168 THE WILES OF A WARBLER. 



sat up close beside me, when he came nearly to 

 my shoulder and leaned heavily against me, his 

 head resting against my arm in a most sentimen- 

 tal attitude. 



At last finding that I would not be coaxed or 

 forced into devoting myself wholly to his enter- 

 tainment, he rose with dignity, and walked off 

 in the direction his mistress had gone, paying 

 no more attention to my commands or my coax- 

 ings than if I did not exist. If I would not do 

 what he wished, and pay the price of his society, 

 he would not do what I asked. I was, there- 

 fore, left alone. 



I was perfectly quiet. My dress was a dull 

 woods tint, carefully selected to be inconspicu- 

 ous, and I was motionless. No little dame ap- 

 peared, but I soon became aware of the pleasing 

 sound of the blue himself. It drew nearer, and 

 suddenly ceased. Cautiously, without moving, 

 I looked up. My eyes fell upon the little 

 beauty peering down upon me. I scarcely 

 breathed while he came nearer, at last directly 

 over my head, silent, and plainly studying me. 

 I shall always think his conclusion was unfavor- 

 able, that he decided I was dangerous; and I, 

 who never lay a finger on an egg or a nest in 

 use, had to suffer for the depredations of the 

 race to which I belong. The pretty nest so 

 doted upon by its little builder was never occu- 



