The Tapestry Room. Mrs. Molesworth

is Dudu?" said Hugh, as they were running back to the house together along the snowy garden path.

      "He is——" began Jeanne. "Hush," she went on, in a lower voice, "there he is! I do believe he heard what I said, and he's angry." For right before them on the path stood the old raven, on one leg as usual, though this it was too dark to see clearly. And, as Jeanne spoke, he gave a sharp, sudden croak, which made both the children jump, and then deliberately hopped away.

      "He's a raven!" said Hugh with surprise. "Why, what funny pets you have, Jeanne!"

      Jeanne laughed.

      "Dudu isn't my pet," she said. "I don't like him. To tell you the truth, Chéri, I'm rather frightened of him. I think he's a sort of a fairy."

      Hugh looked much impressed, but not at all surprised.

      "Do you really, Jeanne?" he said.

      "Yes," she said, "I do. And I'm not sure but that Grignan is too. At least I think Grignan is enchanted, and that Dudu is the spiteful fairy that did it. Grignan is the tortoise, you know."

      "Yes," said Hugh, "you told me about him. I do wonder if what you think is true," he added reflectively. "We must try to find out, Jeanne."

      "But we mustn't offend Dudu," said Jeanne. "He might, you know, turn us into something—two little mice, perhaps—that wouldn't be very nice, would it, Chéri?"

      "I don't know," Hugh replied. "I wouldn't mind for a little, if he would turn us back again. We could get into such funny places and see such funny things—couldn't we, Jeanne?"

      They both laughed merrily at the idea, and were still laughing when they ran against Marcelline at the door which they had left open at the end of the tonnelle.

      "My children!" she exclaimed. "Monsieur Chéri and Mademoiselle Jeanne! Where have you been? And in the snow too! Who would have thought it?"

      Her tone was anxious, but not cross. She hurried them in to the warm fire, however, and carefully examined their feet to make sure that their shoes and stockings were not wet.

      "Marcelline is very kind," said Hugh, fixing his soft blue eyes on the old nurse in surprise. "At home, grandmamma's maid would have scolded me dreadfully if I had run out in the snow."

      "Yes," said Jeanne, flinging her arms round the old nurse's neck, and giving her a kiss first on one cheek then on the other; "she is very kind. Nice little old Marcelline."

      "Perhaps," said Hugh, meditatively, "she remembers that when she was a little girl she liked to do things like that herself."

      "I don't believe you ever were a little girl, were you, Marcelline?" said Jeanne. "I believe you were always a little old woman like what you are now."

      Marcelline laughed, but did not speak.

      "Ask Dudu," she said at last. "If he is a fairy, he should know."

      Jeanne pricked up her ears at this.

      "Marcelline," she said solemnly, "I believe you do know something about Dudu. Oh, do tell us, dear Marcelline."

      But nothing more was to be got out of the old nurse.

      When the children were undressed, Jeanne begged leave to run into Hugh's room with him to tuck him into bed, and make him feel at home the first night. There was no lamp in the room, but the firelight danced curiously on the quaint figures on the walls.

      "You're sure you're not frightened, Chéri?" said little Jeanne in a motherly way, as she was leaving the room.

      "Frightened! what is there to be frightened at?" said Hugh.

      "The funny figures," said Jeanne. "Those peacocks look just as if they were going to jump out at you."

      "I think they look very nice," said Hugh. "I am sure I shall have nice dreams. I shall make the peacocks give a party some night, Jeanne, and we'll invite Dudu and Grignan, and Houpet and the two little hens, and Nibble, of course, and we'll make them all tell stories."

      Jeanne clapped her hands.

      "Oh, what fun!" she exclaimed. "And you'll ask me and let me hear the stories, won't you, Chéri?"

      "Of course," said Hugh. So Jeanne skipped off in the highest spirits.