Flow Willie made a Bird of Agnes. 185

 

But Willie had chosen to ascend in this direction
for another reason as weil: one of these boughs
was in close contact with a bough belonging to one
of the largest of the red firs. On this fir-bough he
constructed a landing-place, upon which it was as
easy as possible to step from the stair in the elm.
Next, the bough being very large, he laid along it
a plank steadied by blocks underneath—a level for
the little feet. Then he began to weave a network
of rope and string along each side of the bough, so
that the child could not fall off; but finding this
‘rather a long job, and thinking it a pity to balk her
of so much pleasure merely for the sake of surpris-
ing her the more thoroughly, he resolved to reveal
what he had already done, and permit her to
enjoy it.

For, as I ought to have mentioned sooner, he
had taken Mona into his confidence, and she had
kept Agnes out of the way for now nearly a whole
week of evenings. But she was finding it more
and more difficult to restrain her from rushing off
in search of Willie, and was very glad indeed when
he told her that he was not going to keep the thing
a secret any longer.