108 THE "BIRD OF THE MUSICAL WING." 



manner of the little stranger toward my lady. 

 He approached her in a confiding way, as if ex- 

 pecting a welcome, and was plainly astonished 

 at being attacked instead. Indeed, he appar- 

 ently could not believe his repulse was serious, 

 for he soon returned in the most friendly spirit, 

 and utterly refused to be driven away. 



After making myself well acquainted with the 

 manners and ways of Madam Ruby-throat, and 

 noting that she always took her departure in 

 exactly the same direction and at quite regular 

 intervals, I began to suspect that she had im- 

 portant business somewhere ; probably a nest, 

 possibly a pair of twin babies. Should I un- 

 dertake the hopeless task of seeking that tiny 

 lichen-covered cradle, so nearly resembling a 

 thousand knots and other protuberances that 

 one might as easily find the proverbial needle in 

 a hay-stack, or should I turn my attention to 

 other inviting quarters on the place ? While I 

 hesitated, balancing the attractions, madam her- 

 self chanced to give me a hint. One morning, 

 as I was watching her steady flight across the 

 lawn, I caught a decided upward swerve of the 

 gleaming line, and instantly resolved to take 

 the hint, if such it were. I went quietly to a 

 pear-tree on her course, and waited for the next 

 point, if she chose to give it. She did ; she was 

 most obliging, may I venture to say friendly? 



