THE CONFESSIONS OF A FANCIER. 57 



so assiduously cultivated as the Almond ; there- 

 fore they are inferior to it." 



Alas ! alas ! my perfect birds were perfect to 

 me no longer. My imagination had conceived a 

 better standard. Having raised my ideal a step 

 higher I must pursue it. Thus we make step- 

 ping-stones of our dead selves which lead on to 

 fortune. After mature reflection I determined 

 to improve my stock by fusing into it the 

 Almond blood, and consoled myself by dreaming 

 the delightful dream of founding a new and 

 improved strain of Baldheads of my own. Mr. 

 Gellett, an old Almond Fancier, being a near 

 neighbour, I unfolded to him my requirement, 

 and selected from his stud a dun, a red, and a 

 kite hen suitable to my purpose. Here we 

 pause. Seeing the case now is what lawyers call 

 sub judice, we make no further comments upon 

 it at present. Prudence bids us wait patiently 

 until Old Judge Time pronounces his verdict 

 upon it. 



