arm to catch her
when the bird turned swiftly round, and hopping up the thatch, took her
station on the very point of the roof.

Henry lost no time, but, turning on his hands and knees, crept up the
slope of the roof, and was followed by his sister, who was quite as
active as himself. They were not long in reaching the place where Mag
was perched; but, before they could catch hold of her, she had walked
down very leisurely on the other side, and hopped off into the field.
Henry was after her, half sliding down the thatch, but Emily more
wisely chose to go back by the wood-house as she had come, and in a
very few minutes afterwards they were in the field. Henry had never
lost sight of his bird since he had found her in the fold-yard; but he
was none the nearer to catching her.

She waited at a respectful distance till Emily came up; and then,
between walking and hopping, made her way across the field, and perched
herself on the upper bar of a gate.

The children were now in serious trouble, because they were not
suffered, when alone, to go beyond the bounds of the next field.

Beyond the second field was the lane, into which they had followed the
pig on that unfortunate day in which they had been left under the care
of John; and if the magpie should go over into this lane, what could
they do? They did wish to obey their parents this day.

In order, how