The Palace in the Pigz-pen 
coming, was coming soon! Was she coming, or was 
he getting ready to go for her? Here he had been 
for nearly three weeks, his house-lot chosen, his 
mind at rest, his heart beating faster with every sun- 
rise. It was as plain as day that he knew — was cer- 
tain —just how and just when something lovely was 
going to happen. I wished I knew. I was half in 
love with her myself, half jealous of him, and I, too, 
watched for her. 
But she was not for me, On the evening of April 
14, he was alone as usual. The next morning a pair 
of phoebes flitted in and out of the windows of the pen. 
Here she was. Will some one tell me all about it? 
Had she just come along and fallen instantly in love 
with him and his fine pig-pen? There are foolish 
female birds; and there are records of just such 
love affairs; but this was too early in the season. 
It is pretty evident that he nested here last year. 
Was she his old mate, as Wilson believes? Did they 
keep together all through the autumn and winter, all 
the way from Massachusetts to Florida and back? Or 
was she a new bride, who had promised him before 
he left Florida? If so, then how did she know where 
to find him? 
165 
