86 More Tales of the Birds 



the oaks are reddening. Let us do what we can, 

 and hope they will not take an interest in us 

 this year." 



The Baron silently assented, glad that the 

 ancestral rock should not be deserted ; and de- 

 scending rapidly, still in circles, they reached it as 

 the sun set. Next morning at daybreak the tree 

 was chosen an oak, high up on a rocky shelf, 

 looking to the west across the ravine and the 

 tumbling river. And before the sun was high 

 the foundation of the nest was laid. 



II 



IN a close little room, in a narrow little street of 

 a large town, poor Mrs. Lee, pale and worn, and 

 rather acid, was scraping bread and butter for 

 her children's breakfast, and doling out cups of 

 watery tea. Five young ones, of various ages, 

 hungry and untidy, sat expectant round the table. 

 Two places were still vacant ; one, the father's, 

 as you might guess from the two letters awaiting 

 him there, and the other for the eldest son, who 

 helped his father in the workshop. In that shop 



