152 LOCH CRERAN. 



will keep us going, much less what will be sure to come, 

 you know," and her face almost emulated his waistcoat 

 for a moment. " Pooh ! nonsense ! Why, the sparrows 

 have their nests finished already, and the rooks are long 

 done building, and just look how the bushes are pushing 

 on, they'll be covered with caterpillars before before 

 I mean by the time they're wanted, said he. Sparrows, 

 indeed ! nice birds to imitate ! and I'm not a rook to 

 drive my bill down ever so far in the hard ground after 

 the worms." He dropped down on a lower bush, and 

 found himself half choked with the heavy scent of the 

 flowering currant when he opened his bill. " Just look 

 here," he gasped, "and the gooseberries are flowering, 

 and the midges and gnats are both in regular swarms 

 along the side of the plantation ; and what do you think 

 of the bees, too ? you can't say they're stupid ! and they 

 were very busy yesterday ; the snowdrops are quite over, 

 and the primroses are as beautiful and plentiful as ever 

 was on a bridal morn." "But the frost always comes, 

 you know, Robin, and my toes were so awfully cold last 

 year, and everybody says it's sure to be cold yet, and 

 they'll all laugh at us," she whispered, as a crowning 

 argument against the proposed folly. " Do you know 

 dear," he said, " that I saw two gowans to-day growing 

 in a ditch, and all the world knows they are sensible, 

 reliable flowers, and not to be humbugged." Just then 

 he flew across to her other side, and ruffled his plumes, 

 and strutted manfully ; it was clear there was another 

 arrival, and here he is with a skip and a hop. 



" Ha ! Jenny, my darling," sings the new-comer, " the 

 pear trees are blooming at Ardchattan, and the apple 

 trees in Glen Creran ; and, what do you think ? As I 

 came across the hill I saw a nice soft place, left by the 



