HE WAS "NOT RECEIVING." 211 



it was useless. She did not care much about 

 it any way, for she was perfectly contented in- 

 side. She went around the room, hovering 

 slowly under the ceiling, which is always of 

 interest to birds, and then set herself to work 

 in a most systematic manner to find out all 

 about the new world she was in. She examined 

 the outside perches and tried each one ; she 

 explored the bathing table, flirted out a little 

 water from the dishes, and at last thought it 

 time to make acquaintance with her neighbors. 

 She began with the robin, and flew to his 

 roof. The robin was not pleased, snapped at her, 

 opened his mouth, uttered a queer low robin-cry, 

 " seep," and pecked at her feet, while she stood 

 quietly looking down at the show from above, 

 as much interested as though it were arranged 

 to amuse her. At length she began to make 

 the more formal visit. She dropped to the 

 door-perch and approached the entrance. The 

 inhospitable owner met her there, not to wel- 

 come and invite her in, but to warn her out ! 

 He lowered his head, opened his beak, and 

 bowed to her, looking very wicked indeed. It 

 was plain that he was "not receiving" that 

 morning. But Virginia had come to call, and 

 call she would. Nothing daunted by his cool- 

 ness, she hopped in. The robin was amazed ; 

 then declared war in his peculiar way, first a 



