COMMUTER'S WIFE 255 



of perhaps a dozen females standing about a stunted 

 maple, gesticulating wildly. At the moment I 

 appeared, as if obeying a signal, they sank to the 

 ground in unison like a band of conspirators on the 

 stage, and there remained squatting uncomfortably, 

 the grass being deep and soaking wet, while they 

 gazed at the maple. 



For a moment I was nonplussed. The women 

 ranged from youngish to middle aged, the chief 

 conspirator (I judged her to be the chief because she 

 stood up and pointed, though not with a dagger) was 

 perhaps fifty ; tall, lean, thin in the legs and hair, 

 but wearing an untrimmed sailor hat, and a very 

 short divided bicycle skirt. She carried a book and 

 an opera glass, while a luncheon box was hung over 

 one shoulder. Then I saw that all the others were 

 equipped in a similar manner. As I went forward 

 to warn them away, I heard the voice of the chief 

 say: 



" Ladies, in that tree is the clay-lined nest of a 

 wood thrush. The mother-bird is now brooding. In 

 a few moments, when you have observed her patient 

 immobility, I will see whether the nest contains eggs 

 or young birds ; if the latter, we may hope to observe 

 the method of feeding and home sanitation practised 

 by our feathered little sister in the bush." 



