LADY BETTY'S HUSBAND 107 



sure was near, each time the boy whistled, Bob flew a 

 little nearer until finally he alighted on the garden fence 

 within fifty feet of the dooryard. Lady Betty, the pet 

 quail that nested in grandfather's old carpet slippers, had 

 been growing uneasy with the return of spring, and while 

 she ordinarily was perfectly contented with her human com- 

 panions, now she often wandered about the yard and or- 

 chard whistling her sweet little call, so different from 

 that of the male. Most pet birds seem to feel above others 

 of their kind, but Betty was such an adorable, unassuming 

 little lady that it never entered her small head that she 

 was superior to any one. So when the Bobwhite, dressed 

 in his best summer suit, lighted on the garden fence and 

 began whistling his love song, she was charmed at once. 

 She did not immediately answer, however, but quietly 

 flew around the house and into the edge of the orchard 

 where it was almost impossible that she should not be 

 seen. Bob flew directly to her and began fluttering and 

 strutting about making the greatest possible ado over her. 

 Betty had been reared with human folk and knew little 

 of the doings of her own race. Perhaps she was not as 

 coquettish as she might have been had she grown up 

 with a flock of birds and been used to the flattery of such 

 young gentlemen. As it was, within ten minutes the 

 matter was settled. I never have known a bird wooing 

 that was accomplished in such a simple manner or within 

 such a short time^ either before or since, but undoubtedly 

 it was just as satisfactory as if it had taken a month. To- 

 gether they wandered through the orchard the remainder of 

 the day as happy as two birds could be. Poor Bob, little 

 did he realize that henceforth he was to be known simply as 

 Lady Betty's husband and to be worried and harassed 



