A TRAGEDY IN THE MAPLE-TREE. 165 



hop to another branch which approached the 

 door in a slanting direction, and beginning at 

 the upper end glide down for perhaps a foot 

 with imperceptible motion of his feet, quivering 

 all over, and constantly calling in a loud harsh 

 voice, as though daring or commanding her to 

 come out. This had gone on for a long time, 

 and still she refused to show her head, when a 

 thought seemed to strike him. He flew away 

 as though not intending to return, but silently 

 perched on a twig half way around the trunk, 

 where he could not be seen from the door. His 

 calls had ceased, and he was evidently hiding, 

 ready to pounce upon her. This seemed not 

 quite to his mind, however, for he could not see 

 the door ; so he took his position on the trunk 

 itself, a little above the nest, where the lost 

 branch had left a protuberance. Here he could 

 hold on, with difficulty, and here he stayed in 

 silence, looking earnestly at the door of his 

 house till madam appeared and quietly hopped 

 on to a neighboring twig, as calm and unruffled 

 as a summer morning. She began to arrange 

 her feathers with utmost deliberation, but at 

 the first movement of her angry spouse she 

 darted into the nest again. Then he stormed 

 violently, paraded before the door in his most 

 insulting manner, stretched his neck, and fairly 

 made faces at her, opening his mouth, and look- 

 ing as though he would devour her. 



