Downs and Dungeons 105 



their shoulders ; women slipped sadly with 

 draggled feet into the public-house and out 

 again for such comfort as they could get there ; 

 but that Canary sang away as if it were living 

 in a Paradise. The street rang with the shrill 

 voice, and a cobbler in the shop opposite shook 

 his fist at the bird and used bad language. 



At last the Canary suddenly stopped singing, 

 dropped to the floor of its cage, pecked up a 

 few seeds, and drank water ; then flew up 

 again to its perch, and addressed the occupant 

 of the other cage, a little insignificant-looking 

 brown Linnet 



"What ever is the matter with you? Here 

 you've been two nights and a day, and you 

 don't say a word, nor sing a note ! You don't 

 even eat, and of course you can't sing if you 

 can't eat" 



The Linnet opened its bill as if to speak, and 

 shut it again with a gasp as of a dying bird. 



"Come now," said the Canary, not unkindly, 

 but with a certain comfortable Cockney patron- 

 ising way, "you must eat and drink. We all 

 md drink here, and get fat and happy, and 



