MRS. MODESTY AND THE MAGNIFYING GLASS. 39

“ But is this one of the King’s Inns?” asked Clover.

“Look for yourself, my dear,” replied the little woman. ‘Use
your magnifying glass.”

Clover took the glass out of his pocket, and raising his eyes, saw
the red cross quite plainly over the tiny porch.

‘You see I am right,’ said the woman. “My name is Mrs.
Modesty. This dog’s name is Trusty. This cat’s name is Watch,
and the cottage is called the Beehive. Yes, it is very small, and I
am very plain in my ways, but I can give you each a clean bed, a
bowl of bread and milk, and a hearty welcome.”

While the old lady was speaking Cowslip came up accompanied by
Trusty. The dog was still wagging his tail and seemed highly pleased
with the two children.

Clover turned round and told his sister what Mrs. Modesty
had said.

“T never, never saw such a funny little cottage,” said Cowslip with
a laugh. ‘ Do you think we shall be able to breathe there ?”

“Come in and try,” said Mrs. Modesty. “ You must bend your
heads as you enter the door, but that will be good for you. It is
wonderful what a nice place the Beehive is when one is comfortably
settled in it, although every single person who comes up to this
door says at first that the house must be too small for them to live in.
Now, my dear children, come in quickly, for the night comes on so
suddenly in these parts that you would not be able to see one yard
before you in another half hour. It is, ‘first come, first served,’
in the Beehive, I can tell you; so if any other travellers come along
the road before you are safe in your beds, I may have to attend to
them first.”

While the old lady was speaking Cowslip went up to the door
and peeped in. Mrs. Modesty came round to her back and gave her
a little shove.

That shove sent her almost head-foremost into the tiny cottage. The
little girl burst out laughing, and then standing up, found that the old
woman's words were quite true. She was perfectly comfortable and
could breathe quite easily.