194 More Tales of the Birds 



to do so. Anyhow, go she must, and without 

 him. 



She mounted into the seat of the little pony- 

 cart, and turned out into the village street ; 

 but she had hardly done so, when a whirring 

 of wings was heard, and down came Elimelech 

 to his perch again. There was no time to stop 

 now ; and Selina was obliged to let him have 

 his own way, though she was not without mis- 

 givings for what might happen at Northstow, 

 if they ever reached it all three still together. 

 In the village there was no fear ; Fan and Elime- 

 lech were now as well known as Selina herself, 

 but at Northstow what might happen if the 

 children were coming out of school just as she 

 got there? 



She tried to time herself so as to escape such 

 a catastrophe, but as usually happens in such 

 cases, she did after all run right into the middle of 

 the school as it broke up at twelve o'clock. Elime- 

 lech, who had been perfectly well behaved all the 

 way, only taking a little flight now and then as 

 a relief, now thought he saw an opportunity to 

 display himself; and no sooner did the children 



