178 More Tales of the Birds 



too shy to kiss each other or talk, but after 

 a bit I pulled out the wisp of hair from my 

 trousers pocket and showed it her. Nelly 

 couldn't make it out, then, but she knows now 

 how I got it. She knows she knows," said 

 the farmer; "and here it is now," and he 

 showed me a locket, attached to his watch- 

 chain, with some brown hair in it. 



I looked, and was going to ask a question, 

 when he held up his hand to hush me, and 

 went on. 



" We drove many miles, the gentleman 

 asking questions now and then, especially about 

 Mag, but for the most part we were silent. 

 At last I saw the three elms and the spire 

 come in sight, and I had hard work to keep 

 the tears in. I sat with Nelly's hand in mine, 

 but we said never a word. 



"We dropped Nelly at her mother's cottage, 

 and she was told that she would probably 

 be sent for presently. Then we drove on to 

 Miss Pringle's, and went straight to the stable- 

 yard ; there was no pony, and the grass was 

 growing in the yard. Miss Pringle, I found 



