136 MY LADY IN GREEN. 



pattern or design I had observed for several 

 days. Tiny tail feathers with white tips showed 

 distinctly, and it was evident that they were fast 

 growing up. The mother plainly accepted the 

 fact, for she made no further effort to sit upon 

 them. 



As the day wore on the wind increased to a 

 gale, and my anxiety kept pace with its violence. 

 Surely no August babies could be j^repared for 

 such November weather. AYould a fall kill the 

 delicate birdlings? Should I have to rescue 

 them ? Hardly five minutes at a time did 

 I take my eyes off the nest, tossed on its long 

 swaying branch like a ship in the maddest sea. 

 Even the mother was blown off the edge, and 

 I rejoiced that she had chosen the south side 

 of the tree, for the north side branches were 

 thrown ujiward and over with a violence that 

 would have shaken off the nest itself. 



But the two sturdy youngsters sat all day 

 with heads up, and tails just showing above the 

 edge, looking out on the raging sea of leaves 

 and riding the storm like veterans. Only once 

 did I see one try to change his position, and 

 then for a second I thought he was lost ; but 

 he recovered himself and made no more rash 

 attempts. 



From this day the twins no longer stayed in 

 the nest, but took their position across the top, 



