MISS JENNY'S FORLORN ADVENT 



ily I manoeuvred, I never succeeded in 

 avoiding detection if I put even a crumb in 

 my mouth in Chupes' or Jenny's presence. 

 They always insisted on having a share of 

 my bite. 



Whenever my hand made a journey to 

 my mouth, it was the signal for the birds to 

 station themselves on my shoulders. One 

 on each side, eagerly bending forward, they 

 would inspect my face so critically as to 

 make deception impossible. At the slight- 

 est movement of my lips, taps of various de- 

 grees of sharpness were administered to my 

 cheeks. Jenny's discipline was eager 

 and insistent; Chupes', gentle and plead- 

 ing. 



Their acuteness of perception and their 

 determination that my property should be- 

 long to the commonwealth restricted me 

 not a little in the choice of things to be 

 eaten in my room. Apples and wafers gen- 

 9 1 



