146 More Tales of the Birds 



his wife might have come back to see the last of 

 their old friend. 



And I had no sooner returned and drawn up 

 the blinds of the sick-room than I saw them once 

 more on the gurgoyles. I could hardly believe 

 my eyes : I threw up the window and let the 

 sweet air into the room. The light roused the 

 old Scholar ; he opened his eyes, and at that 

 moment the Doctor and his wife flew past the 

 window to their morning bath. I am sure he 

 saw them ; a smile of great happiness came over 

 his wasted features, and he lay back and closed his 

 eyes again. I read him the Lord's Prayer : and 

 after a while I heard him whisper, " Nunc coron- 

 abitur ," as he sank into sleep. 



Each day, until he was laid by his old friend 

 the Vicar, we put out the morning bath and 

 breakfast for his last old friends ; then the 

 house was shut up, and finding that they were not 

 expected, the Doctor and his wife departed, and 

 were seen no more by any of us. They had 

 done their kindly work well, and they took our 

 thanks with them. 



