closing up one under each wing. It was like being buried in a down bed. But the owl did not like anything between his sides and his wings, so he opened his wings again, and the children made haste to get out. Tricksey-Wee immediately went in front of the bird, and looking up into his huge face, which was as round as the eyes of the giantess’s spectacles, and much bigger, dropped a pretty courtesy, and said—“Please, Mr. Owl, I want to whisper to you.”
“Very well, small child,” answered the owl, looking important, and stooping his ear towards her. “What is it?”
“Please tell me where the eagle lives that sits on the giant’s heart.”
“Oh, you naughty child! That’s a secret. For shame!”
And with a great hiss that terrified them, the owl flew into the tree. All birds are fond of secrets; but not many of them can keep them so well as the owl.