“5, Chickweed Place, Elmsford, June 10.
“My dear Mrs. Cheerlove,
“I’m off this afternoon to Canterbury, to spend a month; and,
meanwhile, have sent you my cockatoo to amuse you. Perhaps
you did not know I had one. It only arrived yesterday, as a
present from Lady Almeria Fitzhenry. So you see it is quite
an aristocratic bird; and it will look extremely well on your
lawn in fine weather, and, on wet days, afford you company.
Mrs. Grove is dying to have one, so you may consider yourself
favoured. If you get attached to it, you shall have it all the
winter. I am sure it will be a pet with Phillis.
“Your affectionate friend,
“CORNELIA BURT.”
“P.S. Please send me back the directions for making the magic
ruff.”
“Phillis,” said I, “Miss Burt thinks you will make the cockatoo quite a
pet.”
“It’s a great deal more likely to put me into a pet,” said she. (Screech,
screech, went the cockatoo.)
“He knows you are talking of him,” said I, “and does not like to be
spoken ill of behind his back.”
“Then he’ll hear no good of himself from me,” says Phillis.
“The donkey-boy is waiting to be paid,” said I, “and Miss Burt wants
something sent back. I will send it by him, and write her a line about
the bird.”
“Suppose he takes it back,” cried Phillis.
“No, that would hardly do.”
“Well, ’twould look queer-like, that big stand in the donkey-chair!” and
she went off laughing.