The Last of the Barons 81 



was brighter, and his fine tail was more deeply 

 forked than that of his lady. 



They began to circle round each other slowly, 

 hardly moving their wings, but steering with 

 their long tails, and soon they were far above 

 the isolated hill which was known as the Kite's 

 fortress. Sweeping in great circles higher and 

 higher, they seemed to be ascending for ever 

 into the blue, never to come down again ; now 

 and again a white cloud would pass above them, 

 against which their forms looked black and clear- 

 cut, and then it would drift away, and you had 

 to look keenly to see them still sailing slowly 

 round and round, tiny specks in the pure 

 ether. 



All this time they were talking about a very 

 important matter ; not chattering and fussing, 

 as common birds do starlings, sparrows, and 

 such low-born creatures but saying a few words 

 gravely as they neared each other in their great 

 circles of flight, and thinking of the next question 

 or answer as they parted for another sweep. 



" Well," said the Baron after a while, " have 

 you found a better place than this, where our 



G 



