SWALLOW BROW 187 



kissing her. She wondered dreamily if you 

 felt like that when you were in heaven : 

 then remembered that she was ugly and 

 with a small sigh fell asleep. 



A swallow flew low over the water, dipping 

 his chestnut breast in the stream. Immedi- 

 ately Jo sat up and clapped her hands. 



" Swallow, swallow," she cried, " how 

 little you are! " 



" Am I, my love ? " twittered the bird, 

 circling over her head. 



" Your wings are so blue, little swallow." 



The bird dived from above and perched 

 at the edge of the brook. Jo could see his 

 slim wings folded over his tail. He took 

 one dainty sip, and then sped, light as a 

 spider's thread, into the air. 



" Come back, little swallow," she called, 

 " come and perch on my finger. Unless 

 you are afraid," she added wistfully. 



" I will come," said the swallow. She 

 could feel the tiny claws just touching her 

 fingers. 



