TAME DOVES. 95 



to sun themselves in a pleasant verandah, and to 

 take a bath in pure water whenever they felt 

 inclined. Their plumage soon began to improve, 

 and became as smooth and soft as grey satin. 

 After a time they were let out to fly about 

 in the dining-room, and the male bird, Peace, 

 might often be seen sitting on the marble clock, 

 gazing at himself in the looking-glass over the 

 mantelpiece. I suppose he admired his own 

 reflection, for he would go again and again to 

 bow and curtsey and coo most lovingly to the 

 bird he saw in the glass, and never seemed to 

 find out it was all the while himself. 



In spite of this foppishness he was a most 

 devoted mate, paying all kinds of tender atten- 

 tions to his gentle little wife, following her about 

 and often feeding her with any special dainty he 

 might come across. 



Under these new and happy circumstances 

 Peace and Patience began to think of rearing a 

 family, and we found them searching everywhere 

 for materials wherewith to build their nest. Not 

 finding much that was suitable in my sitting- 

 rooms, they went to the flower-vases and began 



