236 ORIOLE INCOMPATIBILITY. 



with a tragedy. He began a bully and a scold ; 

 and so far from being mollified by her gentle- 

 ness, his bad temper increased by indulgence, 

 until he absolutely prevented her from eating, 

 bathing, or entering the cage when he was 

 about. At this point providence — in the shape 

 of the mistress — interfered, bought a new cage 

 as big as the old one, and, in the summary way 

 in which we of the human family dispose of the 

 lives and happiness of those we call the lower 

 animals, declared a divorce. This was agreeable 

 to the female, at least. She entered her solitary 

 cage with joy, and ate to her satisfaction, but 

 not so well pleased was the tyrant ; he wanted 

 an object on which to vent his ill-humor, and it 

 grieved his selfish soul to see her happy, out of 

 his reach, with table spread as bountifully as 

 his own. He usurped the new cage; she re- 

 tired contentedly to the old. Still he was not 

 suited, for the old one was nearer the window ; 

 so he tried to occupy both, and drive her away 

 altogether. So outrageous did he become that 

 finally he had to be shut into one cage before 

 she could enter the other. It was curious, on 

 these occasions, to see the care with which she 

 examined the door of his cage, to be sure that 

 he really could not get out, and the satisfied air 

 with which she finally went home; even then 

 she ate at the point of the bayonet, as it were. 



