ii4 More Tales of the Birds 



"Well, we did it," the Linnet continued, "and 

 I never enjoyed anything so much. My darling 

 and I had a great stir in our hearts, you see, 

 and we could not stop to think whether it was 

 genteel or not. There was stir and force and 

 great love in our hearts, which taught us how to 

 do it, and carried us through the work. And 

 then the eggs were laid, six of them ; I knew 

 them all from each other, and every one of the 

 spots on each of them. While she sat on them, 

 steadily, faithfully, wearing away her best feathers 

 with the duty, I danced in the air, and brought 

 her food, and sang my love to her from the 

 twigs of the gorse ; for I loved her, how I loved 

 her ! My heart went out to her in song, and she 

 knew every note I sang." 



"Then sing now," said the Canary. "Show 

 me how you did it, and we shall get on better." 



" I can't, I can't," said the Linnet, "and I am 

 going to tell you why. One day I was looking 

 for food for my sitting mate, when I saw another 

 cock Linnet on the ground, hopping about and 

 picking up seed. How the seed came to be 

 there I did not stay to ask, nor notice anything 



