112 THE BOOK OF A NATURALIST 



by taking a tremendous mouthful. The sisters 

 exchanged frightened glances and watched him 

 furtively, wondering at his courage — wondering, 

 too, if he would be able to keep it up and consume 

 the whole monstrous plateful. Then something 

 happened : a change came over his face, he turned 

 pale, and stopped chewing ; then, with mouth still 

 full, he suddenly rose and fled from the room. 



That was the end of their gorgeous dinner ! 

 Feeling pretty sure that he would not call for the 

 cold remains of the bird next morning for breakfast 

 they took it out and buried it in the garden, then 

 threw all the doors and windows in the house open 

 to get rid of the savour. It was late that evening 

 when they next saw their brother ; he was looking 

 pale as if but lately recovering from a serious 

 illness ; but he sauntered in with an air of not 

 knowing anything about it, and remarked casually 

 that he had been for a stroll and didn't know it 

 was so late. But never a word about the heron he 

 had dined on, nor did he ever after allude to the 

 subject. 



