JUNE JOYS 145 



ally when a gust disturbed the leaves on the trees 

 (though unfelt in the summer-house) the same 

 movements were performed, the wings being 

 moved more and more, until, after a half-hour or 

 more had passed, they would be fully extended 

 each time. Then would she fan them, silently 

 and weirdly, in the fading light, while all her 

 attention seemed to be occupied by that hillside 

 far away. I do not know whether she was thinking, 

 or of what ; but she looked as though she were in 

 a daydream, and in it were winging her airy path 

 above the slope, till something dispelled the vision ; 

 and then she invariably plucked the jesses. 



A post a few feet long, surmounted by an oval 

 board on which the jesses would not catch, was set 

 up for her on the lawn. At the base a weighted 

 cord was loosely attached. Tethered here, the 

 bird was safe from cats, and could fly to the 

 distance of several yards without the shock of a 

 too-sudden check. Supplied with plenty of fresh 

 food (well-dusted in feathers or fur) she was in 

 excellent health, and, before August, she had 

 moulted out every feather and was arrayed in 

 lovely plumes, without a flaw or a stain, 

 ii 



