How Agnes Liked being a Bird. 187
that to the change of her position and the freshness
of the air. Nor was he disappointed. In a few
moments she began to stir, then half-opened her
eyes, then shut them, then opened them again, then
rubbed them, then drew a deep breath, and then
began to lift her head from Willie’s shoulder, and
look about her. Through the thick leaves the moon
was shining like a great white fire, and must have
looked to her sleepy eyes almost within a yard of
her. Even if she had not been half asleep, so be-
held through the leaves, it would have taken her a
while to make up her mind what the huge bright
thing was. Then she heard a great fluttering as
if the leaves were talking to her, and out of them
came a soft wind that blew in her face, and felt
very sweet and pleasant. She rubbed her eyes
again, but could not get the sleep out of them.
As last she said to Willie, who stood as still as
a stone—but her tongue and her voice and her
lips could hardly make the words she wanted them
to utter:

“Am I awake? Am I dreaming? It’s so
nice!”

Willie did not answer her, and the little head
sunk on his shoulder again. He drew the corner
of the shawl over it, and carried her back to her
bed. When he had laid her down, she opened her
eyes wide, stared him in the face for a moment, as

if she knew all about everything except just what
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