My Partner 383 



the power of unwearied flight were now all leading up 

 and accessory to this, the greatest of all forces, over- 

 brimming with delights, the all-embracing joy of love. 

 Henceforth our desires were entwined. Did I find a 

 delicious morsel ? it was hers, mine the exquisite 

 pleasure of seeing her enjoy it. Did she call me to a 

 new treasure of food floating by ? oh, the rapture 

 of sharing it with her ! And when a little boy on the 

 deck of the ship, the weather having moderated greatly, 

 said to his mother, standing by : ' Oh, look, mamma, 

 I believe that dear little bird has found a wee wife ! ' 

 I could have screamed with delight, had it heen in my 

 power to do so. 



In due time we tired of the ship, for when the 

 breeze suited, and all her wings were spread again, 

 she went steadily, straightly forward, so fast too that 

 it became irksome for us to flutter round and round 

 her, as we loved to. And besides, her company was 

 no longer to us the pleasantness it had been before 

 we became all in all to each other. Still, for long we 

 flew side by side in perfect content, visiting many ships, 

 seeing many new faces, and always happy, for we were 

 never afraid. Our world seemed inhabited only by 

 friends. We skimmed over seas that teemed with 

 life under the continual sun by day and the tender 

 violet of the sky by night, we saw many new lands — 

 and sheered off from them — what needed we of the 

 land? 



We lived and loved, and were happy because we 

 did. Until there came a day when we both, having all 

 feehngs, not to say thoughts, in common, had the need 

 laid upon us to go south again. We were then trying 

 to be fond of a great ship that sped, unrestingly as our- 

 selves, through the sea with an everlasting whirlpool 

 behind that we did not like — I cannot say we feared 



