But do you not think that it would be a dreadful thing if such a bird as this--this beautiful Great Bird of Paradise that I have told you about--were to be killed and killed until it was not in the world any more? Of course you think it would be a dreadful thing, and I am sure that you would prevent it if you could. And you _can_ prevent it--_now_--yes, _now_--and in the easiest way possible. All you have to do--only you must do it directly--is to put your arms round your mother's neck and make her promise never, never to wear a hat with the feathers of a Great Bird of Paradise in it. Of course she will promise, if you ask her in that way, and keep on, and when she once has promised you must not let her forget it. You must remind her of it from time to time ("Remember, mother, you _promised_"), and, especially, when you hear her talking about getting a new hat. And when you have made her promise about herself, then you must make her promise never to let _you_ wear a hat of the sort (of course when you are grown-up and buy your own hats you never will), or your sisters either. And if you have a sister very much older than yourself who buys her own hats, then you can make _her_ promise too. Perhaps _that_ will be less easy, but she will do it in time if you tease her enough about it and want her to read the book. And then if you can get any other lady to promise, well, the more who do, the better chance there will be for the beautiful Great Bird of Paradise. Only you must make your mother promise first--that is the chief thing--and, to do it, you must tell her all about the wicked little demon, with his powders and his charm to send the Goddess of Pity to sleep. So now go to your mother, go at once, do not wait, or, if your mother is out anywhere, you must only wait till she comes home again. CHAPTER IV The Red Bird of Paradise