Se/ina's Starling 197 



much discontent if the bird were not on her 

 back, gently probing her old coat with his bill. 



"Oh, he loves Fan better than me," Sclina 

 would say to her visitors, of whom she now had 

 plenty ; " he loves me, but he loves Fan better." 

 If we could have penetrated into Elimelech's 

 mind, I do not think we should have found that 

 this was exactly so. I believe that he loved 

 Selina as well as we all did I believe that he 

 looked upon her, as Mr. Dick looked upon Aunt 

 Betsey, as the most wonderful woman in the 

 world. But I think that Fan's back was a more 

 comfortable perch than Selina's shoulder, and 

 the hovel more suited to his turn of mind than 

 her kitchen and that was all. 



So the years went on, Selina throve, Elime- 

 lech's partnership was unbroken, but Fan began 

 to grow really old at last She struggled up 

 the hill with all her old pluck, but her breath 

 came short and quick. M.my a time in those 

 days have I watched the three making their 

 way up the long hill beyond the village. Fan 

 panting and struggling, ElimeJech whistling 



