Our Cinnamons. 61 



without betraying our inexpressible delight, we care- 

 lessly asked the price, which was now only two shillings. 

 We made a slight demur on account of the wretchedness 

 of her condition, and bid eighteenpence, but seeing the 

 man would not take less, and that he had actually put 

 the birds back again on the shelf, we at length gave an 

 apparently reluctant assent to his terms, though nothing 

 was further from our thoughts than a third time losing 

 the opportunity of securing such a prize. We threw 

 down the money on the counter, and the bird was soon 

 put into a bag, when Judy and I hastened out of the 

 shop with mutual congratulations on our good luck. 

 Not only had we got the bird we had so much desired, 

 but we had obtained her at a less price than we could 

 have bought her at Mr. M s s, or in the market where 

 we had first seen her. 



" She was a phantom of delight 

 When first she gleamed upon my sight ; 

 A lovely apparition, sent 

 To be a moment's ornament; 

 Her eyes as stars of twilight fair ; 

 Like twilight too, her dusky hair; 

 But all things else about her drawn, 

 From May-time and the cheerful dawn ; 

 A dancing shape, an image gay, 

 To haunt, to startle, and waylay." 



It was some time before I could meet with a mate 

 suitable for this beautiful and peculiar-coloured bird. 

 We saw four or five at various times, but they were all 

 very common-bred, ill-shaped birds, and nothing 

 approaching to the delicate shade of our own bird. At 

 length I met with a strong, healthy bird, handsomely 



