he darling," said Hoodie, ecstatically. "It's cocking up its _sweet_
little head as if it wanted me to kiss it. Oh, _dear_ Cousin Magdalen,
isn't it sweet? Do let me carry it into the house."

[Illustration: "The darling," said Hoodie ecstatically]

But Magdalen told her it was better to leave the bird for the present in
her handkerchief, which she had made into a comfortable little nest for
it, "till we can find a cage for it; there is sure to be an empty cage
of some kind about the house. And then we must see if your mother will
give you leave to keep it for a while."

"For alvays!" said Hoodie. "I must keep it for alvays, Maudie's
godmother. Maudie has two calanies in a cage, so I might have one
bird--mightn't I, Cousin Magdalen?"

"We'll ask your mother," repeated Magdalen, afraid of committing herself
to a child like Hoodie, who never, under any circumstances, forgot
anything in the shape of a promise that was made to her, or had the
least mercy on any unfortunate "big person" that showed any signs of
"crying off" from such.

CHAPTER IX.

THE GOLDEN CAGE.

"Here secure from every danger,
Hop about, and chirp, and eat."

"Yes," repeated Hoodie to herself, as she followed her cousin into the
house, "I'll keep the little bird _alvays_, and I'll teach it to love
me; I'll be so _vezzy_ kind to it."

And as they entered the billiard-room where, true to her charge,
faithful little Maudie was drying and warming the twins' feet by the
fire, Hoodie exclaimed with great triumph--

"It's a bird, Maudie, a most bootiful bird, and I'm going to have it all
for my vezzy own and keep it in a cage alvays. Cousin Magdalen is going
to ask Mamma. May I go and tell her to come now quick, Cousin
Magdalen?"

"No, my dear, certainly not. Your mother's busy and must not be
interrupted. You may go and ask for a little milk and a bit of bread,
and I'll try if I can make the little bird eat something. It's opening
its mouth as if it was hungry. But no--stop, Hoodie. I was forgetting
what a state you are in. Maudie, take off her shoes and stockings
too--that's a kind little girl. I'll help you in a minute when I've
found a safe place for the little bird. There now--that'll do
beautifully," as she spoke taking the skeins of wool out of her little
work-basket and putting the bird in instead and carefully closing the
lid. The children looked on with great interest.

"Is him always to live in zere, Cousin Magdalen?"