care," she kept repeating to herself. "Nobody likes me. I'm
alvays naughty. What's the good of being good? I did so want to touch
the bird when Martin went out of the room and left me alone, but I
didn't, 'cos I'd p'omised. I might as well, 'cos Maudie's godmother
doesn't believe me. It's very unkind of God to make it seem that I'm
alvays naughty. It's not my fault. _I_ don't care."

In Magdalen's room Martin was relating Hoodie's indignation.

"Oh, how sorry I am for saying that," said Magdalen. "It will just make
her lose her trust in me. And I do believe her. I'm sure she didn't
touch it. Don't you think so, Martin?"

Martin hesitated.

"Yes, Miss, I do think I believe her. Only didn't you notice how red she
got when I said I wasn't with her _all_ the time in your room this
afternoon?"

"Yes," said Magdalen; "but I thought it was just that she felt so eager
for me to know she had kept her promise. I _don't_ think she touched it,
Martin. I really don't. But I am afraid it will be difficult to make her
believe I don't."

Just then a sudden sound of weeping made them all start, thinking for a
moment that it must be Hoodie herself, who had run back from the
nursery. But no--it was not Hoodie--it was Hec. The little fellow had
crept under the table unobserved, and there had been listening to the
conversation.

"What's the matter, dear? What's the matter, my darling? Don't cry so,
Master Hec," said Martin, as she drew him out.

"Poor Hec! Poor little Hec! Has he hurt himself?" exclaimed all the
others.

"No, no, I hasn't hurt myself," sobbed Hec. "I'm crying 'cos it was
_me_. It was _me_ that tumbled the basket down, and Cousin Magdalen
'colded Hoodie. It wasn't poor Hoodie. It was all me."

And for some minutes, conscience-stricken Hec refused to be comforted.

[Illustration: Hec refused to be comforted]

CHAPTER X.

FLOWN.

"One flew away, and then there was none."

THREE LITTLE BIRDS.

Hoodie sat alone in the nursery, wrathful and sore. All the pleasure in
the little bird and the beautiful cage seemed to have gone.

"I don't love her neither, not now," she said to herself. "I don't
_think_--no, I really don't _think_ I love anybody, 'cos nobody loves
me, and ev'ybody thinks I'm naughty. Never mind--I'll go away some day.
As soon as ever I'm big enough I'll go kite away and never come back
again, and I sha'n't care what anybody says then."

There was some comfort though of a rather