XXXVI 



OF A FLEDGLING 



"TTTE sat in the big garden-window, she darn- 

 ing my socks or polishing her nails, in 

 either case like a good wife ; I reading aloud after 

 my commendable practice. Presently I became 

 aware of insistent competition ; a shrill, tiny 

 sound was interrupting me. I cannot bear inter- 

 ruption. I desisted, laid the book down, and 

 sought the origin of this impertinence. After 

 a time I perceived it. On the path hopped a 

 fledgling, fallen, like Lucifer, through pride. It 

 had thought to fly when it was only fit to hop. 

 I can imagine it, goodliest of the brood, lording 

 it in the matter of elbow-room and getting more 

 than its fair share of worm. And this afternoon, 

 sated with such easy triumphs, it had said to the 

 others (the parents being for the moment away), 

 "Now, you scum, just watch me fly like the 

 governor and mater." So here it was, on the 

 path, hopping and proclaiming its wrongs to the 

 garden. For one cannot suppose that its spirit was 

 at all chastened by experience. It was obviously 



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