THE ENCROACHING VISITOR. 237 



What would I not have given to make all my birds, all my 

 melodious guests, understand that it was not I who had made 

 that report, it was not I that had committed that murder ! 

 to make them understand that they might come back, that 

 I am not a traitor, that they will find peace and shade here 

 again, that they may come in the winter without mistrust to 

 feast upon the berries of my trees. 



How is this all to be repaired? 



That chaffinch, which yesterday came to my very window, 

 will never come again; he will depart from me and from 

 my house ; next year he will not again build his nest in that 

 great elm, in which he has been accustomed to build it every 

 year. 



I got as quickly to Edmond as I could, and entreated him 

 to suspend his sport, and he laughed at me. I was obliged 

 to say that I insisted upon having no guns fired in my garden. 

 Edmond replied that I abused the circumstance of its being 

 my garden. It appeared to me that the abuse was on his part. 

 Nevertheless, his reproach hurt me. I left him in the garden, 

 and shut myself up in my study. I then questioned myself 

 whether he really was in the wrong; if hospitality did not 

 impose duties, difficult, it is true, but sacred, and if I had 

 fulfilled them? I inquired of myself what are the duties of 

 hospitality. After serious examination, I did myself this 

 justice, that, with the exception of washing his feet, as the 

 ancient Hebrews did, I had performed, with respect to him, 

 and in the most scrupulous manner, all the laws of hospitality. 

 But still that reproach wounded me ; he is in the wrong, but 

 he believes that I abuse the circumstance of its being my 

 garden ; I have a great mind to go and ask his pardon ! 



