188 BIRDS OF THE WATER 



good, and if he does get more jam roll 

 and cake and sponge cake and the buttery 

 inside bits of scones, who can resist a 

 creature so sure of his welcome? We can 

 tell him before he alights, merely by his 

 straight, resolute flight to shoulder or head. 

 He has never heard a harsh word or known 

 a moment of fear, and comes up like a 

 happy child not knowing yet that elders 

 can be churls and chide, or that there is 

 aught in life but loving welcomes and loving 

 words. He was taken from the nest as a 

 younger bird than the others, and we 

 rather flatter ourselves that his superior 

 manners are the result of a longer acquaint- 

 ance with the Guthrie-Smith family and 

 their guests. While still on his artificial 

 nest, I was alwa^^s, when passing between 

 m.y workroom and the darkroom, sure of a 

 friendly wing shake, and this often when 

 the bird was full fed, and when there 

 could be no suspicion of cupboard love in 

 the action. Afterwards, as a grown bird 

 and free, for long we continued to exchange 

 greetings, I on the lawn giving him a word 

 or two, he on the tree top softly fluttering 



