Hoodie   By: Mrs. Molesworth (1839-1921)

by

MRS. MOLESWORTH

Illustrated by Lewis Baumer

W. & R. Chambers. Limited. London and Edinburgh. 1897

Edinburgh: Printed by W. & R. Chambers, Limited.

[Illustration: "Nobody loves poor Hoodie."]

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I. AT WAR WITH THE WORLD

CHAPTER II. HOODIE GOES IN SEARCH OF A GRANDMOTHER

CHAPTER III. LITTLE BABY AND ITS MOTHER

CHAPTER IV. MAUDIE'S GODMOTHER

CHAPTER V. STORIES TELLING

CHAPTER VI. "THE CHINTZ CURTAINS"

CHAPTER VII. TWO TRUES

CHAPTER VIII. HOODIE'S FOUNDLING

CHAPTER IX. THE GOLDEN CAGE

CHAPTER X. FLOWN

CHAPTER XI. HOODIE'S DISOBEDIENCE

CHAPTER XII. HOODIE AWAKES

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

"Nobody loves poor Hoodie"

"I had my basket on my arm, and the big doggie stood beside me"

"It's just like Martin's cottage"

"Who is zou, please?"

Poor Cross

"Up in the nursley," said Hoodie coolly

"Has zou had a nice sleep?"

"He took off the cap and bowed low"

Hec and Duke ... sticking daisies on to a thorn

"If peoples interrumpt, I wish they'd finish their interrumpting, and not stop in the middle"

"The darling," said Hoodie ecstatically

Hec refused to be comforted

"Please 'agive me and kiss me"

"Slowly and cautiously, whistling softly all the time"

"Oh dear," she exclaimed. "Are the flowers all gone?"

"Tell Martin they're for Miss Maudie with Miss Hoodie's love"

Finis

[Illustration: HOODIE]

CHAPTER I.

AT WAR WITH THE WORLD.

"Who would think so small a thing Could make so great a pother?"

A pretty, cheerful nursery a nursery in which surely children could not but be happy with pictures on the walls and toys in the glass doored cupboard, and rocking horse and doll house, and everything a child's heart could wish for. Spring sunshine faint but clear, like the first pale primrose, peeping in at the window, a merry fire crackling away in the tidy hearth. And just in front of it, for it is early spring only, a group of children pleasant to see. A soft haired, quiet eyed little girl, a book open upon her knee, and at each side, nestling in beside her, a cherub faced dot of a boy, listening to the story she was reading aloud.

Such a peaceful, pretty picture! Ah yes what a pity to disturb it. But I must show you the whole of it. Into this pretty nursery flies another child a tiny fairy of a girl, tiny even for her years which are but five in she flies, down the long passage which leads to the children's quarters, in at the nursery door, which, in spite of her hurry, she carefully closes, and seeing that the other door is open closes it too, then, flying back to the centre of the room, deliberately sets to work to children, can you guess? to scream !

She sheds no tears, there is no grief, only wrath, great and furious, in the little face which should have been so pretty, in the big blue eyes which should have been so sweet. She shakes herself till her fair, fluffy hair is all in a "touzle," she dances with rage till her neck and arms are crimson, from time to time in the middle of her screams calling out at the pitch of her voice,

"I don't love any body. I don't want any 'sing. I don't like any 'sing. Go away ugly evybody. I don't love Pince. Go away ugly Pince."

The girl by the fire looked up for a moment.

"Prince isn't here," she said. "Oh, Hoodie," she went on wearily, "how can you how can you be so naughty?"

Hoodie turned towards her sister.

"I don't love zou , Maudie. Naughty, ugly Maudie. Pince sall be here. Naughty Maudie. I sall be naughty. I don't love any body."

"Nebber mind, Maudie dear, nebber mind naughty Hoodie. Hoodie's always naughty. Please go on, Maudie," said one of the two little boys.

Magdalen tried to go on. But in the midst of such a din, it was very difficult to make herself heard, and at last she gave up in despair.

"It's no good, Hec," she said, "I can't go on. Hoodie spoils everything when she gets like that."