himself no longer a waif in Babel--finally
settled down again on the glittering head-rail
of Una's cot, his fluffy breast to the
outdoor sunlight, his solemn, kittenish face
-the head turning round on a pivot
without the movement of a muscle in the
body--confronting sagely the delighted
girls.

"Isn't he the dearest thing? Oh! I'm
glad the boys played the trick--if it was
the boys. I 'd rather think he played
Santa himself."

There was no inkling in Jessie's mind,
as, so murmuring and softly barefoot, she
stole up to the visitor, now motionless as a
painted bird, of a much worse trick that
those freakish Henkyl Hunters might play,
a girl abetting them, too--shocking fact--before
night fell again upon the pearly Bowl.

"Oo-oo-ooo! Boo! See me reverse!"
It seemed to be what the owl was saying
to the maidens as he turned the tables on
them again and again with that teetotum
trick of his swivel neck.

[[193]]

p192 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p193w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p194

v?