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matter where expense is no object, but in the case of 

 persons with limited means, it will. I had therefore 

 to separate the two pairs to avoid murder and sudden 

 death, and ' then Peace spread her healing wings 

 around.' 



After not many days the ladies disappeared in 

 loos on domestic duties intent. Eggs were duly laid, 

 and every evening about 4.30 the ladies would come 

 off to be fed and made much of by their respective 

 lords. The feeding was generally done in the flight. 

 Out would pop Mrs. Turquoisine, away she would fly 

 to the end of the run, cling to the wires and gratefully 

 receive her supper from Mr Turquoisine. Then there 

 would be a little mild flirtation, a visit to the grass 

 plot, and away back to domestic duties. 



At the end of about 21 days I judge the young 

 had arrived, as the cock began to visit the log. All 

 went well for about a week with one lot, when some 

 evil spirit entered into the cock, and not content with 

 good wholesome grass, what must he do but go to an 

 elder bush growing in the compartment, gorge him- 

 self to repletion, and then go and feed those wretched 

 youngsters. Need I say with what result? Early 

 next morning I noticed with the eye of experience 

 that neither parent was visiting the log. I felt a 

 horrid sinking at the heart, like a boy who is going to 

 be thrashed in the near future, for I knew that some- 

 thing was very wrong, when all the morning passed 

 and the log was left severely alone. I concluded that 

 the worst had happened and I just peeped inside. A 

 glance satisfied me. There were five little Turquoi- 

 sines all as dead as door nails, and their little crops 

 stuffed full of that beastly elder. I went out and I 

 hewed that bush in pieces, as Joshua hewed Agag the 

 king of Amalek, though for a different reason ; but it 

 was no good, the mischief was done. Alas, the ' evil 

 that is done for want of thought ! ' Who would ever 



