Little Folks Astray | Page 2

thrilled his
heart.
"Hollis laughs at my mouses, but he don't say, 'Put 'em away,' and, 'Put
'em away;' he says, 'Little gee-urls wants to see things as much as
anybody else,'" thought she, gratefully.
"Horace," said Grace, with a curling lip, "that child is growing up just
like you--fond of worms, and bugs, and all such disgusting things."
Horace smiled. No matter for the scorn in Grace's tone; it pleased him
to be compared in any way with his precious little Flyaway.
"Topknot has a spark of sense," said he, leading her along to the
green-house. "I'll bring her up not to scream at a spider."
"Now, young lady," said he, setting the cage on the shelf beside a

camellia, and speaking in a low voice, though they were quite alone,
"can you keep a secret?"
"Course I can; What is a secrid?"
"Why, it's something you musn't ever tell, Topknot, not to anybody that
lives."
"Then I won't, cerdily,--not to mamma, nor papa, nor Gracie."
"Nor anybody else?"
"No; course not. Whobody else could I? O, 'cept Phibby. There, now,
what's the name of it."
"The name of it is--a secret, and the secret is this--Sure you won't tell
any single body, Topknot?"
"No; I said, whobody could I tell? O, 'cept Tinka! There now!"
"Well, the secret is this," said Horace, laying his forefingers together,
and speaking very slowly, in order to prolong the immense delight he
felt in watching the little one's eager face. "You know you've got an
aunt Madge?"
"Yes; so've you, too."
"And she lives in the city of New York."
"Does she? When'd she go?"
"Why, she has always lived there; ever since she was married."
"O, yes; and uncle Gustus was married, too; they was both married. Is
that all?"
"And she thinks you and I are 'cute chicks, and wants us to go and see
her."

"Well, course she does; I knew that before," said Fly, turning away
with indifference; "I did go with mamma."
"O, but she means now, Topknot; this very Christmas. She said it in a
letter."
"Does she truly?" said Fly, beginning to look pleased. "But it can't be a
secrid, though," added she, next moment, sadly, "'cause we can't go,
Hollis."
"But I really think we shall go, Topknot; that is, if you don't spoil the
whole by telling."
"O, I cerdily won't tell!" said Fly, fluttering all over with a sense of
importance, like a kitten with its first mouse.
The breakfast bell rang; and, with many a word of warning, Horace led
his little sister into the dining-room.
"Papa," said she, the moment she was established in her high chair, "I
know sumpin'."
"O, Topknot!" cried Horace.
"I know Hollis has got his elbows on the table. There, now, did I tell?"
"Hu--sh, Topknot!"
There was a quiet moment while Mr. Clifford said grace.
"Hollis," whispered Katie immediately afterwards, "will I take my
mouses?"
"'Sh, Topknot!"
"What's going on there between you and Horace?" laughed Grace.
"A secrid," said Fly, nipping her little lips together. "You won't get me
to tell."

"Horace," exclaimed Mrs. Clifford, "you haven't--"
"Why, mother, I thought it was all settled, and wouldn't do any harm;
and it pleases her so!"
"Well, my son, you've made a hard day's work for me," said Mrs.
Clifford, smiling behind her coffee-cup, as eager little Katie swayed
back and forth in her high chair.
"You won't get me to tell, Gracie Clifford. She don't want nobody but
Hollis and me; she thinks we're very 'cute."
"Who? O, Aunt Louise, probably."
"No, aunt Louise never! It's the auntie that lives to New York."
"Sh, Topknot!"
"Well, I didn't tell, Hollis Clifford!"
"So you didn't," said Grace. "But wouldn't it be nice if somebody
should ask you to go somewhere to spend Christmas?"
"Well, there is!"
"O, Topknot," cried Horace, in mock distress, "you said you could keep
a secret."
Flyaway looked frightened.
"What'd I do?" cried she; "I didn't tell nuffin 'bout the letter!"
This last speech set everybody to laughing; and the little tell-tale
looked around from one to another with a face full of innocent wonder.
They couldn't be laughing at her!
"I can keep secrids," said she, with dignity. "It was what I was a-doin'."
"It is your brother Horace who cannot be trusted to keep secrets," said

Mrs. Clifford, taking a letter from her pocket. "Hear, now, what your
Aunt Madge has written: 'Will you lend me your children for the
holidays, Maria? I want all three; at any rate, two.'"
"That's me," cried Flyaway, tipping over her white coffee; "'tenny rate
two,' means me."
"Don't interrupt me, dear. 'Brother Edward has promised me Prudy and
Dotty Dimple. They may have a Santa Claus, or whatever they like. I
shall devote myself to