It seemed as if the surly old tree and the gracious sunset had some secret between them, which, as often as they met, broke out in ruddy flame.
Now Agnes was lying on the thin grass under this clump of trees, looking up into their mystery--and--what else do you think she was doing ?--She was sucking her thumb--her custom always when she was thoughtful; and thoughtful she seemed now, for the tears were in her eyes.
"What is the matter with my pet ?" said Willie.
But instead of jumping up and flinging her arms about him, she only looked at him, gave a little sigh, drew her thumb from her mouth, pointed with it up into the tree, and said, "I can't get up there! I wish I was a bird," and put her thumb in her mouth again.
"But if you were a bird, you wouldn't be a girl, you know, and you wouldn't like that," said Willie--"at least _I_ shouldn't like it." "_I_ shouldn't mind.

I would rather have wings and fly about in the trees." "If you had wings you couldn't have arms." "I'd rather have wings." "If you were a bird up there, you would be sure to wish you were a girl down here.

For if you were a bird you couldn't lie in the grass and look up into the tree." "Oh yes, I could." "What a comical little bird you would look then--lying on your little round feathery back, with wings spread out to keep you from rolling over, and little sparkling eyes, one on each side of such a long beak, staring up into the tree!--Miaw! Miaw! Here comes the cat to eat you up!" Agnes sprang to her feet in terror, and rushed to Willie.

She had so fully fancied herself a bird that the very mention of the cat had filled her with horror.

Once more she took her thumb from her mouth to give a little scream, and did not put it in again.
"O Willie! you frightened me so!" she said--joining, however, in his laugh.
"Poor birdie!" said Willie.