CARDINAL 15 



think that, though invisible to me in that dim interior, 

 he would be able to see me through the glass, and, 

 worse still, that at any moment he might throw open 

 the door and come out to catch me gazing at his 

 birds. Nor was this feeling strange in the circum- 

 stances, for I was a timid, somewhat sensitive little 

 boy, and he a very big stern man with a large clean- 

 shaved colourless face that had no friendliness in it ; 

 nor could I forget an unhappy incident which oc- 

 curred during his visit to us in the country more 

 than half a year before. One day, rushing in, I 

 stumbled in the verandah and struck my head against 

 the door-handle, and, falling down, was lying on the 

 floor crying loudly with the pain, when the big stern 

 man came on the scene. 



" What's the matter with you ? " he demanded. 



" Oh, I've hit my head on the door and it hurts 

 me so ! " I sobbed. 



" Does it ? " he said, with a grim smile. " Well, 

 it doesn't hurt me," and, stepping over me, he went in. 



What wonder that I was apprehensive, would 

 shrink almost in terror, when by chance he came 

 suddenly out to find me there, and, after staring or 

 glaring at me through his gold-rimmed glasses for 

 a few moments, would pass me by without a word or 

 smile. How strange, how unnatural, it seemed that 

 this man I feared and hated should be a lover of 

 birds and the owner of that precious cardinal ! 



The long visit came to an end at last, and, glad 

 to return to the birds I had left — to the purple 



