126 A WIDOW AND TWINS. 



ner, coming more than once quite within 

 reach. However, she soon gave over these 

 attempts at intimidation, perched beside the 

 percher, and again put something into his 

 maw. This time she did not feed the nest- 

 ling. As she took her departure, she told 

 the come-outer or so I fancied that there 

 was a man under the tree, a pestilent fellow, 

 and it would be well to get a little out of 

 his reach. At all events, she had scarcely 

 disappeared before the youngster was again 

 on the wing. It was wonderful how much 

 at home he seemed, poising, backing, soar- 

 ing, and alighting with all the ease and 

 grace of an old hand. One only piece of 

 awkwardness I saw him commit : he dropped 

 upon a branch much too large for his tiny 

 feet, and was manifestly uncomfortable. 

 But he did not stay long, and at his next 

 alighting was well up in the tree, where it 

 was noticeable that he remained ever after. 

 With so much going on outside, it was 

 hard to remain indoors, and finally I took a 

 chair to the orchard, and gave myself up to 

 watching the drama. The feeding process, 

 though still always by regurgitation, was by 

 this time somewhat different from what it 



