MIDDLE OF MAY 51 
two and a half minutes, to make quite sure 
of some result, at all events. 
This performance done, I felt much like 
the proverbial duck, caught in a thunder- 
XX: ‘COMFORTABLY LINED WITH A QUANTITY OF 
FEATHERY DOWN, TORN FROM THE MOTHER 
BUILDERS BREAST.’ A WILD DUCK’S NEST 
(,!5-size). 
storm! The old bird had dashed away with 
angry flaps of wing upon the water, to show 
how vexed she was. She put in a far-off 
appearance now and then. A few days after 
