How nice and pretty and happy they looked! Martin, a perfect picture of a kind, tidy nurse, sat pouring out the tea, looking for once quite easy-minded and at rest; Maudie, a little model of neatness as usual, her small sweet face wearing an expression of the utmost gravity as she carefully spread some honey on Hec's bread and butter; Duke, frowning with eagerness to understand some mysterious communication which his neighbour Hoodie was making to him in a low voice, her eyes bright with excitement, her cheeks rosy, and her pretty fat shoulders "shruggled" up, as she bent to whisper to her little brother. "_What_ do you say, Hoodie? I don't under'tand. How could it be all of gold?" were the first words that met Magdalen's ears. "_Hush_, Duke," said Hoodie, placing her sticky little hand on his mouth, "you're _not_ to tell. I didn't say it would be all gold. I said p'raps the little points at the top would be goldy--like the shiny top of the point on the church. But you're too little to know what I mean. You must wait till--Oh!" with a scream of delight, "_there's_ Maudie's godmother! Oh, Maudie's godmother, Maudie's godmother, _have_ you got it?" She was off her seat and in Magdalen's arms in an instant--hugging, jumping, kissing, dancing with eagerness. It was all Magdalen could do not at once to hold out to her the parcel, but her promise to Hoodie's mother must not be broken. "Yes," she said, "I have got it. But first tell me, Hoodie dear--have you been really a good little girl all the afternoon? Has she, Martin?" "Oh, trually I've been good--vezzy good--haven't I, Martin?" said Hoodie. "Yes, Miss. I must really say she has been very good. I don't remember ever having a more peacefuller afternoon," said Martin with great satisfaction. "I am so glad," said Magdalen. "And you didn't touch the bird, Hoodie?" "No, oh no, I didn't touch it one bit," said Hoodie earnestly. "I went and lookened at it, but I didn't touch it. Martin will tell you." "No, Miss, she was quite good. She just stood and peeped at it, but she didn't touch it, I'm sure, for I went with her to your room and stayed there a few minutes while she looked at the bird." "That was very nice," said Magdalen. "We didn't let Hec and Duke go," said Hoodie, "for they'd have wanted to touch the bird, wouldn't they? They're so little, you see, and Hec says he likes smooving down the feavers on little birds's backs, so Martin and me thought we'd better not let them be temptationed to touch the bird." "Ah, yes, that was very wise. And as Martin stayed with you, you weren't temptationed either, were you, Hoodie?" Somewhat to her surprise, at this Hoodie grew rather red. "I didn't stay all the time, Miss," said Martin. "I heard the little boys calling me, so I left Miss Hoodie for a minute or two feeling sure I might trust her."