And yet she was a very methodical, level-headed little wren, with several positive convictions which dominated her life--one of them being that everybody about her ought to do, not as they, but as she, pleased.

She had begun, and with pronounced success, on her mother as far back as she could remember, and had then tried her hand on her stepfather until it became evident that as her mother controlled that gentleman it was a waste of time to experiment further.
All of which was a saving of stones without the loss of any birds.
Where she failed--and she certainly had failed, was with Jack, who though punctiliously polite was elusive and--never quite subdued.

Yet the discovery made, she neither pouted nor lost her temper, but merely bided her time.

Sooner or later, she knew, of course, this boy, who had seen nothing of city life and who was evidently dazed with all the magnificence of the stately home overlooking the Park, would find his happiest resting-place beneath the soft plumage of her little wing.

And if by any chance he should fall in love with her--and what more natural; did not everybody fall in love with her ?--would it not be wiser to let him think she returned it, especially if she saw any disposition on the young man's part to thwart her undisputed sway of the household?
For months she had played her little game, yet to her amazement none of the things she had anticipated had happened.