Flyaway brightened at once. She knew water-lilies were lovely. Giving
Grace a triumphant glance, she danced across the room, and put the cage
in Horace's hands, with a smile of trusting love that 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."