120 THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



near the railway bridge, the boys walked a mile out of the 

 town to Mr. Marston's house, and there spent a very 

 pleasant evening. After dinner they played croquet, and 

 once, when it was Frank's turn to play it was found that he was 

 totally oblivious of the game, and had his eyes fixed on an 

 elegant brown bird which was flitting about the shrubs in the 

 garden. 



" Now then, Frank," said Marston, " it is your turn." Frank 

 played and then asked, 



" Is not that bird a nightingale ? " 



" Yes, her nest is at the bottom of that bush. Watch how 

 she goes to it." 



NIGHTINGALE'S NEST. 



The bird hopped about in a promiscuous sort of way, just as 

 if there were no nest there, and then, when she got near it, she 

 hopped upon it in quite an accidental manner. 



" She knows that we know her nest is there, because we look 

 at it every day, but she always pretends she is only there by 

 accident." 



Frank went to look at the nest. It was untidy in make, 

 built of straw and twigs, and lined with leaves. It contained 

 five olive-brown eggs which were near to hatching. 



"You must not take any of these, Mr. Merivale," said Miss 

 Marston. 



