THEY WERE USED TO IT. 141 



in carrying out her plans. He talked, it is 

 true, blustered and strutted around, but she 

 worked quietly, steadily, and in a business-like 

 way, utterly oblivious of him. 



During this day, too, even this first day, not 

 five hours after he had tried to coax the bride 

 away, the elderly suitor came back from some 

 unknown quarter, with a brand-new wife of his 

 own ; precipitation worthy of the vulgar house- 

 sparrow of our city streets, which these birds 

 also resemble in their constant broils. That 

 naturally put a complete end to further dispute 

 over sweethearts ; but they could not change 

 their nature, and I observed that each young 

 husband had a vast amount of fault to find, 

 much scolding and grumbling. Happily it did 

 not seem to disconcert the little wives ; they 

 sang as sweetly, and worked as steadily as 

 though they were used to it, and expected noth- 

 ing better, which was well for them. 



The elder oriole and his mate soon settled in 

 another place, and I saw them no more, but I 

 was sorry to see upon what tree the young pair 

 decided to build, for a kingbird had an unfin- 

 ished nest in one of the lower branches, and 

 two families so aggressive would make a lively 

 neighborhood no doubt. Hostilities began in- 

 deed on the first day. Watching the oriole at 

 her building, I caught the pretty innocent-look- 



