“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!”