THE TOM-TITS AND THEIR BOX in 



she replied. " Really, we might do worse than 

 think about this hole." 



" And neighbours? " 



" They're all right. I saw the man putting water 

 on flowers and raking ground. Men of that sort 

 are quite harmless." 



" One can't be too careful about one's neigh- 

 bours. Fortunately, there are no children." 



But before coming to a final decision the troubled 

 pair evidently resolved to inspect all the other 

 holes in the neighbourhood, and they vanished for 

 a whole day. The search cannot have been pro- 

 ductive, for when next seen they entered the box, 

 and made a long stay. Conversation was resumed 

 on the rose-tree. 



'* I think," said the lady, " this will make a 

 most eligible residence dry, secure, self-contained, 

 cat-proof, and quite beyond the reach of small 

 boys." 



" I really believe we could not do better," said 

 her mate, " and house-hunting is such a bore." 



" Then let us take it," said she decisively ; and 

 the other said, " Done." 



And " done " it was. They have now got in 

 all their sticks, and there may be an egg in the 

 box any morning. It has one great advantage 

 over the hole that I can open the lid, just to see 

 that the conditions of a reasonable tenancy are 

 being observed. 



