THEY WERE USED TO IT. 141 



in carrying out her plans. He talked, it is 

 true, blustered and strutted around, but she 

 worked quietly, steadily, and in a business-like 

 way, utterly oblivious of him. . 



During this day, too, even this first day, not 

 five hours after he had tried to coax the bride 

 away, the elderly suitor came back from some 

 unknown quarter, with a brand-new wife of his 

 own ; precipitation worthy of the vulgar house- 

 sparrow of our city streets, which these birds 

 also resemble in their constant broils. That 

 naturally put a complete end to further dispute 

 over sweethearts ; but they could not change 

 their nature, and I observed that each young 

 husband had a vast amount of fault to find, 

 much scolding and grumbling. Happily it did 

 not seem to disconcert the little wives ; they 

 sang as sweetly, and worked as steadily as 

 though they were used to it, and expected noth- 

 ing better, which was well for them. 



The elder oriole and his mate soon settled in 

 another place, and I saw them no more, but I 

 was sorry to see upon what tree the young pair 

 decided to build, for a kingbird had an unfin- 

 ished nest in one of the lower branches, and 

 two families so aggressive would make a lively 

 neighborhood no doubt. Hostilities began in- 

 deed on the first day. Watching the oriole at 

 her building, I caught the pretty innocent-look- 



